Japanese Startup UNCHAIN Secures Spot in Global Business Competition

UNCHAIN: A Rising Star in AI Security

UNCHAIN, based in Shibuya, Tokyo, has recently secured a coveted spot at the Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC) 2026, organized by Rice University in Texas, USA. This competition is celebrated as the world's largest startup competition, both in terms of participation and prize money, and this year will mark its 26th iteration.

The Prestige of the RBPC

Scheduled to take place from April 9 to April 11, 2026, at the Rice University campus in Houston, the RBPC will feature 42 teams selected from the top universities around the globe, competing for over 130 million yen (approximately $1.3 million) in prizes and investments. This year has seen a record number of applications, with more than 600 teams vying for inclusion. A rigorous selection process led by venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders identified UNCHAIN among the most innovative entries, evaluating potential for market impact and investment viability. Competitors will include startup teams from Harvard, MIT, and many other prestigious institutions worldwide.

Tackling Security Challenges in the Age of AI Agents

The year 2026 is predicted to be a pivotal one, often referred to as the ‘Year of AI Agents’. Leading AI labs are launching autonomous systems, projecting that 40% of corporate applications will integrate AI agents by the end of the year (Gartner). However, these agents are not without significant vulnerabilities. Unlike traditional chatbots, AI agents can execute code, call APIs, access databases, send emails, and even move funds, making them susceptible to attacks like 'prompt injection'. This evolving threat landscape necessitates companies to implement rapid and effective security measures.

To safeguard against such risks, businesses need to adhere to principles like ‘least privilege access’ for AI systems, conduct comprehensive file-sharing audits, and employ 'Human-in-the-Loop' protocols for high-risk operations. Additionally, semantic input-output filtering and ongoing red teaming to simulate attacks should be a part of the security framework. UNCHAIN is dedicated to addressing these emerging security threats associated with the rise of AI agents.

UNCHAIN: A Team of Visionaries

At the helm of UNCHAIN is CEO Junseok Park, who made history by being selected at the age of 18 for the SoftBank Academia program. With a wealth of experience, including an internship at the Matsuo Lab at the University of Tokyo and published research on AI security recognized by Forbes, Park’s insight into AI holds immense value. CTO Ebin Aoki has been leading the development of national-scale data pipelines from a young age, and COO Harada has a remarkable entrepreneurial background, having launched a product that expanded to over 400 stores by the age of 15. The engineering team includes researchers from MIT’s doctoral program specializing in AI.

Vision for the Future

Park expressed pride in building a security foundation for AI agents from Japan. He stated: “Standing alongside teams from Harvard and MIT at the Rice Business Plan Competition, we aim to share our vision with global investors. UNCHAIN is committed to creating a future where AI can be a truly trustworthy entity.”

Alan Frank, an advisor and former CTO of KPMG US, emphasized the urgency for robust AI agent security, predicting it to be the greatest technology risk in the next decade. He noted that the history of technology shows that those unprepared face elimination, and he believes that UNCHAIN’s approach to evolving alongside AI systems rather than trying to stop them will be crucial.

About UNCHAIN

- Company Name: UNCHAIN Inc.
- CEO: Junseok Park
- Established: July 17, 2025
- Business Scope: Development, sales, implementation, and maintenance of AI business automation platforms
- Website: the-unchain.com

In a world increasingly driven by AI, the importance of maintaining security is paramount, and with UNCHAIN's innovative strategies, the company aims to lead in protecting the future of AI.