Newsroom

Robotruck Selected as Finalist
for IVS2026 LAUNCHPAD, Japan’s Largest Pitch Event

2026.06.18

TOKYO, June 18, 2026 — Robotruck Inc., an innovator in autonomous driving systems for heavy-duty commercial vehicles, today announced its selection as a finalist for IVS LAUNCHPAD, the main event of Japan's largest startup conference. CEO Yusuke Haga will present the company’s vision at the ROHM Theatre Kyoto Main Hall starting at 1:00 PM on Friday, July 3.

Founded in 2024, Robotruck was established to address the critical logistics crisis and severe driver shortages—widely known in Japan as the "2024 Problem". The company provides solutions for logistics operators by developing cutting-edge autonomous driving operations for large trucks.

To date, RoboTruck has demonstrated consistent performance of Level 2 autonomous driving on highways between the Kanto and Chubu regions. These milestones were achieved through participation in key government-led initiatives by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s (MLIT), focused on advancing mobility DX and trunk line transport automation.

Through participation in IVS LAUNCHPAD, we aim to accelerate the commercialization of autonomous trucking solutions and make a definitive impact in resolving today's logistics challenges.

About IVS LAUNCHPAD

IVS LAUNCHPAD is a pitch event established with the mission to serve as a "launchpad to bring undiscovered early-stage startups into the spotlight."

The first event was held in 2007, and 2026 marks its 20th year. To date, the total number of entries has exceeded 5,000. Of the companies that have taken the stage in the past, more than 60 have achieved an exit, and more than 100 have raised over 100 million yen, driving rapid growth.

With its history and scale, IVS LAUNCHPAD has become one of Japan's largest pitch events and is also known as a gateway for the next generation of entrepreneurs.

This year, 15 companies, including Robotruck, were selected as finalists from a pool of over 500 applicants (20% of which were international startups) following document screenings and multiple rounds of rigorous judging. The finalists will compete for the top position by delivering a 6-minute presentation to a panel of investors, executives, and entrepreneurs.

< Event Overview >

Name:  IVS2026 LAUNCHPAD
Date & Time:  Friday, July 3, 2026, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Venue:  Main Hall, ROHM Theatre Kyoto
Organizer:  IVS KYOTO Executive Committee (Headline Japan / Kyoto Prefecture / Kyoto City)
Website: https://www.ivs.events/ja/ivs2026-launchpad
YouTube LIVE:  https://youtube.com/live/MpGku8K1Vzw?feature=share

About RoboTruck Inc.

•  Headquarters: Odanaka Building, 1-15-11 Shinkawa, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
•  Representative: Yusuke Haga, CEO
•  Founded: April 15, 2024
•  Business: Research and development of autonomous driving systems for trucks
•  Official Website:  https://robotruck.jp/company.html

Media Contact

Business Development and Public Relations Division, RoboTruck Inc.
Email: info@robotruck.jp