AI and advanced technology startups compete on a global stage
The Central Japan Startup Ecosystem Consortium (Chubu Economic Federation, Nagoya University, Aichi Prefecture, Nagoya City, Hamamatsu City, and others) hosted TechGALA Japan 2026, a global startup event, in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, from January 27 (Tue) to January 29 (Thu), 2026.
This article highlights one of the event’s key programs, the pitch competition Grand Pitch 2026, and shares its major takeaways along with information about participating startups.
TechGALA Japan 2026 is a global gathering where innovators, startups, corporations, and investors from around the world come together to explore the future possibilities of technology and business.
Set in Aichi and Nagoya, the event featured a wide range of programs including conferences, exhibitions, networking sessions, and pitch contests—creating opportunities for new partnerships and business creation.
• Dates: January 27 (Tue) – January 29 (Thu), 2026
• Venue: Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan (Sakae area / Chunichi Hall & Conference, Tsurumai area / STATION Ai, etc.)
• Organizer: Central Japan Startup Ecosystem Consortium (Chubu Economic Federation, Nagoya University, Aichi Prefecture, Nagoya City, Hamamatsu City, and others)
• Key Themes: Mobility, Global Environment, Materials, Life Science, Advanced Technology, and Future Stories
On January 28 (Wed), 2026, Grand Pitch 2026 brought together 15 startups from 10 countries and regions, each presenting innovative technologies and services entirely in English.
The main venue was packed, and the competition delivered an intense and exciting series of pitches.
• Amously Inc. (Korea) — Provides a new AI-powered autonomous process control platform that enhances production stability and reduces variability, driving semiconductor manufacturing toward full automation.
• ArbaLabs (United Kingdom) — Delivers a trusted edge AI data infrastructure for drones, mobility systems, and industrial equipment.
• AWL-Electricity Inc. (Canada) — Develops long-distance, contactless wireless power transmission technology.
• Dwilar Inc. (United States) — Offers an AI agent enabling one-click credit assessment across 62 countries.
• FerroptoCure Inc. (Japan) — Develops a world-first-class oral cancer therapy targeting difficult-to-treat advanced and recurrent cancers.
• GenesInk Inc. (France) — Provides high-performance conductive inks that enable thinner, lighter electronic devices while supporting sustainability.
• ImpacFat Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) — Commercializes cultivated fish fat using patented stem cell culture technology.
• K|Lens GmbH (Germany) — Develops and supplies industrial machine vision systems utilizing optical sensors and multi-view AI for automated inspection.
• LivNSense GreenOps Private Ltd. (India) — Offers solutions for carbon emission reduction, energy optimization, and industrial sustainability using proprietary AI models, Vision AI, and digital twin technologies.
• M.I. Cloud Tech Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) — Provides non-invasive treatment devices for snoring and sleep apnea.
• Metro Weather Co., Ltd. (Japan) — Develops compact, high-performance Doppler lidar technology capable of precisely observing, visualizing, and forecasting atmospheric wind and weather conditions.
• MIJ Co. Ltd. (Korea) — Develops non-contact vital sign monitoring solutions based on 60GHz millimeter-wave radar technology.
• ThreeLab Co., Ltd. (Japan) — Develops recycled ultra-hard cutting tools made from diamond and cubic boron nitride, regenerated using proprietary precision laser processing technology.
• Turing Drive Inc. (Taiwan) — Provides one-stop autonomous driving solutions for low-speed and confined-area vehicles such as shuttle buses, campus transport vehicles, and golf carts.
• UnitX Inc. (United States) — Develops AI-powered automated visual inspection systems that integrate advanced imaging and AI to detect and classify defects on manufacturing lines with high precision.
Grand Pitch 2026 featured a diverse panel of investors and industry experts serving as judges and mentors. Key members included:
• David Holt — Program Director, Blue Startups
• María Noel de la Paz — Acceleration Director, Magical VC
• Keisuke Goda — Professor, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo / Adjunct Professor, UCLA / Adjunct Professor, Wuhan University Institute of Industrial Science
• Oscar Ramos — Managing General Partner, Orbit Ventures / Venture Partner, SOSV
• Takeshi Isaku — Managing Executive Officer & Chief Innovation Officer, Musashi Seimitsu Industry / Representative, Musashi Innovation Lab Clue
• Yohei Sawayama — Founding Partner, Coral Capital
• Yukiko Kato — Director & Executive Officer, SBI Investment (Head of CVC Division)
• Yuriko Gibo — Chair, Impact Consortium Regional & Practice Subcommittee (Joint Secretariat of Japan’s Financial Services Agency and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
The competition concluded with the following winners:
• 3rd Place: FerroptoCure — Developer of a world-first-class oral cancer treatment
• 2nd Place: AWL-Electricity — Innovator in long-distance wireless power transfer technology
• 1st Place: UnitX — Provider of AI-based automated visual inspection systems
UnitX received high recognition for its advanced defect detection and classification technology, enabling high-precision automated inspection across manufacturing lines.
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