What is YBM?
Young Business Masterminds (YBM) is an English Presentation Contest in Japan that allows teams of university students to showcase their English presentation skills while pitching unique and innovative business ideas that address one of the YBM contest themes.
YBM 2024 Contest Themes
The stage is set, and the spotlight awaits your groundbreaking ideas in the 2024 Young Business Masterminds Contest. This year's contest themes are as exciting as they are impactful. The YBM Organizers encourage your team to revolutionize tourism in Japan by crafting an innovative business solution for one of the following contest themes.
1. Accessible Tourism
For this theme, the members of your team are tasked with developing a unique and innovative business idea that addresses the challenges of accessible tourism in Japan. Teams are encouraged to analyze the current landscape of accessible tourism in Japan, identify existing gaps and challenges, and propose unique, feasible, and sustainable business solutions that contribute to making Japanese tourism more inclusive.
2. Special Interest Tourism
For this theme, the members of your team are tasked with developing a unique and innovative business idea that capitalizes on the business opportunities in special interest tourism in Japan. Teams are encouraged to explore niche markets, identify unique interests, and design creative solutions that cater to diverse traveler preferences. Teams will need to conduct thorough research, analyze current trends, and propose business ideas that not only meet market demands but also contribute to the growth and diversity of special interest tourism in Japan.
The 2024 Young Business Masterminds Contest isn't just a competition; it's your chance to shape the future of travel in Japan. So, assemble your dream team, let innovation soar, and present your visionary business idea that will leave an indelible mark on Japan's tourism industry.
1. Accessible Tourism
For this theme, the members of your team are tasked with developing a unique and innovative business idea that addresses the challenges of accessible tourism in Japan. Teams are encouraged to analyze the current landscape of accessible tourism in Japan, identify existing gaps and challenges, and propose unique, feasible, and sustainable business solutions that contribute to making Japanese tourism more inclusive.
2. Special Interest Tourism
For this theme, the members of your team are tasked with developing a unique and innovative business idea that capitalizes on the business opportunities in special interest tourism in Japan. Teams are encouraged to explore niche markets, identify unique interests, and design creative solutions that cater to diverse traveler preferences. Teams will need to conduct thorough research, analyze current trends, and propose business ideas that not only meet market demands but also contribute to the growth and diversity of special interest tourism in Japan.
The 2024 Young Business Masterminds Contest isn't just a competition; it's your chance to shape the future of travel in Japan. So, assemble your dream team, let innovation soar, and present your visionary business idea that will leave an indelible mark on Japan's tourism industry.
ROAD TO THE SEMIFINAL AND FINAL AT KINDAI UNIVERSITY
❶ Register Your Team Online (by 5/1)
-Register your team between January 1st, 2024 and May 1st, 2024.
-Check to make sure all of your team members are eligible to participate in the contest.
-Click to Access Registration Form:
forms.gle/GjvQCQTWakBcyYBR7
❷ Virtual Round Submission Deadline (by 5/31)
Each team will create and submit a written summary and a 5~6 minute video that summarizes the content of your presentation in English. The deadline to submit this video and written summary is May 31st, 2024. A link to the submission page will be sent to each team that registers. Carefully follow the written summary and video submission guidelines to be considered for the semi-final.
❸ Semi-finalists Announced (by 6/15)
Submissions from the Virtual Round will be evaluated by YBM judges and 40 teams will be selected to participate in the semifinal at Kindai University. A list of the teams selected for the semifinal will be sent to all of the participants on or before 6/15.
❹ Payment Deadline for Semi-finalists (6/28)
Successful teams that are invited to participate in the semi-final need to pay the team participation fee of ¥11,000/member. This fee includes contest participation, lunch on July 13th, entry into the evening Global Networking Gala on July 13th, and access to the Global Career Fair. An invoice for payment will be provided at the contest.
❺ Semi-final and Final Round at Kindai University on July 13th
On Saturday, July 13th, the 40 teams invited to the semifinal will deliver an 8~10 minute presentation followed by a question and answer session about their presentation. After evaluating the presentations and answers to the judges questions in the semi-final, the YBM organizers will select six teams to participate in the final round on the same day.
Schedule for 7/13 Semifinal & Final Round at Kindai University
9:00 am ~ 9:30 am: Registration and Luggage Room (Building 3-303)
9:30 am ~ 10:00 am: Contest Overview Explanation Session (Building 3, Room 501)
10:00 am ~ 10:15 am: Each Team Moves to Their Semifinal Presentation Room in Building 18
10:15 am ~ 11:30 am: Semifinal Presentations (Bldg. 18 South 2nd floor Classrooms)
11:30 am ~ 11:40 pm: Teams move to lunch location (Building 3, Room 502)
11:40 am ~ 12:45 pm: Lunch (Building 3, Room 501)
12:45 pm ~ 12:55 pm: Announcements by Contest organizers (Building 3, Room 501)
12:55 pm ~ 13:00 pm: Teams move to (Building 3, Room 501) for Final Round
13:00 pm ~ 14:30 pm: Final Round (Building 3, Room 501)
14:35 pm ~ 15:50 pm: Global Career Fair Speed Sessions (Building 3, Room 502)
15:55 pm ~ 17:25 pm: Results / Closing Ceremony / Photos (Building 3, Room 501)
17:25 pm ~ 18:05 pm: Dinner with all YBM Participants (Building 3, Room 502)
18:10 pm ~ 18:20 pm: Pick up luggage in (Building 3, Room 303) and Walk to Bus Parking Lot
18:20 pm ~ 18:50 pm: Take assigned bus to the Global Gala
19:00 pm ~ 21:15 pm: Attend the Global Networking Gala
9:30 am ~ 10:00 am: Contest Overview Explanation Session (Building 3, Room 501)
10:00 am ~ 10:15 am: Each Team Moves to Their Semifinal Presentation Room in Building 18
10:15 am ~ 11:30 am: Semifinal Presentations (Bldg. 18 South 2nd floor Classrooms)
11:30 am ~ 11:40 pm: Teams move to lunch location (Building 3, Room 502)
11:40 am ~ 12:45 pm: Lunch (Building 3, Room 501)
12:45 pm ~ 12:55 pm: Announcements by Contest organizers (Building 3, Room 501)
12:55 pm ~ 13:00 pm: Teams move to (Building 3, Room 501) for Final Round
13:00 pm ~ 14:30 pm: Final Round (Building 3, Room 501)
14:35 pm ~ 15:50 pm: Global Career Fair Speed Sessions (Building 3, Room 502)
15:55 pm ~ 17:25 pm: Results / Closing Ceremony / Photos (Building 3, Room 501)
17:25 pm ~ 18:05 pm: Dinner with all YBM Participants (Building 3, Room 502)
18:10 pm ~ 18:20 pm: Pick up luggage in (Building 3, Room 303) and Walk to Bus Parking Lot
18:20 pm ~ 18:50 pm: Take assigned bus to the Global Gala
19:00 pm ~ 21:15 pm: Attend the Global Networking Gala
Who is Eligible to Apply?
Students (excluding research students, short-term international students and non-degree students) enrolled in universities, graduate schools, junior colleges, vocational colleges or technical colleges of four years or more.
Who is not Eligible to Apply?
-Students whose mother tongue is English.
-Students who have studied in an *English speaking country for more than 13 months.
-Students who have studied at an international school or a foreign university in Japan or abroad for more than 13 months.
*English-speaking country in the eligibility criteria refers to a country where English is a first language or official language.
Students (excluding research students, short-term international students and non-degree students) enrolled in universities, graduate schools, junior colleges, vocational colleges or technical colleges of four years or more.
Who is not Eligible to Apply?
-Students whose mother tongue is English.
-Students who have studied in an *English speaking country for more than 13 months.
-Students who have studied at an international school or a foreign university in Japan or abroad for more than 13 months.
*English-speaking country in the eligibility criteria refers to a country where English is a first language or official language.