About the Challenge
As technology accelerates and our values continue to evolve, the world is changing faster than ever. We need inventions that stir the heart and reshape everyday life.
Let go of outdated thinking, reawaken the emotions we've lost along the way, and reconnect with the issues that matter. Imagine a future where daily life is filled with meaning, inclusion, and hope. We're seeking inventors with the drive to bring that future life.
The Toyota Woven City Challenge is more than a platform for innovation, it’s an invitation to bold thinkers ready to transform how we move and improve life for all.This is the spirit behind “Hack the Mobility,” a call to rethink what mobility truly means and how it can help us reach what matters most.
The challenge takes place in Woven City, a real-life test course for mobility innovation shaped by three principles: Living Laboratory™, Human-Centered, and Ever-Evolving City™.
Are you ready to take on the challenge?
About Woven City
Woven City is a fully functioning test course where new technologies and services
are developed for the vision of “well-being for all.”
As Toyota aims to transform into a mobility company, it’s not just finding ways to move people, it’s creating mobility that moves the heart.
Inventors (people with a goal to create new values) are welcome at Woven City,
a test course where people also live, to build and demonstrate not only Toyota’s technologies and services,
but also their original ideas to improve our lives.
What Makes Woven City Unique
Unlike traditional labs or office settings, Woven City allows you to test ideas in everyday life, gather honest feedback, and improve continuously through kaizen, the spirit of constant refinement.
You’ll work closely with residents and visitors, known as Weavers, who help shape your product through hands-on use and lived experience.
Challenge Themes
We're looking for partners who are eager to explore, experiment,
and help shape the future with us. Choose from the following themes to apply:
1 - Mobility and City Service Optimization
By utilizing AI and other technologies to connect diverse urban data with physical city spaces such as mobility, buildings, stores, logistics, robots, and infrastructure, we aim to create flexible human-centered mobility and city services.
2 - Safe and Secure Mobility and Cities
As new forms of mobility like delivery robots and personal mobility vehicles become part of daily life, we aim to build cities where everyone, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities, can move freely, safely, and joyfully.
3 - Sustainable Planet, Sustainable Life
As lifestyles and energy sources diversify, mobility plays a vital role in creating a more sustainable way of living and a planet that future generations will be able to appreciate.
4 - Open Track (Propose Your Own Theme)
To achieve “well-being for all,” we welcome ideas beyond the above themes, such as education, entertainment, or food, that explore new ways to enhance everyday life for more people.
Resources
Woven City offers a variety of tools and environments to help bring your ideas to life:
Test Course
Digital and physical environments for prototyping and testing- Digital twin with integrated simulation tools
- Access to full-scale infrastructure, including roads, parks, offices, shops, accommodations, and parking facilities
- Electric vehicles, including Battery Electric Vehicles and e-Palette
Inventor Garage Tools
A suite of tools and data to accelerate innovation, including:- Tools to collect real-time feedback from Woven City residents and visitors
- Robotics platforms for simulation and remote control
- Smart Home System and Community Energy Management System
- Urban and lifestyle data for research and development
Benefits & Support
If your team is selected, you'll receive support to test and develop your ideas in Woven City, including:
- 1
Free access to Woven City facilities and services
For up to 18 months*1
- 2
Development support
Support worth up to 20 million JPY, Including software, hardware, and user research support*2
- 3
Activity support expenses
1 million JPY in direct funding
- *1 The facility access period will be determined through mutual discussion
- *2 Includes software, hardware, user research, and related development services
Timeline
- 2025Sept 2025Applications Open
- Oct 2025Application Deadline
- Nov-Dec 20251st Round:
Document Screening - 2026Jan 20262nd Round:
Video Presentation - Feb 20263rd Round:
Tech Interview - Mar-May 2026Final Pitch & Selection Announcement
- Begins after selection Contract Signing & Pilot Phase in Woven City
(Pilot phase: up to 18 months)
Judges
Application Requirements
To apply for the Toyota Woven City Challenge, your company or team must meet all of the following criteria:
- 1
Location
If selected, you and other key members must be able to lead development and conduct testing activities onsite at Woven City for the required period.
- 2
Language
You must be able to communicate with business-level proficiency in English or Japanese.
- 3
Business Status
Your company or team must have been founded within the past 15 years and be actively working toward business growth through innovation and invention.
- 4
Product Development
In order to prepare for real-life testing, you must include product development phases (such as MVP, prototype, beta version, etc.) in your schedule.
- 5
Agreement to Terms
You must agree to all program policies and terms, including, "Toyota Woven City Challenge Account Registration Terms and Conditions,", "Application Terms and Conditions", and by these Terms and other terms and rules separately established by WbyT when registering an account on the Site.
FAQ
If selected, communications and promotions regarding activities within Woven City are possible upon prior consultation and mutual agreement.
The program provides support for selected teams, as outlined in the Benefits & Support section. However, teams will be responsible for any costs beyond the scope of what is stated in Benefits & Support.
The IP will belong to the inventors basically. Specific details will be set within the agreement signed with each selected team.
Although this is a program organized by Woven by Toyota, Inc., there is no guarantee for investment, as the purpose of this challenge is to accelerate the process of making products and ideas into a reality. However, since the Toyota Group does operate investment funds, there may be opportunities to share information where appropriate.
This program is organized by Woven by Toyota, Inc. and does not guarantee the opportunity to present to Toyota Motor Corporation or its group companies. However, Toyota Motor Corporation may participate as judges or guests in our events, such as the Final Pitch Announcement.
Since Woven City is a test course for mobility, continuous service provision is not required. You can conduct testing activities based on the timeframe and scope that best support what you want to explore.
Once selected and upon signing an agreement or MOU, you’ll be able to access program support. For direct funding (e.g., cash payments), there may be a short administrative process before the transfer is completed.
Yes, that is allowed.
Yes, that is allowed.
News
- Oct. 21, 2025Applications have now closed. Thank you for your many applications.
- Oct. 10, 2025The application deadline has been extended to Tuesday, October 21, at 12:00 PM.
- Sep. 29, 2025"Hack the Mobility--The Woven City Challenge Begins" Now Available.
- Sep. 3, 2025We will hold an information session regarding the Toyota Woven City Challenge.
- Aug. 25, 2025The "Toyota Woven City Challenge" website has been launched.