#Japan #Tokyo #WAFFLE #Technovation Girls

Technovation Girls 2025: A Platform for Future Female Tech Leaders

The largest app development competition for young women in middle and high school, Technovation Girls 2025, will be hosted by the non-profit organization Waffle. This event is aimed at nurturing the next generation of female tech leaders and is supported by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The event will take place on June 21, 2025, in Tokyo, Japan, and will be live-streamed on YouTube.

This international educational program challenges female students to develop applications that address social issues while learning IT skills and entrepreneurial spirit. In Japan, Waffle acts as the official ambassador and provides support to participants in collaboration with other educational NPOs. Students from across the nation will team up in groups of up to five to engage in discussions for about six months on how to utilize technology to solve various social problems and to create their applications.

The Japanese official pitch event is a unique program organized annually by Waffle, separate from the global tournament held at the U.S. headquarters. Similar to startup entrepreneurs presenting to accelerators and investors, the ten teams selected through a preliminary review will present their applications and business plans to judges. The top teams will receive various prizes and promotional support from sponsoring companies.

Highlights of Technovation Girls 2025

• - New AI Course: This year, a new course focusing on artificial intelligence will be offered, responding to changes in society and participants' needs. Many works utilizing AI technology are expected to be showcased during the event.
• - Challenge Stage Introduced: In addition to finalists, a Challenge Stage event will be held, targeting teams ranked 11th to 20th. The top team from this stage will also get the opportunity to participate in the pitch event with the finalists.
• - Networking and Learning Opportunities: The event will foster opportunities for student participants to connect with each other and sponsors, creating a stimulating environment that expands their horizons.

Event Overview (Tentative)

• - Date: June 21, 2025 (Saturday)
• - Location: Tokyo (details to be announced)
• - Schedule:

- Morning: Challenge Stage Event (private) - Pitches by teams ranked 11th to 20th.
- Afternoon: Japanese Official Pitch Event (public) - Pitches by ten finalist teams and the top team from the Challenge Stage, followed by an award ceremony.

• - Streaming Format: YouTube Live (pre-registration required). Registration can be done through this form.

About Technovation Girls 2025 Japan Program

Technovation Girls is an international educational program where high school girls develop apps addressing social issues, gaining IT skills and entrepreneurial knowledge. Students nationwide work in teams of up to five for six months, tackling technological solutions to various challenges. Waffle’s program provides a supportive environment with free mentorship and resources, ensuring participants, regardless of their background, can engage confidently.

Support includes:

• - App Development Courses: Opportunities to learn programming and cutting-edge technologies such as generative AI.
• - Business Development Courses: Support for foundational business knowledge and entrepreneurial experiences.
• - Equipment Rental: Provision of necessary computers and Wi-Fi at no cost.
• - Ongoing Support: Continuous guidance from professional mentors.
• - Travel Assistance: A portion of travel costs for participating in the pitch event in Tokyo.

Judges and Sponsors (as of April 2025, in no particular order)

• - Special Sponsors: MetLife Foundation, Lenovo Japan, NTT Group.
• - Gold Sponsors: Japan Research Institute, Salesforce Japan, Unity Technologies Japan.
• - Challenge Stage Sponsors: CyberAgent, Applied Materials Japan, TokyoDev, and others.

What Technovation Girls Stands For

Technovation Girls, hosted by the U.S. STEM education NPO Technovation, aims to cultivate the next generation of female IT entrepreneurs by evaluating ideas, pitches, technical skills, and entrepreneurial spirits among teens. Last year's program saw participation from about 11,000 teams across 132 countries. In Japan, Waffle collaborates with other educational NPOs to support participants aspiring to join the global competition. With the highest number of entries to date from 409 participants in 85 teams in 47 prefectures, the program continues to grow, aided by over 150 volunteer professionals from major corporations.

For media interested in covering the Technovation Girls 2025 Japan Official Pitch Event, please submit a request through the contact form by June 13. More details will follow from the public relations team.

About Waffle

Waffle is a non-profit organization committed to creating a society where everyone can thrive in technology. They work towards women's empowerment and societal reform offering various educational programs, including free website creation courses and support for domestic participation in international app development competitions. They also actively engage in policy advocacy related to structural societal reforms and have received the Japan SDGs Award in 2020, among other accolades. The organization stands as a beacon for anyone eager to advance their skills in technology and entrepreneurship.
Learn more about Waffle