Two GU Student Team win at 'Tongali Business Plan Competition 2024'
Two student teams from Gifu University won at the 'Tongali Business Plan Competition 2024' which took place in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture on Saturday, June 15, 2024. The competition aims to support university students' creation of venture businesses and cultivate successful future entrepreneurs.
A record-breaking 65 university student teams participated in a series of competitions, with only 16 teams advancing to the final stage. At the final stage, two Gifu University student teams secured multiple awards this year. This achievement marks the third consecutive year that Gifu University student teams have received accolades at the Tongali competitions.
On Thursday, July 4, two winning teams visited the Office of the President and reported their achievements to President YOSHIDA Kazuhiro. During the meeting, team members introduced their business plans. Mr. SAITO Kaisei, the leader of 'GenomicGarden' team, expressed, "Initially, no one on our team imagined that we could win the competition, but we were honored to receive both the 'Award of Excellence' and the 'Overseas Challenging Award.' We believe that our business plan was highly evaluated, providing us with significant self-confidence. We remain committed to expanding our activities, using these awards as important steppingstones for our growth."
Ms. YAMAMOTO Mana, the leader of 'NyuuGyuu wo sukuitai (want to save dairy cattle)' team, followed by saying, "I am very glad that our team's efforts to save dairy cattle paid off. We learned a lot from our experiences of participating in the competitions, and we are committed to continuing to challenge ourselves for our cause."
President Yoshida congratulated them on their wining and expressed his strong wishes as follows: "Your victory at the 'Tongali Business Plan Competition 2024' is a result of your constant, strenuous efforts and ingenuity." He added, "I am also overjoyed with the multiple awards received by Gifu University student teams for three years in a row. Please continue to learn and challenge yourselves. You all have great potential to succeed, and we will continue to root for your growth and future success."
Gifu University wholeheartedly supports student challenges and growth, striving to produce human resources who can, "Learn, Explore and Contribute."
The following are the team names, business plan themes and the members who won the 'Tongali Business Plan Competition 2024.'
■Team Name: 'GenomicGarden'
Theme: Pharm Technology using Miniature Pigs
Leader: Mr. SAITO Kaisei, four-year student, Joint Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences
Members: Associate Professor TAKASU Masaki, Dr. HANO Kazuki, Institute for Advanced Study
Awards: Tongali Award, Award of Excellence (second place), Overseas Challenging Award
■Team Name: 'NyuuGyuu wo sukuitai'
Theme: Hidagyu Beef by Strawberries?
Leader: Ms. YAMAMOTO Mana, first-year student, Department of Life Science and Chemistry, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology
Members: Ms. YAMAMOTO Chika, Mr. TERADA Koutaro, and Ms. CHIKAMA Kotomi, first-year students, Department of Life Science and Chemistry, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology>
Awards: Tongali Award (fifth place), OKB Award
(from left at the second row)
Vice President OYABU Chiho, President Yoshida,
Professor UEHARA Masayuki
(from left at the first row)
Mr. Saito, Ms. Yamamoto Mana, Ms. Yamamoto Chika,
Ms. Chikama, and Mr. Terada
