Gifu University Student Wins the Japan MIT Venture Forum Award at the 22nd Campus Venture Grand Prix National Competition
At the 22nd Campus Venture Grand Prix National Competition (CVG 2025), held on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Mr. SUGIMOTO Ryota, a fourth-year student in the Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences at Gifu University and President & CEO of Umai Japan Inc., received the Japan MIT Venture Forum Award.
The Campus Venture Grand Prix (CVG) is one of Japan's longest-running venture and startup competitions, having originated in Osaka in 1999. Students who advance through regional competitions in eight regions nationwide--Hokkaido, Tohoku, Tokyo, Chubu, Osaka, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu--earn the right to compete in the national finals. The competition is widely known as a "gateway for student entrepreneurs."
Mr. Sugimoto founded Umai Japan Inc. in July 2023 while he was a member of Gifu University's Startup Club. The company owns its own persimmon orchards and manages the entire process from production to sales, while also actively pursuing overseas exports. The company's branded Fuyu persimmons, a specialty of Gifu Prefecture marketed as "Umai KAKI," are sold at high-end supermarkets and online shops in Japan. They have also been selected for service in JAL international first-class cabins, demonstrating the brand's growing global presence.
Gifu University will continue to actively promote initiatives to support university-based ventures and cultivate entrepreneurial talent, while consistently sharing updates on these activities.
