最新情報

Showcase Your Startup Business Ideas! Tuesday, December 23 at BIRTH LAB, a Communication Space in Azabujuban, Tokyo

　Takagi Building Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nishi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Hidekuni Takagi ※ The formal kanji for “Takagi” is ‘はしごだか’) will host the Japan preliminary round of the unique startup pitching competition born in Oulu, Finland, “Polar Bear Pitching TOKYO” (hereafter PBP TOKYO), on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at the communication space “BIRTH LAB” (Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo) operated by the company. Ahead of the event, we have launched the official website and begun accepting applications for speakers participating in the pitching event and for sponsoring organizations

Press release here＞＞

A Unique Pitching Event Born in the “Town of Education”

In recent years, Finland’s vibrant startup scene has been attributed to the development of an excellent, unique ecosystem—a framework that systematically supports the growth of startup companies. Oulu, located in Northern Finland, is one such hub. As the country’s fifth-largest city, Oulu is also known as a “City of Education,” where over one-third of the population holds a degree. It has achieved sustainable development through education and technology.

This competition serves as the Japanese qualifying round for the global startup event “Polar Bear Pitching,” which originated in Oulu, Finland, in 2014. With the support of BusinessOulu, an administrative body of the City of Oulu, the second edition of “PBP TOKYO” will be held, following the inaugural event in January 2025. The winner will receive the right to participate in the finals held in Oulu, Finland, on Thursday, February 26, 2026, along with travel and accommodation expenses.

The main program, the Avant Pitching Competition, features a unique style where startups selected from Japan and abroad present their business ideas without slides, immersed in icy water in an ice hole (Avant) cut into a frozen river, until they can no longer endure the cold. It tests how passionately participants can convey their business vision under extreme conditions, drawing significant attention from startup professionals, investors, and media worldwide. Beyond this distinctive pitching competition, it is a comprehensive global pitching event in Finland offering a rich program including conferences, matchmaking, networking, and other side events.

Call for Applications: Participating Startups

• Application Requirements:
  • Pitch must be conducted in English
  • Seed to early-stage companies with 2 or more members
  • Must have completed prototype development (demo or MVP)
  • Must be able to attend the finals held in Oulu, Finland on February 26, 2026, and the pre-event the day before (travel period: February 23–28, 2026)
  • Must be in good health
• Number of entries: 10 groups total
• Cost: Free (entry fee)
• How to Apply: Please apply via the entry form on the official website.
• Application Deadline: Sunday, November 30, 2025, 6:00 PM

Call for Sponsoring Companies and Organizations

We are seeking corporate sponsors and organizations to support the development of the startup ecosystem alongside us for this event. Sponsors will receive exposure opportunities within the PBP TOKYO event, networking with presenting companies, and opportunities to connect with international networks.
For details, please check the official page below▼
https://campage.info/birth-village/PBP2025_sponsor

【Polar Bear Pitching TOKYO】Event Overview

• Event Date and Time: Tuesday, December 23, 2025, 3:00 PM – 6:30 PM
• Venue: BIRTH LAB (Takagi Building 1F, 2-20-7 Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
• Organizer: Takagi Building Co., Ltd.
• Supported by: BusinessOulu / City of Oulu
• Official Website:https://campage.info/birth-village/event_polarbearpitching_tokyo

Judges ※As of November 7, 2025

• Mr. Eiji Atsumi (Senior Commercial Officer, Business Finland Japan, Embassy of Finland in Japan)
• Ms. Akiko Iwamoto (Senior Associate, Startup Ecosystem Design Department, Zero One Booster Inc.)
• Mr. Daiki Takada (Representative Director, Freedom Freaks Inc.)
• Mr. Hidekuni Takagi (TAKAGI Group / Representative Director, Takagi Building Co., Ltd.)

Program (Tentative)
2:30 PM – Doors Open / Registration
3:00 PM – Opening Ceremony
　　　 (Representative Greetings, Oulu City Presentation, Interview with Previous Winner, etc.)
3:45 PM – Pitching Competition (10 teams × approx. 5 min each)
16:35 – Panel Discussion
17:20 – Announcement of Results & Awards Ceremony
17:30 – Judges’ Comments & Commemorative Photo
17:40 – Networking Reception
18:30 End

▼ Event Inquiries
Polar Bear Pitching TOKYO Executive Committee (Takagi Building Co., Ltd.)
info-lab@birth-village.com
080-3547-0544(Contact: Horikawa)

About TAKAGI Group / Takagi Building

　Takagi Building Co., Ltd. was founded in 1961 (Showa 36). Starting as a parking lot and rental property management company, we began with our first building, the former Toranomon Takagi Building, and have since expanded into office building construction and management. In the real estate industry, where profits are driven by rent, we believe in pursuing “new value in real estate” rather than being bound by old customs and fixed ideas. What we truly value is “people.” We believe our mission is to support the challenges of the people who gather in spaces like office buildings and to accompany them toward better lives.
　Guided by our philosophy “For ‘Stand by me.’”, we operate the “LIVE Business” for building management and the “BIRTH Business”, a community project centered around coworking offices. Starting with the operation of the communication space “BIRTH LAB”, we are advancing initiatives beyond traditional real estate boundaries to create new value for society. These include accompanying support for entrepreneurs and public-private partnership projects aimed at regional coexistence.