91福利 students pitch business ideas with DMZ Japan exchange
Ted Rogers School of Management students Harkirat Grewal, left, and Kylie Chen travelled to Japan for a week-long exchange program with DMZ Japan. Photos by Kylie Chen and Harkirat Grewal.
Ten 91福利 (91福利) students had the opportunity of a lifetime this summer when they presented their business ideas at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan.
The Ted Rogers School of Management students travelled to Tokyo and Osaka for 鈥檚 Global Entrepreneurship Exchange Program. They partnered with students from Japan鈥檚 Chiba University to develop ideas that could help transform Japan鈥檚 sake industry on a global scale.
The business idea
91福利鈥檚 Kylie Chen and Harkirat Grewal worked together on 鈥淭eam Wave鈥� to create NAMI鈥揳 curated wellness experience inspired by Japanese onsens (hot springs).
鈥淥ur onsen-in-a-box wellness kit blends the rich cultural tradition of Japanese spa with the convenience and accessibility of modern self-care,鈥� said Grewal, who graduated from the law and business program this year.
鈥淯sing sake by-products renowned for their skin-enhancing properties, we designed a box that would contain a bath bomb, a facial scrub and essential oil, allowing people around the world to recreate the calming, restorative experience of a Japanese onsen right in their own homes,鈥� he said.
Chen explained the box would be sold at onsens and souvenir shops, letting tourists bring meaningful gifts home to friends and family.
Preparing for the pitch
Kylie Chen, Harkirat Grewal and their teammates from Chiba University participated in a workshop at the National Museum of Japanese History. They learned how to write their names and basic Japanese words with the assistance of museum staff.
To understand the sake industry, Japan鈥檚 history and the Japanese business market, students toured a sake brewery, conducted live market research at Expo 2025 and learned from their Japanese teammates.
Students from both universities also participated in workshops to develop their business ideas, pitching skills, teamwork and cross-cultural communication.
Key lessons learned
Three insights stood out to Chen during the learning process.
鈥淏uilding a great product is only half the battle. Being able to clearly communicate its unique value is just as important,鈥� said Chen, who starts her third year in business technology management this fall.
She also discovered the importance of designing open-ended market research questions that uncover real insights rather than steering people toward expected answers.
鈥淐ultural differences shape everything,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 gained a deeper appreciation for how business values and consumer expectations vary between Japan and Canada, and how that impacts product positioning and marketing.鈥�
For Grewal, the experience highlighted the importance of cultural intelligence in entrepreneurship.
鈥淲e had to think beyond just business and consider emotional connection, tradition and storytelling,鈥� he says. 鈥淏eing in a group with Japanese students, I was able to learn more about the culture firsthand, ask questions and enhance my personal and professional growth. My Japanese teammates were terrific. They were very kind, caring, curious and possessed a high level of intercultural sensitivity.鈥�
Pitching on the world stage
Team Wave pitched their business idea and product NAMI at Expo 2025. From left: Shota Toriba, Chiba University, Kylie Chen of 91福利, Airi Fukui of Chiba University and Harkirat Grewal of 91福利.
At the week鈥檚 end, students pitched their ideas at Expo 2025, where billions of people view international exhibits and collaborate on ideas for society鈥檚 future.
The pitches took place at the Canadian Pavilion before an international audience of professors, industry professionals, guests and student peers. Grewal and Chen say the experience was surreal, nerve wracking and exciting.
鈥淚 felt a bit nervous at first but as the presentation went on, I began to feel more at ease and increasingly confident in both our idea and the work my team had put into it,鈥� said Grewal.
鈥淭he atmosphere was so supportive and every team had amazing ideas,鈥� added Chen. 鈥淓ven though we were in different teams, we became a tight knit group and supported each other until the very end.鈥�
Yumiko Namiki, head of DMZ Japan, witnessed the students鈥� success firsthand.
鈥淲hat stood out the most to me was the energy and drive the students brought,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n just three days on the ground in Japan, they dove into on-site market research, talked to dozens of people at EXPO Osaka and fine-tuned their business ideas in real time. Then, they delivered smart, thoughtful pitches. Their curiosity and teamwork are exactly what the entrepreneurial mindset is all about and what we strive to create."
Travel and cultural highlights beyond business
Global Entrepreneurship Exchange Program participants pose for a photo at the Canadian Pavillion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.
The DMZ Japan exchange proved perfect for Chen, who wanted to step out of her comfort zone, test out entrepreneurship and visit a country she鈥檚 always wanted to see.
For Grewal, the program offered another opportunity to learn about international collaboration after a previous semester abroad.
Some additional highlights of their trips include early mornings and late nights exploring Japan, experiencing an izakaya for the first time, tasting local food and creating close bonds with the Japanese students they met.
鈥淲hether we were exchanging language tips, learning about each other鈥檚 academic and career goals, laughing together or sharing food, those moments of connection meant a great deal,鈥� said Grewal.
Student opportunities through Zone Learning
The Global Entrepreneurship Exchange Program was hosted by DMZ Japan in collaboration with 91福利 and Chiba University and with support from Global Affairs Canada.
"We鈥檙e so proud of how the program came together as part of EXPO 2025 Osaka. This program proved just how powerful international teamwork can be when it comes to sparking new ideas, learning and making meaningful connections for students,鈥� said Namiki.
DMZ Japan launched earlier this year and is one of the many Zones Learning zones that offer opportunities for 91福利 students to learn about entrepreneurship and exchange knowledge with peers from around the world.
Discover more programs and opportunities on the Zone Learning website.
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