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 2025 Contest Theme
For the 2025 YBM contest, we are excited to announce that we have partnered with the company NeoArc.
Watch the video below to learn more about NeoArc and the 2025 YBM contest theme.
Also, learn more about the company by accessing their website at https://www.neoarc.co.jp/ja/
Watch the video below to learn more about NeoArc and the 2025 YBM contest theme.
Also, learn more about the company by accessing their website at https://www.neoarc.co.jp/ja/
ROAD TO THE SEMIFINAL AND FINAL AT KINDAI UNIVERSITY
❶ Register Your Team Online (by 5/1)
-Register your team between January 1st, 2025 and May 1st, 2025.
-Check to make sure all of your team members are eligible to participate in the contest.
-Click to Access Registration Form: Coming Soon
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, 2025. 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 semifinal.
❸ Semi-finalists Announced (by 6/15)
Submissions from the Virtual Round will be evaluated by YBM judges and up to 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 ¥13,000/member. This fee includes contest participation, lunch on July 19th, entry into the evening Global Networking Gala on July 19th, 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 19th
On Saturday, July 19th, 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 7/19 Semifinal & Final Round at Kindai University
9:00 am ~ 9:30 am: Registration (Building 18-C407) and Luggage Room (Building 18-C406)
9:30 am ~ 10:00 am: Contest Overview Explanation Session (Building 18, Room N429)
10:00 am ~ 10:15 am: Each Team Moves to Their Semifinal Presentation Room in Building 18 (C401-C405, C408)
10:15 am ~ 11:30 am: Semifinal Presentations (Bldg. 18 Center 4th Floor Classrooms)
11:30 am ~ 11:40 pm: Teams move to lunch location (Building 18, Room 429)
11:40 am ~ 12:35 pm: Lunch (Building 18, Room 429) / Career Fair
12:35 pm ~ 12:45 pm: Announcements by Contest organizers (Building 18, Room 429)
12:45 pm ~ 12:50 pm: Teams move to the Practical Science Hall for the Final Round
12:50 pm ~ 14:20 pm: Final Round (Practical Science Hall)
14:20 pm ~ 14:25 pm: Move to Career Workshop (18-N301)
14:25 pm ~ 16:20 pm: Career Workshop (18-N301)
16:20 pm ~ 16:25 pm: Move to Closing Ceremony
16:25 pm ~ 18:00 pm: Results / Closing Ceremony / Photos (Practical Science Hall)
18:00 pm ~ 18:20 pm: Pick up luggage from luggage room (Building 18-C406) and walk to the 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 at the Sheraton Miyako Hotel Uehonmachi
9:30 am ~ 10:00 am: Contest Overview Explanation Session (Building 18, Room N429)
10:00 am ~ 10:15 am: Each Team Moves to Their Semifinal Presentation Room in Building 18 (C401-C405, C408)
10:15 am ~ 11:30 am: Semifinal Presentations (Bldg. 18 Center 4th Floor Classrooms)
11:30 am ~ 11:40 pm: Teams move to lunch location (Building 18, Room 429)
11:40 am ~ 12:35 pm: Lunch (Building 18, Room 429) / Career Fair
12:35 pm ~ 12:45 pm: Announcements by Contest organizers (Building 18, Room 429)
12:45 pm ~ 12:50 pm: Teams move to the Practical Science Hall for the Final Round
12:50 pm ~ 14:20 pm: Final Round (Practical Science Hall)
14:20 pm ~ 14:25 pm: Move to Career Workshop (18-N301)
14:25 pm ~ 16:20 pm: Career Workshop (18-N301)
16:20 pm ~ 16:25 pm: Move to Closing Ceremony
16:25 pm ~ 18:00 pm: Results / Closing Ceremony / Photos (Practical Science Hall)
18:00 pm ~ 18:20 pm: Pick up luggage from luggage room (Building 18-C406) and walk to the 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 at the Sheraton Miyako Hotel Uehonmachi
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.