Waffle Monthly Update – September 2025
Thank you, as always, for supporting Waffle’s mission to close the gender gap in tech.
September was a month full of growth and impact — from hosting a large-scale reunion for over 50 Waffle College students and alumni to releasing our 2025 Waffle Camp Impact Report. And as of October 1, we’ve officially opened applications for Technovation Girls 2026 Japan!
Read on for the details of these updates and for information about our upcoming October events.
Applications Now Open: Technovation Girls 2026 Japan
We’ve launched the recruitment for Japan participants of Technovation Girls 2026, a global app development competition that empowers girls and gender minorities to become the next generation of tech leaders.
The U.S.-based education program engages over 30,000 participants across 117 countries each year. In 2024, 440 students from Japan joined to develop apps tackling real-world social challenges.
This year, we aim to reach participants from all 47 prefectures — especially from rural areas!
This year’s focus prefectures: Aomori, Iwate, Fukushima, Niigata, Wakayama, and Kagawa.
If you know any middle or high school students in these areas, please encourage them to join!
Program Details
- Application deadline: November 23, 2025 (Sun) at 23:59 JST
- Participation fee: Free
- Online info sessions: October 19 & 25, November 2 & 16
Japan Sponsors (as of Oct 1, 2025):
- Special Sponsor:Lenovo Japan LLC
- Gold Sponsor: The Japan Research Institute, Limited
Supported by: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
What’s new for 2026
- New AI module with expert mentor support
- In-person feedback events held outside Tokyo
- Continued support for app release after program completion
Learn more on the official website or watch the highlight video.
Waffle Camp Tokyo – Final Call for Participants (October 26)
For the first time, Waffle Camp — our signature hands-on tech program — is coming to Tokyo!
Hosted with the support of Capgemini Japan, this one-day workshop is perfect for middle and high school students interested in programming, web design, or exploring future career paths in tech.
Participants will:
- Create a website to share their favorite “passion” or “oshi”
- Attend an AI mini-session
- Join a career talk with a rolemodel in Capgemini employees
Waffle Club – Let’s Make a Game! (October 19)
Our bi-monthly online workshop Waffle Club for girls and non-binary students returns on October 19!
This time, participants will learn programming logic through building a simple mini-game while using block-based coding tools.
The session will also feature a career talk by a Japanese student studying STEM in Massachusetts, USA, who will share insights on studying science abroad and her experiences with Waffle.
Waffle College Alumni & Student Gathering
Over 50 current and former Waffle College students gathered for a vibrant reunion event, held with support from Uniadex.
The session opened with a keynote by Ms. Akiko Murakami, Director of the AI Safety Institute, who shared her experiences driving change in Japan’s male-dominated tech and science fields.
Graduates delivered lightning talks about their projects and growth, while Uniax employees shared advice on career development and job hunting.
The event was filled with energy, connection, and encouragement — a true testament to the power of Waffle’s community.
Waffle Chairperson Appointed to MEXT Central Council on Education
We’re proud to share that Waffle Chairperson Sayaka Tanaka has been appointed as a member of the Information & Technology Working Group under Japan’s Central Council for Education (MEXT).
Through this role, she will contribute to shaping the next national curriculum and advocate for gender equity in technology education.
Waffle Camp 2025 “Hometown” Impact Report Released
This summer, Waffle hosted Waffle Camp Hometown across five regions — Hyogo, Fukui, Nagasaki, Nagano, and Niigata — with 119 middle and high school participants.
Highlights from 2025:
- Increased participation from junior high students
- Introduction of AI-powered website creation
- Workshops on unconscious bias in tech
- Programming/AI understanding improved from 2.4 → 4.3 (out of 5)
- 72% gained confidence in tech skills; 61% developed stronger interest in IT/STEM
Read the full impact report [here].
Support Waffle’s Journey to Become a Certified NPO
Waffle is now working toward becoming a Certified Nonprofit Organization, which will allow future donations to qualify for tax deductions.
To achieve this certification, we need at least 100 individual donors contributing ¥3,000 or more by March 2026.
Your support helps strengthen Waffle’s transparency, credibility, and long-term sustainability.
We also welcome inquiries about legacy and inheritance donations — a way to pass on your values to the next generation. Please reach out if you’d like to learn more.
Volunteer Spotlight: App Feedback Session
On September 26, Waffle College students had the opportunity to present their early app ideas to professionals from Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan, and R/GA.
Even though most students hadn’t yet started programming, they delivered 3-minute presentations on what they wanted to create — receiving warm and insightful feedback from the professionals.
Students shared that the experience “broadened their perspectives” and “boosted motivation for app development.”
We are deeply grateful to all the volunteers who supported this inspiring session.
Message from the Team
Maiko Furuse
Manager, Technovation Girls Japan
NPO Waffle
“Technovation Girls is a six-month journey where teamwork, creativity, and perseverance matter more than prior coding experience.
Many participants gain not only technical skills but also lifelong confidence to drive innovation with diverse teams around the world.
We hope more students — and parents — will see the value of taking that first step and joining us this year!”
Thank you, for your continued support of Waffle’s mission.
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