Following successful editions in Singapore and Malaysia, the program continues its mission of supporting deep-tech startups as they navigate one of the most challenging stages of growth: transforming innovative prototypes into products that can be manufactured reliably and at scale.

As Southeast Asia emerges as a global center for deep-tech innovation, founders are increasingly faced with challenges beyond technology development. Issues such as manufacturing reproducibility, production design, quality assurance, supplier coordination, and scaling from pilot production to commercial deployment often become critical barriers to growth.

To address these challenges, KOBASHI MONOZUKURI STANDARD shares practical manufacturing knowledge cultivated through more than a century of Japanese monozukuri. Led by engineers and manufacturing specialists from KOBASHI Holdings, participants will gain insights into the systems, processes, and mindset required to build scalable hardware businesses.

Group Photo from KOBASHI MONOZUKURI STANDARD Seminar Aug 2025 Singapore

KOBASHI MONOZUKURI STANDARD 2026

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

• Date: Saturday, 11 July 2026
• Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
• Venue: Sentry C (15 Lê Thánh Tôn, Sài Gòn, Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam)
• Registration Fee: Free (※deadline: July 4th)

Bangkok, Thailand

• Date: Saturday, 18 July 2026
• Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
• Venue: Chulalongkorn University (254 Phaya Thai Rd, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand)
• Registration Fee: Free (※deadline: July 11th)

Target Participants

• ・Deep-tech startups developing hardware technologies
• ・Startups facing manufacturing or scaling challenges
• ・Companies in robotics, cleantech, foodtech, agritech, mobility, and industrial technology sectors
• ・Startups preparing for pilot production or industrial deployment
• ・Deep-tech startups interested to expand to Japan

 

【Registration Link】

Learning from Founders Who Experienced the KOBASHI Journey First-Hand

A special highlight of this year’s program will be founder sharing sessions from alumni of the KOBASHI MONOZUKURI STANDARD Seminar Series held in Singapore in 2025.

Featured speakers include representatives from Alternō, Founder and CEO HaiHo, and Dr. Pichaya Pattanasattayavong, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Clean Tech & Beyond,. These founders participated in the seminar series and subsequently visited KOBASHI Industries and KOBASHI ROBOTICS in Okayama, Japan, where they engaged directly with engineers and manufacturing specialists.

They will share practical lessons from their own journeys in scaling deep-tech innovations, strengthening manufacturing capabilities, and building collaborations with the Japanese manufacturing ecosystem.

Their experiences demonstrate how manufacturing excellence can become a strategic advantage for startups pursuing global growth. Following its engagement with Japan’s innovation and manufacturing ecosystem, Alternō established Alternō Japan GK in Tsukuba, Japan, further strengthening its presence in the Japanese market and advancing opportunities for technology localization and industrial collaboration. (Kyodo News PR Wire).

Special Speakers

Speaking in Vietnam (11 July 2026) Hai Ho Founder and CEO, Alterno Hai Ho is a dynamic serial entrepreneur profoundly committed to sustainable development and technological innovation. Throughout his career, Hai has left an indelible mark on the travel, blockchain and climate tech sectors, demonstrating prowess in product development, team building, and fundraising. Central to his ethos is a philosophy that prioritizes sustainability: “To spearhead pioneering business models that catalyze industry-wide sustainable transformation.” This unwavering commitment is reflected in his notable features across prominent financial media outlets such as The Bloomberg Vietnam 2024 Catalysts, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Forbes, Nikkei Asia, Tech In Asia, e27, The Next Web, Pacific Asia Travel Association, and Shark Tank Vietnam.

Speaking in Thailand (18 July 2026) Dr. Pichaya Pattanasattayavong Co-Founder & Managing Director, Cleantech and Beyond Dr. Pichaya Pattanasattayavong is a Principal Investigator at the Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC) and Co-Founder & Managing Director of Cleantech & Beyond. He received his BEng in Nano-Engineering from Chulalongkorn University and earned a PhD in Solid-State Physics from Imperial College London under the Anandamahidol Foundation scholarship. Recognized with several prestigious awards, including Thailand’s Young Scientist Award (2020), his research focuses on advanced materials for electronics, photonics, and energy applications. Through Cleantech & Beyond, he is commercializing innovative battery-free temperature indicators based on thermoresponsive polymer technology for industrial and sustainability applications.

Building on Regional Momentum

The inaugural KOBASHI MONOZUKURI STANDARD seminars in Singapore and Malaysia attracted nearly 100 participants from across Southeast Asia’s startup and innovation communities.

Beyond the seminars, 23 startups from the region have already visited KOBASHI Industries and KOBASHI ROBOTICS in Okayama, Japan. These visits provided opportunities to observe real manufacturing environments, discuss engineering challenges with experienced practitioners, and explore practical approaches to product development, machining, assembly, automation, and quality management.

For many participants, these interactions have become the starting point for deeper technical discussions, manufacturing partnerships, and market expansion opportunities.

From Prototype to Production

The seminar will cover key topics including:

• ・Japanese monozukuri philosophy and manufacturing culture
• ・Transitioning from prototype to mass production
• ・Design for manufacturing and reproducibility
• ・Supplier collaboration and factory communication
• ・Documentation, quality control, and common manufacturing pitfalls

 

Unlike conventional startup programs that focus primarily on fundraising or business development, KOBASHI MONOZUKURI STANDARD emphasizes the realities of manufacturing execution. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss production bottlenecks and scaling challenges directly with experienced Japanese manufacturing professionals.

Selected startups may also be invited to participate in future visits to Okayama, Japan, where they can engage in deeper engineering consultations, factory tours, and discussions on potential collaboration opportunities.

See previous news releases on the Okayama visits and KOBASHI MONOZUKURI Seminar series here:
https://global.lne.st/news/2025/10/23/kobashi-seminar-nov-series-2025/

As Southeast Asia’s deep-tech ecosystem continues to mature, the ability to manufacture reliably at scale is becoming an increasingly important competitive advantage. Through KOBASHI MONOZUKURI STANDARD 2026, Leave a Nest, KOBASHI Industries, and KOBASHI ROBOTICS aim to equip the next generation of founders with practical manufacturing perspectives and connections that accelerate the journey from breakthrough technology to real-world impact.

About KOBASHI Holdings

Founded in 1910 in Okayama, Japan, KOBASHI Holdings Co., Ltd. is a global leader in agricultural and industrial machinery. Rooted in monozukuri, the company combines traditional Japanese craftsmanship with modern engineering to support sustainable manufacturing worldwide.

KOBASHI Holdings also established KOBASHI ROBOTICS, a division focused on supporting prototyping and manufacturing collaboration with startups. To date, the group has supported nearly 200 startups across Japan and Southeast Asia.

https://www.kobashiholdings.com/

 

Contact: [email protected]
Haruka Sakurai
Assistant Manager, Leave a Nest Singapore Pte Ltd