Noro Kenta Selected as a Judge for Next Generation Automotive AI Hackathon

In an exciting development for the automotive and tech sectors, Kenta Noro, the CEO of Offshore Company, a subsidiary of Vector Inc. based in Minato, Tokyo, has been appointed as a preliminary judge for the Next Generation Automotive AI Hackathon. This innovative event is organized by MeltingPot and the Association for the Promotion of Generative AI (GUGA), focusing on the creation of groundbreaking ideas by integrating the automotive industry with generative AI technologies.

The hackathon is set to kick off from January 16 to January 18, 2026, coinciding with the Automotive World 2026 exhibition—one of the largest events in the automotive industry, held at Tokyo Big Sight. This initiative has garnered significant attention both within and outside the industry.

About the Next Generation Automotive AI Hackathon

The hackathon is themed around "Automotive x Generative AI" and explores the evolution of next-generation mobility as a supportive partner for people rather than merely a means of transport. Participants from various fields, including IT, manufacturing, services, finance, and academia, will converge to challenge their creativity in developing new mobility experiences and service ideas utilizing generative AI, regardless of their prior experience in the automotive sector or hackathons.

Teams that excel in the preliminary rounds will have the opportunity to present their final pitches at a dedicated venue within Automotive World 2026 on January 22, 2026, in front of key industry decision-makers and investors.

In his role as a judge, Noro will leverage his extensive experience in implementing and commercializing generative AI, evaluating ideas from a practical operational perspective to encourage growth in both technology and business. Recently, Offshore Company developed and launched AvaMo, an AI talent video generation service that significantly reduces time and costs in video production while ensuring ethical and safe design considerations, earning accolades such as the 2025 Nikkei Excellent Product and Service Award.

Real-world applications of AvaMo have proven effective, doubling the inquiry numbers via web advertisements and facilitating the creation of an original AI talent to host television events, showcasing the diverse applicability of generative AI across various industries.

Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation process for the preliminary round of the hackathon will be based on two main perspectives:

1. Technical Perspective: Evaluating the use of generative AI, particularly in multimodal and agent technologies, assessing the complexity of technical implementation and whether participants translate their ideas into specific, viable use cases based on operational considerations.

2. Industrial Perspective: Assessing the proposed implementations within a wide spectrum of areas such as in-car experiences, driving experiences, logistics, and urban development. Judges will focus on the feasibility of presenting "the future two steps ahead" while being mindful of "the future five steps ahead."

Panel of Judges

The panel of judges for the preliminary rounds includes:

- Kaito Tsumoto: Executive Councilor of GUGA and CEO of Sniffout, a generative AI company.
- Kotaro Takahashi: Councilor of GUGA and CEO of AVILEN, also specializing in generative AI.
- Kenta Noro: Councilor of GUGA and Executive Officer at Vector Group, serving as the CEO of Offshore Company.

Noro's Comment

Reflecting on his vast experiences across both large corporations and startups, Noro emphasized the importance of practical implementations of AI and digital technologies in addressing real-world challenges. He remarked, "The significance of this hackathon lies not in treating generative AI as a mere tech experiment but in aiming to create tangible value and implementation within the automotive industry. This resonates deeply with the mission of Offshore Company, which seeks to harness the potential of AI to create a world where everyone can aspire for the future. I look forward to seeing innovative ideas emerge from this hackathon that bridge technology with reality in shaping the mobility of the future."

Event Overview

- Event Name: Next Generation Automotive AI Hackathon
- Theme: The creation of innovative ideas combining "Automotive x Humans x Pain/Needs"
- Organizers: MeltingPot and GUGA

Preliminary Dates

- Dates: January 16 to January 18, 2026
- Venue: RX Japan Event Space (Tokyo Midtown Yaesu)

Final Pitch

- Date: January 22, 2026
- Venue: Tokyo Big Sight (Automotive World 2026)

For more details, visit the hackathon website.

Company Overview of Offshore Company

Offshore Company is a tech solution company specializing in AI and system development within the Vector Group, a leading PR firm in Asia. Under Noro's leadership, the company combines skilled project managers with an extensive network of engineers, delivering high-quality and cost-effective development support. The result, AvaMo, optimizes video production for the Japanese market, achieving an impressive time and cost reduction of up to 98% compared to conventional methods. With strategic initiatives in short-form video AI and social media marketing, Offshore Company demonstrates a unique value proposition in AI-driven video marketing that supports client growth and information dissemination.

For additional company information:

- Name: Offshore Company
- CEO: Kenta Noro
- Established: March 2024
- Location: Akasaka Garden City, 4-15-1 Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo
- Website: Offshore Company

Conclusion

The Next Generation Automotive AI Hackathon presents a significant opportunity for innovators to explore the integration of generative AI in the automotive space, with Kenta Noro playing a critical role as a judge. This event promises to be a convergence point for technology, creativity, and the future of mobility.