Startup World Cup 2026 Kyushu Regional Preliminaries Set for October: One of the World's Largest Pitch Contests

Event Overview

Pegasus Tech Ventures has announced that the Kyushu preliminaries for the "Startup World Cup 2026" will be held on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the Kumamoto-jo Hall. Aimed at revitalizing the startup ecosystem, the event will welcome in-person attendees while also providing a free, live online stream.

Program Highlights and Key Features

In this regional preliminary, 10 finalists—having passed the document screening out of approximately 250 applicants—will take the stage to pitch their businesses. Alongside the pitch competition, the event will feature a "Youth Pitch" by students high school age and younger, a "1-minute speech" session by local enterprises, and booth exhibitions by high-profile companies. With an anticipated audience of 2,000 both in-person and online, the venue will serve as a converging point for Kyushu's government bodies, financial institutions, and major corporations.

Background and Significance

The Startup World Cup is one of the world's largest pitch contests, with preliminaries held in over 130 countries and regions globally. Regional winners will advance to the Grand Finale in San Francisco, USA, competing for a grand prize investment of $1 million USD (approx. 150 million JPY). For startups, the Japanese preliminaries represent a crucial stepping stone toward fundraising and business partnerships.

Operational Outlook and Future Vision

Through this event, organizers aim to further strengthen the Kyushu regional ecosystem and foster startups that will take on the global challenge as representatives of Japan. Spectator tickets and viewing details are now available on the official website, allowing audiences everywhere to experience the high-stakes competition in real time.