Creative Tech Shibuya 2026 was a five-day initiative designed to support overseas startups in the creative tech sector in expanding into the Japanese market, organized by Shibuya Startup Support (SSS).
(Photo: Shibuya City)
Creative Tech Shibuya 2026 brought together ten startups from Europe, North America, and Asia; with advanced technologies across creative domains such as AI, art, XR, creative tools, and entertainment tech.
Black Flow Reality (USA/Japan): XR / AI / Immersive Media
A studio developing immersive media experiences that combine XR and AI. It explores new experience design across diverse fields including gaming, social experiences, and healthcare.
Brainspoke Inc. (USA): Health Tech / Mental Wellness / AI
A mental wellness technology company that supports stress and anxiety management. It aims to improve well-being through a human-centered approach to technology.
Couzin Films (Canada): Immersive Media / VR / Storytelling
An immersive storytelling studio expanding the possibilities of documentary expression. It develops location-based VR documentary works, such as their grief-processing experience Traces.
Darewalk (South Korea): Generative AI / Marketing Tech / SaaS
A next-generation SaaS that leverages generative AI to automate advertising production and creator marketing. It provides an environment where both brands and creators can efficiently execute marketing strategies.
Happaning (UK): AI / Entertainment Tech / Video Platform
A video platform that uses AI to transform real moments into immersive shared experiences. It aims to create new ways to connect fans with live events such as music and sports.
Inkjourney (Luxembourg): Creative Platform / Publishing Tech / Story IP
A creative publishing platform that integrates writing, reading, and publishing. It aims to build a new content ecosystem centered on story IP and narratives.
PHONT (Germany): AI / Creative Tools / Media Tech
A creative tech company that redesigns subtitles as a visual storytelling element. Its AI analyzes audio and emotions to generate dynamic subtitles similar to manga-style expressions.
REALDRAW (South Korea): AI / Creative Tools / Webtoon Tech
A creative platform that innovates the webtoon production process using AI and 3D technology, providing a new environment for next-generation digital comic creation.
Renraku Dynamics (Canada): AI / Conversational AI / Tourism & Healthcare Tech
A company developing AI companions capable of natural, human-like conversation. It provides technology that enhances customer experience and well-being in tourism and healthcare sectors.
Shisa.AI (Japan): AI / LLM / Open Source
A next-generation AI startup developing open-source LLMs specialized for the Japanese language. It aims to build an AI foundation that combines cutting-edge technology with a deep understanding of the Japanese market.
The participating companies joined the program with the goal of expanding into the Japanese market and building partnerships. Throughout the program, they engaged with Japanese companies and investors through pitches, exhibitions, and mentoring sessions.
On the first day, a kickoff session was held at SHIBUYA BRIDGE, the hub of SSS.
The session began with an overview of the program by SSS, followed by self-introductions from participating startups. As each company shared its business and interest in the Japanese market, interaction among participants quickly became active, which naturally fostered an environment where startups could learn from one another.
(Photo: Shibuya City)
The workshop focused on entering the Japanese market included an introduction by SSS on the startup visa system and the business environment in Japan. It also featured a talk session with Raven Gao, CEO of Mewtant, and Yoshiro Tasaka from SSS, and a Q&A session.
Mewtant is a Shibuya-based startup operating PixAI, an anime character generation platform with over 2 million monthly visitors.
Practical insights based on real experiences covered Japan’s business culture, decision-making processes, and the challenges faced by overseas startups provided participants with a real opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Japanese market.
A welcome party concluded the first day. In a casual atmosphere, conversations flowed easily, and the event provided valuable time for startups to build networks with one another.
The second day began with 1-on-1 mentoring sessions with VCs and CVCs.
A total of eight investors, including independent venture capital firms in Japan and CVCs from domestic entertainment companies, held individual meetings and gave concrete feedback on participant’s business strategies and potential expansion in the Japanese market.
In addition to discussions on business content, practical advice was also provided on pitch materials and presentation methods. In some cases, follow-up meetings were arranged with VCs for potential investment consideration.
(Photo: Shibuya City)
Following the mentoring sessions, a networking lunch was held for investors and startups.
Many participants continued discussions from earlier, and additional meetings were arranged, with both VCs and startups demonstrating strong engagement.
Next, the Shochiku Ventures Meetup was held at EIGHT, an entertainment-focused incubation hub operated by Shochiku Ventures.
At this event, the participating startups pitched their businesses to Japanese entertainment companies and industry stakeholders.
The use of XR and AI in creative tech attracted significant interest from attendees, creating opportunities to build connections with the Japanese entertainment industry.
(Photo: Shibuya City)
Later in the program, participants joined the ‘Thursday Gathering’ held at CIC Tokyo, a startup hub in Toranomon. Hosted by Venture Café Tokyo, the event brings together a diverse group of participants including startups, investors, corporations, and researchers.
(Photo: Shibuya City)
During the first two days of Creative Tech Shibuya 2026, numerous connections were created between participating startups and Japanese investors and companies through the kickoff session, market entry workshop, VC mentoring, and collaboration events.
Follow-up meetings for potential investment were already being arranged, demonstrating the creation of concrete business opportunities and early progress in discussions toward entering the Japanese market.
In the next article we will introduce the latter half of the program, where startups took part in DIG SHIBUYA 2026 to present their technologies and services to a broader audience through stage pitches and exhibitions.
SSS will continue to share updates on future events, seminars, and international collaboration initiatives through its official website and social media channels. Please follow us to stay updated.
Shibuya Startup Support:https://www.shibuya-startup-support.jp/ja
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/shibuya-startup-support/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/shibuya.startup.support
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