Kyoto to the Rescue of Taxi Refugees! Pioneering High School Entrepreneur Taiki Nomura (27) and Current KOSEN Student CEO Tatsuya Kidera (18) Launch Limited-Time Taxi Ride-Sharing App 'Noriai for IVS2026'

Tech Launcher Inc. (CEO: Taiki Nomura) announces the limited-time, free release of a web-based ride-matching application called "Noriai for IVS2026," designed to support shared taxi rides among participants during the IVS2026 conference (held July 1–3), Japan's largest startup conference.

This service was developed in under a month by a unique team led by Taiki Nomura, a pioneer of entrepreneurship among KOSEN (National College of Technology) students, and Tatsuya Kidera (18), a current KOSEN student and young entrepreneur (CEO of SchoolFarm, company incorporation pending)—forming a "senior-junior KOSEN duo."

*Note: This service is not an official IVS offering. It is an unofficial service operated by volunteer participants. IVS KYOTO Organizing Committee and IVS Secretariat assume no responsibility for any troubles, damages, or accidents arising from the use of this service.

Background: Tackling IVS's Notorious "Taxi Refugee" Problem and Transforming Waiting Time into Co-Creation

Every year, long queues form around "Miyako Messe," the main venue for IVS, as participants struggle to find taxis. This results in 15–20 minute taxi jams, with ride-hailing apps nearly ineffective—creating what has become known as the "taxi refugee" phenomenon. Taiki Nomura himself experienced this firsthand at last year’s IVS, where he ended up sharing a taxi with fellow attendees heading the same way. They hit it off during the ride and exchanged Facebook contacts—an experience that inspired this project.

"Can we turn this time of just waiting in line into a co-creation opportunity in true startup spirit?"

"A 5-minute ride could lead to a co-founded venture 5 years from now."

Driven by this vision, the team created a service that transforms short commutes into valuable networking opportunities.

Key Features of "Noriai for IVS2026"

This service is a web browser-based app—no app download or complicated password registration required.

Select a meeting point: Limited to two locations—"in front of Miyako Messe" or "in front of Hotel Okura Kyoto"—designed for easy use while waiting at pickup spots.

Choose destination and time: Select your destination area or specific event venue, and set your desired pickup time (in 15-minute increments, up to one hour ahead).

Join a group: Match with up to three other participants heading in the same direction to form a group of up to four.

Chat and meet up: Use the in-app simple chat function to coordinate (e.g., "I'm wearing a red shirt") and head to the taxi together.

*Usage is completely free. However, payment for the taxi fare and arranging the taxi must be handled directly among matched riders. This service is developed and provided solely to promote communication among event participants and does not act as a broker or intermediary for transportation contracts.

Highlight: Speedy Development by an Unconventional Team—Entrepreneur-Politician and Current KOSEN Student

The project’s appeal lies in its dynamic development team.

Concept & Co-Producer: Taiki Nomura (27) — A pioneer of entrepreneurship in the KOSEN ecosystem and recent candidate in Japan’s House of Representatives election. He drives the project forward with exceptional creativity and execution power.

Co-Producer: Tatsuya Kidera (18) — Launched an initiative supporting new farmers while still in KOSEN and has experience in M&A-based business succession. Currently founding SchoolFarm, offering hydroponic farming subscriptions for corporate offices and collaborating with local governments. Recognized as a standout KOSEN entrepreneur, his work has been featured in "KOSEN community," Japan’s largest KOSEN network. In this project, he leads LP creation, official LINE operations, user acquisition, and social media marketing.

Engineer: Ryoi Katsuragawa (31) — Developer of "Minna de Nanpure," an online multiplayer Sudoku game playable instantly from any browser. For this project, he focuses on simplicity and usability at the venue, eliminating all unnecessary features.

Launched with Zero Budget, Non-Profit—Sponsorship Opportunities Now Open!

"Noriai for IVS2026" is provided completely free by volunteer entrepreneurs and engineers to solve the "taxi refugee" issue and transform commute time into opportunities for new connections and co-creation.

We are seeking sponsor companies (Special Thanks) who resonate with our vision and support the rapid development and bold challenge led by KOSEN students and young entrepreneurs.

Sponsoring companies will be acknowledged as "Special Thanks" on the service website. This offers excellent visibility to the many startup founders, investors, and students using the app during IVS, and serves as PR for companies supporting the next-generation startup ecosystem.

For details, please visit the link below.

Service Overview

Service Name: Noriai for IVS2026

Availability: June 30 (Tue), 2026 – July 4 (Sat)

Usage Fee: Free (taxi fare and dispatch fees not included)

How to Use: Access via dedicated link after adding the official LINE account (no app download required)

Service Website: https://noriai-taxi.com/

*Tech Launcher Inc. and IVS KYOTO Organizing Committee assume no responsibility for any issues (accidents, financial disputes, delays, etc.) occurring within the service or during shared rides. Users participate at their own risk.

About the Operator

Organizer: Tech Launcher Inc.

Representative: CEO Taiki Nomura

URL: https://tech-launcher.com/

Tech Launcher Inc., headquartered in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture, is a venture development company. Under the concept of "the launchpad for startup ecosystems," it supports startup creation and business development, assists SMEs in launching new ventures, and provides planning and operational support for startup- and KOSEN-related events and programs for VCs and local governments. Leveraging CEO Taiki Nomura’s experience in student entrepreneurship and university incubation programs, the company delivers initiatives grounded in the perspective of startup founders.

Inquiries

Please review the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy before using the service. For harassment incidents related to this service, Tech Launcher Inc., as the responsible party, will respond in accordance with the IVS Anti-Harassment Policy.

For inquiries about "Noriai for IVS2026," please contact Tech Launcher Inc. via their inquiry form or reach out to the producers via their social media.

Taiki Nomura X: @nomura_taiki

Tatsuya Kidera X: @tats_ushi