FISHPASS Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture; CEO: Narihiro Nishimura), a provider of online fishing permit sales systems, announced on February 28 that it will exhibit at "JID 2026 by ASCII STARTUP," an innovation festival to be held in Hamamatsucho, Tokyo, on March 3, 2026.
The company will host a booth in the DX Area titled "Biodiversity DX Utilizing Environmental DNA Analysis," where it will unveil cutting-edge solutions for visualizing natural environments along with its dedicated reporting system.
As achieving Nature Positive goals and complying with the TNFD (Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures) become urgent priorities, a major challenge for companies and local governments is how to acquire and quantify natural environment data.
The "Environmental DNA Analysis" provided by FISHPASS is a technology that analyzes trace amounts of DNA (from cells, excrement, etc.) contained in water scooped from rivers, lakes, and oceans. Even without specialized knowledge, by simply "scooping and sending water," it is possible to estimate the habitat status of fish and aquatic organisms, the distribution of invasive species, and even the activity ranges of terrestrial wildlife like bears and wild boars that frequent the water's edge.
A significant advantage of this method is its ability to conduct wide-area surveys at a lower cost and in a shorter timeframe compared to traditional diving or fixed-net surveys.
At the JID 2026 booth, there will be a demonstration of a dedicated DX reporting system that can instantly visualize and export the acquired ecosystem data.
The exhibit will introduce specific applications, such as using the data for corporate natural capital disclosure, streamlining environmental assessments, and implementing evidence-based wildlife damage control for local governments. Additionally, the company will showcase its research and development initiatives for sustainable river environment conservation, which were selected for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' "FY2025 FORWARD Project."
■ ICT Startup League
This support program was launched in FY2023, triggered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' "Startup-Generating Seed R&D Support Project."
The ICT Startup League supports startups through four main pillars:
1. R&D Funding / Hands-on Support
Provides up to 20 million yen in R&D funding as a grant. In terms of hands-on support, the selection committee members who evaluated the league members continue to stay involved after the selection to accelerate growth. For companies that committee members evaluated as "must-adopt," the evaluators themselves provide ongoing support, such as advice on business plans and opportunities for growth—a supportive structure akin to "fan-driven" advocacy.
2. Discovery & Cultivation
Provides opportunities for learning and networking to promote the business growth of league members. It also aims to expand the ecosystem by discovering individuals aspiring to start businesses in the future.
3. Competition & Co-creation
Functioning like a positive sports league, this is a venue for competition where startups learn together, challenge one another, and secure the necessary funding (up to 20 million yen). It also provides a platform for "co-creation," where league members collaborate to expand their businesses through sessions with selection committee members and various other opportunities.
4. Communication
Promotes the initiatives of league members in collaboration with the media! By increasing public awareness of these businesses, the program aims to broaden the scope for new matching opportunities and business prospects.
■ Related Websites
ICT Startup League
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FISHPASS Co., Ltd. (Official Site)
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FISHPASS Co., Ltd. (LEAGUE MEMBER)
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JID 2026 by ASCII STARTUP (Official Site)
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Original Press Release
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For more details on STARTUP LEAGUE's startup support, please see here.
