Hitachi Construction Machinery : Selects 10 Startup Companies for the “LANDCROS Innovation Studios Mining Challenge” Pitch Event

Tokyo, March 19, 2026 - Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. (President and Executive Officer Masafumi Senzaki, "Hitachi Construction Machinery") has selected 10 Winner companies from among 135 applicants to be invited to participate in a pitch and demonstration event for the "LANDCROS Innovation Studios Mining Challenge," a project for soliciting ideas from worldwide startup companies which was announced on November 4, 2025. The selected Winner companies will present proposals based on three themes from the mining field at the pitch event to be held in Brisbane, Australia on April 16, 2026. Ultimately, one company per theme for a total of three companies will be selected as the "Grand Winners" who will go on to collaborate with Hitachi Construction Machinery.

The purpose of this pitch event is to promote collaboration between the Hitachi Construction Machinery Group and startup companies as well as to provide a forum for exchange for some 100 participants from startup companies, venture capital firms, industry stakeholders, and government officials to contribute to the development of the overall mining industry. Furthermore, on the day before the pitch event, the Winner companies will tour the service sites (Brisbane, Wacol) of Hitachi Construction Machinery (Australia) Pty Ltd. to view mining machinery and provide an opportunity for deeper mutual understanding.

As part of the "LANDCROS Innovation Studios Mining Challenge", 10 Winner companies were selected through a rigorous review process, based on innovation, feasibility, and business growth potential, of among 135 applications submitted during the application period from November 2025 to January 2026. The Winner companies will present their proposals for the three following mining-related themes at the pitch event on April 16.

The "O" in LANDCROS stands for "Open" and reflects our desire to "openly co-create new businesses and value with external partners including startup companies and develop together." We are pleased to have the opportunity to meet with startup companies from around the world through the "LANDCROS Innovation Studios Mining Challenge." Going forward, we will help solve challenges and develop the mining industry through co-creation with external partners.

LANDCROS Innovation Studios is a "forum for collaborative innovation" deployed globally by Hitachi Construction Machinery to accelerate collaboration with startup companies and new business creation. The goal is to function as an ecosystem where group companies, customers, startup companies, and challengers from various industries can cross paths and create future value together without being limited to a physical location. The upcoming "LANDCROS Innovation Studios Mining Challenge" is one representative initiative as an open innovation project through which Hitachi Construction Machinery will collaborate with external startup companies for the purpose of developing next-generation solutions. In fiscal year 2024, the company solicited ideas regarding the development of "Connected Construction Machinery" from 127 companies around the world as part of the "Hitachi Construction Machinery Challenge 2024." Hitachi Construction Machinery continues to collaborate with the three winning companies.

The "LANDCROS Innovation Studios Mining Challenge" launched in partnership with Founders Factory Ltd. (Headquarters: London, UK), a global startup accelerator and venture studio.

Hitachi Construction Machinery's mining business focuses on open-pit mining, and its strength lies in the ability to offer products and solutions that solve customer challenges across diverse touch points from "Pit to Plant" in the mining site, which is achieved not only through the mining process where mining machinery is used but also by welcoming companies responsible for mine operation management and data analysis, mill liners and other wear-resistant parts used in mineral processing, and remanufacturing and maintenance services through M&A. Through this current project, Hitachi Construction Machinery will further strengthen ties with startup companies and co-create innovative solutions in the mining field.

• "LANDCROS Innovation Studios" Special Web Site
• November 4, 2025 Press release　Hitachi Construction Machinery Begins Soliciting Ideas for the "LANDCROS Innovation Studios Mining Challenge"
• November 21, 2024 Press release　Inaugural Hitachi Construction Machinery Challenge 2024 Crowns Three Startups as Winners
• September 30, 2021 Press release　Hitachi Construction Machinery Invests in Counterpart Ventures Fund II
• October 21, 2020 Press release　Hitachi Construction Machinery Invests in the Chrysalix RoboValley Fund to Accelerate Collaboration with Startups

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. (TSE: 6305), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a construction machinery manufacturer that globally deploys development, manufacturing, sales, and service businesses for its hydraulic excavators, wheel loaders, compaction equipment, and mining machinery, etc. In addition to its new machinery business, Hitachi Construction Machinery is expanding its "value chain businesses" of parts and services, remanufacturing (parts and machines), rentals, and used equipment as it continues to grow together with customers as a solutions provider that offers innovative solutions to customers. With roughly 26,000 employees around the world, the consolidated sales revenue for Hitachi Construction Machinery was 1,371.3 billion yen for fiscal year 2024 (ended March 2025) with an overseas sales revenue ratio of 84%. For more details, please see the company's website.

The company plans to change its trade name to "LANDCROS Corporation" and its corporate brand to "LANDCROS" on April 1, 2027.

Founders Factory builds and funds startups together with exceptional entrepreneurs and the world's leading companies. Created by IPO-exited founders and operating globally, including London, New York, Berlin, Milan, Perth and Singapore, Founders Factory offers founders capital, operational support from a team of hands-on experts, and unrivalled access to a coalition of industry leading corporate partners.
Founders Factory's Venture Studio co-founds businesses from inception, developing new ideas, technologies and business models into high growth companies.
Operating sector-focused Accelerator programs and Venture Funds for pre-seed and seed stage startups, Founders Factory invests in talented and diverse founding teams across industries and geographies-with a current focus on Mining, Nature, FinTech, Health, Climate, and Deep Tech.
Since 2015, Founders Factory's 400+ portfolio companies have raised over $4 billion follow-on funding from leading funds and investors.

Information contained in this news release is current as of the date of the press announcement, but may be subject to change without prior notice.