Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon 2026 Concludes in Tokyo, Showcasing Eight AI Solutions and Strengthening Vietnam–Japan Innovation Ties
With 286 registered participants, 68 teams, and eight AI solutions reaching the Grand Finale, Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon 2026 marked a new milestone in scale, technical development, and international participation. Beyond the competition, the initiative aims to strengthen connections among technology communities, businesses, industry experts, and investors, creating opportunities for promising projects to continue developing and addressing real-world challenges.
TOKYO, JAPAN, November 8, 2026 – Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon 2026 concluded with its Demo Day & Grand Finale on November 7 at Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB). Following multiple rounds of selection and intensive product development, eight finalist teams presented live demonstrations of their AI-powered solutions to a judging panel, industry experts, business representatives, investors, and members of the Vietnam–Japan technology community.
Co-organized by Brandchie LLC, Vietnam Japan AI Community (VJAI), and the Vietnam Digital Transformation Association in Japan (VADX Japan), the competition returned for its second edition under the theme “Agentic AI for Sustainable Goals” and the tagline “AI for Goals. Builders for Growth.”
Following approximately four months of preparation and more than a month of competition, educational activities, and product development, the program attracted nearly 300 in-person attendees across Pitch Day and Demo Day, alongside more than 3,000 livestream viewers. Attendees included representatives from Vietnam's Ministry of Science and Technology, young Vietnamese scholars and professionals based in Japan, business leaders, technology experts, investors, and community partners.
From 68 Registered Teams to Eight Live AI Demonstrations
Building on its inaugural edition in 2025, Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon 2026 attracted 286 registered participants across 68 teams, approximately twice the number of participants recorded in the previous year.
Rather than focusing solely on ideas or programming skills, the competition encouraged participants to follow a structured product development process: identifying real-world problems, designing technology-driven solutions, assessing feasibility, and building functional prototypes.
Following the proposal evaluation stage, 16 teams advanced to Pitch Day on October 24, 2026. Each team presented its proposed solution, technical approach, target users, and potential applications before the judging panel.
Eight teams were subsequently selected to enter an intensive product development phase from October 25 to November 6, supported by mentors with expertise in technology, product development, and business.
Approximately two weeks later, the finalists returned to the Demo Day stage with functional AI products ready for live demonstrations. Their progress in product development, technical implementation, and problem-solving reflected the effort invested in turning initial concepts into tangible solutions.
Eight AI Solutions Addressing Real-World Challenges
Centered on Agentic AI—AI systems capable of planning, using tools, and carrying out sequences of tasks to achieve defined goals—the 2026 competition featured solutions addressing challenges across renewable energy, pharmaceutical research, e-commerce, cybersecurity, sustainable consumption, and digital accessibility.
In the renewable energy sector, RITA developed Kazami, an AI-powered system designed to monitor offshore wind turbines, predict potential failures, and support maintenance planning. According to testing results presented by the team, the solution was evaluated using operational data from 89 wind turbines collected over 2.5 years, demonstrating its potential to support early fault detection and more efficient maintenance operations.
BUOI AI introduced MOTTAI, a virtual energy engineer that analyzes building operational data, identifies inefficient energy consumption, and recommends optimization measures. During its demonstration, the team showed how AI could support energy auditing and substantially reduce the time required to prepare preliminary audit reports compared with conventional manual processes.
In cybersecurity and automation, DATACOM NUMBER ONE presented Vowkey, a platform designed to allow AI agents to carry out online tasks without directly accessing users' passwords or sensitive information.
Other finalist projects included Kaimei by OSK LAB, which applies AI to support drug discovery and pharmaceutical research; GreenOps, which explores ways to reduce carbon emissions from cloud computing operations; FrostLoop AI, which helps e-commerce businesses optimize inventory management; Garblo, a digital wardrobe designed to encourage more sustainable clothing consumption; and Synthgora, which uses AI to support website accessibility assessments based on standards applied in Japan.
A common feature of several finalist solutions was their emphasis on human oversight. Rather than allowing AI systems to make decisions entirely independently, teams incorporated approval mechanisms, verification processes, and limitations on automated actions into their product designs.
These approaches reflected the participants' attention to responsible AI deployment and the practical requirements of implementing AI solutions in real-world environments.
RITA Named Champion of Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon 2026
Following the final demonstrations and judging process on November 7, the Organizing Committee announced the winners of Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon 2026.
Champion — RITA | Kazami – AI for Offshore Wind Maintenance
RITA received the Grand Builder Award - the top prize for Kazami, its AI-powered solution for predicting offshore wind turbine failures and optimizing maintenance operations. The team was awarded JPY 400,000 in cash and USD 10,000 in OpenAI API credits.
First Runner-Up — BUOI AI | MOTTAI – Your Virtual Energy Engineer
BUOI AI secured second place with MOTTAI, receiving the Future AI Leaders award, JPY 250,000 in cash, and USD 5,000 in OpenAI API credits.
Second Runner-Up — DATACOM NUMBER ONE | Vowkey
DATACOM NUMBER ONE placed third with Vowkey, receiving the Rising Innovation Base award, JPY 150,000 in cash, and USD 2,500 in OpenAI API credits.
Two special awards were also presented. The FPT AI Innovation Award went to OSK LAB for Kaimei, while BUOI AI received the AI for Vietnam Impact Award for MOTTAI.
The combined cash prizes for the three main awards totaled JPY 800,000. The competition also received support from OpenAI as its AI Sponsor, with API credits provided to help participating teams develop, test, and refine their AI solutions.
Expanding International Participation Through a Bilingual Event Experience
One of the notable developments in Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon 2026 was its progress toward becoming a more internationally inclusive technology event.
Originally established primarily for the Vietnamese technology community in Japan, the competition has gradually expanded its outreach to participants and stakeholders from different national and professional backgrounds.
This year, the Organizing Committee introduced a bilingual Vietnamese–Japanese event experience, supported by real-time AI translation technology to improve accessibility for attendees with different language backgrounds.
The event welcomed Japanese and international attendees, while the participant registration pool included individuals from Japan, the Philippines, and other countries.
Although non-Vietnamese participants represented approximately 3.85% of total registrations, their participation marked a step forward compared with the previous edition and highlighted opportunities to broaden the competition's international reach.
Commenting on this development, Ms. Vu Thi Phuong Thao, Head of the Organizing Committee of Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon 2026 and Founder & CEO of Brandchie, said:
“What makes us particularly pleased is not only the growth of the competition or the quality of the solutions presented, but also the progress we have made in building a more international community. This year, we successfully introduced a bilingual event experience and welcomed Japanese participants and people from other countries. Although international participation remains relatively modest, it is an encouraging step forward. Our goal is to develop Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon into an open platform where people who share a passion for technology can learn, collaborate, and create meaningful value together, regardless of nationality or language.”
Connecting Businesses, Experts, and Investors Beyond the Competition
In addition to its technical focus, Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon 2026 sought to strengthen connections among stakeholders across the technology and innovation ecosystem.
The program brought together 18 experts serving as judges and mentors, representing fields including artificial intelligence, product development, business, and investment. Through mentoring sessions, evaluations, and networking activities, participating teams gained exposure to perspectives on technical feasibility, business potential, and market needs.
Alongside the competition, the Organizing Committee hosted educational and knowledge-sharing activities, including specialized webinars and Build for Growth Day, featuring sessions on AI technology, product development, business strategy, growth, and fundraising.
The involvement of businesses, venture capital firms, industry specialists, and young Vietnamese professionals in Japan helped establish a broader support network and created opportunities for collaboration between technology developers and organizations seeking practical AI applications.
The 2026 competition was supported by OpenAI as AI Sponsor; FPT and VTI Japan as Diamond Sponsors; Digital Wallet, Rikkei Japan, and CMC Japan as Gold Sponsors; alongside other sponsors and partners, including Fuji Travel, An Lac Real Estate, Build+, and Doraverse.
These partnerships contributed both resources and expertise to the event while creating opportunities for businesses, technology talent, and innovation communities to exchange ideas and explore potential collaborations.
Beyond Demo Day: Supporting the Next Stage of Product Development
For the Organizing Committee, the significance of Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon 2026 extends beyond the competition results and awards.
The organizers intend to continue fostering an environment in which all eight finalist teams can further develop their products, build professional connections, and explore potential real-world applications.
Winning teams will also have opportunities to participate in discussions and interviews with investors, while the Organizing Committee and its community partners will continue facilitating connections with relevant experts, businesses, and other stakeholders.
These post-event activities aim to help promising projects address the challenges of moving from early-stage prototypes toward more mature products with practical applications.
Speaking about the competition's longer-term vision, Ms. Vu Thi Phuong Thao, Head of the Organizing Committee, emphasized:
“We do not want these teams' stories to end at the awards ceremony. A product developed in just two weeks may still be at an early stage, but if it addresses a genuine problem and receives the right support, it has the potential to develop much further. One of the most meaningful achievements of this year's competition is the network we have built among experts, businesses, young professionals, communities, and venture capital investors. We hope this network will provide a foundation for promising projects to move beyond the competition and eventually create real value for society.”
Behind the event was also the commitment of its organizing team and volunteers, who worked across six functional teams and coordinated activities over several months to deliver the program.
For the Organizing Committee, Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon is intended to be more than an annual technology competition. It is part of a continuing effort to build a community where individuals with technical skills, innovative ideas, and a shared interest in solving real-world problems can connect, collaborate, and grow.
As its second edition concludes, Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon reaffirms its commitment to encouraging human-centered AI solutions that address business and societal challenges while contributing to broader sustainable development goals.
The competition has ended, but the builders' journey continues.
About Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon
Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon is an artificial intelligence innovation competition connecting technology communities in Vietnam and Japan. First held in 2025, the program encourages the development of AI-powered solutions to real-world challenges while fostering collaboration among technology talent, industry experts, businesses, investors, and organizations supporting innovation.
Organizing Organizations:
Brandchie LLC (Brandchie合同会社)
Vietnam Japan AI Community (VJAI)
Vietnam Digital Transformation Association in Japan (VADX Japan)
Official Website: https://www.vjaihackathon.com/
Media Contact
Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon 2026 Organizing Committee
Email: contact@vjaihackathon.com
Website: https://www.vjaihackathon.com/
For event photographs, media materials, or interview requests involving the Organizing Committee or participating teams, please contact the organizers using the details above.
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