Winning the "AWS Women Social Entrepreneur Award" at Youth Co:Lab 2025!

We are excited to share that mymizu, an initiative of Social Innovation Japan (SIJ), was selected as a winner at the Youth Co:Lab Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2025 – Alumni Grand Prix Demo Day, held on 20 November 2024 at AWS Japan in Tokyo.

Co-led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Citi Foundation, Youth Co:Lab is Asia-Pacific’s largest initiative supporting youth-led social innovation. This special “alumni edition” brought together past award-winners, with seven finalists presenting the evolution of their ventures.

mymizu’s Growth and Vision

Presenting online, SIJ Co-Founder Mariko McTier shared how mymizu has grown since winning in 2019—from Japan’s first free water-refill app into a global, community-driven platform featuring:

  • 200,000+ refill points across 50+ countries

  • Strong partnerships with cities, companies, and universities

  • Millions of plastic bottles avoided through behaviour change

  • A rapidly expanding data ecosystem supporting sustainability and heatstroke prevention

She also highlighted mymizu’s next steps, including data licensing, improved real-time feedback tools, and strengthening the refill network as public hydration infrastructure.

Award Recognition

mymizu received the AWS Women Social Entrepreneur Award, recognising the project’s innovative approach, impact, and leadership in building collaborative solutions for a more sustainable future.

We are grateful to UNDP, Citi Foundation, AWS Japan, and all partners and community members who continue to support our mission.

Find out more about the award and winners here:
https://www.undp.org/ja/japan/press-releases/ycl2025-demoday

Social Innovation Japan