25 May 2022

Following hot on the heels of the New Zealand Prime Minister’s visit to Japan in April 2022, the organisations who brought BizVenture Japan to life in September 2021 are back in action. This year will see 30 students from New Zealand and 20 from Tokyo, Japan come together in person and online from 29-31 July, to solve real-life business challenges. Students will develop and pitch solutions for Cookie Time, a New Zealand business that has been exporting to Japan since 2016.

After the successful pilot event last year, BizVenture collaborators have bigger plans for 2022. Misa Kitaoka, ENZ’s Director of Education – Japan, is looking forward to hosting the Japanese team and Cookie Time Japan at the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo for the business challenge pitches.

“We are delighted to welcome Cookie Time Japan to BizVenture 2022 as a corporate partner. Cookie Time Japan is an ideal partner in this project. While embracing the Kiwi entrepreneurial spirit, the company has done an amazing job developing products which cater to local demands and preferences, particularly in the youth market.” – Misa Kitaoka.

Last year’s BizVenture collaboration saw the students exposed to business and culture in both countries via a weekend of interactive workshops with New Zealand and Japanese guest speakers, cultural mentors and language coaches, in preparation for their pitches.

Ian Kennedy was a judge at BizVenture Japan 2021 and is the Chair of the New Zealand Committee on the Japan New Zealand Business Council, a role that brought him back to Japan in April during the Prime Minister’s visit. Kennedy is looking forward to the next iteration of the programme with the 2022 participants.

“Technology is a wonderful thing, but the chance to meet people in person was gold after two years of online communication working through a screen. I look forward to being a judge and sharing my recent experience in Japan business exchanges with the BizVenture participants, so they can learn more about doing business with Japan.”

Applications for New Zealand students to participate closed on 13 May and selection will be completed by the end of May. The 30 New Zealand students are being selected from the nearly 4700 students participating in The Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme. Funding is provided for New Zealand students to travel to Wellington for the weekend business challenge event.

“I felt inspired after seeing the students’ business cases, which were commercial, socially-minded, and demonstrated thoughtful engagement in each other’s cultures. North Asia CAPE is thrilled to work with Young Enterprise, ENZ and Japanese partners again on this important initiative in support of future business leaders in New Zealand and Japan.” – Charlie Gao, Director, NA CAPE

The programme is designed to continually build on New Zealand’s diplomatic relationship with Japan as travel for international students is starting to resume. The organisers hope this year’s BizVenture will serve as an important show of commitment by New Zealand and Japan to develop global citizens and business savvy young people, who will be future leaders in the education and business sectors across our two countries.