Open Call for Startups to Pitch at AI Pitch Contest 'INTLOOP AI Frontier Pitch'
INTLOOP Inc. has announced it will hold the 'INTLOOP AI Frontier Pitch,' an AI startup pitch contest, during its 'INTLOOP Ventures MIX 2026' conference on June 10, 2026, and has opened a general call for speakers. This contest aims not just for fundraising but for the social implementation of AI through co-creation with business corporations. It targets AI startups that already have revenue or possess AI technology with significant social impact. The winner will be awarded a Silicon Valley study tour, and the application deadline is June 2, 2026.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 27, 2026 at 14:00
- 🔍 Collected: June 1, 2026 at 00:35 (106h 35m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 2, 2026 at 08:30 (31h 55m after Collected)
INTLOOP Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Hirofumi Hayashi; hereinafter 'INTLOOP') will host the 'INTLOOP AI Frontier Pitch,' a pitch contest for AI startups, at its conference themed on the social implementation of AI, 'INTLOOP Ventures MIX 2026,' to be held on June 10, 2026. The general call for speakers has started today.
This contest is unique in that, under the conference concept of 'Co-creation Unlocks the Social Implementation of AI,' it seeks AI startups aiming for PoCs, customer development, and joint projects with business corporations, rather than just fundraising. It will provide concrete opportunities for investment consideration and business collaboration to both pitching and attending companies.
▶Apply for INTLOOP AI Frontier Pitch here: https://forms.gle/KS11UL1SqavUczkn9
■INTLOOP AI Frontier Pitch 2026: Witness the Forefront of AI.
INTLOOP AI Frontier Pitch is a pitch contest for startups seriously aiming for the social implementation of AI. AI startups equipped with innovative AI technology, the impact generated upon social implementation, and the team's execution capability to see it through will take the stage to chart the next step in embedding AI in society.
In this contest, VCs, business corporations, and sponsor companies (details below) will participate in judging, with evaluations conducted by investors and corporations. After the contest, it is anticipated that opportunities for meetings with investors and business corporations will lead to concrete discussions on investment and business collaboration.
■Pitch Contest Overview
Target: AI startups aiming for social implementation of AI
Eligibility: Companies that have already generated revenue or possess AI technology with a large social impact
Pitch Format: 5-minute pitch per company × a total of 8 companies (planned) *Pre-screening will be conducted
Time: June 10, 2026 (Wed) 16:10–18:10 (120 minutes, Main Hall)
Prizes:
- Invitation to a Silicon Valley Study Tour
We will invite the winner to the '4th IT Career Promotion Association Silicon Valley Study Tour' (scheduled for October 13-16, 2026), in which INTLOOP Inc. participates as a platinum sponsor.
The tour will include a visit to Google's headquarters, participation in TechCrunch Disrupt, and networking with local VCs and startups.
Accommodation, food, and transportation costs during the tour will be covered by the organizers.
*Participants are responsible for their own round-trip travel expenses from Japan, as the tour will start and end locally.
- Additional prizes from sponsor companies and judges
*Contents are subject to change.
Application Method: Apply via Google Form
Application Deadline: June 2, 2026 (Tue) 23:59
▶Apply here: https://forms.gle/KS11UL1SqavUczkn9
■Who We Are Looking For
We want INTLOOP AI Frontier Pitch to be a place where companies aiming for the social implementation of AI can begin concrete discussions on business collaboration and partnerships with corporations and investors. With this in mind, we are looking for startups and AI businesses in the following phases:
- Already have a product and are progressing with customer implementation
- In a phase to seriously promote business collaboration with corporations and investors (guideline: around Series A)
- Fundraising status does not matter (pre-funding startups are also welcome)
- Teams developing and operating AI products as new businesses within corporations
- Business succession (Ato-tsugi)
- Cases promoting AI business through a second founding are also eligible
'We have a product, implementation has begun, and now we want to grow rapidly through business collaboration.' We await applications from everyone in such a phase.
■Judges (Partial List)
Masato Shimodaira
CEO & Lawyer, ON&BOARD, Inc.
After working at a law firm, he joined LINE Corporation (now LY Corporation) as an in-house counsel and was involved in new business development in the AI domain. In 2017, he joined the investment division of Dream Incubator Inc., where he launched a venture capital fund and engaged in investing in and supporting startups. Nine of his portfolio companies have exited. Past investment support includes: AnyMindGroup (50270), Susmed (4263), C Channel (7961), LegalOnTechnologies, Gojo & Company, richka, Unifa, Hacarus, Zaboon, Michibiku, Tokyo Factory, PacificMeta, any, toremoro, Plott, Kitera, Antway, BULK HOMME, etc. He founded the venture capital firm 'ON&BOARD'.
Takuya Hosomura
Partner, Global Brain Corporation
Joined GB in 2024. Leveraging his investment experience at Salesforce Ventures and Rakuten Capital, he supports investments in IT startups, mainly in the B2B domain.
In the first half of his career before GB, he gained experience mainly in business management, including investment and M&A in Sumitomo Corporation's European automotive division, managing a business company in Sweden where he was stationed, and serving as Deputy General Manager of Rakuten's Group Marketing Department. He discovered the appeal of venture capital by supporting investments in domestic and international startups, mainly in the FinTech domain, at Rakuten's CVC department. At Salesforce Ventures, which he joined in 2020, he supported investments in many startups in the enterprise software domain. He has made 25 new investments and supported 35 startups up to his joining GB.
Mai Matsumoto
Account Executive, Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd.
Supports business promotion utilizing AI, data, and the cloud, focusing on startups and digital native companies. She is responsible for the entire process from AI/Data roadmap creation with management to MVP development, production deployment, and Go-to-Market promotion.
After joining Microsoft Japan as a new graduate, she worked as a Partner Development Manager, engaging in AI strategy formulation, data infrastructure construction, product analysis, and monetization support for ISVs. As an Azure Solution Sales Specialist, she has experience in pre-sales in the gaming and retail industries, focusing on generative AI, voice/image/natural language processing, machine learning, and modern data platform areas. Leveraging her experience in the commercialization of IT technology and the construction of data utilization platforms since joining the company, she currently supports AI startups and business companies in technology utilization, collaboration with the Microsoft ecosystem, and business development as an Account Executive.
Naohiro Mizumoto
CEO & Partner, Ant Innovations, Inc.
With 14 years of experience in startup investment, he invests in a wide range of fields from IT services to space. He has a numerous track record of exits, including IPOs and M&As, especially in the AI, space, and robotics fields.
In his previous role, he joined a University of Tokyo-affiliated venture capital firm as a founding member and served as Chief Investment Officer. He also established '1stRound,' a cross-academia entrepreneurship support program, and supported the founding of many startups.
In recent years, he has also focused on promoting corporate carve-outs and MBOs (Management Buyouts) as new growth methods for startups.
Hirofumi Hayashi
CEO, INTLOOP Inc.
After working at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), a startup venture, and then Accenture again, he founded INTLOOP Inc. in February 2005.
He has extensive consulting experience in areas such as business strategy, BPR, and project management. After starting his own business, he focused on his specialty consulting business and shifted to an 'aggressive management' style of active investment from 2015. Leveraging his own consulting experience, he launched a freelance consultant utilization business, followed by solution development in the technology field, a web service business utilizing marketing knowledge, a PMO business, and career change support, successively developing businesses that address social issues. With his insight to identify social needs and his business promotion capabilities, he continues to grow INTLOOP as a 'consulting firm that creates its own businesses.'
■Startup Booths: Experience the 'Implementation' of AI Firsthand.
At this event, 30-40 elite AI startups tackling industrial challenges are scheduled to exhibit at booths. Startups with unique AI technologies and products will present 'AI that can be used on-site' through actual demos.
Visitors can compare and consider numerous AI products in one day and engage in discussions with DX and new business managers from corporations and investors to lead to concrete considerations for implementation, collaboration, and investment.
■Grand Networking Event: Networking Beyond Industry Boundaries
A grand networking event will be held for all participants after the sessions and pitch contest. We will provide opportunities for networking that lead to concrete business collaborations, such as meetups on the theme of AI utilization, exchanging business cards and information with speakers, and a pre-booked matching/business meeting area.
Many department heads and executives from listed companies are scheduled to attend the grand networking event. Enjoy networking and communication for business talks, collaborations, and investment considerations in a place where investors, business corporations, and startups gather together with light meals, welcome sweets, and drinks.
[Scheduled Attending Listed Companies] (*Titles omitted, random order, partial list)
ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation / All About, Inc. / Mizuho Bank, Ltd. / Global Security Experts Inc., etc.
[Scheduled Attending Executives] (*Titles omitted, random order, partial list)
Tetsuro Yoshimatsu, Chairman & CEO, istyle Inc. / Takateru Kono, President & CEO, TKP Corporation / Koichi Morimoto, Chairman, Bewith, Inc. / Tomoya Hoshi, President & CEO, ULURU Co., Ltd. / Makoto Miyauchi, Chairman, Bell-Park Co., Ltd. / Kazuya Fujii, President, BORDERUAS Inc., etc.
■A Conference Where Diverse Players Gather on the Theme of AI Social Implementation
INTLOOP Ventures MIX 2026 is a conference where diverse players such as startups, business corporations, and investors gather to discuss and interact on the theme of the social implementation of AI.
On the day of the event, in addition to panel discussions on the industrial application of AI, we aim to create business collaborations through an AI startup pitch contest, exhibition booths, and networking opportunities with business corporations and investors.
[Event Overview]
Event Name: INTLOOP Ventures MIX 2026
Date and Time: June 10, 2026 (Wed) 9:50–20:35
Venue: Muromachi Mitsui Hall & Conference (Nihonbashi, Tokyo)
Target Audience: Startups, business corporations (new business/DX departments), investors (VC/CVC), support companies, media, etc.
Participation Fee: 10,000 yen (Regular price: 20,000 yen) *Please check the official event page for details
Organizer: INTLOOP Inc.
Official Event Page: https://www.intloop.com/intloopventures/mix/lp01/
Related Press Releases:
- Conference 'INTLOOP Ventures MIX 2026' to be held, bringing together startups, VCs, and business corporations on the theme of AI social implementation (Distributed March 23, 2026)
- Deputy Minister for Digital, former Head of Strategic Partnerships at Google, and former CIO of Hitachi confirmed to speak at a conference gathering key figures in AI social implementation (Distributed April 27, 2026)
■About INTLOOP Inc.
We are a consulting firm that accelerates corporate transformation through a hybrid system of consultants and approximately 55,000 professional human resources (as of the end of January 2026).
Centered on the utilization of 'knowledge,' the core skill of consulting, we provide consistent support from strategy formulation to execution and in-house development support. With our strengths in transformation execution and high-quality expertise, we provide flexible and highly effective support.
With consulting at our core, we contribute to the improvement of corporate value by combining professional human resource utilization, technology, and digital transformation domains.
Company Name: INTLOOP Inc.
Representative: CEO Hirofumi Hayashi
Location: Akasaka Green Cross 27F, 2-4-6 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Established: February 2005
Business: Consulting, Professional Human Resource Support, Technology Solutions, Digital Transformation, Human Resource Introduction
URL: https://www.intloop.com
Inquiries regarding this press release
INTLOOP Inc. Public Relations Office, Attn: Iida, Kimura
Email: pr@intloop.com Phone: 03-5544-8040
This contest is unique in that, under the conference concept of 'Co-creation Unlocks the Social Implementation of AI,' it seeks AI startups aiming for PoCs, customer development, and joint projects with business corporations, rather than just fundraising. It will provide concrete opportunities for investment consideration and business collaboration to both pitching and attending companies.
▶Apply for INTLOOP AI Frontier Pitch here: https://forms.gle/KS11UL1SqavUczkn9
■INTLOOP AI Frontier Pitch 2026: Witness the Forefront of AI.
INTLOOP AI Frontier Pitch is a pitch contest for startups seriously aiming for the social implementation of AI. AI startups equipped with innovative AI technology, the impact generated upon social implementation, and the team's execution capability to see it through will take the stage to chart the next step in embedding AI in society.
In this contest, VCs, business corporations, and sponsor companies (details below) will participate in judging, with evaluations conducted by investors and corporations. After the contest, it is anticipated that opportunities for meetings with investors and business corporations will lead to concrete discussions on investment and business collaboration.
■Pitch Contest Overview
Target: AI startups aiming for social implementation of AI
Eligibility: Companies that have already generated revenue or possess AI technology with a large social impact
Pitch Format: 5-minute pitch per company × a total of 8 companies (planned) *Pre-screening will be conducted
Time: June 10, 2026 (Wed) 16:10–18:10 (120 minutes, Main Hall)
Prizes:
- Invitation to a Silicon Valley Study Tour
We will invite the winner to the '4th IT Career Promotion Association Silicon Valley Study Tour' (scheduled for October 13-16, 2026), in which INTLOOP Inc. participates as a platinum sponsor.
The tour will include a visit to Google's headquarters, participation in TechCrunch Disrupt, and networking with local VCs and startups.
Accommodation, food, and transportation costs during the tour will be covered by the organizers.
*Participants are responsible for their own round-trip travel expenses from Japan, as the tour will start and end locally.
- Additional prizes from sponsor companies and judges
*Contents are subject to change.
Application Method: Apply via Google Form
Application Deadline: June 2, 2026 (Tue) 23:59
▶Apply here: https://forms.gle/KS11UL1SqavUczkn9
■Who We Are Looking For
We want INTLOOP AI Frontier Pitch to be a place where companies aiming for the social implementation of AI can begin concrete discussions on business collaboration and partnerships with corporations and investors. With this in mind, we are looking for startups and AI businesses in the following phases:
- Already have a product and are progressing with customer implementation
- In a phase to seriously promote business collaboration with corporations and investors (guideline: around Series A)
- Fundraising status does not matter (pre-funding startups are also welcome)
- Teams developing and operating AI products as new businesses within corporations
- Business succession (Ato-tsugi)
- Cases promoting AI business through a second founding are also eligible
'We have a product, implementation has begun, and now we want to grow rapidly through business collaboration.' We await applications from everyone in such a phase.
■Judges (Partial List)
Masato Shimodaira
CEO & Lawyer, ON&BOARD, Inc.
After working at a law firm, he joined LINE Corporation (now LY Corporation) as an in-house counsel and was involved in new business development in the AI domain. In 2017, he joined the investment division of Dream Incubator Inc., where he launched a venture capital fund and engaged in investing in and supporting startups. Nine of his portfolio companies have exited. Past investment support includes: AnyMindGroup (50270), Susmed (4263), C Channel (7961), LegalOnTechnologies, Gojo & Company, richka, Unifa, Hacarus, Zaboon, Michibiku, Tokyo Factory, PacificMeta, any, toremoro, Plott, Kitera, Antway, BULK HOMME, etc. He founded the venture capital firm 'ON&BOARD'.
Takuya Hosomura
Partner, Global Brain Corporation
Joined GB in 2024. Leveraging his investment experience at Salesforce Ventures and Rakuten Capital, he supports investments in IT startups, mainly in the B2B domain.
In the first half of his career before GB, he gained experience mainly in business management, including investment and M&A in Sumitomo Corporation's European automotive division, managing a business company in Sweden where he was stationed, and serving as Deputy General Manager of Rakuten's Group Marketing Department. He discovered the appeal of venture capital by supporting investments in domestic and international startups, mainly in the FinTech domain, at Rakuten's CVC department. At Salesforce Ventures, which he joined in 2020, he supported investments in many startups in the enterprise software domain. He has made 25 new investments and supported 35 startups up to his joining GB.
Mai Matsumoto
Account Executive, Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd.
Supports business promotion utilizing AI, data, and the cloud, focusing on startups and digital native companies. She is responsible for the entire process from AI/Data roadmap creation with management to MVP development, production deployment, and Go-to-Market promotion.
After joining Microsoft Japan as a new graduate, she worked as a Partner Development Manager, engaging in AI strategy formulation, data infrastructure construction, product analysis, and monetization support for ISVs. As an Azure Solution Sales Specialist, she has experience in pre-sales in the gaming and retail industries, focusing on generative AI, voice/image/natural language processing, machine learning, and modern data platform areas. Leveraging her experience in the commercialization of IT technology and the construction of data utilization platforms since joining the company, she currently supports AI startups and business companies in technology utilization, collaboration with the Microsoft ecosystem, and business development as an Account Executive.
Naohiro Mizumoto
CEO & Partner, Ant Innovations, Inc.
With 14 years of experience in startup investment, he invests in a wide range of fields from IT services to space. He has a numerous track record of exits, including IPOs and M&As, especially in the AI, space, and robotics fields.
In his previous role, he joined a University of Tokyo-affiliated venture capital firm as a founding member and served as Chief Investment Officer. He also established '1stRound,' a cross-academia entrepreneurship support program, and supported the founding of many startups.
In recent years, he has also focused on promoting corporate carve-outs and MBOs (Management Buyouts) as new growth methods for startups.
Hirofumi Hayashi
CEO, INTLOOP Inc.
After working at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), a startup venture, and then Accenture again, he founded INTLOOP Inc. in February 2005.
He has extensive consulting experience in areas such as business strategy, BPR, and project management. After starting his own business, he focused on his specialty consulting business and shifted to an 'aggressive management' style of active investment from 2015. Leveraging his own consulting experience, he launched a freelance consultant utilization business, followed by solution development in the technology field, a web service business utilizing marketing knowledge, a PMO business, and career change support, successively developing businesses that address social issues. With his insight to identify social needs and his business promotion capabilities, he continues to grow INTLOOP as a 'consulting firm that creates its own businesses.'
■Startup Booths: Experience the 'Implementation' of AI Firsthand.
At this event, 30-40 elite AI startups tackling industrial challenges are scheduled to exhibit at booths. Startups with unique AI technologies and products will present 'AI that can be used on-site' through actual demos.
Visitors can compare and consider numerous AI products in one day and engage in discussions with DX and new business managers from corporations and investors to lead to concrete considerations for implementation, collaboration, and investment.
■Grand Networking Event: Networking Beyond Industry Boundaries
A grand networking event will be held for all participants after the sessions and pitch contest. We will provide opportunities for networking that lead to concrete business collaborations, such as meetups on the theme of AI utilization, exchanging business cards and information with speakers, and a pre-booked matching/business meeting area.
Many department heads and executives from listed companies are scheduled to attend the grand networking event. Enjoy networking and communication for business talks, collaborations, and investment considerations in a place where investors, business corporations, and startups gather together with light meals, welcome sweets, and drinks.
[Scheduled Attending Listed Companies] (*Titles omitted, random order, partial list)
ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation / All About, Inc. / Mizuho Bank, Ltd. / Global Security Experts Inc., etc.
[Scheduled Attending Executives] (*Titles omitted, random order, partial list)
Tetsuro Yoshimatsu, Chairman & CEO, istyle Inc. / Takateru Kono, President & CEO, TKP Corporation / Koichi Morimoto, Chairman, Bewith, Inc. / Tomoya Hoshi, President & CEO, ULURU Co., Ltd. / Makoto Miyauchi, Chairman, Bell-Park Co., Ltd. / Kazuya Fujii, President, BORDERUAS Inc., etc.
■A Conference Where Diverse Players Gather on the Theme of AI Social Implementation
INTLOOP Ventures MIX 2026 is a conference where diverse players such as startups, business corporations, and investors gather to discuss and interact on the theme of the social implementation of AI.
On the day of the event, in addition to panel discussions on the industrial application of AI, we aim to create business collaborations through an AI startup pitch contest, exhibition booths, and networking opportunities with business corporations and investors.
[Event Overview]
Event Name: INTLOOP Ventures MIX 2026
Date and Time: June 10, 2026 (Wed) 9:50–20:35
Venue: Muromachi Mitsui Hall & Conference (Nihonbashi, Tokyo)
Target Audience: Startups, business corporations (new business/DX departments), investors (VC/CVC), support companies, media, etc.
Participation Fee: 10,000 yen (Regular price: 20,000 yen) *Please check the official event page for details
Organizer: INTLOOP Inc.
Official Event Page: https://www.intloop.com/intloopventures/mix/lp01/
Related Press Releases:
- Conference 'INTLOOP Ventures MIX 2026' to be held, bringing together startups, VCs, and business corporations on the theme of AI social implementation (Distributed March 23, 2026)
- Deputy Minister for Digital, former Head of Strategic Partnerships at Google, and former CIO of Hitachi confirmed to speak at a conference gathering key figures in AI social implementation (Distributed April 27, 2026)
■About INTLOOP Inc.
We are a consulting firm that accelerates corporate transformation through a hybrid system of consultants and approximately 55,000 professional human resources (as of the end of January 2026).
Centered on the utilization of 'knowledge,' the core skill of consulting, we provide consistent support from strategy formulation to execution and in-house development support. With our strengths in transformation execution and high-quality expertise, we provide flexible and highly effective support.
With consulting at our core, we contribute to the improvement of corporate value by combining professional human resource utilization, technology, and digital transformation domains.
Company Name: INTLOOP Inc.
Representative: CEO Hirofumi Hayashi
Location: Akasaka Green Cross 27F, 2-4-6 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Established: February 2005
Business: Consulting, Professional Human Resource Support, Technology Solutions, Digital Transformation, Human Resource Introduction
URL: https://www.intloop.com
Inquiries regarding this press release
INTLOOP Inc. Public Relations Office, Attn: Iida, Kimura
Email: pr@intloop.com Phone: 03-5544-8040
FAQ
Can startups from Taiwan apply for this pitch contest?
Yes, startups from overseas can apply as long as they meet the eligibility criteria. This is an excellent opportunity for Taiwanese AI companies aiming to enter the Japanese market and collaborate with Japanese corporations.
Does the pitch need to be in Japanese?
While official language requirements should be confirmed with the organizers, a presentation in Japanese is often preferable as the event aims for collaboration with Japanese companies and investors. It is advisable to inquire about interpretation arrangements in advance.
Are proposals that combine Taiwanese hardware technology with Japanese AI software welcome?
Yes, such proposals are highly likely to be welcomed. Since the themes are 'co-creation' and 'social implementation,' a proposal that combines Taiwan's strength in hardware with Japan's software AI to solve specific industrial challenges would be highly valued.