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China’s BCI Race Accelerates: Gestala Raises US$84 Million in Six Months

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SHANGHAI and CHENGDU, China, Aug. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Gestala officially launched on January 1, 2026. Six months later, the company had completed two financing rounds totaling RMB 570 million, or approximately US$84 million.

The financing reflects growing investor interest in alternatives to implantable electrode-based BCIs—particularly approaches that aim to cover larger areas of the brain, reach deep neural circuits and reduce invasiveness.

Six Months at Startup Speed

Gestala was co-founded by Phoenix Peng and Tianqiao Chen, founder of Shanda Group and the Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute.

Peng holds a doctorate from Fudan University’s Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence and is a Principal Investigator (PI) at Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory. Gestala is his sixth startup.

The company has moved at an unusually fast pace since its launch. In March, Gestala completed a RMB 150 million angel round. Between April and May, a former Neuralink clinical lead and senior R&D and regulatory leaders from Nano Retina, a leading visual BCI company, joined the team.

In June, Gestala’s global headquarters and the first phase of its ultrasound BCI superfactory began operations in Chengdu. In July, the company opened its Shanghai headquarters and completed a RMB 420 million Angel+ round.

The latest round included participation from HSG, Lens Technology, Sinovation Ventures and C Capital. Existing shareholders including Dalton Venture, Seas Capital, Tsing Song Capital and Gobi Partners made follow-on investments.

Gestala has done more than raise capital. Within six months, the company has simultaneously developed capabilities in fundamental research, ultrasound engineering, medical-device manufacturing, clinical trials and AI.

It has also assembled an interdisciplinary team of 29 scientists and engineers and plans to expand the team to approximately 45 by the end of the year.

That pace raises a question: Why does a company whose first product is still in development and clinical preparation need to build research, manufacturing, clinical and AI capabilities at such an early stage?

The answer lies in how Peng defines the company. In his view, Gestala is not simply developing a medical device. It aims to become a bridge between neuroscience and AI — and a “Neolab” for the life sciences.

From Electrical BCIs to Ultrasound

Peng previously co-founded NeuroXess, a BCI company pursuing an invasive approach. His move to ultrasound does not mean he dismisses the value of electrodes.

Invasive electrodes can record localized neural activity at high temporal resolution and have already demonstrated clinical potential in motor and speech decoding.

But if the goal expands from controlling a cursor or an external device to understanding higher-order functions such as memory, emotion, language and movement planning, is it enough to observe only a small number of neurons or isolated brain regions?

Higher-order brain functions generally emerge from interactions across multiple brain regions and neural circuits. Electrodes are well suited to capturing localized electrical signals. Functional magnetic resonance imaging can observe activity across broader areas of the brain, but the equipment is large and its temporal response is relatively slow.

Ultrasound offers another possibility. Functional ultrasound imaging can observe brain function through changes in cerebral blood flow associated with neural activity. Focused ultrasound, meanwhile, has the potential to act on specific brain regions, including deep neural circuits.

This also explains the name Gestala, which is derived from Gestalt psychology, a school of thought that originated in Germany and holds that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

The company’s long-term goal is to build a platform with the potential for whole-brain “read and write” capabilities: decoding activity across large areas of the brain while precisely modulating selected neural circuits.

That goal, however, remains some distance from clinical reality.

Ultrasound-based readout measures hemodynamic changes associated with neural activity rather than recording neuronal firing directly. Differences in skull thickness and anatomy can also attenuate, scatter and distort acoustic waves.

AI is therefore central to whether an ultrasound-based BCI can decode and modulate the brain. Gestala plans to develop a multimodal brain foundation model that identifies relationships among neural activity, cerebral blood flow, medical imaging and observable behavior.

As foundation models continue to evolve, a growing number of researchers are recognizing that the human brain remains the only known general-intelligence system validated through natural evolution.

Understanding the brain could not only lead to new treatments for neurological disorders, but also provide new theoretical foundations and technical paradigms for the next generation of artificial intelligence.

In Peng’s view, neuroscience and artificial intelligence are two sides of the same coin. One helps us understand intelligence; the other helps us create it. Gestala aims to connect the two.

“Brain-computer interfaces, ultrasound, artificial intelligence and life sciences are all different paths toward understanding human intelligence,” Peng said. “Our true subject of study is human intelligence itself.”

The Tests That Follow the Funding

A broad technological vision still needs to begin with specific clinical problems.

Gestala has selected chronic pain as its first target indication and plans to explore other neurological and psychiatric conditions, including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and stroke rehabilitation.

According to the company’s current plan, its first-generation ultrasound BCI product and brain foundation model will be unveiled by the end of 2026. The product will subsequently need to progress through clinical trials and medical-device registration.

Completing the financing therefore does not mean the technology has been proven. The real tests are only beginning.

The first is an engineering test: Can the system consistently target specific brain regions across individuals with different skull anatomies and produce reproducible readout and neuromodulation results?

The second is a clinical test: Can ultrasound neuromodulation deliver meaningful and durable benefits to patients while remaining safe over time?

The third is an AI test: Can Gestala’s brain foundation model bring electrical signals, cerebral blood flow, medical imaging and behavioral data into a unified representation? Can it establish verifiable relationships among neural activity, cognition, intention and behavior, while generalizing across individuals, tasks and diseases?

Gestala’s Chengdu headquarters is responsible for product development, engineering, manufacturing and industrial translation. Its Shanghai headquarters connects fundamental research, brain foundation model development, clinical resources and scientific collaboration.

Building on its existing dual-headquarters structure, Gestala also plans to establish an overseas headquarters in either Singapore or Hong Kong. The new location will connect the company with international research, talent and industry resources while supporting global collaboration and overseas development.

Through this structure, Gestala is building an integrated operation spanning technology development, engineering, manufacturing, clinical validation, AI models and international collaboration.

But regardless of how much capital it raises or how far its global footprint expands, Gestala’s ability to join the front ranks of the global BCI industry will depend on more than reproducible clinical data. It will also depend on whether the company can turn complex, multimodal brain data into a verifiable and generalizable brain foundation model.

The former will determine whether the technology can deliver meaningful benefits to patients. The latter will determine whether Gestala can establish a shared language through which neuroscience and artificial intelligence can explain one another.

About Gestala

Gestala is China’s first life sciences company dedicated to ultrasound-based brain-computer interface technology. Guided by the vision of “Better Brain for Better Humanity,” Gestala is committed to building an ultrasound-based BCI platform with whole-brain read and write capabilities. Beyond developing innovative therapies for a wide range of neurological disorders, the company is dedicated to decoding the brain and exploring a future in which neuroscience and artificial intelligence evolve in deep convergence. For more information, please visit www.gestala.com

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CCTV+: From the Sea, Toward the Future

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November 12, 2026

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— Yancheng Radio and Television Releases the Six‑Episode Micro‑documentary Homeland on the Tidal Flats

YANCHENG, China, Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ten thousand years ago, this land was nothing but sea. Today, 520,000 hectares of wetlands have risen from the tides, providing shelter for more than 4,700 species of life, where 467 kinds of birds arrive as promised. This land born out of the ocean holds an entire vibrant world.

Along China’s eastern coast stretches a 582‑kilometer coastline. Yancheng, home to 6.7 million people, lies next to one of the most densely populated regions on Earth, yet it has reserved vast “undeveloped” spaces for nature. Nearly one‑third of the world’s spoon‑billed sandpipers stop here to refuel; the world’s largest wild elk population thrives here; and four out of every ten offshore wind turbines worldwide are manufactured right here. At China’s first coastal World Natural Heritage Site — Yancheng — protection does not mean sealing nature off, nor does development mean pushing the wetlands aside. Instead, the city chooses to live in harmony with nature and grow along its rhythms: leaving ample room for nature amid development, and building better lives while safeguarding the ecosystem.

The six‑episode eco‑humanistic micro‑documentary Homeland on the Tidal Flats uses the camera as a pen to write a love letter between the sea and the land. Episode One, The Tidal Forest, reveals the intricate, hidden web of life in the intertidal zones. Episode Two, Return to the Wild, chronicles the rebirth of the elk population from just 39 to over 8,800. Episode Three, Beneath the Wings, records the visits of spoon‑billed sandpipers and red‑crowned cranes. Episode Four, New Life on Salty Soil, shows how rice waves and green granaries emerge from saline‑alkali soil. Episode Five, Light on the Wind, explores the pulse of offshore wind power and the zero‑carbon city. Episode Six, Wetland Life, captures the everyday rhythm of a city breathing in tune with its wetlands.

Prioritizing ecology and pursuing green development is the answer this beautiful city of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature has written for Chinese‑style modernization.

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Over 100 Delegates and 16 Startups: Taiwan Sends Largest-Ever Fintech Delegation to SFF 2026 as FinTechSpace Debuts “Taiwan Fintech Fleet” Collaboration Model

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TAIPEI, Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — FinTechSpace, Taiwan’s premier one-stop fintech innovation acceleration hub – guided by the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) and founded by the Taiwan Financial Services Roundtable (TFSR) — is making its eighth consecutive appearance at the Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF). This year, FinTechSpace has mobilized innovation energy from both northern and southern Taiwan to curate the island’s largest-ever delegation, bringing over 100 fintech leaders, representatives, and 16 selected startups at the Taiwan Pavilion (Booth #5B33, Hall 5).

The Taiwan Pavilion showcases 16 international pitch sessions anchored around three core pillars: Resilience Forward: Operational Defense & Compliance; New Asset Horizons: Digital & Sustainable Finance; and Ignite Growth: Enterprise & Integrated Solutions. Crucially, FinTechSpace is debuting its groundbreaking “Theme-Based Fleet Pilot Program,” an initiative designed to integrate multi-team technologies and services to capitalize on complementary strengths, demonstrating the versatility, depth, and international competitiveness of Taiwan’s fintech ecosystem. The delegation will also host two high-level international networking events to deepen cross-border collaboration and unlock commercial opportunities.

Maiden Flagship Initiative: “Trustworthy FinTech” Fleet Hits the Global Stage

The newly launched “Taiwan Fintech Fleet” serves as a collaborative mechanism that connects the specialized capabilities of different startups into cohesive, scenario-based enterprise solutions. By replacing standalone tools with integrated offerings, the fleet model enables international financial institutions and enterprise clients to seamlessly adopt multi-faceted services that directly address operational pain points.

The inaugural rollout focuses on “Trust in FinTech,” bringing together six FinTechSpace portfolio companies – IHH, TOPPAN Security, KDAN, AIFT, FANO, and wiAdvance – to form two strategic theme fleets: “Digital Trust Chain” and “Trustworthy AI Guardrails”. The initiative propels startups to transition from “single-point services” to “full-scenario application” solutions, while taking a “fleet goes global” model to lead teams in jointly expanding into international markets and demonstrating the integration and collaborative strength driving Taiwan’s fintech industry.

Two Signature Events: Canada Meets Taiwan Forum and Taiwan–Korea Happy Hour Deepen Global Ties

During SFF, the Taiwan Pavilion will host “Canada Meets Taiwan: AI, Fintech, and New Opportunities for Financial Innovation” on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, from 2:30 to 3:15 PM (Singapore time). The session brings together government, industry, and academic representatives from Taiwan and Canada to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping fintech innovation, and to exchange insights on ecosystem development and collaboration opportunities, further strengthening bilateral fintech ties.

The Taiwan Pavilion is also teaming up with the Korea Pavilion to host a “Happy Hour” networking mixer, featuring Taiwanese and Korean snacks in a relaxed, social setting. The event is designed to spark connections between fintech startups, financial institutions, and industry partners from both countries, opening the door to future technical collaboration and market expansion.

An Open Invitation: Join Taiwan in Building the Next Wave of FinTech Opportunity

FinTechSpace warmly invites financial institutions, investors, and industry partners from around the world to visit the Taiwan Pavilion (Booth #5B33, Hall 5) during SFF, November 18–20, 2026, to engage with participating teams and explore opportunities for technical collaboration, business partnerships, and investment.

About FinTechSpace

Established in 2018, FinTechSpace is Taiwan’s first one-stop fintech innovation acceleration hub. Guided by the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) and initiated by the Taiwan Financial Services Roundtable (TFSR), the program is operated by the Institute for Information Industry (III). FinTechSpace is dedicated to creating a co-creation ecosystem that fosters FinTech development by integrating physical space, mentorship, and technical resources. It aims to drive FinTech innovation in Taiwan and promote international collaboration. For more information, please visit: www.fintechspace.com.tw.

2026 Taiwan Pavilion Exhibitor List

FinTechSpace (Taipei)

Resilience Forward: Operational Defense & Compliance

CoCoTree
Technology

CoCoTree Technology provides a nature-risk and TNFD-aligned decision platform that helps financial institutions and enterprises assess the nature sensitivity, biodiversity exposure,
and environmental risk of their operating sites and supply chains. The platform turns these insights into risk scores, monitoring alerts, and compliance summaries, supporting credit
underwriting, post-loan monitoring, supply chain engagement, and ESG/TNFD disclosure.

HiTRUST

HiTRUST is a fintech company specializing in digital security, identity verification, and fraud prevention that help financial institutions strengthen transaction security while improving
the user experience. Headquartered in Taiwan with seven offices worldwide, HiTRUST serves more than 10,000 institutions globally. In 2025, the company received a government
grant for Digital Service Innovation and won gold at the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Smart Innovation Award.

IHH Co., Ltd.

IHH is dedicated to building “secure, anti-counterfeiting, and highly flexible commercial video solutions.”  Providing enterprises with a “secure and trusted mechanism to seamlessly
leverage integrated AI capabilities before, during, and after video conferencing to conduct business, yielding highly non-repudiable results.”

IHH ensures every interaction is secure and trustworthy and generates highly non-repudiable digital evidence. Its solutions have been successfully deployed by several major,
market-leading enterprises.

TOPPAN
Security Co.,
Ltd.

TOPPAN Security focuses on advanced digital identity and authentication solutions, offering a one-stop solution spanning eKYC facial recognition, SoftToken, multi-factor authentication
(MFA), and device rebinding to help financial institutions strengthen the security of their digital services. Founded in 2013, the company joined the TOPPAN Group in 2020 and has been
expanding into global markets under the TOPPAN Security brand since 2025.

Woodpecker
Technology
Inc.

Woodpecker Technology specializes in enterprise security monitoring, threat detection, and incident response. Its flagship platform, Woodpecker XVR, delivers a unified SOC view
by integrating data from endpoints, networks, security logs, and user activities. Combined with an on-premises AI security assistant, the platform accelerates incident investigation,
improves alert prioritization, and enables more effective response while ensuring that sensitive data remains fully under the customer’s control. Woodpecker serves financial institutions,
government agencies, critical infrastructure operators, and high-tech manufacturers through partnerships with MDR providers, MSSPs, and system integrators.

Ignite Growth: Enterprise & Integrated Solutions

HOYA BIT
Digital
Technology

HOYA BIT Digital Asset Exchange has secured business compliance approvals from the Taiwan FSC as an exchanger, trading platform, transferor, and custodian, while co-creating
a 24/7 fiat exchange withdrawal service with Taishin Bank and becoming the world’s first ISO 14068-1 carbon-neutral exchange. In partnership with Taishin Bank, it offers round-the-
clock fiat withdrawal services and is the world’s first ISO 14068-1 carbon-neutral certified exchange. Powered by Agentic AI trading technology, HOYA BIT offers virtual asset and
multi-strategy investment services, and its AI Native Exchange OS helps financial institutions and enterprises integrate virtual assets and stablecoin payments and settlement.

Light
Momentum
Technology

Founded in 2021, Light Momentum Technology (LMT) combines expertise in IC design, ICT, and finance to develop fintech, AIoT, and custom ASIC/SoC chip applications, delivering
financial AI and high-frequency trading solutions. LMT was named to EE Times’ Silicon 100 in both 2022 and 2023, established a subsidiary in the Czech Republic in 2024, and has
exhibited at the Singapore FinTech Festival for four consecutive years as it continues to expand into overseas markets and technical partnerships.

On-us Co.,
Ltd.

On-us combines AI with years of accumulated consumer-engagement data through its Smart E-Voucher and On-us Intelligence platforms, turning behavioral signals from how consumers
claim, engage with, and redeem offers into actionable business insights. This helps enterprises optimize membership management, customer acquisition, loyalty programs, and marketing
performance, driving greater customer engagement value and revenue growth.

ThinkCloud
Technology

ThinkCloud Technology specializes in digital identity verification and e-signature solutions. Its flagship innovation, SelfieSign, utilizes patented SVS (Signing Video Stream) technology to
capture real-time video and audio recording during the signing process, timestamps, and verification data in compliance with the EU’s XAdES electronic document standard. ThinkCloud
also offers eStamp digital seals and FaceOTP AI liveness detection. The platform processes more than 3 million signatures a month and holds a 90% share of Taiwan’s medical e-signature
market.

TradingValley
Co., Ltd.

One of Taiwan’s earliest robo-advisory fintech, TradingValley helps financial institutions build digital wealth-management services and, after obtaining a U.S. investment advisor license,
launched its own B2C business. In 2025, the company introduced WinwinGPT, a personalized AI investment assistant that has been a finalist in multiple international fintech competitions
and has been successfully deployed at a major domestic financial holding company to boost the productivity of relationship managers and investment research teams.

Vulcan

Vulcan is an international AI security brand focused on generative and agentic AI security, providing AI red-teaming and real-time runtime protection to help enterprises identify risks
such as prompt injection and data leakage. Vulcan has expanded across Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and the Middle East, serving 10+ major domestic and international
commercial banks and financial holding companies, Global high-tech manufacturers, and government agencies. Its solutions are recognized in the OWASP Agentic AI Security Landscape
and hold Panel Tester status with Singapore’s AI Verify Foundation, helping financial, insurance, manufacturing, and government organizations build trustworthy, governable, compliance-
ready AI environments.

FINNOVATION HUB (Kaohsiung)

New Asset Horizons: Digital & Sustainable Finance

AI PASS LINE

Founded in 2024, AI Pass Line focuses on AI, avatars, voice tech, and AR/MR/XR applications. Built on an “AI × MR” core, the company delivers comprehensive smart solutions spanning
healthcare, education, customer service, AI agents, and digital-twin training. Leveraging AI knowledge management, its enterprise AI Agent platform, and Azure cloud technology, AI Pass
Line helps clients integrate systems and data to boost operational efficiency. With proven experience across medical, financial, retail, and education sectors, it delivers efficient, secure,
and human-centric intelligent services.

CyCatena
Technology

CyCatena Technology provides secure digital asset infrastructure for financial institutions and enterprises. Its core product, CyCatena Vault, enables secure and self-controlled management
of digital assets and stablecoins. With HSM-based key protection, multi-level approval, access control, transaction risk monitoring, and comprehensive audit trails, CyCatena Vault meets
institutional security and compliance requirements. Supporting both on-premises and private cloud deployment, it allows institutions to retain control of their private keys, transaction data,
and infrastructure while integrating seamlessly with existing banking and enterprise systems.

Eureka
FinTech TW
Limited

Eureka aims to be a pioneer in providing innovative market & credit analysis, KYC and ESG solutions to manufacturers and financial institutions across Asia via its comprehensive AI
services platform and bespoke consulting services. Eureka’s comprehensive platform integrates into one single platform big data, vendor databases and customers’ internal data by
utilizing AI and graph technologies. Eureka’s AI services platform provides users with information including market analysis, industry analysis, meeting minutes, credit report, ESG report
and compliance & sanction report systems to assist them in analyzing supply chains, green energy and business relationships.

Root
Intelligent
Tech

Root Intelligent Tech is dedicated to making professional financial planning more accessible through AI. Its services include intelligent financial health assessments, wealth succession and
estate and gift tax planning, AI-powered advisory tools for financial professionals, and green consumption applications. By combining data visualization, scenario simulation, and professional

knowledge retrieval, Root Intelligent Tech helps financial institutions, advisors, and individuals identify financial risks, evaluate planning options, and make informed decisions. 

Synstream
Pte Limited

Shinchuan Technology offers an enterprise-grade AI data orchestration platform for financial institutions, enabling rapid AI adoption without replacing existing core systems. The platform
integrates data orchestration, AI vision computing, on-premises small language models (SLMs), and multimodal RAG technology to support KYC/AML compliance monitoring, automated
regulatory reporting, wealth management, and enterprise AI agents, all backed by bank-grade governance, access control, and auditability to improve operational efficiency and data security.

Synstream is an enterprise AI data orchestration platform designed for financial institutions, enabling rapid AI adoption without replacing legacy systems. Powered by three core engines –
Data Orchestration, Visual Intelligence, and Enterprise On-Prem SLM & RAG – Synstream delivers specialized FinTech modules including KYC/AML automation, regulatory reporting,
and wealth management modernization. Featuring banking-grade data governance, full auditability, and hybrid/on-prem deployment, Synstream reduces false positives by ~85% and cuts
case resolution times by ~90%.

 

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IBM Announces Winner of Sports Tech Startup Prize Challenge at Web Summit Lisbon 2026

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LivXP has been selected from a global field of innovators advancing the future of sports through AI.

LISBON, Portugal, Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced LivXP as the winner of the IBM Sports Tech Startup Prize Challenge at Web Summit Lisbon, recognizing the company for its innovative use of agentic AI to transform how fans engage with their favorite teams, organizations, and leagues.

The challenge marks the culmination of the IBM Sports Tech Startup Challenge, a year-long global initiative created to identify and evaluate growth-stage startups building enterprise-ready technologies for sports organizations, teams, media companies, and fans. Launched at Web Summit Lisbon 2025, IBM has engaged founders through showcases at Web Summits in Vancouver, Rio de Janeiro, and Lisbon, alongside a16z Tech Weeks in New York and San Francisco, and in virtual forums. These showcase activities were designed to provide visibility and engagement opportunities and did not confer eligibility, ranking, priority, or advancement in the invitation-only Prize Challenge held this week. The invite-only challenge featured seven finalists selected from a broad field of sports technology innovators. Finalists pitched their solutions before a distinguished judging panel that included Sarah Meron, Chief Communications and Brand Officer, IBM; Marc Gené, Ferrari Ambassador, Scuderia Ferrari HP; Brad Smith, Headlines Anchor at CNN; and Frederico Gil, founder and CEO of FREDGIL Academy. 

LivXP, a Swiss-American company accelerated at the Harvard Innovation Labs, is an AI-powered impulse commerce infrastructure for sports: auctions, experiences, and sponsor activations that land at the fan’s emotional high. From the Tour de Suisse to Boston College Athletics, federations, clubs, international events, and U.S. college sports programs use its white-label platform to reach fans in 150 countries.

“We were incredibly impressed by both the technical innovation and practical application of LivXp’s solution,” said IBM Chief Communications and Brand officer Sarah Meron. “At IBM, we’re always looking for new ways AI can help our clients create more engaging, personalized experiences, and we see exciting potential for technologies like this to enhance the work we do alongside our global sports and entertainment partners.”

Upon being announced the winner, LivXP CEO and Co-Founder Ashima Saxena stated, “Every emotional moment in sport revenue is waiting to happen, and AI finally lets sports organizations capture it at scale, without adding staff. We’re proud to have won the IBM Sports Tech Startup Challenge, and we look forward to working with IBM’s Sports & Entertainment Partnerships Team to bring impulse commerce to more clubs, sponsors, and fans worldwide.”

The Lisbon finale capped a year-long series of startup showcases and judging sessions bringing together influential voices from sports, media, and venture capital, including Maria Sharapova, and representatives from a16z, USTA Ventures, Sony Ventures, Comcast Ventures, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), FIFA, and Powerhouse Capital.

Finalists

The seven startups participating in the 2026 IBM Sports Tech Startup Prize Challenge were:

Fanory – Fan intelligence platform transforming live sports experiences into memories, assets, and behavioral data.Neuron Systems – Multi agent AI platform for live sports and entertainment that generates real-time commentary, insights, and content for sports fans and creators.LivXP – Fan engagement marketplace that connects sports fans with exclusive experiences, auctions, and interactions with teams, athletes, and sports organizations.PressBox – AI-powered content platform that enables sports leagues, teams, and media organizations to create and personalize content and marketing.NTangible – Verbal cognitive assessment platform that measures how athletes perform under pressure.Proximity Works Inc. – AI engineering company that builds real-time intelligence and fan engagement systems for sports, media, and entertainment organizations.Noiz – Sports-matching platform making it easier to find courts, try new sports, and build player connections.

The Prize Challenge Grand Prize includes up to $100,000 to support an eligible proof-of-concept project with IBM’s Sports and Entertainment Partnership Team, subject to separate review and agreement requirements, up to $20,000 in IBM credits to be applied toward services and technology, mentorship opportunities, and evaluation opportunities described in the Official Rules.

About the IBM Sports Tech Startup Challenge

Launched in partnership with Web Summit, the IBM Sports Tech Startup Challenge is a global initiative designed to spotlight startups applying AI and other emerging technologies to solve challenges across the sports industry. Building on IBM Ventures’ mission to connect cutting-edge innovation with enterprise clients, the Challenge extends this approach to IBM’s sports portfolio, using our sports partnerships as a proving ground to showcase technologies with real-world potential for both the sports landscape and broader business applications. The 2026 program included startup showcases at Web Summit Vancouver, Rio, and Lisbon, events during a16z Tech Weeks in New York and San Francisco, and in virtual forms, culminating with the invite-only Prize Challenge at Web Summit Lisbon. These showcase activities provided opportunities for visibility and engagement but did not confer eligibility, ranking, priority, or advancement in the Prize Challenge.

About IBM in Sports

For more than 30 years, IBM has partnered with some of the world’s most iconic sports organizations, including Wimbledon, the US Open, the Masters Tournament, Scuderia Ferrari HP, and UFC. Together, IBM and its partners create AI-powered experiences designed to deliver deeper insights, smarter engagement, and richer digital experiences for sports fans around the globe.

About IBM Ventures

As the corporate venture capital arm of IBM, IBM Ventures invests in startups across enterprise AI and quantum software. A strategic investor, IBM Ventures works closely with startups and founders to bring innovative technologies into IBM and help drive value for IBM clients. Through IBM’s technology, expertise and global client network, IBM Ventures helps portfolio companies build strategic relationships and accelerate their growth.

Media Contact:

Rebeccah Propp

IBM

Rebeccah.Propp@ibm.com

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