On March 7, 2026, the FY2025 "ICT Startup League" awards ceremony took place toward the end of the "UPDATE EARTH Symposium Spring" held in Tokyo.
Initially, the plan was to award the highest honor, "STARTUP LEAGUE of the Year," to a single company out of the 62 selected startups that demonstrated the most outstanding global potential and success. However, as this was a newly introduced initiative this fiscal year, the committee concluded that it would be extremely difficult to select just one company for the top prize at this stage.
While the crowning of an ultimate "MVP" with overwhelming achievements has been postponed for future events, a surprise decision was made instead. The "Startup League Fighting Spirit Award" (comprising a certificate, trophy, and a 100,000 yen cash prize) was urgently awarded to four companies to honor their outstanding growth and solid results, achieved by continuously embracing flexible, unconventional challenges in their daily activities.
Here is a look at the trajectory of these four companies that propelled their businesses forward at astonishing speeds and brilliantly captured this wonderful honor.
Significantly expanding the possibilities of online telemedicine, this company leveraged its league activities to establish a partnership with the famous racing team "TOM'S". Operating on the premise that "a racer's eyes are their lifeline," they pioneered a new frontier in supporting athlete eye health and greatly advanced their business while fostering deeper collaboration among fellow cohort members.
Guided by the mission "Global power to small businesses," they turned expert advice into momentum to rapidly scale their intelligence platform business. By combining the human network of travel agency IAC Inc. with AI agents, they established an innovative mechanism to ensure local authenticity anywhere in the world, and are relentlessly pushing forward to create the next industry standard.
They rolled out a "Digital Child Development Screening" system in Southeast Asia designed to be completed entirely on a single smartphone. After collecting 15,000 data points in Malaysia, they successfully implemented the solution at the government level. Furthermore, their global perspective and proactive drive received high praise, as they successfully bridged these massive international achievements back to domestic trials.
Originally specializing in environmental DNA surveys for fish, this company responded instantaneously to a question raised during a value-up session—"Can't you do bear surveys?"—unlocking a new avenue for solving real-world social issues through "bear countermeasures." Through top-level sales pitches to a major Thai conglomerate to secure a foothold for overseas expansion, and ongoing discussions with a national university's medical faculty to survey infectious disease vectors, they are carving out the future with unconventional, overwhelming pivots and decisive action.
For startups to emerge victorious, it takes more than just telling a polished story. It requires an unconventional, "ultra-aggressive" mindset and a relentlessly hungry, tenacious drive to sink your teeth into every opportunity.
In the next fiscal year (FY2026), the maximum funding support in the ICT Startup League will be increased from the previous 20 million yen to 30 million yen.
The ultimate title of "STARTUP LEAGUE of the Year," having been withheld this time around, has been preserved for the current and future challengers.
Who will claim the coveted "STARTUP LEAGUE of the Year" next time? Stay tuned and look forward to the dramatic leaps of the startups participating in future editions of the ICT Startup League!
■ ICT Startup League
Launched in FY2023, this support program was sparked by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' "Support Program for Seed-stage Research and Development to Generate Startups."
The ICT Startup League supports startups through four key pillars:
1. R&D Funding & Hands-on Support
Up to 20 million yen in R&D funding is provided in the form of grants. In addition, for hands-on support, the evaluation committee members who selected the league participants stay closely involved post-selection to accelerate their growth. For companies the committee members rated as "absolute must-selects," a support system akin to "dedicated fan-like backing" (oshi-katsu) is established, with the evaluators themselves providing continuous personal support through business plan advice and growth opportunities.
2. Discovery & Nurturing
The League provides learning opportunities and networking events that encourage business growth for its members.
It also focuses on discovering aspiring entrepreneurs to widen the foundation of the startup ecosystem.
3. Competition & Co-creation
Designed as a positive competitive arena akin to a sports league, startups learn together and engage in friendly rivalry to win the precise amount of capital they truly need (up to 20 million yen). The League also provides a co-creative space where members can collaborate to expand their businesses through various opportunities, including sessions led by the selection evaluation committee.
4. Media Promotion & Outreach
We broadcast the initiatives of league members in partnership with media outlets! By showcasing these businesses to a broader audience, we aim to spark new matches and expand opportunities.
■ Related Websites
ICT Startup League
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InnoJIn Inc. (Official Website)
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InnoJIn Inc. (LEAGUE MEMBER)
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KiAI Inc. (Official Website)
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KiAI Inc. (LEAGUE MEMBER)
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Toyeight Holdings Inc. (Official Website)
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Toyeight Holdings Inc. (LEAGUE MEMBER)
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Fishpass Inc. (Official Website)
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Fishpass Inc. (LEAGUE MEMBER)
For more details on STARTUP LEAGUE's startup support, please see here.
