Event report: HackSummit & Visit to EPFL Innovation Park

Test Kitchen (Photo: Shibuya City)

HackSummit

HackSummit is a food and climate tech-focused conference held every May in Lausanne, Switzerland. HackVentures Ltd., which runs HackSummit, is a media company focused on food tech and climate tech, as well as a micro-funding platform for startups looking to raise capital in the industry. The conference aimed to address the lack of investment in climate change-related startups, and was attended by more investors than any other conference. In addition, according to Hack Capital, a micro-funding platform operated by HackVentures Ltd., investment in climate tech startups is only meeting 16% of demand, and to meet climate change goals, at least a 590% increase as well as between $5 trillion and $7 trillion per year will be needed to fund climate tech to achieve a series of SDGs between 2015 and 2030.

There were 950 attendees, a panel discussion stage, a pitch stage for startups, networking areas, and a test kitchen at the event venue this year. Attendees tried future food products at the test kitchen. The conference attracted many startups and investors seeking to solve food and climate problems facing the world, and many were interested in expanding into Japan and our Shibuya Startup Support program.

This event was smaller than other startup conferences, allowing better connections with other attendees and focused on networking. Tables and chairs were set up throughout the venue, creating an environment facilitating conversation among participants.

Visit to EPFL Innovation Park (Photo: Shibuya City)

Visit to EPFL Innovation Park

The EPFL Innovation Park is a support organization for university startups located within EPFL, which attracts the best researchers from around the world and provides a venue for exchange between academia and business. The university itself has a strong focus on deep tech, but also supports health tech and food tech in collaboration with local ecosystem builders. In the past, they have also run programs focused on femtech with Japanese companies.

We had a meeting with Lan Zuo Gillet, Deputy Managing Director at EPFL Innovation Park together with our startup partner city, City of Kobe (Shibuya City and Kobe City have a partnership agreement to support startups).

We connected with a wide variety of local startups and entrepreneurs who were considering expanding to Japan through participation in the HackSummit and a visit to EPFL Innovation Park. In addition, we confirmed our plan to deepen co-operation with ecosystem builders and government agencies in Switzerland.

SSS will continue to strengthen ties with overseas partners to support more international startups entering Japan. If you are interested in collaborating with SSS or our Shibuya Startup Visa Program, don’t hesitate to contact us, and follow us on social media to keep up-to-date on upcoming events!

More information on Shibuya Startup Visa Program: https://shibuya-startup-support.jp/sws/

Shibuya Startup Support’s social media account:

LinkedIn：https://www.linkedin.com/company/shibuya-startup-support/

Facebook：https://www.facebook.com/shibuya.startup.support

Twitter：https://twitter.com/ShibuyaStartup

‍