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Shibuya Startup Support (SSS) attended SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, one of Asia’s largest global innovation conferences, held at Tokyo Big Sight from April 27 to April 29.
This year, in addition to participating in pitch sessions, panel discussions, and exhibitions featuring SSS-supported startups, SSS also hosted the official side event Hack the Future in collaboration with Shibuya City and the Shibuya Creative Tech Consortium. Throughout the conference, SSS showcased Shibuya’s startup ecosystem initiatives and strengthened connections with startups and ecosystem partners from around the world.
SusHi Tech Tokyo (Sustainable High City Tech Tokyo) is an international conference designed to create socially and economically impactful open innovation by bringing together technologies and ideas that address global challenges.
Now in its fourth year, the event is built around the mission of realizing sustainable cities through advanced technology. SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 was held on its largest scale to date, welcoming attendees representing business, government, and academia from across the globe.
On the opening day, April 27, the special keynote session Expectations for Startups Driving Transformation and Growth featured Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike alongside Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi as special guests. Their appearance highlighted the alignment between the Tokyo and national governments in promoting startup-driven innovation policies.
During the conference, SSS hosted the panel session The Reality of Building a Startup in Japan.
The discussion focused on three key themes: expectations vs. reality, ecosystem and fundraising, and adapting to Japanese business culture. International founders operating in Japan shared candid insights based on their firsthand experiences.
Bilal Kharouni of ekei labs and Shakhboz Khayrilloev of Logistical spoke about how participating in accelerator programs in Japan helped them with customer acquisition, network building, and fundraising opportunities.
At the same time, the speakers openly discussed some of the challenges they encountered, such as the relatively long decision-making process among Japanese VCs, and the importance of building trust-based relationships in Japanese business culture.
The panel also emphasized the value of having Japanese team members who understand local cultural nuances and business customs, especially when scaling operations within the Japanese market.
Overall, the session delivered a practical and realistic message: while Japan is not necessarily an easy market to navigate, it offers significant growth opportunities for startups that are able to adapt effectively.
Throughout SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, several startups supported by SSS participated in pitch sessions, panels, and programs, sharing their visions and innovations with global audiences.
Olaf de Swart, Founder of SolarDuck, joined the Japan Regional Reverse Pitch & Global Startup Showcase organized by CIC Japan, where he introduced their floating solar energy technology.
Taiki Nakamura, CEO of Parakeet, presented new possibilities for urban experiences that combine entertainment and technology in the Japan Stage Entertainment Tech, Assemble! The Innovators Bringing Joy and Convenience to City Life,
Nana Aizawa of iiba joined the Wind Stage Startups Reframing Women's Self-Realization, discussing themes related to wellbeing, decision-making, and self-empowerment.
Anna Kreshchenko, CEO of Flora, discussed how data and AI can improve accessibility in healthcare in Advancing Healthcare with Data and AI.
Marina Ishikawa of SORA Technology appeared in Africa Innovation Frontier, presenting the company’s malaria prevention initiatives in Kenya utilizing satellite data, drones, and AI.
From climatetech and entertainment to femtech and global healthcare, startups across a wide range of sectors shared innovative approaches to addressing social challenges.
SSS also had a booth at the venue to introduce its programs to a broader audience, welcoming international startups considering expansion into Japan, investors, and public sector representatives seeking insights into Japan’s startup ecosystem and Shibuya City’s startup support initiatives.
In addition, S-Startups certified companies also showcased their products and solutions at the venue, engaging directly with visitors from both Japan and overseas.
Participating in a large-scale international conference like SusHi Tech Tokyo once again demonstrated the importance of global networking and cross-border collaboration opportunities within the startup ecosystem.
On April 28, SSS hosted the official SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 side event Hack the Future at Dragon Gate.
Centered around the theme of ‘Internet Security in the AI Era,’ the event featured a panel discussion and networking meetup with three globally active cybersecurity startups. Featured companies included Persona, a unicorn startup in the KYC space; Corgi Labs, a Y Combinator-backed company specializing in payment security; and ECQ, a startup focused on offensive cybersecurity.
The panel discussion explored how AI is reshaping internet security, as well as the evolving balance between cyberattacks and defense strategies in the age of AI. ECQ also conducted a hacking demonstration live on stage.
The event was further supported by a wide range of community and ecosystem partners, including UTokyo IPC, OIST, Digital Garage, the cities of Sapporo, Kobe, and Yokohama, Third Derivative, Foster Bridge, Bethnal Green Ventures, Carve Startup Labs, Nordic Innovation House Tokyo, and ACE Singapore (Action Community for Entrepreneurships).
Around 180 participants attended, creating an energetic and highly engaged atmosphere throughout the evening.
At SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, SSS deepened its engagement with the global startup ecosystem through multiple initiatives, including startup pitches, panel discussions, booth exhibitions, and the organization of an official partner event.
As SusHi Tech Tokyo continues to expand in both scale and international reach each year, its role as a bridge between Japan and the global startup ecosystem is becoming increasingly significant. SSS will continue supporting international startups entering the Japanese market through participation in major domestic and global events while further strengthening international collaboration within the startup ecosystem centered around Shibuya City.
Shibuya Startup Support：https://www.shibuya-startup-support.jp/ja
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