Flex Capital, a debt financing solution for startups operated by Fivot Inc. (Headquarters: Minato City, Tokyo; CEO: Shogo Abe), announces its sponsorship of IVS2026 KYOTO, Japan's largest-scale startup conference, as a Gold Partner. The event will be held in Kyoto from July 1 (Wed) to July 3 (Fri), 2026. During the conference, Flex Capital will operate a dedicated booth at the main venue (Miyakomesse) to provide financial consultation services for participating companies. Additionally, CEO Shogo Abe will speak at a main-stage session on the opening day, while COO Yuun Sugi will participate and speak at three side events throughout the conference. IVS brings together not only startups but also venture capitalists, financial institutions, and government officials, fostering extensive networking and discussion. By sponsoring this conference as a Gold Partner and hosting booth exhibitions, consultation sessions, and networking opportunities, Flex Capital aims to promote optimal use of startup financing and contribute to the growth of the market itself. We invite all attendees to visit our booth and participate in our hosted events. ■ Main Conference Session Date and Time: July 1 (Wed), 2026, 11:00–12:00 Venue: Miyakomesse UPDATE STAGE (9-1 Okazaki Seihojicho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto) Session Theme: "Diversifying Finance to Accelerate Growth: CVC Co-Creation, M&A, and Venture Debt as Strategic Options powered by Mitsubishi Estate, Fivot, and Information Strategy Technology" Overview: Amid changing fundraising environments, corporate leaders are required to adopt more flexible capital strategies. This session will discuss growth strategies from multiple perspectives, including alliances with CVCs beyond simple investment, the latest M&A trends, and venture debt. Speakers (in alphabetical order, no titles): Dai Sunokawa (CEO, SmartRound Inc. / Representative Director, Japan Startup Association) (Moderator) Yuta Hashimoto (Head of Collaborative Promotion & New Business Creation,