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October 14, 2026

NTT, Inc.

NTT Startup Challenge "Partnership Day 2026," an International Startup Collaboration Program, Held in Singapore for the Second Consecutive Year

—Expanding Collaboration Opportunities to Address Global Business Challenges through Closer Cooperation with NTT DATA—

News Highlights:

◆Partnership Day, part of NTT Startup Challenge^*1, was held in Singapore on September 3, 2026, for the second consecutive year.
◆In 2026, NTT strengthened its collaboration with NTT DATA. Participation by NTT DATA's service organizations—including Apps, BPS & Data, Technology Solutions, and Global Data Center—expanded opportunities for collaboration with startups to address more global business challenges, in addition to the challenges previously centered on Japan and Southeast Asia.
◆For challenges presented by nine NTT Group companies^*2, 20 partner organizations^*3 submitted 325 startup recommendations, resulting in 79 business meetings.

NTT, Inc. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and Chief Executive Officer: Akira Shimada; hereinafter "NTT") held Partnership Day, part of the NTT Group's startup collaboration program "NTT Startup Challenge," in Singapore on September 3, 2026, for the second consecutive year. In 2026, NTT fully launched collaboration with the NTT DATA Group and broadened the range of business and regional challenges covered by the program. In response to challenges presented by nine NTT Group companies^*2, 20 partner organizations^*3 submitted 325 startup recommendations. Following selection and advance coordination, 79 business meetings were held. Based on the outcomes of these meetings, the participating companies will explore opportunities for collaboration toward proofs of concept (PoCs), commercialization, and other initiatives.

1. Background

The NTT Group operates "NTT Startup Challenge," a Group-wide collaboration program designed to create new businesses and enhance and streamline existing businesses through engagement with overseas startup ecosystems. In 2025, NTT held the first Partnership Day as part of the program, advancing discussions on collaboration between NTT Group companies and startups recommended by partner organizations.
In 2026, based on the results of the previous year, NTT expanded the number of participating partner organizations from 15 to 20 and fully launched collaboration with NTT DATA.

2. Startup Collaboration Program "NTT Startup Challenge"

(1) Overview

A collaboration program aimed at creating new businesses with overseas startup ecosystems.

(2) Program Activities

Led by the Global Business Department of NTT, Inc., the program organizer, the following activities are conducted:

An overseas new business advisory program for NTT Group companies in cooperation with prominent venture capital firms in Southeast Asia
Partnership Day, which aims to create new businesses with the NTT Group through business-matching sessions ("power matching") with mid-stage startups, local companies, government agencies, and other organizations
Pitch Day, which invites applications from startups regardless of sector or growth stage

(3) Roles of Participating Companies

NTT: Program planning and operation
NTT Group companies: Collaboration with startups and promotion of new business development based on each company's priority areas and available assets

3. NTT Startup Challenge Partnership Day

(1) Overview

A program that creates collaboration opportunities by inviting partner organizations to recommend startups capable of addressing business challenges presented by NTT Group companies and departments.
Unlike the open-call Pitch Day (scheduled for November 11, 2026), Partnership Day uses a referral-based approach that draws on the networks of partner organizations.

(2) Program Activities

Led by the Global Business Department of NTT, Inc., the program organizer, the following activities were conducted:

Against the backdrop of rapid advances and changes in technologies, including AI, nine NTT Group companies^*2 presented challenges aimed at enhancing and streamlining business operations and creating new customer value and business opportunities. These challenges covered areas such as autonomous enterprise operations, infrastructure AI and inspection, industrial AI and robotics, data center infrastructure and energy optimization, industrial infrastructure, and AI platforms. In 2026, NTT DATA Group business and service organizations—including Apps, BPS & Data, Technology Solutions, and Global Data Center—also participated for the first time.
Twenty partner organizations^*3 recommended 325 startups, primarily from their portfolios, that could address the challenges of NTT Group companies and departments.
Following selection and advance coordination by NTT, Partnership Day was held in Singapore, with 79 business meetings conducted between the recommended startups and NTT Group companies and departments.
Based on the discussions held on the day, the participating companies will advance concrete collaboration discussions toward PoCs, commercialization, and other initiatives.

4. Future Plans

The companies participating in this program will continue to explore collaboration with startups in Asia through NTT Startup Challenge. Building on the business meetings held at Partnership Day, they will assess alignment with each company's business challenges and available assets and explore concrete opportunities for collaboration toward PoCs, commercialization, and other initiatives.

5. Endorsement

○ Thomas G. Tsao, Co-Founder and Chairperson of Gobi Partners

"Great founders can come from anywhere, but access to opportunity is not always equal. Partnership Day helps close that gap by connecting entrepreneurs with partners who can help them validate, scale and grow."

^*1"NTT Startup Challenge," an international startup collaboration program
https://group.ntt/jp/newsrelease/2026/05/25/260525a.html

^*2NTT EAST, NTT WEST, NTT DATA, NTT DOCOMO GLOBAL, NTT DOCOMO SOLUTIONS, NTT Advanced Technology, NTT TechnoCross, NTT Com Ashi and one other companies

^*3Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE), AI Fund, Altara Ventures, Cradle, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)、SG Growth Capital, EXEO Global, Gobi Partners, Iterative, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), JTC Corporation, NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Inc., NTT Innovation Laboratory Israel Ltd., NUSX, SGInnovate, Singapore Management University's Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and other organizations

Media inquiries

NTT, Inc.
Public Relations
Email: ntt-pr@ntt.com

Global Business Department
Email: global-incubation@ntt.com

Information is current as of the date of issue of the individual press release.
Please be advised that information may be outdated after that point.