Global manufacturing giant Yamaha has officially opened its TRANSPOSE Innovation Challenge, calling on founders, creators, and startups to “orchestrate the future together”. The initiative aims to discover and support innovative technologies, products, and services that can redefine the role of sound in every aspect of life. With a history of over 130 years rooted in sound and music, Yamaha is now looking to collaborate with innovators worldwide to create new emotional experiences the “world hasn’t heard yet”.
The challenge is structured around three core themes, inviting participants to explore the vast potential of audio technology.
The Themes to Tackle
- Sound x Place: This theme focuses on redeveloping the value of physical and digital locations through sound. Yamaha posits that sound has the power to turn a simple space into a meaningful place where people gather. The challenge seeks ideas that use sound to solve location-based problems, such as transforming travel time into more enriching moments, making hotels and offices more comfortable, or creating unforgettable experiences at live events and concerts. The ultimate goal is to create new experiential value by embracing locations and nurturing human connections.
- Sound x Well-being: Centered on the unique influence of hearing on the mind and body, this theme seeks to harmonize well-being with sound. Recognizing that sound can affect emotions, stress levels, and concentration, Yamaha is looking for ideas that enhance people’s well-being in their daily lives. With recent advancements in sensing technology and data analysis making it possible to scientifically measure sound’s impact on sleep, exercise, and stress, this category is ripe for innovation. Example submissions could include healthcare solutions that use sound for preventive medicine, systems that enrich sports and outdoor activities, or proposals that holistically stimulate the five senses for deeper immersion and healing.
- Sound x Creative: In an era where social media and streaming have empowered anyone to be a creator, this theme challenges participants to combine sound and creativity to deliver new forms of expression. The potential of sound extends beyond music production into stage performances, film, and daily life. The contest is looking for concepts like new entertainment experiences, production environments that allow creators to work more freely, or systems where sound fuses with visuals, dance, theater, and art to create new resonance.
How to Participate and Timeline
The challenge is open to individual participation, and applicants are welcome to submit multiple ideas. The initial application phase is now open and will run through October 31, 2025.
To apply, participants must create an account and submit their solution concept in a 10-slide PowerPoint or PDF presentation. The submission must detail the problem being addressed, an overview of the solution, the target market, and the competitive landscape. The deadline for this first phase is October 31, 2025, at 23:59 GMT+9 (Japan Standard Time).
The competition will proceed in several stages:
- 1st Screening (Nov. 1-16, 2025): A panel of judges will review the initial submissions, selecting 25 participants to advance. Results will be announced on November 17, 2025.
- 2nd Screening (Dec. 1-31, 2025): The 25 semi-finalists will participate in online interviews, which include a 10-minute presentation and a 20-minute Q&A session. Ten finalists will be selected, with the announcement on January 9, 2026.
- Mentoring Phase (Jan. – Feb. 2026): The ten finalists will be paired with a specialist mentor from Yamaha or a partner company to refine their presentations for the final event.
- Final Event (End of Feb. 2026): Finalists will deliver a 5-minute pitch to a panel of executive judges, followed by an 8-minute Q&A. Winners will be announced immediately after deliberations.
Prizes, Incentives, and Partners
Winning startups will gain access to significant opportunities, including a Proof of Concept (PoC) with up to 10 million JPY in development funding. Other incentives include potential collaboration with Yamaha divisions and funding discussions with Yamaha’s corporate venture capital arm, YMC. Awards include a Grand Prix Award, a Yamaha Award, a YMC Award, and a YMI Fund Award.
Submissions will be evaluated based on criteria such as the specificity of the customer problem, market growth potential, product-market fit, competitive advantage, the viability of the business model, and the strength of the team.
The TRANSPOSE Innovation Challenge is organized by Yamaha and supported by a host of partners, including Monitor Deloitte, CRIWARE, MACROMILL, KYOCERA, and BIRD INITIATIVE, underscoring the collaborative spirit of the event.
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