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Kuala Lumpur was alive with cross-border innovation when founders, ecosystem builders, tech leaders and investors convened for Startups Meet Fukuoka: Pitch for Ramen Tech 2026.
Organized by Remote Work Malaysia with support from the Fukuoka City Government, members of the Ramen Tech & Co Live eco system, ARTEM PACE Ventures, WORQ Bandar Utama, and Cradle, the event was an exclusive opportunity for high-growth Malaysian startups to showcase their vision and expansion plan to the Japanese market.
Cinch was the winner of pitch in a star-studded field of innovative technology companies.
There are no cash prizes for the winner apart from being on stage in Fukuoka, Japan – Ramen Tech 2026, an eastern region’s best startup event that unites innovation, capital, and global markets. Winning the competition means much more than just an award: it’s a strong testament to our circular device-as-a-service (DaaS) model, and an important milestone for our international expansion.
Validating Cinch’s Vision
As our economy accelerates into digital time, customers and businesses face headwinds: hardware costs are rising, device lifecycles are diminishing, and e-waste is piling up. The legacy approach to hardware has captured precious CapEx and created huge depreciation headwinds for device owners and managers.
As a flexible subscription service for premium electronics, computers and devices, the Cinch platform allows businesses to easily scale their hardware footprint on demand with CapEx-free operational spending (OpEx), while supporting products across a circular lifecycle for refurbishing, reusing, or recycling. Winning the startups meet Fukuoka pitch competition further affirms Cinch’s core business value:
- Strong Financial Efficiency: Cinch’s ability to turn heavy CAPEX associated with buying a device into a manageable operational cost.
- Proven Scalability: help companies get more runway for growth.
- ESG and Circular Leadership: Cinch’s team and solution are positioned to meet the DaaS needs.
The Getaway to Japan’s Tech Ecosystem
Cinch, the international expansion tech startup, is looking to Fukuoka for its next leap. For startups, Japan offers a large market with high expectations for quality, efficiency and reliability.
Fukuoka actively attracts foreign tech companies with startup visas, tax benefits, regulatory sandbox, and government support. With Cinch attending Ramen Tech 2026, the startup has immediate access to high-impact opportunities:
- Enterprise Hardware and DaaS Opportunities: Cinch can provide Japanese companies with an easy, managed, flexible alternative to on-premise hardware purchases.
- Cross-Border Partnerships and Circular Economy Opportunities: Entering Japan can give Cinch the chance to collaborate with electronic manufacturers, hardware ownership fleets, and green-tech-focused venture capital funds committed to circular supply chains.
Looking Ahead: From Kuala Lumpur to Fukuoka
The event, which was organized with startups from the neighbouring markets and the overall Asian technology industry in mind, symbolized the Asian tech ecosystem’s increasing interconnectivity. With resources, business models, and ideas across borders available, Malaysia’s agile startups are now better equipped to address challenges faced in the region.
For Cinch, our success is just the start. It’s the new beginning of an exciting chapter. As we prepare to present at Ramen Tech 2026 in Fukuoka, we remain committed to our goal: to democratize access to premium technology that’s flexible and sustainable for all.
Stay tuned as we document our journey from Malaysia to Japan, bringing sustainable hardware access to the global stage!
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