The macroeconomic shifts of the past three years have fundamentally rewritten the playbook for late-stage startups. In a candid panel discussion at IVS2026, startup CFOs and a crossover investor pulled back the curtain on the intense, often painful, decisions required to navigate today’s capital markets. The panel was moderated by Hirohiro Maekawa, Representative Director and Chief Contents Director of Funds Startups, and featured: Satoshi Yamada, CFO of 10X, Inc., a retail-t

Generative AI has advanced rapidly in recent years, with adoption expanding across the business world. However, many companies remain at the experimental stage, having merely “tried out” AI without fully integrating it into their workflows or generating a clear return on investment. One company attracting attention for offering a concrete solution to this challenge is VCAT.AI, a Korean startup specializing in AI solutions for marketing content creation. The company provides c

Shoes made from MYCL mycelium leather Across the apparel and manufacturing industries, the shift toward sustainable materials with lower environmental impact has become an urgent global priority. In particular, the leather market presents a massive business opportunity for biosynthetic leather and other bio-based materials. However, many existing alternatives still rely on plastic-based materials such as polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). One company attracting a

Session: Getting to the First Million Speakers: Dov Moran (Moderator) – Managing Partner, Grove Ventures Lockie Andrews – CEO and Founder, Catalyzes AI Leesa Eichberger – Fractional CMO Larry Li – Managing Partner, Amino Capital Barry O'Neill – Partner, Value Create Ventures Summary: This panel outlines critical pathways for early-stage startups to secure their first $100,000 and scale to $1 million, emphasizing that a company’s foundation relies heavily on finding complement

For today’s business professionals, high-quality sleep is directly linked to daily performance, productivity, and long-term health. Globally, one in eight people is affected by snoring, and if left unaddressed, it can increase the risk of more serious conditions such as sleep apnea. Yet many of the solutions currently available on the market, including mouthpieces and other devices worn in the nose or mouth, are invasive and uncomfortable. As a result, as many as 70% of users

Session: Startup Tech Race: Founders Fight Host / Moderator Jan C. Küster: The host and moderator of the "Startup Tech Race", who guides the audience and participants throughout the event. Startup Founders (Competitors) Jeronimo von Ah: Head of Business Operations at BTRY, who pitches the world's thinnest solid-state battery in the red corner during the first round. Jan Wiese: CEO of production.AI GmbH, who pitches an industrial data and AI platform in the blue corner during