# MakiChalle (まきチャレ) — Official Website

> MakiChalle (まきチャレ) is the Makinohara City Challenge Business Contest, a regional open innovation event organized by Makinohara City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

## Overview

- **Official Name (JA):** 牧之原市チャレンジビジネスコンテスト（まきチャレ）
- **Official Name (EN):** Makinohara City Challenge Business Contest (MakiChalle)
- **Website:** https://www.makichalle.jp
- **Organized by:** Makinohara City (牧之原市)
- **Planned by:** Makinohara City Chamber of Commerce (牧之原市商工会)
- **Operations:** CF Startup Partners, Inc. (株式会社CFスタートアップパートナーズ)
- **Supported by:** Shizuoka Prefecture, METI Kanto Bureau

## What is MakiChalle?

MakiChalle is a business plan contest (pitch event) that invites startups from Japan and around the world to propose business plans that leverage Makinohara City's regional resources — including agriculture (tea, strawberries), fisheries (Suruga Bay), manufacturing (automotive, beverages), and tourism (surfing, Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport). The event aims to create regional open innovation by matching startups with local businesses for collaboration.

## Key Facts

- **First held:** 2022
- **Current edition:** MakiChalle 2026 (5th edition)
- **Entry deadline (2026):** July 17, 2026
- **2025 results:** 168 entries from 11 countries (95 domestic + 73 international), 31 sponsors, Grand Prize ¥2,000,000
- **2024 results:** 149 entries from 8 countries, 27 sponsors, Grand Prize ¥1,000,000
- **2023 results:** 131 entries from 5 countries, 23 sponsors
- **2022 results:** 91 entries from 3 countries, 17 sponsors

## Recent Grand Prize Winners

- **2025:** roly-poly Organics (Shizuoka, Japan) — Circular fertilizer business using pill bugs
- **2024:** Midwest Composites Sdn Bhd (Malaysia) — Eco-friendly composite materials using waste tea trees
- **2023:** ParaLux (Fukuoka, Japan) — Wedding business leveraging Makinohara's regional resources
- **2022:** S.Lab (Ukraine) — Sustainable packaging materials using tea trees and mycelium

## About Makinohara City

Makinohara City is located in central-western Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Population approximately 40,000. Home to Japan's largest tea plantation (Makinohara Plateau) and Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport. Manufacturing shipment value approximately ¥1 trillion. The city combines rich agricultural heritage with international transportation access.

## Post-Event Support

MakiChalle is not just about the contest. After the event, organizers facilitate collaboration between startups and local businesses, with government officials and the operating company attending meetings to provide ongoing support. In MakiChalle 2024, over 30 companies received follow-up support.

## 2026 Sponsors

MakiChalle 2026 is supported by the following sponsor companies:

### Special Partners
- **水野建設工業株式会社 (Mizuno Construction)** — Construction & nuclear power plant maintenance (Makinohara City)
- **まきのはらインキュベーションセンター (MIC)** — Shared office & incubation center supporting startups in Makinohara
- **東遠ガス熔材株式会社 (Toen Gas)** — Gas welding materials
- **株式会社静岡銀行 (Shizuoka Bank)** — Regional banking

### General Partners
- **社会保険労務士法人みとら経営 (Mitra)** — Social insurance & labor consultancy
- **矢崎部品株式会社ものづくりセンター (Yazaki)** — Automotive parts manufacturing
- **株式会社エノテック (Enotec)** — Technology company
- **笠原産業株式会社 (Kasahara Industry)** — Industrial manufacturing
- **ハイナン農業協同組合 JAハイナン (JA Hainan)** — Agricultural cooperative
- **島田掛川信用金庫 (Shimada-Kakegawa Shinkin Bank)** — Regional credit union
- **株式会社村上開明堂 (Murakami Kaimeido)** — Automotive mirror manufacturing
- **株式会社マクニカ (Macnica)** — Semiconductor distribution & technology
- **相良建設株式会社 (Sagara Construction)** — Civil engineering & exterior construction (75+ years)
- **しずおか焼津信用金庫 (Shizuoka-Yaizu Shinkin Bank)** — Regional credit union
- **株式会社鈴木土建 (Suzuki Doken)** — Civil engineering
- **相良子生まれ温泉 (Koumare Onsen)** — Hot spring resort
- **株式会社加藤組 (Katogumi)** — Construction
- **株式会社木村組 (Kimura-Gumi)** — Construction
- **浜松いわた信用金庫 (Hamamatsu-Iwata Shinkin Bank)** — Regional credit union

## FAQ

- **Q: What is MakiChalle?** A: A business contest (pitch event) organized by Makinohara City to support startups challenging the world from a regional city. Since 2022, 168 companies from 11 countries have participated.
- **Q: Is there a participation fee?** A: No. Participation is completely free from entry through the final round.
- **Q: Can I apply from overseas?** A: Yes, participants from 11 countries have joined. No restrictions on nationality or location.
- **Q: Can I participate online?** A: Yes, it is held as an online pitch event. Finalists can choose between on-site and online participation.
- **Q: What are the judging criteria?** A: Innovativeness, potential for regional collaboration, business growth potential, team execution capability, and social impact.
- **Q: How can I become a sponsor?** A: Multiple sponsorship plans are available (Special Partner, Partner tiers). Contact via inquiry form.
- **Q: Where can I find past winners?** A: Visit the Archive page for finalists and award winners from 2022-2025.

## Contact

- **Email:** info@cfsp.co.jp
- **Secretariat:** CF Startup Partners, Inc.

## Pages

- Home: https://www.makichalle.jp/ja
- About: https://www.makichalle.jp/ja/about
- Entry: https://www.makichalle.jp/ja/apply
- Schedule: https://www.makichalle.jp/ja/schedule
- Results: https://www.makichalle.jp/ja/results
- Winners' Voices: https://www.makichalle.jp/ja/voices
- Sponsors: https://www.makichalle.jp/ja/sponsors
- Why Makinohara: https://www.makichalle.jp/ja/why-makinohara
- FAQ: https://www.makichalle.jp/ja/faq
- News: https://www.makichalle.jp/ja/news
- Judges: https://www.makichalle.jp/ja/judges
- Participating Startups: https://www.makichalle.jp/ja/startups
- Archive 2025: https://www.makichalle.jp/ja/archive/2025
- Archive 2024: https://www.makichalle.jp/ja/archive/2024
- Contact: https://www.makichalle.jp/ja/contact
- English version: https://www.makichalle.jp/en

### Sponsor Detail Pages
- Mizuno Construction: https://www.makichalle.jp/ja/sponsors/mizuno-construction
- MIC (Incubation Center): https://www.makichalle.jp/ja/sponsors/mic
- Mitra: https://www.makichalle.jp/ja/sponsors/mitra
- Sagara Construction: https://www.makichalle.jp/ja/sponsors/sagara-construction
- Shizuoka-Yaizu Shinkin Bank: https://www.makichalle.jp/ja/sponsors/shizuoka-yaizu