Koichi Leo Kato, Founder and Chairman of Ureru Net Advertising Group (9235), Appointed Chief Judge of the 'Kyoto Startup Battle 2026' Business Contest!

Ureru Net Advertising Group Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture; President and CEO: Sohei Uekihara; Tokyo Growth Market: Stock Code 9235; hereinafter 'Ureru Net Advertising Group') announces that its founder and chairman, Koichi Leo Kato, has been appointed Chief Judge of the 'Kyoto Startup Battle 2026' business contest, to be held on August 10, 2026, at the Kyoto Economic Center.

This appointment goes far beyond mere social contribution or event sponsorship. It is a highly strategic and aggressive move to establish an M&A and investment pipeline directly linked to future 'performance growth' and the 'maximization of medium- to long-term corporate and shareholder value' for Ureru Net Advertising Group.

The Full Scope of the High-Potential 'Kyoto Startup Battle 2026'

This event is a hyper-practical business contest where startup clubs and aspiring entrepreneurs from top Kyoto universities—including Kyoto University, Doshisha University, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto Seika University, and Kyoto Prefectural University—clash across institutional boundaries. Approximately 50 elite student entrepreneurs and around 30 frontline executives and investors will gather at the venue. On the day, 6 to 10 elite representatives selected from each group will take the stage to present their unique business models. This will be an electrifying arena, truly a 'gateway to the next-generation unicorn companies.'

Benefits to Ureru Net Advertising Group from the Privilege of Being Chief Judge

In the contest's award design, the 'Judge's Award' content is 'entrusted entirely to each judge.' This time, Koichi Leo Kato, founder of Ureru Net Advertising Group and a leader who has successfully driven numerous new ventures and M&As, will fully leverage this 'delegated privilege' in his role as Chief Judge.

During the judging, in addition to logical criteria such as 'business viability,' 'growth potential,' and 'uniqueness,' gritty human qualities like 'execution ability' and 'passion' will be rigorously evaluated. For ventures and teams that pass Kato's strict evaluation and are believed to bring massive synergy and profit to Ureru Net Advertising Group, the following aggressive initiatives will be proposed on the spot:

①【Exclusive and Favorable Immediate Investment Offer as a 'Judge's Award'】

For future mega-ventures with extremely high growth potential, we will offer investment and capital partnership on overwhelmingly favorable terms at the ultra-early (seed) stage, when corporate value is expected to rise. This will return future capital gains and investment returns to Ureru Net Advertising Group.

②【Discontinuous Expansion of Revenue Base via Super-Immediate Group Integration (M&A)】

For groundbreaking business models that create strong synergy with Ureru Net Advertising Group's existing operations, or teams with exceptionally talented personnel, we will immediately propose 'joining Ureru Net Advertising Group (Group Join).' We will aggressively push forward M&A and subsidiary integration with overwhelming speed, functioning as the strongest pipeline to discontinuously expand Ureru Net Advertising Group's sales and profits.

③【Guaranteed Value Enhancement through Injection of the 'Strongest Selling Know-How®']

To next-generation startups that have received investment or joined the group, Ureru Net Advertising Group will generously inject its proprietary 'Strongest Selling Know-How®,' cultivated since its founding. This will increase their probability of success and profit margins, contributing to the consolidated performance of the entire group.

Creating Japan-Representative Startups from Kyoto and Ureru Net Advertising Group's Path to Dominance

The 'Kyoto Startup Battle 2026' is held to connect students, entrepreneurs, investors, and university stakeholders, creating a foundation for continuously nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs from Kyoto. Ureru Net Advertising Group will begin by participating as Chief Judge, building a robust network with outstanding student entrepreneurs. We will then successively integrate promising new ventures into Ureru Net Advertising Group, aiming to achieve overwhelming scale-up in both sales and profits.

Comment from Koichi Leo Kato, Founder and Chairman of Ureru Net Advertising Group

"My appointment as Chief Judge of the 'Kyoto Startup Battle 2026' business contest is an enormous opportunity for Ureru Net Advertising Group—a strategic action to strongly respond to the expectations of shareholders and investors and deliver massive returns.

Japan's future is shaped by the bold challenges of the younger generation. The gathering of about 50 top-tier students from institutions like Kyoto University and Doshisha University, where their intellect and passion collide, is truly a treasure trove.

However, I am not going to Kyoto as a gentle judge. In business, I have no interest in ventures that rely solely on superficial AI tools. I will seek only entrepreneurs with genuine 'passion' and 'execution ability'—those who are obsessed with numbers and profits and who ultimately win through 'human strength' and 'gritty sales power.'

The 'Judge's Award' in this contest is entrusted to each judge. As Chief Judge, holding full authority over the contest, I will fully use this privilege to strike immediate 'investment' or 'Group Join (M&A)' offers to the strongest businesses that will bring overwhelming benefits to Ureru Net Advertising Group.

By scouting promising startups at the most favorable ultra-early stage and fully injecting our 'Strongest Selling Know-How®' to enhance their value, Ureru Net Advertising Group's profits will explosively increase discontinuously.

From this land of Kyoto, I firmly declare that we will surely discover mega-businesses that become new pillars of our revenue and propel our performance onto an extraordinary growth trajectory. Shareholders, please look forward with great anticipation to the overwhelming momentum of Ureru Net Advertising Group from now on!"

End

Company Name: Ureru Net Advertising Group Co., Ltd. (Tokyo Growth Market: Stock Code 9235)

Tokyo Office

20th Floor, Trade Pier Odaiba, 2-3-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 135-0091

TEL: 03-6459-0562 FAX: 03-6459-0563

Fukuoka Office (Headquarters)

4th Floor, RKB Broadcasting Building, 2-3-8 Momochihama, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture 814-0001

TEL: 092-834-5520 FAX: 092-834-5540

Representative: President and CEO Sohei Uekihara

Established: January 20, 2010

URL: https://group.ureru.co.jp

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ureru

<Inquiries regarding this release>

Yuuya Goto, Executive Officer Ureru Net Advertising Group Co., Ltd.

E-MAIL: goto@ureru.co.jp

TEL: 092-834-5520