MUI-Robotics Crowned Champion at Startup World Cup Southeast Asia Finale 2026, Securing Direct Pathway to Silicon Valley and US$1 Million Investment Prize

MUI-Robotics Crowned Champion at Startup World Cup Southeast Asia Finale 2026, Securing Direct Pathway to Silicon Valley and US$1 Million Investment Prize Techsauce and Pegasus Tech Ventures celebrate the region’s top tech innovators at Techsauce Global Summit 2026, with Set Sail AI and Belli securing first and second runner-up titles.

Silicon Valley-based global venture capital firm Pegasus Tech Ventures, in strategic partnership with Southeast Asia’s leading tech ecosystem builder Techsauce, has officially announced the winners of the Startup World Cup Southeast Asia Finale 2026. The high-stakes regional pitch competition concluded on August 28, 2026, at the Muay Thai Stage during the Techsauce Global Summit 2026 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), where top regional founders showcased their game-changing solutions to an international panel of judges.

Catalyzing Southeast Asian Innovation, The event kicked off with opening remarks and a compelling keynote address by Bill Reichert, Partner & Chief Evangelist at Pegasus Tech Ventures and 2026 SWC Global Ambassador. Reichert emphasized the critical need to connect Southeast Asian innovation with global capital, unlocking new opportunities for international growth and expansion.

Following the keynote, industry leaders gathered for a dynamic panel discussion titled, "Driving Innovation in Southeast Asia: Venture Creation, Ecosystems, and Global Expansion." The roundtable explored actionable strategies for venture building and fostering supportive startup ecosystems. The esteemed panel featured invaluable insights from Jayne Chan, Head of Startups at Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK); Dr. Supakorn Siddhichai, Acting President and CEO of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa); Dylan Powell, Director of the ZERO TO 1 Accelerator; alongside Bill Reichert,Partner & Chief Evangelist at Pegasus Tech Ventures and 2026 SWC Global Ambassador, and Jeff Wu, China Partner, both representing Pegasus Tech Ventures.

High-Stakes Pitch Competition The core of the event featured a rigorous pitching session where 11 elite startups took the stage, including OLAXBT, BENEW TECH COMPANY LIMITED, Chongqing Shanchen Zhijian Technology, MUI-Robotics, Alpha AI, Ravis Technology, Belli, PetalGard, LOCOL THAILAND, ShipD2D, and Set Sail AI. Each startup delivered a 4-minute pitch, followed by a 2-minute Q&A session, to demonstrate their market potential and technological prowess.

Their innovations were closely scrutinized by a prestigious judging panel of regional investment leaders. The panel was composed of Dr. Tanawat Boonpanya, Head of Investment at Krungsri Finnovate; Nitapha Inchai, Director of Tech & Ops at MU Holding Co., Ltd.; Chanakarn Muangmangkhang, Partner for Venture Capital at SCB 10X; Pahrada Sapprasert, Managing Partner at 500 TukTuks & Orzon Ventures; and Pornchanok Suksomboon, Senior Investment Principal at KASIKORN Business-Technology Group (KBTG).

Competition Results & The Road to Silicon Valley MUI-Robotics, represented by Aim Phattananat Wongwan, emerged victorious as the official Winner of the Southeast Asia Finale. With this triumph, MUI-Robotics earns the exclusive opportunity to represent the region at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco, California, scheduled for November 4–6, 2026, where they will compete against global finalists for a transformative US$1 million investment prize.

The competition also highlighted the exceptional caliber of regional talent through its top runners-up. Set Sail AI, represented by Kai Kwong Wong, claimed the 1st Runner-up title, securing a direct entry into the Startup World Cup Asia Finale. Meanwhile, Belli, represented by Jeff Pan, secured the 2nd Runner-up position. All top three finalists were awarded official Startup World Cup trophies recognizing their outstanding technological innovation and global growth potential.

By embedding the regional pitch competition into Southeast Asia's premier tech conference, the event successfully served as a vital launchpad connecting local founders with global capital and Silicon Valley networks.