LANDCROS Innovation Studios Mining Challenge

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LANDCROS Innovation Studios × Founders Factory Joint Initiative

Hitachi Construction Machinery and Founders Factory have launched the LANDCROS Mining Challenge to identify innovative startups addressing key challenges in the mining industry. Selected companies will present at a flagship Demo Day and gain access to Hitachi’s industry expertise and global network of investors and commercial partners.

Partnering with Hitachi Construction Machinery and Founders Factory to drive disruptive innovation and build a sustainable future. 　

Hitachi Construction Machinery Ｘ Founders Factory

Applications open　 Pitch & Demo Day: 16th April 2026 • Brisbane

Apply now

Themes

We are seeking innovative solutions related to the themes below

SMARTER MACHINES

How can Hitachi Construction Machinery enable zero-human entry mine sites　 that are safer, more efficient, and lower impact – across today’s mines and future environments like space or the ocean?

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SMARTER MACHINES

SMARTER MINE SITES

How can Hitachi Construction Machinery use data and automation to make mine sites safer, more productive and predictable — and connect operations all the way through the “pit-to-port” value chain?

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SMARTER MINE SITES

LOW IMPACT & SUSTAINABLE MINING

How can Hitachi Construction Machinery help customers minimize impact on sustainability throughout the mining value chain and mine site’s lifecycle, and unlock more value from sustainability?

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LOW IMPACT & SUSTAINABLE MINING

Startup Opportunities

Apply to the challenge and unlock commercial and investment opportunities with Hitachi Construction Machinery and Founders Factory

Access Hitachi Construction Machinery Senior Team

Engage directly with Hitachi Construction Machinery’s senior leadership and professionals — experts in mining, innovation, and industrial transformation. Receive valuable insights, feedback, and potential partnership opportunities to accelerate the impact of your technology.

Access Hitachi Construction Machinery Senior Team

Pilots & Commercial Opportunities

Turn your innovation into action. Selected startups will have the chance to explore pilot programs and commercial collaborations with HCM and its industrial partners, bringing breakthrough mining technologies to life.

Pilots & Commercial Opportunities

Join a Global Network

Connect with a worldwide community of mining innovators, investors, and strategic partners through the Founders Factory and Hitachi Construction Machinery’s global ecosystem. Expand your reach and build relationships that drive long-term growth.

Join a Global Network

Deals & Perks

Gain access to Founders Factory’s hand-picked deals, discounts and benefits with leading software and service providers, worth $350,000.

Deals & Perks

Startup Profile & Selection Criteria

You are a startup:
✔ With a ready-to-test solution (TRL 7-9)
✔ Based anywhere in the world
✔ Addressing a challenge in the mining industry (B2B) and one of the above-mentioned verticals
✔ And the potential to operate and scale the solution globally

The jury will consider:
✔ The business potential and strategic alignment with Hitachi Construction Machinery
✔ The clients, projects and uses-cases track record
✔ The maturity of the application
✔ The experience of the founding team and articulation of how the solution responds to the challenge in a innovative and sustainable way

What’s next?

1

Apply

Fill in the application from before January 20th
2

Pitch

Selected startups will pitch to a panel including executives from Hitachi Construction Machinery and Partners, in Brisbane, Australia on April 16, 2026
3

Engage

Winning startups will have a chance to co-exhibit with Hitachi Construction Machinery at an industry exhibition, a chance to conduct a paid pilot, and/or be invested.
4

Scale

Successful pilots will have the opportunity to scale across Hitachi Construction Machinery

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