Market Entry Shark Tank for Frontier Technology
A Shark Tank–Style Pitch Competition for Frontier Technology & Green Transformation
Event Overview
Six Italian startups. Six judges. One morning dedicated to catalyzing cross-border innovation, Shark Tank-style, with competitors fighting for their entry into Japan!
Join us in Tokyo for an intensive pitch competition featuring six Italian ventures in deep tech, AI, and sustainability. Each startup will deliver a 10-minute pitch followed by a 10-minute evaluation session with our panel of Japan-based industry leaders.
The format will enable both founders and audience members to explore market viability, technical validation, and partnership opportunities in the Japanese context.
Join if you are evaluating emerging tech, seeking strategic partnerships, or interested in observing how global innovators position themselves for new markets.
Agenda
09:30-10:00 - Check-in
10:00-10:30 - Introduction to the program by Italian Trade Agency and Tokyo AI (TAI)
10:30-13:00 - Startup Shark Tank: 10-min pitch + 10-min grill
10:30-10:50 - Certy
10:50-11:10 - Genuino
11:10-11:30 - Icarus
11:30-11:50 - Break
11:50-12:10 - Livegreen
12:10-12:30 - Rombo AI
12:30-12:50 - Pezzoli Green
The Startups
Rombo AI — Intelligent Spectroscopy Solutions
Rombo AI is revolutionizing chemical analysis through Spectra AI, a conversational platform that transforms raw spectroscopy data into structured, actionable insights within seconds. Built on advanced machine learning and chemometrics (two patents pending), the system replaces complex analytical workflows with natural-language interfaces. Targeting pharmaceuticals, food production, oil & gas, polymers, and environmental monitoring, Spectra AI accelerates R&D cycles, enhances accuracy, and scales from laboratory instruments to industrial sensor networks.
Seeking in Japan: Pilot partnerships with oil & gas, food processing, and pharmaceutical enterprises.
Icarus — AI-Powered Patient Management
Icarus has developed "Jenny," an AI assistant currently supporting over 10,000 patients across Italian medical facilities. Jenny autonomously manages clinic communications, structures patient information, processes prescription requests, and generates comprehensive digital summaries—significantly reducing administrative burden and patient wait times. Given Japan's aging demographics and escalating demand for healthcare efficiency, Icarus is positioned to deliver scalable, compliant automation to clinics and hospitals nationwide.
Seeking in Japan: Healthcare operators, medical service providers, and B2B SaaS distribution partners.
Certy — Human-Centric Cybersecurity Infrastructure
Certy is an AI-driven virtual cybersecurity specialist that empowers employees to identify threats and maintain security protocols without requiring technical expertise. Featuring privacy-by-design architecture and a patent-pending local data-masking system, the platform provides real-time threat analysis, phishing simulations, targeted micro-training, and automated compliance reporting. Already deployed across multiple industries in Italy, Certy strengthens organizational security through workforce enablement rather than purely technical controls.
Seeking in Japan: Cybersecurity solution providers and enterprises focused on elevating security culture and infrastructure.
Genuino — Digital Product Passports for Circular Economy Compliance
Genuino delivers a comprehensive Digital Product Passport (DPP) platform aligned with new EU ESPR regulations. Utilizing patented NFC/RFID authentication integrated with blockchain technology, the system provides brands with item-level traceability, sustainability documentation, anti-counterfeiting protection, and enhanced consumer engagement channels. The solution is particularly relevant for Japanese manufacturers exporting to Europe or pursuing transparent, verifiable lifecycle management.
Seeking in Japan: Blockchain technology partners and manufacturers in the food, fashion, tire, and metals industries.
Livegreen — Industrial-Scale Carbon Capture Through Microalgae
With over 25 years of specialized expertise, Livegreen engineers high-efficiency photobioreactor systems that capture CO₂ and transform industrial emissions and wastewater nutrients into valuable microalgae biomass for food, feed, nutraceuticals, and biotechnology applications. Their closed-loop systems absorb up to 15× more CO₂ per land unit than conventional forestry, enabling industries to reduce emissions while generating new revenue streams.
Seeking in Japan: Collaboration with oil & gas, food production, agriculture, and biomaterials companies on sustainability initiatives.
Pezzoli Green — Controlled-Environment Agriculture & Functional Botanicals
Pezzoli Green specializes in engineering solutions for vertical farming and controlled-environment agriculture. In the Japanese market, the company aims to co-develop functional foods, nutraceuticals, and cosmetic products; establish cultivation and extraction processes; and supply premium botanicals, including Centella asiatica.
Seeking in Japan: Partners in functional ingredients, cosmetics, plant science, and sustainable urban agriculture sectors.
The Judges
Six Tokyo tech leaders will evaluate business models, challenge assumptions, and explore viable pathways to market entry.
Lauren Nham
Product Innovator | Strategy Leader
Lauren drives next-generation mobility initiatives at Woven by Toyota, including software-defined vehicles, MaaS services, and smart-city technologies. She is also backing early-stage AI/ML startups as an investor with MetaCap Ventures, bringing sharp user-centric analysis to technology evaluation.
Ilya Kulyatin
Entrepreneur | AI Ecosystem Builder
Co-founder and CEO of Foundry Labs and driving force behind Tokyo AI (TAI) community, Ilya brings technical depth from quantitative research and machine learning engineering, plus practical startup insight from 2x startup experiences.
Alberto MG Saruggia
Entrepreneur | Product Leader
As CEO & Head of Product at Lombard Standard and former Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Antler, Alberto combines tech expertise with hands-on Tokyo market experience to assess product clarity, strategic positioning, and market-fit potential.
Aude Moras
Product Executive | Community Leader
With 15+ years of driving B2B SaaS and IoT growth across Europe, North America, and APAC, Aude specializes in helping startups navigate international expansion while aligning product strategy with business impact. Currently a VP of Products at tripla and President of La French Tech Tokyo's 600-member innovation community.
Florian Geier
Early Stage Investor | Unicorn Operator
From helping build a unicorn to working at one, Florian now backs Japan's next wave of high-growth startups at Antler, bringing hands-on experience in venture building, corporate innovation at FUJIFILM, and global operations leadership at gaming unicorn Playco.
Ryusuke Komura
Ecosystem Architect | Business Educator
Leading one of Japan's largest innovation communities with 300+ weekly participants, Ryu combines ecosystem building at Venture Café Tokyo with teaching at Hosei University's Global MBA program, dedicated to turning entrepreneurial thought into action. He is also a coordinator for “Startup City Project Network” of the Cabinet Office of Japan