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Takeoff Tokyo 2026 was held on March 31 and April 1, 2026, at Tokyo Big Sight.
Shibuya Startup Support (SSS) once again participated in the event as a community partner. Through startup exhibitions and speaking opportunities alongside ecosystem partners, SSS supported the international growth of Tokyo’s startup ecosystem and helped connect startups with investors, corporations, and ecosystem builders from Japan and abroad.
Takeoff Tokyo is one of Asia’s largest startup conferences and has been held annually in Tokyo since 2023.
Built around organizer Antti Sonninen’s concept of creating “an international terminal for founders with global ambition,” the event brings together founders, investors, corporations, and ecosystem leaders from around the world. The conference focuses on fundraising, hiring, business partnerships, and open innovation opportunities.
Despite difficult weather conditions this year, the venue attracted entrepreneurs and investors from a wide range of backgrounds and industries. Startups working in AI, robotics, foodtech, and other sectors exhibited throughout the two-day event, creating opportunities for conversations that crossed traditional industry boundaries.
Another notable aspect of this year’s conference was the strong involvement of student volunteers, highlighting growing engagement from the next generation of founders and ecosystem contributors.
The following startups supported by SSS participated in this year’s event:
A startup focused on solving industrial and operational challenges through advanced technology solutions. The company specializes in automation, operational efficiency, and scalable digital infrastructure.
A fintech startup streamlining financial operations for businesses. Palance develops infrastructure that simplifies payments, fund management, and corporate financial workflows.
A pet-tech company providing digital services for pet owners. By utilizing data and mobile technologies, Pocketpet supports pet health management and daily care.
A healthtech startup working to improve access to healthcare. Through its digital platform, the company focuses on patient engagement and preventive healthcare initiatives.
A platform that centralizes multiple communication channels into a single interface, helping companies improve customer communication and operational efficiency.
A technology company using AI, drones, and data analytics to address global challenges related to climate change, disaster response, and public health. The company has particular experience in deployment projects across emerging markets.
These six startups, operating across different sectors, joined the event to expand connections with investors, corporations, and ecosystem stakeholders from Japan and overseas.
Throughout the conference, startups held discussions with booth visitors, investors, and ecosystem builders, while also increasing visibility for startups connected to Shibuya’s startup community. In many cases, being “a startup based in Shibuya” itself became a conversation starter with international attendees.
One of the central programs at Takeoff Tokyo 2026 was the startup pitch contest, which featured 50 participants.
Each team delivered a four-minute presentation covering its business model, vision, and growth strategy to a panel of investors. Following the Day 1 selection round, six startups advanced to the finals. Among them was OneInbox, one of the startups supported by SSS.
OneInbox provides an AI voice agent platform tailored for the real estate industry. Its solution automates property inquiry handling, outbound sales calls, and property viewing reservations without requiring coding knowledge, while operating 24/7.
The platform currently supports more than 70 languages, allowing real estate businesses to respond to inquiries from both domestic and international customers more efficiently.
The grand prize winner was VanaM, a deep-tech startup from South Korea. The company develops lens anti-fogging and thermal management solutions for imaging and semiconductor applications using proprietary energy-responsive nano thin-film technology.
In addition, UNCHAIN, an AI security startup led by 20-year-old founder Sunwoo Park, received special recognition as a young visionary company.
Members of the SSS community who attended Takeoff Tokyo 2026 shared several impressions from the event:
“The quality of founders and conversations was very high. People were focused on execution and building businesses, not just networking.”
“It’s rare to find an event that combines global ambition with strong support for the local ecosystem. Even while staying in Tokyo, you could feel the speed of the global startup industry.”
Another notable trend throughout the conference was the widespread integration of AI technologies across nearly all participating startups. Rather than being treated as a buzzword, AI was increasingly positioned as a practical and operational part of products and services.
Takeoff Tokyo 2026 brought together startups, investors, corporations, and ecosystem leaders across industries, generations, and nationalities to highlight the growing international presence of Tokyo’s startup ecosystem.
Several startups supported by SSS exhibited at the event, and OneInbox being selected as a finalist in the pitch contest; demonstrating how startups connected to the Shibuya ecosystem are gaining visibility in international startup environments.
SSS will continue supporting overseas startups entering the Japanese market while helping build international connections through the startup ecosystem centered around Shibuya. If you are interested in the Shibuya startup ecosystem, startup visa programs, or collaboration opportunities in Japan, please feel free to contact us. We also share updates about upcoming events and programs through our social media channels.
Shibuya Startup Support：https://shibuya-startup-support.jp/
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