TechCrunch partners with SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026Asia’s largest global innovation conference, taking place April 27–29 at Tokyo Big Sight. And we’re not just showing up to cover it – our very own Startup Battlefield Program Manager, Isabelle Johannessen, will be on the ground as a judge for the SusHi Tech Challenge, the conference’s premier global competition.
For the winner, the stakes couldn’t be higher: The recipient of the SusHi Tech Challenge Grand Prix will be automatically entered into the TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield Top 200 — making them eligible to compete on one of the most coveted stages in the startup world.
What is SusHi Tech Tokyo?
Now in its fourth year, SusHi Tech Tokyo — short for Susviability High City Tech Tokyo — has grown into the largest innovation conference in Asia, attracting startups, investors, corporate partners and city leaders from around the world. This year’s edition is the biggest yet: 750 startup exhibitors from 60 countries, more than 10,000 facilitated business meetings and an expected 60,000 attendees over three days.
The conference is organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government with a clear mission: to bring together the world’s best innovators to build the sustainable cities of the future.
On the show floor, 62 corporate partners — including Sony, Google, Microsoft and Mizuho — are hosting reverse pitches and actively seeking startup partners, making the market as much a live trade as a conference. And the programming reflects that ambition.
Four sectors on the border
SusHi Tech 2026 targets four technology sectors that are reshaping society: AI, Robotics, Resilience and Entertainment. Expect live demonstrations of humanoid robots, sessions on the self-driving software revolution, deep dives into cyber defense and climate technology, and candid discussions about how artificial intelligence is rewriting the global music and anime industries.
Speakers include Howard Wright (Nvidia), Rob Chu (AWS), Eva Chen (Trend Micro), Qasar Younis (Applied Intuition), Christine Tsai (500 Global), Kathy Matsui (MPower Partners), and Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, among many others. About 60% of the speakers are from outside of Japan, and about half are women.
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13-15 October 2026
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The SusHi Tech Challenge
The pitch competition drew 820 applications from 60 countries and regions — 437 international, 383 Japanese. Twenty semi-finalists compete on April 27, seven finalists advance to the final on April 28, and one Grand Prix winner receives ¥10,000,000 and automatic entry into the TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield Top 200.
Beyond the stage
The conference extends far beyond the conference floor. City leaders from 49 cities on five continents—from Los Angeles to Nairobi to Singapore—are convening for the G-NETS Leaders Summit to make concrete commitments to climate resilience and urban sustainability. On the exhibition floor, 62 corporate partners, including Sony, Google, Microsoft and Mizuho, are hosting back-to-back presentations and actively seeking startup partners.
And because this is Tokyo, the experience doesn’t stop at 6 p.m.: Classical music performances by La Folle Journée, beach cruises along Tokyo Bay and the Tokyo Innovation NIGHTs networking series round out the schedule.
Before you go, download the app
The official Official app of SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 it is your command center on the ground. Before you even arrive, AI-powered matchmaking suggests the right startups, investors and partners to connect with — and lets you book meeting rooms in advance. On-site, a GPS floor map, QR business card exchange and real-time push notifications keep you oriented in Tokyo Big Sight’s vast space. Download for iOS or Android.
SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 will run April 27-29 at Tokyo Big Sight. Working days are April 27-28. Public Day (Entrance free) is April 29.
