#Japan #Tokyo #VoiceOS #Leach Inc. #MissionLingo

Leach Inc. Triumphs at Builders Weekend 2026 Tokyo

Leach Inc., based in Minato-ku, Tokyo, proudly announces that its representative, Takuya Tominaga, and his team were awarded the VoiceOS Award during the international hackathon "Builders Weekend 2026 Tokyo," held from March 20 to 22 at PARCO Shibuya 18F. Over a challenging 48 hours, the team developed a prototype language learning app called "MissionLingo." This innovative application leverages AI for voice role play to cultivate the necessary linguistic skills for "surviving in a foreign country."

Overview of the Hackathon

The Builders Weekend is an international product hackathon featuring events in important global cities like San Francisco, New York, and London. This Tokyo edition was the first of its kind in Japan, supported by main sponsor Digital Garage alongside partners such as Lovable, VoiceOS, Supercell, RevenueCat, and ElevenLabs. A diverse group of 205 builders from over 15 countries participated, aiming to create a product prototype within the limited timeframe.

The Winning Product: MissionLingo

The prototype developed during the hackathon, MissionLingo, centers around enhancing language skills through immersive AI character role plays. The app allows learners to simulate real-life scenarios they may encounter while living abroad, focusing on tactile language use rather than rote memorization of grammar and vocabulary. It tackles the common challenge where 90% of language learners quit within three months by emphasizing the critical phrases needed in real situations.

Features of MissionLingo:
1. Watch Phase: Users observe AI characters engaging in realistic dialogues, with important phrases highlighted along with pronunciation guides.
2. Play Phase: Learners interact as characters and respond to the AI, allowing for dynamic conversation scenarios powered by OpenAI GPT-4o.
3. "Nani!?" Feedback: After each response, learners receive casual, polite, and honorific suggestions for expression, enhancing their conversational adaptability.

The prototype comprises 14 missions breaking down scenarios into three branches—Basic, Social, and Business—each tailored to address specific real-life language challenges in Japan for various learners.

VoiceOS Award

The VoiceOS Award was bestowed upon the team that utilized the macOS voice-input application, VoiceOS, extensively throughout the development process. This award isn't solely about product innovation but assesses how seamlessly VoiceOS was integrated into the team's workflow. Takuya Tominaga utilized voice input for nearly all tasks, showcasing a revolutionary approach to development that emphasizes verbal communication over more traditional typing methods, encapsulated by his statement, "In the AI age, builders must move their mouths before their fingers."

Technical Implementation

In just 48 hours, the team successfully integrated various technologies to create a robust application. Notably:

• - OpenAI GPT-4o was responsible for dynamic character interactions and generating feedback.
• - ElevenLabs’ Text-to-Speech contributed realistic voices for the NPCs (non-player characters), enhancing the immersive experience.
• - Digital Garage Payment Platform SDK enabled a unique payment scenario as part of the learning experience, incorporating actual microtransactions within the context of a role play scenario.

Hackathon Success and Future Vision

The event not only allowed Leach to innovate rapidly but also facilitated significant learning points for Takuya Tominaga and his team. The experience gathered will directly inform Leach’s ongoing projects, particularly their generative AI consulting services.

Leach's team, briefly united right before the hackathon during an icebreaker event, proved that cross-cultural collaboration within a short deadline could yield world-class results. Their achievement at Builders Weekend exemplifies the synergy of cutting-edge tech, practical language learning applications, and collaborative ingenuity.

About Leach Inc.

Founded in 2024, Leach Inc. specializes in generative AI advisory services and industry-specific AI product development. The company actively participates in international hackathons to hone its technical prowess and explore innovative AI, voice, and payment stacks, ensuring its offerings remain on the cutting edge of technology.

For those interested in experiencing MissionLingo firsthand, a live demo is available at MissionLingo Live Demo. The GitHub repository with additional development details can be accessed at MissionLingo GitHub.

Conclusion

As Takuya Tominaga remarked after the event, the opportunity to collaborate with global builders and to secure the VoiceOS Award was an incredible honor. Leach looks forward to using the insights and developments from this hackathon to drive its service offerings and optimize its product design processes.