4TH ICT INTERNATIONAL STARTUP COMPETITION 2027
Innovation. Build. Impact.
Event Details
📅 Date
Friday, 19 February 2027
🕘 Time
9:30 AM – 5:30 PM JST (Reception desk opens from 9:00 AM)
📍 Venue
KIT Innovation Hall, 4th Floor, Building #12
🌐 Language
English only (Japanese translation provided during main sessions)
🎯 Theme
“Innovate, Build, Impact”
Want to watch the pitching competition? Join us on the final day as an audience member.
Timeline
Key dates for the 4th ICT Startup Competition
| Event | Date | Description | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 📅 Registration | |||
| Registration begins | Fri, 1 May 2026 | Registration opens | — |
| Registration ends | Tue, 30 Jun 2026 | Registration closes | — |
| 📄 Proposal Round | |||
| Proposal submission begins | Mon, 1 Jul 2026 | Submit your project proposal | Project proposal will be evaluated |
| Proposal submission ends | Mon, 31 Aug 2026 | Proposal submission deadline | — |
| Finalist announcement | Sun, 13 Sep 2026 | Finalists announced | 10 finalists |
| Information session | Fri, 18 Sep 2026 | Briefing for finalists | — |
| Final submission ends | Sun, 7 Feb 2027 | Final project document due | Final project doc. |
| 🏆 Final Round | |||
| Competition day | Fri, 19 Feb 2027 | Final competition event | Pitch / Prototype |
Competition
STAGES
Stage 1
Project Proposal Round
🗓️ Aug / Sep 2026
📌 Format: Online only
✅ Content: Project proposal concept
Stage 2
Final Round (10 Finalists)
🗓️ Feb 2027
📌 Format: On-site or online
✅ Content: Startup pitching competition – Prototype stage
Eligibility
1. High school or undergraduate student’s competency level
2. 1 to 5 members per team
Format
At the Project Proposal Round
1. Startup project proposal (template will be provided)
2. Five-minute pitching video
At the Final Round
1. Startup pitching style – Prototype stage
2. 5 min pitch, 15 min judge Q&A
3. Onsite or online pitch
4. At least one of the team members must pitch
Submission Items
What to submit at each phase of the competition
At the Project Proposal Round
Last day: Mon, 31 Aug 2026
1. Team name
2. Project title
3. Team member
5. Five-minute pitching video
At the Final Submission Round
Last day: Sun, 7 Feb 2027
1. Team name
2. Project title
3. Team member
4. Contact person info – Email and/or Line ID
5. Team member picture (Optional – for PR poster)
6. Pitching video (Optional – backup for any technical difficulties)
7. Project abstract (Max 100 words)
8. Pitch deck – in both .ppt and .pdf format
9. Project/team poster (A1 size – Optional)
Judging Criteria
Project Proposal Round — 10 finalists will be selected based on these criteria
| % | Criteria | Sample Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | Innovation | Insightful problem, innovative solution, etc. |
| 35% | Impactful | User/market – size, impactfulness, scaling potential, etc. |
| 20% | Practicality | Practical, technological realistically, useability, etc. |
| 20% | Commercialize | Commercializing potential, competitiveness, etc. |
| 100% | Total | — |
Final Round — Winners will be determined based on these criteria
| % | Criteria | Sample Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 15% | Innovation | Insightful problem, innovative solution, etc. |
| 25% | Impactful | User/market, impactfulness, scaling potential, stakeholder validation, etc. |
| 25% | Practicality | Prototype, practicality, technological realistically, usability, solution validation, etc. |
| 20% | Commercialize | Commercializing potential, competitiveness, solution readiness, sounded business model, etc. |
| 15% | Pitching | Pitching, demonstration, Q&A session, audience engagement, etc. |
| 100% | Total | — |
Award / Recognition
Recognizing innovation, effort, and excellence at every stage
📝 Project Proposal Round
• All projects will receive primary analysis, feedback, and/or recommendations.
🏆 Final Round
• All finalists will be offered coaching and mentoring sessions with professionals from our expert network.
AWARDS
1. 🥇 1st Place — ¥50,000
2. 🥈 2nd Place — ¥30,000
3. 🥉 3rd Place — ¥10,000
4. Innovation Excellence Award
5. Outstanding Market Disruptor Award
6. Groundbreaking Impact Leader Award
7. Other teams receive participation / special award certificates
Judges & Speakers
Meet the inspiring minds behind the 4th ICT Startup Competition
🔜 Announcements Coming Soon
TBA
Role TBA
Details will be announced soon.
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Details will be announced soon.
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Role TBA
Details will be announced soon.
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Role TBA
Details will be announced soon.
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Role TBA
Details will be announced soon.
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Details will be announced soon.
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Role TBA
Details will be announced soon.
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Details will be announced soon.
★ More speakers and judges will be announced as the event approaches.
Partners
Organizations and institutions that make this competition possible
🤝 Partner Announcements Coming Soon
Sponsorship
Proud sponsors who support innovation and entrepreneurship
💼 Sponsor Announcements Coming Soon
Ready to Join the Competition?
Register now or join us on the day — either way, be part of something great.
Organizing Team
The team behind the 4th ICT International Startup Competition 2027
🏛️ Organized by
1. Kanazawa Institute of Technology (KIT)
2. International College of Technology – Kanazawa (ICT)
3. VOERA
👥 Organizing Team
Full team listing will be updated closer to the event.
ISEK: ICT Startup and Entrepreneur Center, Kanazawa 