The final stage of the “Okayama Innovation Contest (OIC)”, a local
competition that celebrates creative business plans, was held on
November 27. MORI Mikiko from Okayama University’s start-up company,
Sonae Co., Ltd, won first place in the business category, as well as the
overall grand prize. Additionally, Okayama University students YOSHIDA
Yuya (Faculty of Engineering, fourth year) and NAGASHIMA Yoshiki
(Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, first year) won
first place in the business plan category (university and college
student division) and the special MASC prize, respectively. This year
marks the fifth iteration of the contest, and it is the first time that a
participant representing Okayama University won the overall OIC grand
prize.
There was a total of 103 entries this year, and in addition to Okayama
University students participating, President MAKINO Hirofumi also served
as a judge for the high school student division.
●Business plan submitted by Ms. Mori, Sonae Co., Ltd: WeLoveBaby
The WeLoveBaby application allows users to digitize their medical
records while maintaining the value and ease of use of the current
Maternal and Child Health Handbook simply by taking a photo. The app
also makes it possible to easily collect information that can be used to
help prevent passing on genetic illnesses for up to three generations.
In addition, the business plan describes how app users can advance
through pregnancy, childbirth and the early stages of child-rearing
while receiving various benefits thanks to the “WeLovePaper” function
created in partnership with the local government and local businesses,
which helps realize the goal of “community child-rearing”.
Commenting on the award, Ms. Mori said, “To be honest, the moment when I
was announced as the winner was the happiest moment of my life, apart
from when my daughter was born. I have been a housewife for 10 years,
but winning this prize made me feel that I still have something to
contribute. I think that WeLoveBaby, which was created thanks to the
efforts of the team at Sonae Co., Ltd, has given a real boost to
“community child-rearing”. Using the results of this competition as a
stepping-stone, I would like to work towards the recovery of communities
and the realization of a friendly society.”
Sonae Co., Ltd is a start-up company launched by Okayama University,
where founders MAKI Jota (assistant professor of Obstetrics and
Gynecology at Okayama University Hospital) and YAMASHITA Noriyuki
(technical staff at the Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and
Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Education in Medicine and Health
Sciences) act as advisors.
The two commented, “After brushing up our business plan and technology,
we hope that this project will be promoted from Okayama to the rest of
Japan, and then from Japan to the rest of the world.”
From next year, Kibichuo Town, which has been designated as a National
Strategic Special Zone working towards the concept of a “super city”,
will provide support for mothers and children using the WeLoveBaby
application, and it is expected that user growth will expand in the near
future.
●Business plan submitted by Mr.Yoshida: Interview Picture Book
First in the industry! “Interview picture book” is a service that allows
you to review your interviewing capabilities through a simulated
interview. After receiving review scores from active personnel and AI,
student users can quantify their interview capabilities and receive
accurate feedback, as well as watch and analyze the interviews of other
students going through the job-hunting process. The service also
provides corporate users with the advantage of being able to scout
students with good communication skills.
Upon receiving the award, Mr. Yoshida commented, “I am overjoyed to have
won this award. Even if job applicants drop out of the interviewing
process for their first-choice company, the current job-hunting system
does not provide them with any feedback. As a result, applicants
continue to perform badly at interviews without any knowledge of how to
improve. I hope that I will be able to expand this service so that it
can act as a guideline for students that feel uncertain as they navigate
the job-hunting process.”
●The business plan submitted by Mr. Nagashima: NoCode AI Platform “TSP”
“TechSword Platform” is a no-code Edge AI platform aimed at
non-engineers that can be used by companies to facilitate an environment
where anyone can develop AI and apply it to their business with little
to no knowledge of machine learning or AI. The platform enables the
wider use of AI technology with the vision of realizing an optimized
society in the near future.
Mr. Nagashima is currently working on TechSword Co., Ltd. with MIYAMOTO Taiki, who won a prize at last year’s contest.
* MASC Award: A special award sponsored by MASC (an aero and space industry cluster study group in Mizushima area of Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture).
https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/eng/news/index_id10725.html
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