Invitation to the Startup Showcase & Innovation Challenge

Purpose

　As part of the International Conference on Cyber Defense Innovation(CYDEF 2026), the Organization for Cyber Defense Innovation (OCDI) is launching a new Startup Showcase & Innovation Challenge to promote cutting-edge technologies and foster international collaboration.

　The program invites innovative technologies and research outcomes from startups, universities, research institutes, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and other innovative organizations that can contribute to addressing critical national and societal challenges in areas including:

・Cyber Defense and Cybersecurity
・Defense and Dual-Use Technologies
・Space and Satellite Applications
・Disaster Prevention and National Resilience

　Submitted proposals will be published on the official CYDEF2026 website and introduced to relevant government agencies, research organizations, industry leaders, investors, and conference sponsors.

　Through networking opportunities with reviewers and conference participants, the program aims to facilitate:
・Joint research and development
・Strategic business partnerships
・Investment opportunities
・International collaboration
・Global market expansion

　In the longer term, CYDEF seeks to establish an international innovation platform for cyber and dual-use technologies by building partnerships with overseas accelerators, venture capital firms, and innovation ecosystems.

Event Overview

（１）Organizer: Organization for Cyber Defense Innovation (OCDI)

（２）Dates: 9–10 December 2026 (The submitted proposals will remain available on the official CYDEF website after the event.)

（３）Venue: Iino Hall & Conference Center, Tokyo, Japan

（４）Application Period: Early August – 30 September 2026

（５）Eligible Applicants:
　　　・Startups
　　　・Universities
　　　・University Research Laboratories
　　　・Public Research Institutes
　　　・Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
　　　・Other organizations possessing innovative technologies

（６）Target Fields, Proposals utilizing advanced information technologies in areas such as:

　　　・Cyber Defense & Cybersecurity
　　　・Defense & Dual-Use Technologies
　　　・Space & Satellite Applications
　　　・Disaster Prevention & Resilience

Benefits of Participation

　Participants will have opportunities to:

（１）Showcase their technologies to domestic and international audiences.

（２）Build collaborative relationships with leading research institutions.

（３）Connect with venture capital firms, investors, and industry partners.

（４）Present their innovations at CYDEF 2026 (selected finalists only).

（５）Receive awards recognizing outstanding innovations.

Notes:
　　　Benefits (2) and (3) are available to onsite participants.
　　　Benefits (4) and (5) are available only to proposals selected through the review process.

Participation Fee

　Participation in the program is free of charge.

　All accepted submissions will be featured on the official CYDEF2026 website and introduced to relevant organizations.

　Applicants wishing to participate in the review process are required to pay a registration fee of JPY 10,000.

　Registered applicants will receive:
　　　One complimentary CYDEF 2026 Online Conference Pass (value: JPY 10,000).

　Furthermore, applicants who respond to follow-up questions from the judges may be selected to receive a complimentary on-site pass to CYDEF2026, valued at JPY 30,000.

　Among those receiving an on-site pass, the speakers selected for the CYDEF2026 Startup Showcase will be announced at the CYDEF2026 venue on 9 December 2026.

Schedule

Period Activity is as follows;

Application

　Applications must be submitted through the online application form in English.

　Applicants will be asked to provide:

・Organization name
・Representative
・Nationality
・Contact information
・Technology field
・Project title
・Keywords
・Technology summary (up to approximately 1,000 Japanese characters or equivalent in English)
・Intended applications
・Whether participation in the review process is requested

　Submitted information will be used for publication on the CYDEF website and for introducing technologies to relevant organizations.

Presentation and Evaluation

（１）Online Technology Showcase

　All accepted proposals will be published on the official CYDEF 2026 website.

（２）Conference Sessions

　On the opening day of the conference, distinguished experts will provide keynote presentations introducing emerging trends, technological developments, and future challenges in each field before the finalist presentations begin.

（３）Review Process
　The evaluation will be conducted by an international panel consisting of:

・Venture capital firms
・Investors
・Industry experts
・Technology practitioners

　The members of the review panel will be announced at a later date on the official CYDEF website and through other communication channels.

　Proposals will be evaluated based on:

・Relevance to identified challenges
・Technology readiness
・Originality
・Competitive advantage
・Societal impact
・Commercial viability

　Finalists invited to present onsite will be selected based on both their submitted proposals and responses to reviewers’ follow-up questions.

　Each finalist presentation, including Q&A, will be limited to 15 minutes.

Awards

　
　The highest-ranked proposal in each technology field will receive:

・Certificate of Excellence
・Commemorative Award

　All finalists presenting onsite will receive:

・Finalist Certificate
・Commemorative Gift

Important Information

　As CYDEF is an international conference addressing national security and advanced technologies, the organizer will conduct appropriate screening of participants and submitted proposals.

　Based on the results of this review, the organizer reserves the right to decline publication of submissions, introductions to partner organizations, presentation opportunities, or participation in the event.

　To ensure fairness, security, and the integrity of the program, the organizer will not disclose the reasons for such decisions.

Judges

Judges

• 
  Mr. Ido Tutnauer

  Investor

  Profile

  Ido Tutnauer is an Israeli business development and investment professional based in Tokyo, specializing in enterprise technology, industrial transformation, and cross-border innovation between Japan and Israel. He works with startups, investors, and Japanese corporations on technology evaluation, strategic partnerships, market entry, and commercialization. Ido currently works at Tulip, supporting manufacturers through digital transformation, and previously worked at Chartered Innovation Nexus. He holds a BA in Business Administration and Japanese Studies from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and was a MEXT scholar at Doshisha University, where he founded the Doshisha Innovation Community. Fluent in Japanese, English, and Hebrew, he evaluates ventures through an operator-investor lens, focusing on customer value, execution capability, scalability, and commercial potential.
• 
  Mr. KOJIMA Jun

  Director

  Ant Capital Partners

  Profile

  Venture capital and private equity professional with over 20 years of experience across investment management, business development, and cross-border transactions. Currently leading the establishment of a new VC division at Ant Capital Partners, with a focus on fund strategy, investments, portfolio value creation, and global expansion. Previously held investment roles at Digital Garage, Japan Post Capital, Manulife, and VISA.
• 
  Mr. YAMAUCHI Tomoo

  Adviser
  Visiting Professor

  LAC Co. Ltd.
  Kochi University of Technology

  Profile

  Tomoo YAMAUCHI is currently working for LAC Corporation, which provides cybersecurity services. He is responsible for providing cybersecurity and security-related advice and proposals concerning external affairs activities and overall security measures for the company.
  Until July 2025, he worked as Director-General in charge of Cyber Security and CISO, MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications).
  Between 2016 and 2021, he was in charge of Cybersecurity as Deputy Director-General and Counsellor of NISC (National center of Incident readiness and Strategy for Cybersecurity), Cabinet Secretariat.
  At NISC, he was in charge of preparing Cybersecurity Strategies 2018 and 2021, incident response coordination for 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, amendment of Cybersecurity Basic Act and preparing Critical Infrastructure Action Plan.
  Before that, he was in charge of policies regarding research, development and promotion of space communications at MIC. In addition, he has a variety of experiences in ICT policies. His previous assignments include radio wave policies such as land, maritime, aeronautical and satellite mobile communications.
• 
  Mr. INOUE Koji

  Freelance Journalist

  Profile

  For the past twenty-six years, he has worked as a freelance journalist. His current primary areas are military technologies, transportation systems, and information technologies. Before that, he worked at Microsoft K.K. from 1991 to 1999.