2nd C×E×O Business Contest Held: Challengers, Including High School Students, Deliver Passionate Presentations; Rena Nakamura Wins with 'Memory Preservation' Concept

On April 11, 2026, Startup Factory (Head office: Meguro-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Osamu Suzuki) hosted the 2nd C×E×O Business Contest at TOKYO FM Hall. The event featured 10 challengers, ranging from high school students to individuals in their 30s, who presented innovative business ideas and products. Rena Nakamura, 25, of yomiyomi Inc., secured first place. Her winning concept involved creating tangible forms of memories through sticker-type products and experiential events, including collaborations with various companies and intellectual properties. Other notable presentations included an indoor drone show by Kazuma Kumazawa (SkyBear Inc.), a neo gymnastics and ninja acrobat performance by Daisuke Takahashi (TTM Inc.), a platform for evaluating human skills by Yudai Suzuki (Rakuten Group Inc.), a regional revitalization project by Harami (Mirai Kasahara) (G.K. CGO.com), a barbershop modernization and overseas expansion plan by Shinri Akahoshi (RADI Inc.), international business support leveraging foreign talent networks by Yujin Yamaguchi (Emunitas Inc.), a fitness technology venture with the University of Tokyo Bodybuilding Club by Tatsuya Nakao (Bulk Technologies Inc.), and a Shibuya high school girl culture experience business by a team from Shibuya Girls International School. The judging panel included Kei Tanaka, Takanori Kataishi (yutori Inc.), Ayumi Chikamoto (ICHIGO Inc.), and Naomi Trauden.