daterise

DATERISE!

SAVE THE DATE | 2026.09.05 (sat)
in Sendai International Center Exhibition Building

  • 2026.06.30

    The 10 startups from the Tohoku region participating in the pitch contest have been selected!
    The latest program details—including domestic judges, featured sessions, and exhibitor information—have been released.

  • 2026.04.27

    DATERISE! 2026 Confirmed!

World-changing challenges begin in Tohoku.

400 years ago,
Date Masamune, the feudal lord of Sendai,
was already looking beyond Japan—toward the world.
That spirit still lives on in this region.
In 2025,
DATERISE was launched here in Sendai.
Cutting-edge technologies born from research.
Products shaped by the land, its people, and real-world challenges.
As these ambitions came together,
a new energy began to emerge.
There is still untapped potential here—
value the world has yet to discover.
And in 2026,
that potential will connect to the world.
DATERISE is where startups meet, accelerate,
and take their next step onto the global stage.
This one day can become a turning point for our future.
From Tohoku—to the next global frontier.
DATERISE! ― SENDAI to Global!

Time table

11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00

DATERISE! STAGE（200席）

FRONTIOR STAGE（120席）

※Click to view the overview and speaker information for each session.
※Please note that speakers and the schedule are subject to change up until the day of the event due to operational reasons.

Contents

Details will be updated as they are finalized.

  • SESSION

    A session spotlighting the challengers from Tohoku and where they stand today as they set their sights on the world.
    This year, the number of stages and sessions has expanded, bringing together diverse perspectives from entrepreneurs, investors, major corporations, deep tech innovators, social startups, and international ecosystems.br> From the realities of building a business and the thinking behind key decisions to the front lines of global expansion, you'll gain practical insights you won’t hear anywhere else.br> The passion, ambition, and real stories behind stepping onto the world stage are here.

  • DATERISE! THE PITCH

    This challenge opens the door to the world. One of the largest pitch contests in Tohoku, where selected companies from across the region take the stage to pursue opportunities in the global market with full passion and ambition.
    More than just a competition, this contest provides valuable opportunities for business growth and international expansion.
    Participating companies can build new connections with investors and support organizations in Japan and abroad, while also gaining greater visibility and new opportunities to showcase their businesses.

  • BOOTH

    The players shaping the future of Tohoku come together in one place.
    In the booth area located within the main venue, a diverse range of key ecosystem players—including startups, corporations, and support organizations—will gather to create meaningful connections, dynamic communication, and productive business meetings.

  • NETWORKING

    A networking zone will be set up to encourage communication between participants and exhibitors. From casual conversations to concrete business discussions, the space will create a wide range of opportunities to connect with domestic and international VCs, companies, and ecosystem supporters.

  • ENNICHI

    Bringing startup technology closer to you. Through hands-on, playful, and engaging experiences, startups can showcase their products and ideas in a fun and accessible way. A lively festival-style space where startups can connect directly with the local community.

  • SIDE EVENT

    Starting with DATERISE!, a series of collaborative programs led by various players will take place. Unique themes and new encounters shaped by different perspectives will spark new possibilities. Inside and outside the venue, the next challenge gets underway.

DATERISE! THE PITCH

※Click to view speaker profiles and business overviews of the participating companies.

JUDGES OF PITCH

※Click to view the judges' profiles.

Session

GO! Global Players Talk

Three startups that are already expanding overseas will share their experiences and insights on the significance and realities of going global.

  • airato Speakers

    AiRato. Inc
    NORIYUKI KADOYA

  • mkplus Speakers

    MK PLUS Co., Ltd.
    KAZUMASA KUROKAWA

  • cleanplanet Speakers

    Clean Planet Inc.
    MASAMI HAYASHI

  • 01booster Moderator

    01Booster Inc.
    TAKERU KAWASHIMA

Michinoku Social
Innovation

Startups working to address social challenges in Tohoku, a region at the forefront of social challenges, will share their initiatives and discuss the potential of startups to drive social impact.

  • appcycle Speakers

    appcycle inc.
    KEI FUJIMAKI

  • feel-organic Speakers

    Greedy Inc.
    RIKA HAMADE

  • tomushi Speakers

    TOMUSHI.Inc.
    YOSUKE SHIBATA

  • jr Moderator

    JR East Start UP Co.,Ltd
    YUTAKA SHIBATA

Shaping Tohoku's Future with IOWN

In this session, we will explore the potential that "IOWN," the next-generation information and communications infrastructure, holds for local communities. We will provide a clear, accessible overview of IOWN, accompanied by a demonstration of its low-latency communication capabilities. Furthermore, by highlighting our ongoing initiatives at the Smart Innovation Lab Sendai, we will share the NTT Group's vision for the future—demonstrating how we plan to leverage IOWN and technology to support the growth of local enterprises and businesses.

  • ntt-east Speakers

    NTT EAST, Inc.
    JUNICHI KAGESAWA

  • ntt-east Speakers

    NTT EAST, Inc.
    YUKA TAKAHASHI

  • 01booster Moderator

    01Booster Inc.
    AKIKO IWAMOTO

Keynote Speech

Coming Soon

GLOCAL Cluster

Startups and ecosystem supporters will share perspectives on how an entire region is working together to develop the space industry.

Coming Soon

The Global Startup Ecosystem Today

Experts will provide insights into global startup trends and the unique characteristics of startup ecosystems across different regions.

Coming Soon

※Click to view the overview and speaker information for each session.

Booth

Startup Booth

Ecosystem Booth

Sponsor Booth

DATERISE! 縁日 ENNICHI

Play, interact, and connect with the future—a futuristic festival to enjoy with family and friends.

Booth Information

  • 1

    Aroma Care Tech Corp.

    Try our AI aroma assessment on your smartphone and experience your personalized essential oil blend with our testers!

  • 2

    TUGBOAT KK

    We are a cider and apple brandy maker that utilizes apples grown in Aomori Prefecture.

  • 3

    FUKUHSIMA KEIJIRO LLC, (KGR HARMONY)

    We combine traditional Japanese crafts with guitar pedals to create and provide new value.

  • 4

    BearBell Inc.

    Developing “Kumap,” a wildlife damage control service that addresses wildlife damage through data collection, IoT integration, and AI prediction and real-time alerts.

  • 5

    Musignal Inc.

    The "FJ1" is our innovative portable DJ device that garnered significant attention through crowdfunding in Japan. Come to our booth and experience it firsthand!

  • 6

    Moonlit Dinner in Tomiya

    Sip, taste, and discover Tohoku through blueberry drinks and sweets from Tomiya.

The companies setting up stalls at ENNICHI are those with ties to the Tohoku region.

Partners

PLATINUM SPONSOR

NTT EAST

GOLD SPONSOR

  • One ip

EVENT SPONSOR

  • jr
  • 77bank
  • tasky
  • tsuruoka
  • tohoku
  • miura&partners
  • miyagi

Side event

A variety of startup events will be held in conjunction with DATERISE！
※Please check the links for each event for further details.

Access

Sendai International Center Exhibition Building
Aobayama, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture 980-0856

Movie

Outline

EVENT NAME
DATERISE! 2026
DATE
Saturday, September 5, 2026, 11:00–19:00 (tentative)
Venue
Sendai International Center Exhibition Building
Participation
Free, registration required
Organizer
City of Sendai
Co-Organizers
Tohoku University, Tohoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, Miyagi Prefectural Government, JETRO Sendai, MICHINOKU ACADEMIA STARTUP PLATFORM, SENDAI TOHOKU STARTUP ECOSYSTEM CONSORTIUM
Supporting Organizations
Aomori Prefectural Government, Iwate Prefectural Government, Akita Prefectural Government, Yamagata Prefectural Government, Fukushima Prefectural Government
Operation
01Booster Inc.

DATERISE!2026
Sponsorship Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in sponsoring DATERISE! 2026.
We offer sponsorship opportunities for private companies and organizations interested in collaborating with us on the event.
If you are interested, please contact us using the form below. The organizing team will provide further details regarding sponsorship plans and benefits.

Sponsors will also receive booth exhibition space, promotional opportunities, and networking opportunities throughout the event.

Contact Us

DATERISE!2026
Side Event Application

At DATERISE! 2026, we are inviting applications for Side Events from those who share the vision of the main event and would like to help make it even more exciting.
Please review all of the information below carefully and submit your application using the appropriate form.

■What is a Side Event?
DATERISE!A Side Event is an initiative that embodies the concept of DATERISE! 2026 and contributes to the growth of startups and the broader ecosystem in Sendai and the Tohoku region.

■DATERISE!2026 | Concept
・Spotlighting the signs of change
・Showcasing initiatives from Sendai and Tohoku that are taking on the world
・Connecting diverse stakeholders, including startups, supporters, local governments, and corporations
・Creating opportunities for domestic and international participants to engage and collaborate

■Eligible Events (No restrictions on format or theme)
We welcome a wide range of event formats, including:
Talk sessions, meetups/networking events, workshops, study sessions/seminars, and more.

■Collaboration Opportunities
If approved as an official Side Event, you may receive the following support:
・Featured on the official DATERISE! 2026 website
・Information shared with registered participants
・Mutual promotional support
・Opportunity to introduce DATERISE! 2026 during your Side Event

■Guidelines & Requirements
Organizers are responsible for planning and managing their event, including participant registration.
Organizers are free to choose the date and venue.
After the event, organizers are requested to submit a brief report including photos, participant numbers, and participant demographics.
Any issues or incidents that occur during the event must be handled by the organizer.
Activities contrary to public order and morals, or excessive solicitation, are prohibited.

Side Event Application Form

HIDEJI SOTANI

Eams Robotics Co., Ltd.
President and Representative Director

■Profile
With 30 years of sales experience at a Hitachi Group company, he led the launch of a drone business in 2015. He has developed global partnerships, secured overseas bridge inspection projects, and won over 100 service contracts. He has also delivered 100+ seminars on industrial drone applications.

■Business Overview
The company develops, manufactures, and supplies autonomous systems centered on industrial drones. It provides Type 1 and Type 2 certified aircraft and has a leading track record in inspection, security, and logistics trials. Current initiatives include next-generation logistics UAVs, VTOL aircraft, and advanced remote monitoring technologies.

MOMOKA IKAWA

wead Co., Ltd.
CEO

■Profile
Momoka Ikawa graduated from the University of Tasmania and worked on collaborative research with universities in the livestock industry. Seeing the challenge of underutilized waste, she founded wead Co., Ltd. with the mission of “Rethinking Waste,” creating value from discarded resources.

■Business Overview
wead Co., Ltd. utilizes its proprietary waste decomposition accelerator, greevy®, to rapidly break down and recycle paper waste, food waste, agricultural residues, biodegradable plastics, and other underutilized materials. By transforming waste into valuable resources, we promote a circular economy while helping reduce environmental impact and address local community challenges.

TOSHIHIDE TAMURA

ZAICO Inc.
Representative Director

■Profile
Born in Yamagata in 1983. Following graduate studies at Tokyo Institute of Technology, gained experience at Future Architect and freee. Established ZAICO Inc. in 2016, driven by the remarkable success of an inventory management app he originally created for his family's warehouse business.

■Business Overview
We provide "zaico," a highly user-friendly cloud-based inventory management system. Guided by our mission to "improve societal efficiency by building an information infrastructure for goods—collecting, organizing, and providing data," we are dedicated to automating and streamlining inventory operations using AI technology. Our goal is to optimize supply chains across society as a whole.

HIDEYA IEMURA

Syu Innovative LAB co.ltd
CEO

■Profile
In 2018, he established Syu Innovative LAB and became its representative. The following year, established a dairy farming production company in Rajasthan, India. He is currently expanding dairy-related businesses. In February 2026, he received the KIBOW Award at the Globis MBA school.

■Business Overview
We provide a text-free herd management DaaS solution to medium-sized dairy farmers in India. This initiative aims to dramatically boost productivity through IoT and AI, and to build a massive dairy farming platform in India—one of the world’s largest dairy-producing nations—by leveraging the vast, untapped pool of individual animal data we have accumulated.

MASAYA INAKAWA

Tsubame Lab
CAIO

■Profile
Masaya Inakawa is CAIO of Tsubame Lab and concurrently CEO of LaboRobo. A doctoral candidate at Tohoku University, he researches laboratory automation using robotics and AI, and leads the Tohoku expansion of the company's cloud-laboratory business from his base in Sendai.

■Business Overview
zTsubame Lab, a venture certified by Institute of Science Tokyo, builds a cloud laboratory that makes lab equipment remotely operable via APIs. Centered on T-Lab Studio, which turns natural language into robot-control code, it lets researchers and AI agents run experiments online. By offering experimentation as a service, the company accelerates R&D in drug discovery and materials development.

RYOICHIRO KOYAMA

TeconaAI Co., Ltd.
Representative Director

■Profile
Originally from Fuji, Shizuoka Prefecture, he moved to Sendai in 2023 to study at the School of Engineering, Tohoku University. In 2025, he founded TeconaAI Inc. as a Tohoku University startup, where he is developing image protection AI technologies, including “Tecona.”

■Business Overview
Tecona is a service that applies subtle, nearly imperceptible protective noise to photos, illustrations, and other images posted on social media and the web, helping protect individuals, creators, and businesses from unauthorized training and misuse by generative AI.

Our goal is to become a form of social infrastructure that safeguards people’s lives and digital dignity in the age of AI.

TAKAFUMI KUBOTA

perple

■Profile
Takafumi Kubota, MD, is a neurologist specializing in epilepsy and a US-certified clinical neurophysiologist, now a PhD candidate at Tohoku University combining research and clinical practice. He leads perple, a startup realizing personalized epilepsy care powered by genomics and AI.

■Business Overview
perple is a Tohoku University team tackling personalized epilepsy care. In drug-resistant epilepsy, physicians still select among dozens of drugs by trial and error. By combining whole-genome and epilepsy clinical data and analyzing them with AI, we predict the optimal treatment for each patient. We are building a personalized-medicine AI platform, expanding from Japan across Asia and the world.

HIROMITSU SENOO

Bionto, Inc.
CEO

■Profile
Co-founded bionto as an EIR at Tohoku University Venture Partners in 2024. Previously, drove business development from seed to Pre-Series C at a digital marketing startup, launched an international streaming service, and produced films and entertainment content.

■Business Overview
A biotech startup from Tohoku University, bionto revolutionizes self-care and medication through its proprietary "bio-iontronics" technology. Utilizing electro-osmotic flow, the company develops non-invasive transdermal drug delivery devices. By offering solutions that span from clinical settings to home care, bionto aims to contribute to a healthy, long-lived society.

YUTA HATTORI

BearBell Inc.
CEO

■Profile
A senior at Akita International University.
After facing the severe impact of bear attacks in Akita, I founded BearBell in October 2024, incorporated in January 2026, and became its CEO.
Having experienced six bear encounters in Akita Prefecture, I am a firsthand victim of wildlife damage.

■Business Overview
We are developing “Kumap,” a wildlife damage prevention service that addresses “unpredictable encounters and damage” faced by residents, companies, and local governments by leveraging data aggregation, IoT integration, and an AI prediction and real-time notification system, with the goal of achieving zero damage and safe coexistence.

TOMOAKI IMAI

MiRESSO Co.,Ltd.
Chief Operating Officer

■Profile
Prior to joining MiRESSO, I spent my career at Itochu Corporation in the natural resources and energy sector. My experience includes LNG and LPG trading, joint venture management, and investments in international oil and gas projects.

■Business Overview
MiRESSO is a QST spinout developing a low-cost beryllium supply chain for fusion, fission, and advanced industries. Our proprietary refining technology significantly reduces processing costs, positioning us as a key supplier in the growing global market for critical materials.

YUKAKO YOKOTA

Flagship Pioneering
Vice President

Leads Flagship Pioneering’s Japan activities. A former Biogen researcher, UNC neuroscience PhD, McKinsey Partner, and VC investor, she is dedicated to advancing science-driven innovation and entrepreneurship.

KENJI FUJITA

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited
Senior Fellow, Cross-Sector
Innovation/Representative Director

After participating in the Group Business Process Reform Project, I worked in Sales Promotion and Corporate Sales, and since 2016 have served in my current role. By cooperating with VCs and accelerators, I have launched new risk solutions and supported startups’ growth through advanced insurance technologies. As a partner at Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Capital, I help enhance the value of portfolio companies with investment development, business matching, and open innovation. I have held public and advisory roles, including as Special Advisor of the Shibuya City Startup Ecosystem and as a committee member for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Startup League. In February 2026, I became Representative Director of the Innovators Platform Association.

NORIFUMI SUZUKI

01Booster Holdings Inc.
CEO

In 1998, he joined Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd., where he served as the IR Leader in the Finance Department and later as Head of the Corporate Management Office. In 2006, he founded Kids Base Camp Co., Ltd., while concurrently serving as Senior Director of New Business Development at M-Out Co., Ltd. In 2008, he successfully sold the business to Tokyu Corporation. In March 2012, he co-founded 01Booster Inc., which provides support for startups and corporate new business development initiatives. In March 2022, he reorganized the company into a holding structure, establishing 01Booster Holdings, Inc. and 01Booster Capital, Inc., which manages a venture capital fund.

13:20~14:00＠DATERISE！STAGE ｜MICHINOKU SOCIAL INNOVATION（40 mins）

Startups working to address social challenges in Tohoku, a region at the forefront of social challenges, will share their initiatives and discuss the potential of startups to drive social impact.

  • appcycle Speakers

    KEI FUJIMAKI

    appcycle inc.
    CEO

    Kei Fujimaki founded appcycle Inc. in May 2022. As CEO, he developed RINGO-TEX, a bio-based leather upcycled from Aomori's apple waste for a circular economy.

  • feel-organic Speakers

    RIKA HAMADE

    Greedy Inc.
    Representative Director & CEO

    Rika Hamade founded Greedy Inc. in 2017 to address opportunity gaps for women in rural Japan. After 17 years at Peach John Co., Ltd., rising to Deputy General Manager, she pivoted to "designing circulation." She upcycles regional resources like cedar wood and grapevine stems into fragrance products under her Sendai-based brand "Tennen Kaiki ～Feel Organic～." With an all-female team, she proves new work models are possible from regional Japan.

  • tomushi Speakers

    YOSUKE SHIBATA

    TOMUSHI.Inc.
    CEO

    Born in Akita, he dropped out of Aoyama Gakuin University to start a marketing business. After it failed, he returned home due to his grandfather's illness and became fascinated with rhinoceros beetles, leading him to found TOMUSHI Co., Ltd. Focused on insect-based waste treatment and resource recycling under the vision "an earth-friendly future," the company has won the Ministry of the Environment's Green Startup Award and J-Startup Tohoku certification.

  • jr Moderator

    YUTAKA SHIBATA

    JR East Start UP Co.,Ltd
    CEO

    In February 2018, he became President and CEO of JR East Startup Co., Ltd., which promotes investment in and collaboration with startup companies. With the vision of "Creating a 'Tomorrow' Station," he promotes business co-creation utilizing the management resources of the JR East Group.

14:05~14:35＠DATERISE！STAGE ｜Go! Global Players Talk（30 mins）

Three startups that are already expanding overseas will share their experiences and insights on the significance and realities of going global.

  • airato Speakers

    NORIYUKI KADOYA

    AiRato. Inc
    CTO&Founder

    Founded AiRato Co., Ltd. in 2022 as a Tohoku University-originated startup, combining cancer treatment and AI to expand the possibilities of radiation therapy, with a mission to "save all cancer patients through radiation therapy" worldwide. Also serves as a hospital lecturer in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Tohoku University Hospital. Holds a PhD from Nagoya University and conducted research at Stanford University and the University of California, Davis.

  • mkplus Speakers

    KAZUMASA KUROKAWA

    MK PLUS Co., Ltd.
    CEO

    Graduated from Osaka University, entered Toray in 1998 as domestic/foreign sales, factory planning & execution and business planning.
    Entered GE in 2007 as business planning for auto leasing, Mitsubishi Auto Leasing as corporate strategy.
    Founded MK PLUS in 2015, then launched a joint research for Vanadium Solid Battery with Tohoku/Kyoto University.
    Currently MK PLUS has been ramping up the mass production site in Europe for EU and Middle East in 2026.

  • cleanplanet Speakers

    MASAMI HAYASHI

    Clean Planet Inc.
    Global Strategy Office
    Global Strategy Director

    Masami Hayashi leads strategic partnerships at Clean Planet, a Japanese startup developing Quantum Hydrogen Energy (QHe), a safe, compact, and low-cost form of solid-state fusion energy designed for early social implementation. She brings extensive international experience in sustainable development, having served at the UNDP and as Director of the MicroFinance Network.
    She holds an MPhil in Development Studies from the University of Sussex and a BA in Law from the University of Tokyo.

  • 01booster Moderator

    TAKERU KAWASHIMA

    01Booster Inc.
    Executive Director

    After graduating from Waseda University, Kawashima worked in business development for a Japanese Medical Device company in the EMEA region, then transitioned to Product Marketing at a Global Medical Device company. Joining 01Booster, Inc., a Japanese Accelerator, in 2017, he managed several accelerator programs and developed international partnerships with accelerators outside Japan. In 2018, he founded "Across Asia Alliance," a community of Asian VCs/accelerators in collaboration with international partners. He also founded "InnoScouter, Inc.," focusing on enterprise SaaS startups, and later successfully exited to 01Booster.

16:50~17:20＠DATERISE！STAGE ｜Shaping Tohoku's Future with IOWN

In this session, we will explore the potential of IOWN, the next-generation information and communications infrastructure, for regional development. We will provide a clear, accessible overview of IOWN, accompanied by a demonstration of its low-latency communication capabilities. Furthermore, by highlighting our ongoing initiatives at the Smart Innovation Lab Sendai, we will share the NTT Group's vision for the future—demonstrating how we plan to leverage IOWN and technology to support the growth of local enterprises and businesses.

  • ntt-east Speakers

    JUNICHI KAGESAWA

    NTT EAST, Inc.
    IOWN Strategy Office, Corporate Planning Department
    Director

    Born in Tokyo. Completed a graduate program at the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Tsukuba in 2004, and joined Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation (NTT East).
    After working in service development and network operations, engaged in new business development for many years. In 2018, led the company's "Acceleration Program" aimed at collaborating with startups, and in 2020 founded NTTe-Sports Corporation.
    Since 2021, has worked on IOWN proof-of-concept trials and use-case creation, and currently drives the social implementation of IOWN, focusing on distributed data centers using the IOWN APN (watt-bit collaboration) and applications in the entertainment field.

  • ntt-east Speakers

    YUKA TAKAHASHI

    NTT EAST, Inc.
    Business Innovation Department, Miyagi Branch
    Section Manager

    Born in Sendai. After graduating from university, joined NTT and was seconded to an advertising agency in Tokyo. Later, engaged in promoting sales of service products and public relations in Sendai.
    Currently, as the manager of the "Smart Innovation Lab Sendai" operated by NTT East, she collaborates with regional players, including startups, to create new businesses. She also focuses on nurturing talent by hosting business co-creation programs for university students.

  • 01booster Moderator

    AKIKO IWAMOTO

    01Booster Inc.
    Ecosystem Design Division
    Leader

    After graduating from university, Akiko began her career at a BPO company, where she worked in sales within the human resources outsourcing division. She was responsible for matching temporary staff with client companies, providing follow-up support, and managing on-site operations for outsourced projects.
    She later joined a company supporting the launch and management of membership organizations, where she planned and executed events and special benefits for high-net-worth individuals, and directed the production of various materials.
    At 01Booster, she is involved in open innovation support, in-house new business development, and startup support, contributing to the growth and expansion of the startup ecosystem.

11:40~12:20KEYNOTE SPEECH（40 mins）

Coming Soon

16:50~17:30GLOCAL CLUSTER（40 mins）

Coming Soon

14:05~14:45The Global Startup Ecosystem Today （40 mins）

Coming Soon