DBJ to Hold 4th New Business Plan Competition for Women Entrepreneurs- Winners Will Receive up to 10 Million Yen in Prize Money and Mentoring Support and the new DBJ Women Entrepreneurs Prize for Innovative Regional Growth-

Development Bank of Japan Inc. (DBJ; President and Chief Executive Officer: Toru Hashimoto) will soon be inviting applications for the 4th New Business Plan Competition for Women Entrepreneurs. Candidates will compete for monetary prizes and support services to assist them in turning their business plans into functioning enterprises.

The DBJ Women Entrepreneurs Center was launched in November 2011 as a platform for providing comprehensive support ? including funds and business skills and business matching ? to women seeking to launch and grow new businesses. The last three Women’s Business Plan Competitions have drawn a total of 1,127 applicants and helped to broaden the scope of women’s enterprise.

A new prize has been added for this fourth competition. In addition to the DBJ Women Entrepreneurs Grand Prize and DBJ Women Entrepreneurs Prize, there will be the DBJ Women Entrepreneurs Prize for Innovative Regional Growth, awarded to a project which contributes to the growth and vitalization of regional economies. All prize winners will receive business incentive funds as well as follow-up mentoring by experienced entrepreneurs and other experts.

Applications will be accepted from December 15, 2014 through March 2, 2015.
On December 16, interested prospective applicants are invited to attend an Opening seminar on the 4th DBJ Women’s Business Plan Competition. Details of the seminar will be posted on the DBJ website as soon as they are prepared.

Application Guidelines for the 4th DBJ New Business Plan Competition for Women Entrepreneurs
1. Eligibility
Plans will be accepted for women-run businesses which are innovative - offering original technologies, services, or business models, or promising high added value - and show outstanding potential for commercial growth. Both first-time entrepreneurs and those who are starting a second business (either in a different business category or as a start-up) are eligible.
2. Prizes
There will be three prizes: the DBJ Women Entrepreneurs Grand Prize,the DBJ Women Entrepreneurs Prize and the Prize for Innovative Regional Growth. Winners will receive business incentive funds - up to 10 million yen for the Grand Prize winner,up to 5 million yen for the Entrepreneurs Prize winner and the Prize for Innovative Regional Growth - and one year of mentoring to maximize their chances of success.
3. Schedule
(1) Acceptance of business plans:December15 (Monday), 2014 - March 2(Monday), 2015
(2) 1st selection (inspection of documents): Early-to-late March, 2015
(3) 2nd selection (interview): Early April - Early May, 2015
(4) Final selection (presentations): June 3(Wednesday), 2015
(5) Announcement of winners & Awards Ceremony: Late June, 2015
4. Application flow
Applicants are asked to submit an Application form, Executive Summary, and Business Plan. Please see the Application Guidelines(PDF) for details.
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Providing aspiring businesswomen with integrated support is in keeping with the DBJ corporate philosophy: “Applying Financial Expertise to Design the Future.”
Inquiries:
DBJ Women Entrepreneurs Center Corporate Finance Department, Division 6 Telephone: +81-3-3244-1652