Asian Entrepreneurship Award Announces 2013 Award Winners
CONNEXX SYSTEMS CORPORATION of Japan Takes First Prize
June 3, 2013
Future Design Center Incorporated Association
TX Entrepreneur Partners General Incorporated Association
Division of University Corporate Relations, The University of Tokyo
Chiba Prefecture
Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.
The Future Design Center, TX Entrepreneur Partners, the University of Tokyo's Division of University Corporate Relations, Chiba Prefecture, and Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. are pleased to announce the winners of the Asian Entrepreneurship Award 2013, which was held from May 29 to 31, 2013. CONNEXX SYSTEMS CORPORATION from Japan was awarded the first prize. This international business competition for Asian startups was mainly held at Tokatsu Techno Plaza in the Kashiwa-no-ha Campus district in Chiba Prefecture's Kashiwa City. Over 630 entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, investors, students wishing to start their own businesses in the future, attended the three day event.
AEA2013 saw 20 technology startups nominated from 12 countries and regions across Asia compete to be recognized as Asia's leading startup. Representatives from these companies presented their business plans in this international business competition, with the aim to be judged as the top startup in the following areas: Innovation, economic and social impact potential and implementation feasibility.
Entrepreneurs from across Asia spent the three days learning from discussions with peers and experts. Participants expanded their networks, in addition to being mentored by venture capitalists based in Japan. They utilized expert advice to polish their presentations in preparation for the Semi-Finals which were held on the final day of the awards. Six of the twenty companies moved on to the Finals, presenting their business plans before a large, enthusiastic audience. After careful consideration, the panel of judges announced the following award winners:
Asian Entrepreneurship Award 2013 Winners
| First Prize |
CONNEXX SYSTEMS CORPORATION (Japan)
Representative: Hisashi TSUKAMOTO (CEO)
Manufactures energy storage systems (ESSs)
Prize money: 3 million yen *1
|
| Second Prize |
AyoxxA (Singapore)
Representative: Andreas SCHMIDT (CEO)
Commercializes protein analysis technology
Gauss Lasers Technology Co., Ltd (China)
Representative: Shian ZHOU (General Manager)
Develops ultrashort pulse fiber lasers
TaraFresh (Thailand)
Representative: Boonying BURANAWATTANACHOK (CEO)
Developed and markets water purification systems
Prize money: 2 million yen (the sum of second and third place prize moneys) is equally shared by the three companies *1 *2 |
| Chiba Prefecture Governor's Prize |
CONNEXX SYSTEMS CORPORATION (Japan)
Representative: Hisashi TSUKAMOTO (CEO)
Manufactures energy storage systems (ESSs)
Three-year free tenancy in Tokatsu Techno Plaza *3 |
| Intel Prize *4 |
CONNEXX SYSTEMS CORPORATION (Japan)
Representative: Hisashi TSUKAMOTO (CEO)
Manufactures energy storage systems (ESSs)
Qualifies to compete in Intel Asia Pacific Challenge *5 |
| Shui On Group
Prize *6
|
Rayark Inc. (Taiwan)
Representative: Shih Chun CHANG (Vice President, Marketing & Communication)
Develops games
Business support in Shanghai and right to use InnoSpace *7 for six months free of charge |
| Japan New Business Conferences Chairman's Prize |
Piktochart Sdn Bhd (Malaysia)
Representative: Ai Ching GOH (CEO)
Provides apps to create infographics
Prize money: 300,000 |
*1 Two laptop computers were provided to each of the companies as bonus prize by Hewlett-Packard Japan, Ltd., an AEA co-sponsor.
*2 Three companies were ranked third at this year's competition. A third of combined total of second and third place prize moneys was presented to each of the three companies.
*3 Tokatsu Techno Plaza is an incubation facility established by Chiba Prefecture in the Kashiwa-no-ha Campus in Chiba's Kashiwa City.
*4 The Intel Prize was awarded to a team selected from the entrants from Japan.
*5 The Intel Asia Pacific Challenge is an entrepreneur competition held by Intel Corporation, an AEA co-sponsor.
*6 The Shui On Group Prize was awarded to the top-placing entrant whose business deals with IT or IT-related clean technology.
*7 InnoSpace is an incubation facility located in the Knowledge and Information Community (KIC) complex in Shanghai.
Launched in fiscal 2012, AEA is the only full-fledged international business competition in Japan. AEA's mission is to provide a platform for Japan to help foster entrepreneurial spirit in Asia, simultaneously establishing Kashiwa-no-ha Campus - a district created by cutting-edge urban planning for new industry creation - as a major hub of global innovation. In its second year, the program has significantly expanded, increasing the number of participating startups and adding new prizes. AEA aims to bring together entrepreneurs and research institutions, private sectors firms, venture capitalists, mentors, and angel investors from around the world to support the creation of an ecosystem that supports the development of successive generations of startups.
Scenes from Asian Entrepreneurship Award 2013
Speech by Dai Tamesue, former Japanese Olympic athlete
Building global networks, one of AEA's primary goals
Mentoring by Japanese mentors
Extremely enthusiastic Final round of competition
First Prize winner CONNEXX SYSTEMS CORPORATION receiving award
Group photo of AEA2013 prizewinners
