【Deadline: April 12, 2026】ARUN Seed Calls for Entrepreneurs to Create the Future of Water in its 7th CSI Challenge, a Social Investment Competition

ARUN Seed (Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Satoko Kuno; hereinafter, ARUN), a specified non-profit organization, is holding its 7th CSI Challenge, a social investment business competition that aims to realize a nature-positive society starting with water, and is recruiting entrepreneurs from Japan and abroad until April 12, 2026 (Sunday).

This challenge is ARUN's unique mechanism that raises donations through crowdfunding and provides investment and hands-on support to selected entrepreneurs. ARUN has previously conducted CSI Challenges on social issues such as gender equality and biodiversity. To date, approximately 464 social entrepreneurs from 40 countries have participated.

This Year's Theme: 【New Abundance Created by Nature's Regeneration: Passing on the Blessings of Water to the Next Generation】

We have received abundant 'blessings of water' from previous generations. While water is the foundation of our bodies, culture, and society, this blessing is now facing a crisis due to depletion and pollution.

In response to these challenges, businesses implemented by entrepreneurs with innovative ideas starting from water have the potential to simultaneously realize physical health, mental well-being, community self-reliance, and the recovery and regeneration of nature. We believe that passing on the blessings of water to the next generation will also lead to the realization of a sustainable society.

This year's CSI Challenge seeks diverse entrepreneurial ideas across seven industrial fields, starting from 'water,' such as water resource conservation/regeneration, water and health, water and food, water and local communities, and water and livelihoods.

＜CSI Challenge 7 Implementation Outline＞

Business Competition

・ Theme: 'New Abundance Created by Nature's Regeneration' Passing on the Blessings of Water to the Next Generation

・ Application Deadline: April 12, 2026, 23:59 (Japan time)

・ Eligibility: Applicants must be domestic or international businesses with legal entity status that are working to solve social issues related to biodiversity and nature regeneration, starting from water. Please refer to the application guidelines for detailed eligibility requirements.

・ Selection Criteria: Effectiveness of problem-solving, social impact, sustainability, innovativeness, etc.

・ How to Apply: Please check the application guidelines on the official page and apply.

CSI Challenge 7｜NPO ARUN Seed

・ Sponsors/Supporters:

・Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Group (Main Sponsor)

・MS&AD Unison Smile Club

・Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd.

・Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

Through this challenge, ARUN will support entrepreneurs who are tackling social issues starting from water.

Moving forward, we aim to expand support for businesses that achieve both nature regeneration and social problem-solving, and to create new businesses for the realization of a sustainable society.