Kauche Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) is pleased to announce that it has been selected as one of the top 10 finalists out of approximately 250 applicants in the Tokyo preliminary round of the "Startup World Cup 2026," one of the world's largest pitch contests.
Kauche will present at the Tokyo preliminary round, held on July 17, 2026 (Fri) at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo, to compete for the right to advance to the world finals held in San Francisco, USA.
About Startup World Cup
Startup World Cup is one of the world's largest business pitch contests, organized by Pegasus Tech Ventures, a venture capital firm in Silicon Valley, USA. Regional preliminary rounds are held in over 130 countries and regions worldwide, with representative companies that win each preliminary round competing for a grand prize of 1 million US dollars (approximately 150 million yen) in investment.
Approximately 250 companies applied for the 2026 Tokyo preliminary round, and 10 finalists were selected after a rigorous screening process. On the day of the Tokyo preliminary round, each company will give a presentation to an audience of approximately 4,000 people, both in person and online, with one representative company advancing to the world finals to be held in San Francisco in November 2026.
Regarding the Presentation at the Tokyo Preliminary Round
Since its founding in 2020, Kauche has operated the shopping app "Kauche" with the mission of "bringing fun to everyday life." At the core of Kauche is the shopping experience of "discovery-based e-commerce." Unlike traditional e-commerce where users search for and buy what they want, users can encounter unexpected products while browsing the timeline and receive desired items at their desired prices. It is also characterized by natural interaction, where customers evaluate products for each other through SNS-style review posts.
Complementing this discovery-based e-commerce is "Kauche Farm," a farming game released in October 2023, which operates in a cyclical manner. This feature, where digital crops grown within the app become actual products delivered to users' homes after harvest, is enjoyed by many customers as a unique shopping experience that combines e-commerce and gamification. In January 2026, Kauche began an initiative with the Japan Geographical Indication Council (JGIC) to "grow GI products through games," as part of the Geographical Indication (GI) protection system promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, expanding its reach beyond shopping to connect with production areas and society.
Against the backdrop of rising prices, the demand for shopping experiences that combine value and enjoyment is increasing. The cumulative downloads of the app surpassed 7 million in July 2026. In March 2026, Kauche entered into a capital and business alliance with DeNA Co., Ltd., and is strengthening its product development utilizing AI. With the vision of "creating a new form of living space," Kauche, which continues to move forward, will use the stage of the Tokyo preliminary round, which connects to the world, to present its unique service model and future prospects following its selection as a finalist.
Tokyo Preliminary Round Overview
Name: Startup World Cup 2026 Tokyo Preliminary Round
Date & Time: July 17, 2026 (Fri) *Please check the organizer's announcement for the start time.
Venue: Grand Hyatt Tokyo (Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Organizer: Pegasus Tech Ventures
Viewing Tickets: https://swc2026-tokyo.peatix.com/
Official Website: https://www.startupworldcup.io/tokyo-regional
About the Shopping App "Kauche"
"Kauche" is a shopping app that makes everyday life more fun and affordable.
Users can enjoy shopping through features like the in-app farming game "Kauche Farm" and "Everyone's Posts," where customers can share their thoughts on products. It offers "new encounters with products" that are both affordable and discoverable, focusing on food and daily necessities.
About Kauche Inc.
With the mission of "bringing fun to everyday life," Kauche Inc. operates the shopping app "Kauche." By creating an exciting shopping experience for both customers who shop and businesses that want to sell products, we aim to update the digital shopping experience as a place where users can pursue enjoyment beyond the mere purpose of "purchasing goods."
"Kauche" App Overview
Official Name: "Kauche"
Development & Operation: Kauche Inc.
Compatible Devices: iPhone, Android
Service Region: Japan
Supported Languages: Japanese
Service Start Date: September 1, 2020
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/id1527218749
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kauche.kauche
Official X Account: https://x.com/kauche_jp
Company Profile
Company Name: Kauche Inc.
Business Description: Operation of "Kauche"
Representative Name: Kenpei Kamina
FACT BOX
- Source: PR TIMES
- Category: Event