3rd Edition

Global College Startup Camp 2026

Borders to Bridges: Solving Social Issues through Cross-Cultural Innovation

Feb 8-11, 2026

Tokyo, Japan

80 Students, 20 Teams

Learn More

2025.12.30

🎉 Selection Results Announced

Accepted: 40 applicants

Waitlisted: 10 applicants

⚠️ Important: Please confirm your participation via the Google Form in the email we sent by January 3, 2026 (Fri) 24:00 JST.

If you miss the deadline, your spot will be offered to waitlisted candidates. Team formation starts immediately, so stay alert. Let's do this!

* Those who were not selected can still attend the final presentations (details to follow)

2025.12.27

✅ Applications Closed

GCSC 2026 application period has officially ended as of December 26 (Fri) midnight.

Final Applications: 117 (2.93x competition rate for 40 Japan spots)

📊 Applicant Analysis:

• Applications from the following universities:

Hitotsubashi University, Eikei University, Shiga University, Chuo University, Toyo University, Tohoku University, Sophia University, Meiji University, Hosei University, Keio University, Jissen Women's University, Musashino University, Teikyo University, Komazawa University, Rissho University, Fukui Prefectural University, Showa Women's University, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Tokyo Denki University, Ochanomizu University, Kansai University, Hiroshima Shudo University, Kwansei Gakuin University, Nihon University, Fukushima University, The University of Tokyo, Aoyama Gakuin University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Takasaki City University of Economics, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Doshisha University, Kanda University of International Studies, Korea University Japan, Waseda University, Kindai University, Nanzan University, University of Cambridge, Temple University Japan Campus

Thank you for your applications! Selection results will be sent via email early next week. Please wait for our notification.

* Even if you have the application form already open, submissions after the deadline will not be accepted.

2026.01.18

🏆 Award Details Announced!

GCSC 2026 award details have been finalized.

Global Track

🥇 Gold (¥300,000)
presented by Korea Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment

🥈 Silver (¥150,000)

🥉 Bronze (¥100,000)

Local Track

🥇 Gold (¥300,000)
presented by Kunitachi City Mayor

🥈 Silver (¥150,000)

🥉 Bronze (¥100,000)

Total prize pool: ¥1.1M. See Awards section for details.

As of Dec 26, Noon

📈 60 Applications for 40 Japan Spots!

We've received 60 applications for 40 spots from Japan, making it highly competitive with a 1.5x competition rate! Free participation + travel support available.

Deadline: Today, Dec 26 (Fri) at Midnight ｜ Event: Feb 8-11, 2026 (Sun-Wed)

Total Prize: ¥1.1M: 1st Prize ¥300K, 2nd Prize ¥150K, 3rd Prize ¥100K per track

Note: Korea received 500 applications for 40 spots—ultra competitive! Join elite teams and aim for excellence! 🔥

2025.12.25

📋 Program Details Unveiled

Here's what to expect during the 4-day intensive program.

📅 DAY 1 (Feb 8): Opening ceremony, 2 keynote speeches (Mr. Nakamura from Kopernik, Ms. Minagawa from Women's Health Innovation), team building

📅 DAY 2 (Feb 9): Intensive development day. 4-5 external mentors circulate 3 times. Faculty support at night

📅 DAY 3 (Feb 10): Final presentations & awards at Tokyo Innovation Base. Preliminary 20 teams → Final 6 teams. External audience invited

📅 DAY 4 (Feb 11): Excursion (Tokyo sightseeing, ¥2,500/person subsidy)

🏆 Prizes: 1st Prize ¥300K, 2nd ¥150K, 3rd ¥100K per track (Total ¥1.1M)

🎯 Two Tracks: Global Issue Track (Climate, SDGs, etc.) / Local Issue Track (Regional revitalization, aging society, etc.)

📚 Pre-program: Online sessions scheduled for Jan 18 & Feb 1

BIG NEWS

🎉 Travel Subsidy Confirmed!

Travel subsidies will be provided to GCSC 2026 participants from Japan according to Hitotsubashi University's travel regulations.

Covered: Train tickets, express tickets, etc. Please use discount tickets when flying.

⚠️ Note: If you are away from your university (e.g., visiting home), the subsidy covers travel from your university's location to the venue, not from your current location.

* For transportation other than rail, please contact us in advance.

2025.12.24

📹 Information Session Recording Now Available

The recording of the GCSC 2026 Online Information Session (held December 23) is now available on YouTube.

Watch the Session Recording

2025.12.15

Featured by Kyodo News

GCSC 2026 was covered by Kyodo News and distributed to newspapers and TV stations across Japan.

【National / Portal】
Yahoo! News ／ 47NEWS ／ nippon.com ／ excite News ／ livedoor News ／ d-menu News ／ au one

【Regional Papers / TV】
Iwate Nippo ／ Akita Sakigake ／ Yamagata Shimbun ／ Niigata Nippo ／ Chiba TV ／ Tokyo Shimbun ／ Kyoto Shimbun ／ Nara Shimbun ／ Sanyo Shimbun ／ Shikoku Shimbun ／ Kochi Shimbun ／ Nishinippon Shimbun ／ Saga Shimbun ／ Kumamoto Nichinichi ／ Minami Nippon Shimbun ／ Okinawa Times

GCSC 2025 Highlights

Scroll

Core Concept

From Competition to Co-Creation

The Global College Startup Camp (GCSC) is an intensive, cross-border entrepreneurship program co-hosted by Hitotsubashi University School of Social Data Science (Japan) and Gachon University Cocone School (Korea).

For the 2026 edition, we are elevating the challenge by introducing a dual-track system focused on "Global" and "Local" social issues. Students will not merely compete; they will co-create. By forming mixed teams of Japanese and Korean students, participants will bridge linguistic and cultural divides to design sustainable business solutions that address the most pressing problems of our time.

Global Issue Track

Focuses on borderless, macro-scale challenges such as climate change, poverty alleviation, or pandemic resilience. The goal is scalability.

10 Teams

Local Issue Track

Focuses on deep-rooted, community-specific challenges such as aging populations, revitalizing rural economies, or urban isolation. The goal is depth and empathy.

10 Teams

Program Details

3-Day Intensive Program + 1-Day Exchange

Dates

February 8 (Sun) – February 11 (Wed / National Holiday), 2026

A 3-day intensive program plus 1-day exchange, from collaborative retreat to pitch stage

Camp & Development Hub

National Olympics Memorial Youth Center (NYC)

Yoyogi, Tokyo – Base for accommodation, team building, and 3-day hackathon/workshop sessions

Final Pitch Venue

Tokyo Innovation Base (TiB)

Yurakucho, Tokyo – Premier node for startups, pitch in front of investors and experts

Keynote Session

From Vision to Social Implementation

Two distinguished leaders share how cross-border experiments and femtech ecosystems turn overlooked issues into innovation.

Mr. Toshi Nakamura

Co-founder & CEO, Kopernik / Guest Professor, Osaka University

After graduating from Kyoto University (Law) and earning a Master's in Comparative Politics at LSE, Mr. Nakamura worked as a management consultant at McKinsey Tokyo and later at UNDP, engaging in development work in East Timor, Sierra Leone, and other countries. In 2009, he co-founded Kopernik, an NGO that conducts proof-of-concept experiments and deploys simple technology solutions in "last mile" communities in developing countries. Selected as a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum (Davos) in 2012.

Tentative Session Title

"Transforming Social Challenges into Global Solutions" (subject to change)

Ms. Tomoko Minagawa

Founder & President, Japan Women's Health Innovation Association / Executive Director, Women's Health Commercial Lead, Organon

Currently responsible for Organon's business development and expansion specifically in Women's Health and Femtech domain. Founded Femtech Community Japan (now Japan Women's Health Innovation Association), which became a general incorporated association in July 2022. Prior to Organon, engaged in startup investment at Global Brain, focusing on Femtech (Women's health), Insurtech and Deeptech. Specialised in management consulting for enterprise companies in cross-border business development and strategic alliance implementation, with experience at IBM and startup CxO roles. Masters in Engineering at University of Tokyo, MBA at University of Cambridge.

Tentative Session Title

Title TBA — Femtech, overlooked markets, and social implementation (subject to change)

Cohort & Team Structure

United by Diversity

Selected Students

→

Mixed Teams

→

Members per Team

Team Composition

Each team consists of 4 members: 2 from Japanese universities + 2 from Korean universities

Participation Fee

Completely FREE

Participation is free. Focus on bringing your ideas to life without worrying about costs.

Free Participation

¥0

No cost to participate in the program

What's Included

Accommodation, Meals, Materials & Mentorship

3 nights accommodation, all meals, workshop materials, and expert mentoring

Travel Support

Subsidy Available!

Participants from Japan receive travel subsidies covering round-trip transportation from their university to the venue

Selection Process

We're Looking for Changemakers

GCSC 2026 welcomes all students who are motivated to tackle social challenges. Applicants will be evaluated based on an essay submission. We are not just looking for high grades; we are looking for passionate changemakers.

Social Awareness

Does the applicant have a clear, well-articulated reason for wanting to solve a specific Global or Local issue? Is it based on personal experience or deep research?

Cross-Cultural Adaptability

Does the applicant view language barriers as a hurdle or an opportunity? We seek individuals ready to embrace diversity and navigate communication challenges.

Contribution & Skill

What specific value does the applicant bring? (e.g., Data Science, Design, Engineering, Business Strategy, or Leadership)

Grit & Resilience

The camp is a grueling 4-day sprint. We need participants who possess the mental toughness to pivot, iterate, and push through until the end.

Competition & Awards

Recognition for Excellence

Judging Criteria

Social Impact Feasibility Innovation Execution Cross-Border Synergy

The evaluation begins before the camp even starts. Essay submissions are reviewed for how clearly teams define the problem, the authenticity of their field insights, and how convincingly they connect their personal narratives to potential impact.

During the four-day sprint mentors record qualitative observations, and the final pitch panel scores each team using the five metrics above (Impact 30%, Feasibility 25%, Innovation 20%, Execution 15%, Cross-border Synergy 10%). Slides, prototypes, and evidence of user testing are all weighed in this scoring sheet.

The judging committee combines faculty, investors, and social innovators from both Japan and Korea to keep cultural balance and ensure that both visionary ideas and realistic implementation plans are recognized.

Global Track

Gold Award

¥300,000

presented by
Korea Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment

Silver Award

¥150,000

Bronze Award

¥100,000

Local Track

Gold Award

¥300,000

presented by
Kunitachi City Mayor

Silver Award

¥150,000

Bronze Award

¥100,000

Organizers

Program Directors

Hitotsubashi University School of Social Data Science

Japan

Professor Naohiro Shichijo

Professor, Faculty of Social Data Science, Hitotsubashi University
Director, Center for Data-Driven Society Research, Institute for Advanced Social Sciences

Specializing in computational materials science, science and technology policy analysis, and foresight research. He has been involved in developing e-CSTI, a data infrastructure for evidence-based science, technology, and innovation policy at the Cabinet Office. At the OECD, he serves as Vice-Chair (Bureau) of the MARIAD Working Party, comparing project-level directions of government S&T expenditure across countries.

Gachon University Cocone School

Korea

Professor Jang Dayk

Dean, College of Entrepreneurship, Gachon University
Chairman, Google Korea Ecosystem Forum
CEO, Transverse Inc.

An interdisciplinary scholar who bridges science, philosophy, and entrepreneurship. Studied mechanical engineering at KAIST and earned his Ph.D. in History and Philosophy of Science from Seoul National University. Former professor at Seoul National University, specializing in evolutionary theory, cognitive science, and science communication. Recipient of the 11th Korea Science Culture Award (2010). A prolific author and thought leader in science culture, he now dedicates his expertise to fostering innovation ecosystems and entrepreneurship education.

Applications Closed

GCSC 2026 application period has officially ended as of December 26 (Fri) midnight.

Application Period Ended

Final Applications: 117 (2.93x competition rate for 40 Japan spots)
Selection results will be sent via email early next week.
Thank you for your applications!

* Even if you have the application form already open, submissions after the deadline will not be accepted.

Global College Startup Camp 2026

🎉 Selection Results Announced

✅ Applications Closed

🏆 Award Details Announced!

📈 60 Applications for 40 Japan Spots!

📋 Program Details Unveiled

🎉 Travel Subsidy Confirmed!

📹 Information Session Recording Now Available

GCSC 2026 Online Information Session [Ended]

Featured by Kyodo News

GCSC 2026 Announced at Tokyo Global Innovation Challenge

GCSC 2026 Official Poster Released

GCSC 2025 Highlights

From Competition to Co-Creation

Global Issue Track

Local Issue Track

3-Day Intensive Program + 1-Day Exchange

Dates

Camp & Development Hub

Final Pitch Venue

From Vision to Social Implementation

Mr. Toshi Nakamura

Tentative Session Title

Ms. Tomoko Minagawa

Tentative Session Title

United by Diversity

Team Composition

Completely FREE

Free Participation

What's Included

Travel Support

We're Looking for Changemakers

Social Awareness

Cross-Cultural Adaptability

Contribution & Skill

Grit & Resilience

Recognition for Excellence

Judging Criteria

Global Track

Gold Award

Silver Award

Bronze Award

Local Track

Gold Award

Silver Award

Bronze Award

Program Directors

Hitotsubashi University School of Social Data Science

Professor Naohiro Shichijo

Gachon University Cocone School

Professor Jang Dayk

Applications Closed