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Celebrating Japanese Innovation at Technovation Girls 2026

In an exciting milestone for young female developers, Japan has proudly secured three finalist spots at the Technovation Girls 2026 global finals. Organized by the U.S.-based non-profit Technovation, this event is one of the world's largest app development contests for girls aged 8-18, focusing on empowering the next generation of female entrepreneurs in technology. This year, the Waffle organization from Minato City, Tokyo, chaired by Sayaka Tanaka, announces the remarkable achievement of having three teams selected from Japan, the highest number ever.

Notable Teams and Their Innovative Projects

Among the finalists, two teams also received recognition for their impressive work, demonstrating the creativity and social consciousness of Japan's young innovators.

Finalist in the Beginner Division: Infiniti Girls

• - App Name: VegePatch
• - Mentor: CoderDojo Japan Team

The VegePatch app encourages children and families to engage in growing, recording, and cooking vegetables. This platform not only creates awareness but also promotes social contribution by connecting users to local children’s cafeterias and farming experiences. The act of delivering homegrown vegetables fosters an appreciation for food and agriculture, while reinforcing community bonds.

Regional Honoree in Asia: FKA

• - App Name: Bird Counter & Bird Quest
• - Mentor: CoderDojo Japan Team

FKA's project focuses on wetland conservation through an app that automates bird watching using AI, alongside a game-based collection app aimed at youth engagement. This dual initiative connects data and participation, promoting environmental awareness. The app has won several awards, including the Minister of Education’s Award and the Lenovo Award at Japan's official pitch event.

Regional Honoree: Little Care

• - App Name: Star Connect
• - Mentors: Michiko Komiya (Docomo Support Inc.), Miki Miyamoto (NTT Data Corp.), Priyanshi Gupta (Honda Motors Co. Ltd.)

Star Connect is designed to help children undergoing long-term treatment stay connected with friends, school, and their feelings. By linking with peers and recovery mentors, this app alleviates loneliness and cultivates hope and confidence among its young users. It has been recognized with the Salesforce Award at the Japan official pitch event.

Next Steps for the Finalists

The Infiniti Girls will compete in the World Summit held in Bangalore, India, this October. The competition consists of two stages — the semifinals and the finals — with regional awards recognizing exceptional teams just below the finalist level. This marks the third consecutive year Japan has had teams reach the finals, with Infiniti Girls previously making it in 2024 and 2025, solidifying their place in this prestigious event.

A Proud Moment for Japanese Youth

Sayaka Tanaka, the chairperson of Waffle, expressed her pride in the three teams' recognition on a global stage. She emphasized the importance of creating environments that nurture the inherent talents of participants, allowing them to continue challenging themselves. Tanaka honored all teams that took part, highlighting Waffle's commitment to empowering more girls and non-binary students in technology ventures worldwide.

About Technovation Girls

Technovation Girls is a global technology education program initiated by the U.S. non-profit Technovation, aimed at nurturing young female tech entrepreneurs. Since its launch in Japan in 2017, Waffle has served as the official regional ambassador, supporting participants with various educational programs. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026, this year saw participation from 408 young innovators across 78 teams nationwide.

About Waffle

Waffle is dedicated to building a society where everyone can thrive in technology. Focused on female empowerment and social reform, Waffle provides support for participation in international contests like Technovation Girls and offers a range of educational programs in AI and product development for young scholars. By advocating policy changes, Waffle actively works towards correcting social structures and has been recognized with the SDGs Partnership Award for their contributions to sustainable development in Japan.

For more information about Technovation Girls or Waffle, visit their official sites.