IVS KYOTO Executive Committee (Headline Japan Inc., Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City) held "IVS2026 LAUNCHPAD," a pitch event considered a gateway for next-generation entrepreneurs, on July 3 (Fri) as part of "IVS2026." Among the 15 finalists selected from over 500 applications (approximately 20% from overseas), Space Quarters Inc. took home the Startup Kyoto International Award (first place). As its name suggests, IVS LAUNCHPAD was established with the aspiration to "become a launchpad to support the leap of early-stage startups that have not yet entered the market." First held in 2007, it will mark its 20th year in 2026. The cumulative number of entries to date exceeds 5,000. Of the companies that have presented in the past, over 60 have achieved exits, and over 100 have raised more than 1 billion yen in funding, achieving rapid growth. Many startups have taken off using IVS LAUNCHPAD as their launchpad. IVS LAUNCHPAD, which has become one of the largest pitch events in Japan in terms of history and scale, is also known as "the gateway for next-generation entrepreneurs." At IVS2026 LAUNCHPAD, IVS and Kyoto Prefecture collaborated to present the "Startup Kyoto International Award," an award focused on supporting startups that can compete globally. As a prize, 10 million yen was awarded to the winner this year. This year, over 500 companies (approximately 20% overseas) applied, including those from overseas. Among them, a total of 15 finalists, who advanced through preliminary rounds, presented their products and their passionate vision in 6-minute presentations. Judges commented, "I participate every year, and it's getting better each year, making it truly difficult to choose a winner," "I felt this was a pitch event where many businesses were sincerely addressing Japan's social issues," and "From SaaS to deep tech, AI, space, defense, and real business, seeing this IVS LAUNCHPAD, I was once again able to realize that the industries symbolizing the trends of the times