[Updated Jul 10, 21:00] Due to the typhoon, KOZAROCKS PITCH AWARD 2026 (Jul 11, 10:00–12:30) has been cancelled. Details (Japanese) →
KOZAROCKS PITCH AWARD 2026

Crossing Borders from Okinawa From Okinawa to the world, from the world to Okinawa

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ABOUT

The frontier of "crossing borders," broadcast from Okinawa — the hub between Asia and Japan

Under the KOZAROCKS 2026 theme "Bunso Kaika," KOZAROCKS PITCH AWARD 2026 is the flagship program positioning Okinawa as a startup crossroads connecting Asia and Japan.

Ten startups take the stage — five international startups entering the Japanese market and five Okinawa-based startups going global — pitching directly to venture capitalists and corporations from Japan and abroad. Pitches are delivered in English.

Name KOZAROCKS PITCH AWARD 2026
Theme Crossing Borders from Okinawa
Date Saturday, July 11, 2026, 10:00–12:30
Venue Lagoon KOZA (1-7-8 Chuo, Okinawa City)
Organizer KOZAROCKS 2026 Executive Committee
Co-organizer Okinawa Startup Ecosystem Consortium
Admission Viewable with a KOZAROCKS 2026 session pass. Ticket page
HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights

01

10 startups crossing borders

Five startups from the U.S. and Taiwan aiming to enter Japan, and five Okinawa startups going global. Ten diverse companies — from deep tech to circular economy — on one stage.

02

A serious panel of 7 VCs from Japan and abroad

Seven experienced venture capitalists from Japan and overseas judge the pitches. Beyond the grand KOZAROCKS AWARD, numerous awards — including corporate prizes — are presented.

03

Founders tackling real social challenges

Healthcare and drug discovery, climate change, resource circulation, mobility — witness up close the founders solving the social issues facing Japan and the world with technology and ideas.

STARTUPS

Startups

Ten startups crossing borders take the stage.

OVERSEAS STARTUPS International startups entering the Japanese market
Greg Burns — Deep/C Systems

Deep/C Systems

U.S. — HAWAII

Deep Tech

Develops underwater data centers that use the ocean's cold to solve the biggest challenges of the AI era — heat and electricity cost.

Greg BurnsCEO

Peter Ting — ArtwayTech

ArtwayTech

TAIWAN

Tourism DX & Culture

Digitizes exhibitions and cultural facilities in 3D, delivering them as audio guides and digital exhibits.

Peter TingCo-founder & CTO

Pei Chi Lu — KopherBit

KopherBit

TAIWAN

Mobility

Supports development of in-vehicle software and control units for EVs and next-gen vehicles. With a strong track record in Taiwan, now expanding into Japan.

Pei Chi LuJapan Market Development Manager

Sherry Hsu — MetaRosetta

MetaRosetta

TAIWAN

Deep Tech

Develops next-generation metalenses that make cameras and sensors smaller and higher-performance.

Sherry HsuCo-Founder & COO

Yipeng Xie — ECOCO

ECOCO

TAIWAN

Circular Economy

Operates smart collection machines that automatically collect PET bottles and cans and reward users with points.

Yipeng XieProject Manager

OKINAWA-BASED STARTUPS Okinawa startups going global
Ayan Sengupta — Myimmune

Myimmune

OKINAWA — OIST

Healthcare & Drug Discovery

Develops technology that uses AI to analyze immune data and identify antibody drug candidates on a computer.

Ayan SenguptaCo-founder & CTO

Shivani Sathish — Atierra

Atierra

OKINAWA — OIST

Climate Tech

Produces feedstock oil for low-carbon fuels used in aircraft and ships, from microalgae that grow by absorbing CO2.

Shivani SathishFounder & CEO

Ayanne Maciel — KeKatu

KeKatu

OKINAWA — OIST

Circular Economy

Develops technology to reuse alkaline industrial waste as soil-improvement material, reducing waste and restoring land at once.

Ayanne MacielCEO

Dai Yamashiro — MUSCLE FOOD PROJECT

MUSCLE FOOD PROJECT

OKINAWA

Wellness & Food

Develops superfood supplements using Okinawan produce. After sales trials at U.S. military bases, aims to enter the U.S. market.

Dai YamashiroFounder

Manthata William — hanamii

hanamii

OKINAWA

Business Support Services

Provides a platform that lets companies easily publish and operate their systems in a secure domestic cloud environment.

Manthata William

JUDGES

Judges

Seven experienced venture capitalists from Japan and overseas judge the pitches.

Toshihiro Kishihara

Toshihiro Kishihara

岸原 稔泰

GxPartners LLP
Managing Partner

Chief Judge
Takeru Kawashima

Takeru Kawashima

川島 健

01Booster, Inc.
Director

Tomokazu Saito

Tomokazu Saito

齊藤 友紀

Cohh Inc., CEO
Shinryo Fund, Founding Partner

Takaaki Toubaru

Takaaki Toubaru

桃原 隆昭

REMIGES VENTURES
Partner

Takaki Nakamura

Takaki Nakamura

中村 貴樹

JSIP Inc.
Co-founder

Ryohei Hayashi

Ryohei Hayashi

林 龍平

Beta Venture Capital
Representative Partner

Yuya Matsubuchi

Yuya Matsubuchi

松渕 祐也

MTG Ventures, Partner
Chiiki to Hito to Mirai, Partner

AWARDS & PRIZES

Awards

AwardDetailsProvided by
🏆 KOZAROCKS AWARD Cash prize ¥100,000 (by Nomura Securities), 1-year free KSA residency, company feature article (web), fundraising support, business support for sales expansion, KOZAROCKS goods Four Seas / Nomura Securities
StartupGo!Go! Award Entry to StartupGo!Go! The Pitch GxPartners
ResorTech EXPO Award ResorTech EXPO 2026 in Okinawa booth (approx. ¥110,000 value) incl. pitch slot, online seminar slot (¥50,000), 2 reception passes (¥20,000), company feature article web (¥100,000), one visitor email ad shot (¥30,000), cash prize (¥50,000) ResorTech EXPO in Okinawa Executive Committee
TAKAGI GROUP AWARD Entry to Polar Bear Pitching Tokyo, round-trip Naha–Haneda airfare, BIRTH STAY accommodation Takagi Building
CIC Fukuoka Award Access to shared spaces incl. meeting rooms at CIC in Japan, and CIC community access (Aug–Oct 2026) CIC Fukuoka
01Booster Award Try Everything (Sep 9–10, Seoul) booth exhibition & accommodation support, pitch slot 01Booster
JSIP Award Individual mentoring on Southeast Asia expansion (up to 2 sessions, free) JSIP
Chiiki to Hito to Mirai / MTG Ventures Award Fundraising & business expansion consultation for entering Japan's Chubu region, ReD recovery wear Chiiki to Hito to Mirai / MTG Ventures
β Venture Capital Award Consultation on fundraising, business planning, and investor/corporate introductions Beta Venture Capital
OIST Innovation Participation Award One month free hot desk at OIST Innovation Incubator OIST Innovation

Award Partners

PROGRAM

Program

Saturday, July 11, 2026

10:00 – 10:05 Opening
Program & judges introduction
10:05 – 12:30 Pitches, Q&A & review by 10 startups
incl. a 10-min break
19:00 – 19:30 Award Ceremony
Winners announced during the closing ceremony (Lagoon KOZA)

PITCH ORDER

  1. 1hanamii
  2. 2KopherBit
  3. 3MUSCLE FOOD PROJECT
  4. 4ArtwayTech
  5. 5Atierra
  6. — BREAK —
  7. 6Deep/C Systems
  8. 7Myimmune
  9. 8MetaRosetta
  10. 9KeKatu
  11. 10ECOCO
ACCESS

Venue

Venue
Lagoon KOZA
Address
1-7-8 Chuo, Okinawa City, Okinawa 904-0004
From Naha Airport (car)
Approx. 40 min via expressway / 50 min via local roads
From Naha Airport (bus)
Bus #111, get off at Okinawa-Minami IC (approx. 40 min); 15 min walk / 5 min taxi from the IC
Parking
Please use the Koza Music Town parking
Admission
Viewable with a KOZAROCKS 2026 session pass. Ticket page