#Japan #AI Hackathon #Microsoft #Kobe #Circlace

Introduction

Circlace Inc., headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, showcased its commitment to fostering digital talent by participating as a mentor and sponsor in the second Student Hackathon held at the Microsoft AI Co-Innovation Lab Kobe from September 3 to 5, 2025. This collaborative initiative aimed to address societal and business challenges through innovation by leveraging technology.

Event Overview

The second Student Hackathon at Microsoft Kobe was organized through a partnership between various entities including Microsoft Corporation, the city of Kobe, and several educational institutions and corporations. Managed by Benique Solutions Inc. under the auspices of the AI Co-Innovation Lab Kobe Promotion Council, this event brought together students from different universities. Teams were formed to tackle challenges using AI, aiming to enhance AI literacy while developing prototypes with real-world applications over three intensive days.

Circlace's Participation

As part of its ongoing support for AI and data utilization, Circlace participated in multiple capacities: as a mentor, sponsor, and jury member. The company's mentors provided practical support to student teams in developing their projects, while Circlace expressed its enthusiasm for AI innovation during the opening ceremony. Furthermore, as a jury member for the final presentations, Circlace evaluated the projects from various perspectives, including technical feasibility, societal impact, and creativity. Through this participation, Circlace aimed to promote AI utilization in alignment with Microsoft, while also bridging the gap between students and corporations to foster co-creation.

Activities and Achievements

Throughout the event, all participating teams focused on generating AI-driven projects. Many teams addressed themes of high social relevance, such as reducing food waste and supporting voting behavior. The students successfully navigated the process from problem identification to development and presentation within the short timeframe. One standout team developed a pet-like device embedded with AI utilizing 3D printing technology. Their ability to quickly create a hardware prototype was highly praised, generating excitement among attendees. Jurors noted, "I was amazed by the energy and creativity required to produce such results in just two days."

Future Outlook

Circlace is committed to actively participating in collaborative events that integrate AI with societal problem-solving, sharing practical knowledge to aid in the development of the next generation of talent and real-world applications.

About Circlace

Founded in November 2012 as a joint venture between the Pasona Group and Tquila Ltd., based in London, Circlace was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's Growth Market in April 2022. The company operates in two business segments: "AI & Data Innovation" and "SaaS Services." In the AI & Data Innovation segment, Circlace supports business enhancement utilizing major cloud solutions like Salesforce and ServiceNow, along with technologies from Microsoft, Anaplan, and AWS. In the SaaS Services segment, Circlace offers a cloud platform called AGAVE, specifically targeting HR and labor issues for globally expanding companies.

Company Name: Circlace Inc.
Location: Urban Net Nihonbashi 2-1-3, 6F, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Established: November 1, 2012
Capital: 417.94 million yen (as of September 30, 2025)
Representative: President and CEO Scott Sato
Business Activities:

• - Consulting on Digital Transformation (DX)
• - Consulting on business improvements through ICT
• - Development and sales of proprietary SaaS products (AGAVE)
• - Providing a one-stop service for cloud solutions, from design and development to operational support, including Salesforce and ServiceNow.