Sendai City-Hosted Global Startup Event "DATERISE! 2026" Announces 10 Tohoku-Based Startups to Pitch

The startup event "DATERISE! 2026" (Organizer: Sendai City / Operator: 01Booster), held under the theme of "Global," has released its latest program information.

This update includes the confirmation of 10 companies selected for the pitch contest, along with domestic judges, some session details, the schedule, booth and festival exhibitors, sponsor information, and side event details.

10 Companies Selected for Pitch Contest

The pitch contest, one of DATERISE! 2026's main events, will bring together startups challenging the world from Tohoku to present their visions, technologies, and business potential.

The winning startup will receive benefits to support further growth, and special awards from sponsoring companies are also planned. A panel of judges active both domestically and internationally will evaluate based on factors such as business viability, growth potential, and social impact to select the next generation of leading startups.

Following a rigorous selection process from a large number of applications exceeding capacity, 10 companies have been chosen to pitch. The event will feature startups from diverse fields, including university-launched ventures, deep tech, AI, healthcare, environment/energy, and robotics.

Please pay close attention to the moment when new Tohoku-born innovations take flight to the world from the DATERISE! 2026 stage.

【Pitching Companies and Presenters (Company names in Japanese syllabic order, titles omitted)】

・Ems Robotics Inc.

Eiji Sotani

・wead Inc.

Momoka Ikawa

・ZAICO Inc.

Toshihide Tamura

・Hide Innovative LAB Inc.

Hideya Iemura

・Tsubame Lab Inc. Masaya Inagawa

・TeconaAI Inc. Ryoichiro Oyama

・perple (Tohoku University) Takafumi Kubota

・bionto Inc. Hiromitsu Seno

・BearBell Inc. Yudai Hattori

・MiRESSO Inc. Tomoyuki Imai

Three Domestic Judges Announced

This year's pitch contest will feature judges with diverse backgrounds, including investors, corporate representatives, and support organizations leading the domestic startup ecosystem.

【Judges (Titles omitted)】

・Yukako Yokota

(Vice President, Flagship Pioneering)

・Kenji Fujita

(Senior Cross-Sector Innovation Fellow, Mitsui Sumitomo Marine Insurance Co., Ltd.)

・Norifumi Suzuki

(Representative Director & CEO, 01Booster Holdings Inc.)

Key Sessions Partially Revealed

Sessions focusing on overseas expansion, social issue resolution, and new technological foundations have been announced. These sessions aim to create a space for discussion and co-creation among diverse players.

Session 1: "Go! Global Players Talk"

Three startups challenging overseas markets will present their experiences and insights on the significance and realities of global expansion.

【Speakers】

・Noriyuki Kakuya, Representative Director, Airat Inc. ・Wazuke Kurokawa, Representative Director, MK PLUS Inc. ・Masami Hayashi, Global Promotion Office, Clean Planet Inc.

【Moderator】

・Ken Kawashima, Director, 01Booster Inc.

Session 2: "MICHINOKU SOCIAL INNOVATION"

Startups working to solve social issues in Tohoku, a region facing advanced challenges, will present their approaches and potential.

【Speakers】

・Kei Fujimaki, Representative Director, appcycle Inc. ・Rika Hamade, Representative Director & CEO, Greedy Inc. ・Yosuke Ishida, Representative Director & President, TOMUSHI Inc.

【Moderator】

・Yutaka Shibata, Representative Director & President, JR East Startup Co., Ltd.

Session 3: "The Future of Tohoku Realized with IOWN"

This session will introduce the regional potential brought by the next-generation information and communication infrastructure concept, "IOWN." It will convey a future vision of how the NTT Group will support the growth of regional companies and businesses through technology, incorporating initiatives at the Smart Innovation Lab Sendai. ※IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network: Next-generation information and communication infrastructure concept)

【Speakers】

・Junichi Kagesawa, IOWN Promotion Office, Management Planning Department, NTT East Corporation ・Yuka Takahashi, Business Innovation Department, Miyagi Business Office, NTT East Corporation

【Moderator】

・Akiko Iwamoto, Ecosystem Design Department, 01Booster Inc.

※Further program details will be released sequentially.

Event Day Schedule (Tentative) Released

The tentative schedule for DATERISE! 2026 has been released.

In addition to the pitch contest and various sessions, numerous activities are planned to foster networking and new encounters among participants.

※Program details are subject to change.

Booth Exhibition Area Significantly Expanded

This year, the booth area will be larger than last year.

Startups, support organizations, and corporations will gather, aiming to create touchpoints with visitors and foster new co-creation opportunities.

【Exhibiting Companies and Organizations】

(Startup Booths)

(Ecosystem Booths)

Festival Area Exhibitors Announced

The "Festival Area," where visitors can experience the charm and culture of the region, has also been enhanced this year.

Content designed for enjoyable interaction and networking will be offered, promoting community building unique to DATERISE!.

【Exhibitors (Partial)】

・Aroma Care Tech Inc. ・TAGBOAT Inc. ・Fukushima Keijiro LLC (KGR Harmony) ・BearBell Inc. ・Mu-Signal Inc. ・Reborn Inc.

New Sponsor Companies Decided

Sponsorship from companies and organizations that resonate with the purpose of DATERISE! 2026 is expanding.

New sponsors have been confirmed, and they will join in supporting startups challenging from Tohoku.

【Additional Sponsors】

Side Event Information Released

During the event, various side events will be held not only at the main venue but also at locations throughout Sendai City. Some event details are currently available, with more to be added sequentially. Applications are still open for side events held outside the main venue, and we welcome participation from those who wish to contribute to making DATERISE! a success.

◆DATERISE! 2026 Event Overview

Date: September 5, 2026 (Sat) Venue: Sendai International Center Exhibition Hall Organizer: Sendai City Co-organizers: Tohoku University, Miyagi Prefecture, JETRO Sendai, Michinoku Academia-based Startup Co-creation Platform, Sendai & Tohoku Startup Ecosystem Consortium Participation Fee: Free (Advance registration required) Event Page: https://01booster.com/program/daterise/ Registration Form: https://logoform.jp/form/3PrJ/1531550