Applications are free and remain open until August 24, although the organiser warns that registration may close early if it receives too many entries.
More than 400 companies compete in the programme each year. For the coming edition, 108 applicants are expected to advance from document screening to the regional rounds, with 22 companies ultimately selected for the national final.
Who can apply
The competition is organised by Nikkei Inc. (日本経済新聞社) and targets two types of company:
Unlisted startups founded approximately 15 years ago or less.
Atotsugi ventures — アトツギベンチャー — led by successors or prospective successors developing new businesses or transforming an existing company.
Third-party business succession is also accepted.
Applicants must be able to attend their assigned regional pitch, networking session and, if selected, the national final.
The official requirements do not explicitly state that every applicant must be incorporated in Japan. However, the competition is organised through Japanese regional blocks and requires in-person participation.
A foreign-founded startup with an operating company or substantial business presence in Japan may therefore be relevant, but companies without a clear Japanese base should confirm their eligibility with the organiser before preparing a full application.
What applicants must submit
The initial application is followed by the submission of three documents:
A one-page company and business overview.
A business plan or the slide deck intended for the regional pitch.
One image for publication, such as the company logo, speaker photograph, product image or service logo.
Nikkei will conduct document screening in September and October.
The selected companies will compete across regional blocks covering Hokkaido and Tohoku, Kanto, Tokyo, Chubu, Kinki, Chugoku and Shikoku, and Kyushu and Okinawa.
The eastern Japan rounds take place in Tokyo on November 12 and 13. Western Japan rounds follow in Okayama and Osaka on November 25 and 27.
The 22 finalists are due to be announced in December, with the final scheduled for February 11, 2027 at TODA Hall & Conference Tokyo.
The real value is not the prize money
The winner receives JPY 1 million — approximately US$6,800 —, while the runner-up receives JPY 500,000 — around US$3,400.
Those amounts are relatively small compared with the capital requirements of a growth-stage startup.
The more valuable part of the programme is likely to be access.
Judges include investors, corporate executives and startup advisers from organisations including Red Capital, Leos Capital Works, Genesia Ventures, Fast Track Initiative, Monozukuri Ventures and the Japan Angel Investor Association.
Companies reaching the regional stages receive feedback from the judges, while more than 20 category and sponsor awards can connect participants with potential corporate partners.
Winners of the grand prize, runner-up prize and special awards also receive coverage through the NIKKEI THE PITCH platform and promotion through Nikkei’s digital channels.
For a relatively unknown company attempting to build credibility in Japan, that exposure may matter more than the cash award.
Finalists and award recipients at the 2025–2026 NIKKEI THE PITCH GROWTH national final. The new edition will select 108 companies for its regional rounds and 22 national finalists. Image: NIKKEI THE PITCH / Nikkei Inc.
What Nikkei will evaluate
Applications are assessed across five areas:
The potential impact on an industry or society.
The company’s capacity to scale.
The feasibility of its strategy and operating model.
The strength and experience of the team.
The originality and attractiveness of the business.
The growth criterion explicitly considers whether investment or business partnerships could support further expansion.
That makes the competition particularly relevant to startups preparing for fundraising, corporate collaboration, an IPO or an eventual M&A route — even though participation itself is not a funding round.
What applicants should consider before entering
The competition requires a significant time commitment.
Regional participants must generally remain at the venue between 09:00 and 19:00 for the pitch and networking programme. Finalists must then travel to Tokyo for the February final.
Companies should therefore treat the application as a business-development exercise rather than a simple award submission.
The strongest candidates will probably be those with a clear Japanese growth strategy, evidence that the business can scale and a specific reason for meeting Japanese investors or corporate partners.
Applications close on August 24, 2026, and entry is free.
SAKIME
East Asian startup, technology and investment intelligence.
Web: sakime.jp
LinkedIn: SAKIME
Author — Adrià Mas Rodríguez
This article is provided for information purposes and does not constitute an investment recommendation or solicitation