At Tokyo Techies, we believe innovation is sparked by curiosity and powered by opportunity. That’s why we’re proud to sponsor the Teenagers Business Contest Japan (TBCJ), a unique initiative that gives high school students across Japan the tools, guidance, and platform to turn their ideas into impact.

TBCJ invites students to tackle real-world regional issues through business innovation, fostering not only entrepreneurial thinking but also leadership, collaboration, and social awareness. In a country where youth entrepreneurship is still emerging, Tokyo Techies sees this initiative as a crucial step toward nurturing Japan’s future changemakers.

Addressing Japan’s Entrepreneurship Gap

Despite its technological leadership, Japan continues to face challenges in fostering a thriving startup ecosystem, particularly among younger generations. Many students with creative ideas rarely get the encouragement or resources needed to explore entrepreneurship early on.

TBCJ is helping to change that. By engaging high school students in developing solutions for local issues, especially in rural areas, the competition offers hands-on experience in innovation, critical thinking, and business design. Participants present their proposals in English, further preparing them to think globally while acting locally.

At Tokyo Techies, we recognize how important this kind of opportunity is. As a company built from the ground up in Japan’s own startup ecosystem, we know how difficult the journey can be. Supporting youth innovation is part of our long-term commitment to building a more vibrant and resilient tech culture in Japan.

Vision and Drive: The Story Behind TBCJ

TBCJ was founded by Millie Gan, a high school student and participant in the Stanford e-Entrepreneurship Japan (SeEJ) program. Motivated by a desire to address the lack of entrepreneurial opportunities for young people in Japan, Millie created a space where her peers could learn by doing—proposing, testing, and presenting real business ideas that aim to solve real community problems.

Her initiative reflects a growing need to equip young people with the mindset and tools to lead innovation. Millie's leadership, maturity, and clarity of purpose have inspired many, including our own team here at Tokyo Techies. Supporting TBCJ is one way we can help ensure her efforts reach as many future innovators as possible.

A Personal Commitment: Duc as Mentor and Judge

In addition to our sponsorship, Duc Doba, founder and CEO of Tokyo Techies, is contributing directly to the event as both a mentor and a judge. With a career that spans major roles at SoftBank, Rakuten, Line Corp, and SB Cloud, Duc brings deep industry expertise to the table. As a product manager, cloud architect, and startup founder, he understands what it takes to turn ideas into reality.

Duc’s passion for education is longstanding. He helped organize the first collaborative educational hackathon between Japan and Vietnam and has mentored numerous aspiring engineers and entrepreneurs. His role at TBCJ is a natural continuation of his commitment to empowering the next generation not only through advising, but through meaningful, hands-on engagement.

AI Support at TBCJ: Powered by Kotae

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To further support this year’s participants, Tokyo Techies is providing access to Kotae: our in-house AI chatbot designed to assist users with real-time support.

Kotae acts as a digital guide for participants, mentors, and anyone seeking information about TBCJ, from program schedules and rules, to common startup questions. The chatbot makes information more accessible, enabling students to stay focused and confident as they build and refine their ideas.

By offering Kotae, we hope to remove friction and ensure that every participant, regardless of background, feels supported throughout the process. You can explore Kotae at kotae.ai.

A Step Toward a More Innovative Future

TBCJ is helping to create a generation of young people who don’t just learn about problems; they learn how to solve them. The competition combines education with action, offering students a rare chance to engage deeply with real-world challenges and present their solutions with professionalism and confidence.

At Tokyo Techies, we are honored to support this vision. Through sponsorship, mentorship, and technological tools like Kotae, we are investing in the people who will define Japan’s future.

When students are given the chance to lead, they do more than dream. They deliver.