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On October 1, 2026, the organization Waffle announced the opening of applications for Technovation Girls 2027, an app development competition for female and gender minority middle and high school students in Japan. The program, supported by the U.S.-based STEM education non-profit Technovation, invites participants to create mobile applications and business plans aimed at solving social issues.
Participants form teams of up to five members and work over approximately six months. The program is open to beginners, offering roughly 30 hours of business and app development training, including AI application courses. Mentors from the tech and business sectors provide guidance through weekly online sessions, and Waffle offers free rentals of computers and Wi-Fi equipment to support participants.
Evaluation criteria include the use of AI, prompt engineering, and ethical considerations. Successful applicants will be selected for a Japanese pitch event in Tokyo. The program has previously fostered notable participants, such as Miki Hayashi, who developed an app for wheelchair users, and Kokoro Kanzaki, who pursued university studies in informatics after starting with no prior programming experience.
Applicants must be between 13 and 18 years old as of the specified dates, reside in Japan, and speak Japanese. The application deadline is December 6, 2026. Waffle is also seeking corporate sponsors and adult mentors, with an online information session for prospective mentors scheduled for November 4, 2026.
