Okayama University Hosts the Real Biz Student Ideathon 2026 to Solve Local Business Challenges

Innovations to Address Local Business Challenges at Okayama University

On February 12, 2026, Okayama University, in collaboration with the Okayama Prefectural Yorozu Support Center, hosted the Real Biz Student Ideathon 2026. This event, now in its third iteration, aims to generate business solutions to challenges faced by small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Okayama Prefecture.

The initiative encourages students to brainstorm ideas that can lead to the development of new products and services, while also providing practical entrepreneurship education experiences. In this year’s event, three local companies presented specific challenges:

1. Elims Corporation: They requested ideas for new fruit processing products that consumers would want to purchase, even at a price of several hundred yen per unit.The students proposed a concept emphasizing luxury, designing elegant bottles and suggesting eye-catching displays. They also introduced the idea of sharing creative recipes on Instagram to enhance promotion.

2. Yamane Ltd.: This company sought appealing lunch box menus and marketing strategies targeted at the younger generation. The students crafted proposals promoting a consistent logo and messaging to create a sense of familiarity and approachability. A creative packaging design that simulates opening a traditional noren curtain was also suggested to enhance the experience.

3. Oto Ramen Alice: They presented ideas for making their ramen shop more inviting to students. Suggestions included improving the restaurant's facade, optimizing traffic flow, and implementing visible wait times to alleviate customers' anxieties about dining in.

The event saw participation from ten university students, who enthusiastically engaged with business owners. One student remarked, "It was exciting to receive positive feedback from the CEO, who mentioned that my idea was a 'new discovery.' The possibility of my suggestions being implemented in the real-world is incredibly fulfilling."

Participating businesses reacted positively, with one owner noting, "Listening to the students' ideas opened my eyes to how my thinking had become stagnant. I had focused too much on cost, and I’d like to emphasize aesthetic appeal going forward."

Okayama University plans to utilize resources developed under the Cabinet Office's FY2024 Regional Core University Innovation Promotion Project, including the university's tech garage, to support students in bringing their ideas to fruition. The university will continue to collaborate with the Okayama Prefectural Yorozu Support Center to organize practical ideation events that respond to local needs.

What is an Ideathon?

An ideathon is a fusion of the words "idea" and "marathon," and is an event where participants generate ideas based on a specific theme in a short time. It typically features participants from different fields working in teams, sharing insights and concluding with presentations. Unlike hackathons, which often focus on developing prototypes, ideathons primarily aim at idea generation and are integral to university-industry collaborations and solving regional issues.

About Okayama Prefectural Yorozu Support Center

Established in June 2014, the Okayama Prefectural Yorozu Support Center is a free consulting service provided by the national government, addressing a wide range of management challenges faced by entrepreneurs and small businesses in Okayama Prefecture. They assist with everything from startup advice to business improvement and sales expansion plans.

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