Karatsu Startup PITCH CONTEST 2026 Held

On March 24, 2026, the Karatsu City DX Innovation Center (KDIC), operated by Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, held the 'Karatsu Startup PITCH CONTEST 2026' to discover and support startups capable of solving regional issues and creating new businesses. The event was planned and operated by SB Players Corp. The contest aimed to foster local entrepreneurs and create startups. The event featured a keynote speech by Keisuke Murakami, a former official at the Digital Agency, on the prospects of local entrepreneurship in a digital society. Twelve finalists presented their ideas, and HiBee Inc., led by CEO Keita Takashige, won the grand prize for 'Tsunagite,' a platform matching foreign workers and students to provide language education and employment. The city will support the commercialization of this project.