Innovation Project Business Pitch Contest at iU w/ Mitsukoshi Isetan Rev Worlds
Welcome to our blog about the exciting business pitch contest at iU in Tokyo, where students showcase their entrepreneurial spirit. This time, we had the pleasure of hosting the dynamic team behind the Mitsukoshi Isetan metaverse, “Rev Worlds.”
Mr. Tomohiko Nakada from Mitsukoshi Isetan impressed us with his passionate insights and eloquent comments.
InnoPro Saturday Hackathons on April 20 and May 18, 2024
We hosted two thrilling hackathon days with special guests from the “Rev Worlds” development and operations team: Tomohiko Nakada, Hirotaka Kawata, and Ryota Asaka. 200 third-year iU students participated.
DAY 1: April 20
Here’s how the program went:
- 10:40-12:00: Mr. Nakada’s lecture and the project assignment announcement. The challenge was to “Combine the real and digital worlds using the metaverse.”
- 13:00-16:40: Team building and group work in six classes. Our three guests, Nakada-san, Asaka-san, and Kawata-san, visited each class to answer student questions.
Mr. Nakata and the Rev Worlds team were incredibly passionate and provided valuable insights.
DAY 2: May 18
The main event of the second day was the presentation competition featuring 12 selected teams.
- 10:40-14:30: Final touch-ups and class selection. Two teams from each of the six classes, making a total of 12 teams, were chosen.
- 15:00-18:00: Each of the 12 teams gave a six-minute presentation in front of the Rev Worlds team.
The comments from Nakata-san, Kawata-san, and Asaka-san were precise and heartfelt, truly inspiring us all.
Understanding the Heat of Entrepreneurship
This experience reminded us of the importance of passion, frustration, and the drive (“heat”) in entrepreneurship. Thank you!
Top Team
The winning team was from class 3-D, called “Kinniku Busoku” (Muscle Deficiency) with members Kana Yabe, Ren Ikai, Nobuo Onishi, Narumi Kameda, and Haruto Takahashi. Their project “UniLink” aimed to connect seniors and their grandchildren through the metaverse, based on their personal experiences. Their idea, market research, presentation, logic, passion, and motivation were highly praised.
Memorable Comments from Guest Judges
Some standout comments from our guest judges include:
- “Growth is achieved through either anger or excitement.”
- “How deeply do you feel frustration?”
The Rev Worlds team emphasized the importance of passion and enthusiasm.
Other notable quotes include:
- “No one can deny your personal experience.” Projects based on personal experiences are the most powerful.
Indeed! LOL
There was a story from Mr. Nakada’s past where a student said:
“When I get a job, I won’t be able to design what I like, right?” They understood that black or white clothes sell, but questioned why they should compromise their preferences.
In the digital world, there’s no inventory risk. Digitally, everyone can express their individuality. This was one of the reasons for creating Rev Worlds.
At the end of the two days, Mr. Nakada asked the students, “Is there anyone here who feels frustrated about not being selected today?”
“Frustration” and “passion” drive business.
We learned a very important lesson. Thank you, Nakada-san, Kawata-san, and Asaka-san!