The classmates reunion online network, which has accumulated seven million users since its beta launch last year, has raised $1.75m in seed capital, with SK Telecom among the backers.

Nokia's former head of business development corporate Olivier Cognet joins Belgacom as the firm moves to increase its focus on seed deals and partnerships.

The Crunchfund is among the seed specialists backing the mobile app-based publishing company as it looks to expand its product offering.

"We see so many great ideas from students, but some don't get the proper support from industry or mentors that they deserve."

The plan Obachyan no Bentoya (Grandma's Lunchbox Delivery Van) won based on a business model that would enlist older women to cook, then deliver lunch and dinner boxes (bentos) initially to temporary housing, and then later throughout Northern Japan.

In partnership with the Guanghua School of Management at Peking University in Beijing and including Chinese teams from Tianjin and Zhejiang Universities as well as the Technion, which is the Israel Institute of Technology, the top prize went to EWalking.

The hotel search and booking engine has launched its site in beta, and currently offers choices from its six corporate founding partners and their affiliates.