Pitch ContestTech Osaka Award 2027
Your Stage to Take on
the World Starts Here
PITCH CONTEST:
CALL FOR ENTRIES
Turn bold ambitions into
global growth.
We are now calling for startups aiming for global expansion.
Scale proprietary technology and business models into the next phase of growth.
The Tech Osaka Summit 2027 Pitch Contest brings together diverse key players—from startups, major corporations, and investors to universities, research institutions, government agencies, and support organizations.
Broadcast your vision and business to the world through a public pitch in English.
Forge transformative connections
that unlock new possibilities
—from fundraising and co-creation to strategic partnerships and global expansion.
The Final Pitch brings together qualified startups from the domestic selection process alongside winners of international preliminary rounds. Competing under unified evaluation criteria, participants will inspire one another while expanding opportunities for global business development.
From This Stage to the Next Phase of Growth
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01Showcase Your Business to Players from Japan and Around the World
Take the main stage in front of a diverse audience, including corporations and investors, and showcase your technology, services, business model, and vision for the future.
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02Build Connections That Lead to Investment and Collaboration
Use your pitch as a starting point to connect with corporations, VCs, CVCs, investors, and other key players. Explore opportunities that can accelerate your business growth—not only fundraising, but also partnerships, PoCs, and new sales channels.
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03Accelerate Your Challenge and Growth
Gain greater visibility through your public pitch and the opportunity to receive an award, while opening doors to further growth for your company.
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04Go Beyond the Pitch
Finalists will also have the opportunity to exhibit at a booth in addition to pitching on stage. Connect directly with attendees, explore potential partnerships and business opportunities, and turn your pitch into meaningful next steps.
Awards & Support
GRAND PRIZE
Hankyu Hanshin Properties Award
JPY 2,000,000
EXCELLENCE
AWARD
JPY 500,000
Opportunity to participate in an Osaka Innovation Hub global expansion support program (tentative)
Various benefits provided by sponsors and partner companies (※2)
In addition to the prize money, award winners will receive various forms of support designed to accelerate their business growth.
Finalists selected for the Final Round will also receive the opportunity to exhibit at Tech Osaka Summit 2027 and two months of access to FUTRWORKS, a coworking space in Umeda, Osaka.
※1 Both startups selected through this application process and those advancing through the overseas preliminary rounds will be equally eligible for consideration.
※2 Benefits include complimentary access to the O-Nexus coworking space. Further details will be announced at a later date.
Overview
- Participation Fee
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Free
- Eligibility
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Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
・Operate a business in one of the following fields: Bio & Life Sciences / Healthcare, Green Tech, or Digital
・Be at the seed to early stage
・Have been founded within the past 10 years
・Be aiming for global expansion
・Have a unique technology, service, or business model
・For startups based outside Japan, have a track record of, or intention to, expand their business or establish a presence in Japan or the Kansai region
・Be able to deliver a pitch and participate in Q&A in English
・Be able to attend and pitch in person at the Final Round on Wednesday, January 27, 2027 (JST)
※Applications will be reviewed based on the information submitted, and selected startups will advance to the Final Round. As a general rule, withdrawal after being selected as a finalist will not be accepted. Please keep this in mind before applying. - Application Period
-
September 9, 2026 (Wed) 〜 October 21, 2026 (Wed)October 28, 2026 (Wed)
※The application deadline has been extended. -
Finals
(Public Pitch) -
January 27, 2027 (Wed) (tentative)
- Language
-
English
※ This applies to all pitch materials, presentations, and Q&A sessions with the judges.
Selection Process
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First Round: Application Review
・Review: Applications will be evaluated based on the information provided in the application form and the submitted pitch deck.
・Applicants are expected to be notified of the results on Friday, November 6, 2026. -
Second Round: Online Interview (in English)
・Online interviews will be conducted between Monday, November 9 and Friday, November 20, 2026. Details regarding the interview schedule will be announced on the official website and other channels once confirmed.
・Format: 3-minute pitch + 3-minute Q&A
・Up to nine startups will be selected through this application process to advance to the Final Round. In addition to these selected startups, startups that advance through the overseas preliminary rounds will also compete in the Final Round.
・Applicants are expected to be notified of the results on Monday, November 30, 2026. -
Final Round
・A public pitch competition will be held at the event venue on Wednesday, January 27, 2027.
・Format: 4-minute pitch + 4-minute Q&A
・All finalists will be evaluated according to the same judging criteria, and the award winners will be selected based on these criteria.
Judges & Evaluation Criteria
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Ryutaro (Ryan) Nakata
General Manager Japan
Alumni Ventures -
Haruka Hashimoto
Convallaria Ltd.
CEO -
Megumi Ikeda
Ode Growth Partners
General Partner -
René Budeck
Techstars Tokyo
Investment & Program Manager -
Yuki Taga
Osaka University Venture Capital Co., Ltd.
Director
Ryutaro (Ryan) Nakata
General Manager Japan
Alumni Ventures
Ryutaro (Ryan) Nakata is the General Manager and Representative Director of Japan at Alumni Ventures, one of the most active VC firms globally with over $1.5B in assets and a portfolio of 1,600+ startups.
He was keynote speaker in our physical event where he delivered a 5-minute keynote speech, sharing key insights on"Why VCs Only Invest in Billion-Dollar Potential — The Math Behind Venture Capital".
Haruka Hashimoto
Convallaria Ltd.
CEO
Haruka Hashimoto is the Founder and CEO of Convallaria Ltd., a strategic consulting firm specializing in startup incubation, fundraising/investment, and corporate alliances across biotech, healthcare, agri-tech, and beauty-tech. With over 10 years of experience in startup investment and new business development, she supports diverse fields including drug discovery, medical devices, digital health, agricultural, and beauty innovation.
For corporate clients, she facilitates strategic capital-business alliances and global technology scouting to drive impactful joint research.
Megumi Ikeda
Ode Growth Partners
General Partner
Megumi Ikeda is a General Partner at Ode Growth Partners, a European tech growth fund investing in founders building mission-critical software for critical industries. Previously, she was Senior Managing Director at Hearst Ventures, where she led European investments for the U.S. media conglomerate.
Prior to that, Megumi headed the European arm of a GE Capital-sponsored equity fund. Earlier in her career, she worked in New York on corporate M&A and distribution for NBCUniversal. Megumi began her career in Tokyo as a reporter for Dow Jones and later was at Wired in the early years of the Internet. She holds a BA from Columbia College, Columbia University, and an MBA from UCLA Anderson.
René Budeck
Techstars Tokyo
Investment & Program Manager
René is an investment professional, ecosystem builder, and exited founder deeply rooted in Japan’s venture capital and startup landscape. Originally from Germany, where he launched his entrepreneurial career, René brings a distinctly global perspective to company building.
Prior to his current role, he drove cross-border investments and strategic business growth across all stages, spanning venture capital and private equity at top-tier institutions including SBI Group and MCP Asset Management. Now, as the Investment Manager at Techstars Tokyo, René leverages his dual background as both a hands-on operator and strategic investor to scout, mentor, and accelerate the next generation of high-growth startups in Japan.
Yuki Taga
Osaka University Venture Capital Co., Ltd.
Director
Yuki Taga joined Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. in 2012 after completing a master's degree in condensed matter physics. After earning an MBA overseas, he joined Osaka University Venture Capital in 2022.
As a venture capitalist, he supports the founding of university-based deep tech startups, makes early-stage investments, and provides management support to portfolio companies.
- Novelty & Innovation
- Market Viability
& Growth - Global Scalability
Guidelines
At the Tech Osaka Award 2027, an overseas preliminary round will be held in Manchester, one of Osaka’s sister cities, in addition to this Japan Preliminary Round.
Applicants may not apply to both the Japan and overseas preliminary rounds.
- Japan Preliminary Round
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For details on eligibility requirements, the selection process, important notes, and other information, please review the application guidelines for the Japan Preliminary Round. Download the Application Guidelines for the Japan Preliminary Round
- Overseas Preliminary Round
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For details, please visit the Overseas Preliminary Round page.
Take your business to
the global stage.
【Contact Information】
Tech Osaka Award 2027 Pitch Competition Secretariat
(Contracted Operator: Venture Café Tokyo)
E-mail: techosaka-award@venturecafetokyo.org