We are pleased to announce that the Asian Entrepreneurship Awards 2024 (AEA2024) are now open for applications! Held annually since 2012, AEA2024 is an innovation award event for startups in the Asia region co-hosted by JETRO. Fifteen startups will be selected from all across Asia to be judged and awarded through business pitches.

This year’s categories are: 

1. Life Science & Healthcare
2. Mobility
3. Environment & Energy
4. Smart City to C

With AEA2024 being held in-person for the first time in five years, a number of networking opportunities are also in the works. Selected companies will have the opportunity to match with Japanese companies partnered with co-host Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. Additionally, award winners may be given priority participation in conducting demonstration projects at the Kashi-no-ha smart city.

Applications are to be submitted to syd-bd@jetro.go.jp by 6 August (Tuesday).

AEA2024 Application Form ＜Word＞ (57KB) 

Event Details

Date: 20 November Wed 2024 (Not open to the public)

          21 November Thu 2024 (Open to the public)

Location: Kashiwa-no-ha Open Innovation Lab (KOIL) and Kashiwa-no-ha Conference Centre (KCC) (Kashiwa city, Chiba)

Language: English (Simultaneous interpretation will be available in some sections)

Travel Expenses:

Accommodation	Fully subsidised by AEA
Airfare	Subsidies based on distance (Prices in the economy class range are set to be fully subsidised by AEA)

Award Details:

First Prize	3 million JPY
Second Prize	1 million JPY
Third Prize	500,000 JPY
Kashiwa-no-ha Prize	Award money (TBD); support towards a demonstration in Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City
Special Award	TBD

Entry Requirements

Please find entry requirement details in the application form.

Tentative Timeline

6 Aug (Tue)	Application deadline
Aug	Application results released
Mid-Sep	AEA provides mentoring for successful startups
20 Nov (Wed)	AEA2024 Day 1 - Semi-finals; 6 finalists are selected
21 Nov (Thu)	AEA2024 Day 2 - Finals; award winners are selected

Award Procedure

1. A maximum of three startups will be selected per JETRO office during the initial application screening process.
2. Fifteen startups across Asia will be selected as semi-finalists through a second application screening process.
3. On day 1, semi-finalists will present a 15-min pitch followed by a 15-minute Q&A session. Six finalists will be selected for the final session on day 2.
4. On day 2, finalists will once again present a 15-min pitch followed by a 15-minute Q&A session. Prize winners will be selected.

For any questions or queries, please contact JETRO Sydney by email: syd-bd@jetro.go.jp