Youth Innovation EXPO (Global Track)
Youth Innovation EXPO (Global Track)
The World's Largest Student Global Pitch Contest, "Youth Innovation EXPO," at the Osaka-Kansai Expo. A once-in-a-lifetime event where students' "challenges" will shape the future!
One of the World's Largest
Student Global Pitch Contests,
'Youth Innovation EXPO,'
at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai!
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Expo—Students' 'Challenges' Will Shape the Future!
A Global-Scale Pitch Event Where Students from Around the World Gather to Share and Present Ideas on Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation!
The official venue of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai—expected to attract approximately 30 million visitors—will serve as the stage for this final round.
With around 1,000 students participating across seven global locations (four in Japan and three overseas), the event leverages the metaverse to create an ecosystem where students worldwide who are passionate about tackling social issues, can connect and engage in discussions anytime from anywhere.
WHY JOIN?
1
Winners of each regional contest will be invited to the official venue of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai in Japan!
Promote yourself to the world at the official venue of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai—The largest global events, welcoming around 30 million visitors!
Outstanding participants will also receive mentorship from VCs and other experts as a special prize!
（※）For details, please refer to the "Challenge Rules".
2
Meet Outstanding Young Innovators from Around the World!
Through the YIE Metaverse
Alongside the pitch contests, a metaverse networking venue will be established!
This will enable interactions with over 1,000 young innovators from around the world. Numerous global networking events with corporations and venture capitalists will also be held!
This will enable interactions with over 1,000 young innovators from around the world. Numerous global networking events with corporations and venture capitalists will also be held!
3
Win a One-Day Expo Ticket by Lottery!
Attend the event for a chance to win a One-Day Expo Ticket by lottery!
4
Presentation at Official Pavilions of a Major Country!
Outstanding participants will have the opportunity to present at the official pavilion of major countries (subject to schedule).
Why Join?
Enter Here to Participate in the Pitch
Student Entry is Free!
Entry is available after registering a new account.
Final contest
Regional (Preliminary) Contests
A gathering place for students from around the world,
where future young leaders can directly connect with companies.
Recruiters, this is your best opportunity
to connect with Generation Z!
Student Entry is Free!
Corporate Sponsorship Now Open!
Stay tuned for updates and announcements!
Announcements
Currently in Preparation.
Regional (Preliminary) winning teams
Western Japan Regional Contest in Kyoto
Team：Akikoma
University：Kyoto Sangyo University
Faculty: Faculty of Contemporary Social Studies
Member：Seima Misaki
The Western Japan Regional Contest in Kyoto was held on Friday, March 28, 2025, at GROWTH Kyoto Kawaramachi.The winning team “Akikoma” presented a job-hunting support platform that matches university students with small and medium-sized enterprises by utilizing students’ spare time and has earned a fully sponsored invitation to represent Western Japan Region at the Grand Finals in Japan, taking place at the Osaka-Kansai Expo this July.
Europe Contest
Team：Aeropod
University：Imperial College London
Faculty：Dyson School of Design Engineering
Members：Ifeoluwa Afolayan、Wangyang Hu、Alex Clark、Yuchen Cai
The European contest was held on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at University College London (UCL).
The winning team “Aeropod” presented an innovative cultivation system for regenerative agriculture and has earned a fully sponsored invitation to represent Europe Region at the Grand Finals in Japan, taking place at the Osaka-Kansai Expo this July.
Asia Contest
Team：Digi-Up!
University：National University of Singapore
Members：Sruti Mulupuri、Charlotte Wong、Al Hong、Elton Li
The Asian contest was held on Friday, April 11,2025 at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.The winning team “Digi-Up!” presented their initiative to prevent digital scams targeting the elderly and has earned a fully sponsored invitation to represent the Asia region at the Grand Finals in Japan, taking place at the Osaka-Kansai Expo this July.
North America Contest
Team：Oculab
University：Universitas Indonesia
Member：Dyah laksmi Mahyastuti、Luthfi misbachul Munir、Annisa Az zahra、Bunga Aura prameswari、Rangga Brata
The North America Contest was held online via Zoom on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
The winning team, “Oculab,” presented an AI-powered tuberculosis screening support system and has earned a fully sponsored invitation to represent the North America Region at the Grand Finals in Japan, taking place at the Osaka-Kansai Expo this July.
Eastern Japan Regional Contest
Presenter：Sakura Makikata
University：Hirosaki University
Faculty：Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science
University：Hirosaki University
Faculty：Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science
The Eastern Japan Regional Contest was held on Friday, May 23, 2025, at INTILAQ Tohoku Innovation Center.The winner “Ms. Makikata” presented the "Scallop Shell Upcycling Project," a circular economy model that reutilizes discarded scallop shells to make plastic toothbrushes, which decompose into fertilizer after use and has earned a fully sponsored invitation to represent Eastern Japan Region at the Grand Finals in Japan, taking place at the Osaka-Kansai Expo this July.
Western Japan Regional Contest in Osaka
Presenter：Mai Morita
School：S High School
School：S High School
The Western Japan Regional Contest in Osaka was held on Friday, May 30, 2025, at IQUINTBRIDGE. The winner Ms. Morita presented a mobile application called "Kamimi", designed to connect people to the future by supporting Shinto shrines through oshi-katsu (fan-based engagement) and has earned a fully sponsored invitation to represent Western Japan Region at the Grand Finals in Japan, taking place at the Osaka-Kansai Expo this July.
Kanto Regional Contest
Team：SenpAI Sensei
University：Waseda University
Member：Nazuki Tsukina、
Itsuki Son
The Kanto Regional Contest was held on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at Minato City Industrial Promotion Center. The winning team “SenpAI Sensei” presented "Your Communication Training Agent," a communication version of Grammarly that naturally provides feedback on Slack or Teams and has earned a fully sponsored invitation to represent Kanto Region at the Grand Finals in Japan, taking place at the Osaka-Kansai Expo this July.
YIE Metaverse:
Connecting Students Worldwide!
At Youth Innovation EXPO,
we have launched 'YIE Metaverse',
a virtual event space accessible anytime, anywhere, 24/7—no VR headset required.
What sets this contest apart from others?
It’s the digital metaverse ecosystem,
where young entrepreneurs from around the world gather to collaborate and shape the future of our planet.
PARTNER
PARTNERS
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Bronze
VC Partner
Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
Once Every 55 Years—
The World's Largest Exhibition
Returns to Japan for Six Months!
Theme: Designing Future Society for Our Lives
Key Highlights:
- More than just an exhibition—8 billion people worldwide exchanging ideas to co-create the future.
- A global online platform launched ahead of the Expo to share challenges and solutions.
- A hub for cutting-edge technologies and global knowledge, fostering new ideas to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges.
Event Duration: April 13 (Sun) – October 13 (Mon), 2025 (184 Days)
YIE Final Contest
Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025
Location: the official venue of the Expo (EXPO Messe "WASSE")