The Global Youth Entrepreneurship Summit, organized by Youth Business International (YBI), is taking place in Kenya in October this year. This also means that the Global Young Entrepreneur of the Year will be selected. Yuki Egawa was chosen among the applicants in Japan as one of the semi-finalists and was invited to attend the bootcamp in London in June. There will be a total of 30 semi-finalists at the bootcamp. All of them will make a pitch, and nine finalists will be selected to attend the summit. Go, Yuki!
Introduction — Tell us about the Clean Ocean Ensemble. And how did you get to know ETIC?
The main pillar of our activities is removing marine debris. We are also developing technology to collect debris efficiently while conducting research and finding ways to recycle the debris. We hope to create added value in marine debris removal and engage stakeholders from industries and organizations that have not yet shown interest in this matter.
When I was vigorously seeking funding and applying for any available opportunities, ETIC was one of them. I came across a call-out for their Social Entrepreneurship School Initiatives, applied for the program, and was accepted. That is how I got to know them.
What kind of social issues are you tackling? And why did you decide to engage with these challenges? Did you have any strong ties with the ocean since childhood that made it your life’s work?
I am tackling the marine debris issue. The challenge is that marine debris removal does not generate any money. I am looking for ways to change that and coming up with new approaches. I didn’t have any particular deep ties with the ocean when I was little. It became my lifelong work by chance. I saw that the debris from our land ends up in the ocean via rivers. When I saw that reality, I knew I had to do something.
According to your blog (link in Japanese), you have gone through Sisyphean hardships to get to where you are now. What have you learned from your hardships? Why do you think you could come this far without giving up?
I learned from my past hardships that it’s important to take action first. When you do that, you have to give yourself fully. I also learned the importance of continuously learning and keeping myself updated with the changing world.
The reason I could come this far without giving up has to do with the number of donors, supporters, and partners. As their numbers grew, I gradually realized that what started as my own project was no longer just mine but also for others. When I think of these people’s thoughts and feelings, I feel that I cannot give up so easily. It helped strengthen my determination. If I were to quit what I am doing, it wouldn’t happen easily; I would continue pushing the boulder up the hill as vigorously as I can. I would prefer to fall forward rather than fall back.
Who are the partners and what kind of people do you want to work with in the future?
We are currently working with 27 corporations across various fields. We hope to increase our partnership with corporations that use different types of plastics for plastic bottles, PP and PE. Our goal is to build a society that can continue using plastic without polluting the ocean.
Do you have any message for young people who are interested in starting their own businesses?
People often think that entrepreneurial ventures and taking on new challenges are all quite similar. However, I have learned that the approach can vary significantly depending on the field. I hope that those starting out can find relevant case studies in their field and challenge themselves so they have no regrets.
I understand that you have spent a lot of time abroad, not only through your JICA experience in Africa. Are there any places you would like to visit overseas or people you would like to meet now?
I want to visit the Mariana Trench to participate in the first deep-sea marine debris recovery activity led by the private sector. I would also like to meet Boyan Slat of The Ocean Cleanup.
What is your favorite way to spend your free time?
I like visiting unfamiliar places without making any plans.
Having been selected as one of the semi-finalists for the YBI Summit, you will first attend a boot camp in the UK in June. What are your aspirations and what are you looking forward to?
I would like to do my best to become one of the finalists. I am looking forward to the opportunities to spread the word about our work to people overseas. I hope that I can get acquainted with new friends and partners.
