The Tokyo New Business Conference

What The Tokyo New Business Conference does

The Tokyo New Business Conference (NBC / 一般社団法人東京ニュービジネス協議会) is a Tokyo-based general incorporated association (法人) founded in 1985 that supports entrepreneurs, SME owners, and growth-stage companies through peer networking, education, pitch events, and awards. The organization operates 787 corporate members across diverse industries and runs dozens of committees (Global Shift, Global Alliance, Business Succession + M&A Matching, Female Executives, Professional Group), study groups (AI Literacy, Finance, B2B Marketing), and hobby circles (golf, go, sauna, sake, motorsports). Its flagship programs include the 幹部育成塾 (Executive Development Program), the Startup Mentoring Program (SMP) pitch competition, and the IPO/M&A School. Signature awards include the IPO Award (20 editions since 2006), Manager of the Year Award, Global Award, and NBC MVP Award, with co-sponsorship from major Japanese securities firms (Nomura, Tokai Tokyo, Okasan, Kagawa, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley) and institutional support from Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, TSE, NSE, and METI. NBC is the Tokyo chapter of the national Japan New Business Conference (JNB) federation and is independently incorporated with no parent company, no shareholders, and no venture or institutional ownership.

The organization's revenue model is anchored on recurring annual membership dues paid by approximately 787 corporate members, augmented by transaction/event participation fees across Summer College, golf tournaments, seminars, and committee events. A membership fee revision approved in January 2026 for the June 2026 general meeting raises annual dues by approximately ¥24,000/year for regular members—the first fee revision in roughly 19 years. NBC distributes services through its own website and member portal (www.nbc-world.net), physical venues (NBC BASE in Akasaka, Tokyo; Or-do-du-Salon Aoyama; golf courses; hotels in Atami), and a federation network of regional chapters (Toyama NBC, Ishikawa NBC, and others). GTM is fundamentally event-driven: prospective members are acquired through SMP pitch competitions, IPO Award ceremonies, Manager of the Year awards, Global Awards, Summer College in Atami, regular seminars, committee meetings, networking study groups, new member orientation sessions (NBC no Arukikata), and word-of-mouth referrals among the existing member base. NBC does not develop technology products and has no proprietary AI or platform capability.

Name

The Tokyo New Business Conference

Legal name

人死亡社東京ニュービジネス協議会

Website

https://nbc-world.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Tokyo New Business Conference is a Tokyo-based membership association of 787 corporate members supporting Japanese entrepreneurs through committees, pitch events (SMP), executive training (幹部育成塾), IPO/M&A guidance, and multi-tier awards programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Association and Entrepreneur Networking

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional & Association Conferences (MPAGAGAB), Conferences & Conventions Operations Services (Registration, AV, Logistics) (MPAGAGAM)

Keywords

• Entrepreneur networking
• Business association
• Startup pitch events
• Executive training
• SME support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees (年会費): Annual membership fees constitute the primary revenue stream. Approximately 787 corporate members pay recurring membership dues. A fee revision was approved in January 2026 and presented at the June 2026 general meeting, raising fees by approximately ¥2,000/month (¥24,000/year), the first revision in about 19 years.
2. Event participation fees (イベント参加料): Revenue from paid events including Summer College (¥28,000–¥70,000 depending on accommodation), golf tournaments (¥5,000 participation fee), lectures, and seminars. Some events are free; others charge attendance fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Tokyo New Business Conference (NBC) is a general incorporated association operating as a membership-based entrepreneurs' organization with approximately 787 corporate members. It provides structured business networking, executive training, startup pitch competitions (SMP), IPO/M&A preparation programs, industry committees, hobby clubs, and annual award ceremonies (IPO Award, Manager of the Year, Global Award, MVP Award) for SME owners, startup founders, and executives primarily in Tokyo.

Product overview

The Tokyo New Business Conference (NBC) is a general incorporated association serving as a business networking and entrepreneurship support organization. Its core offerings include the 幹 部育成塾 executive training program for management candidates, the IPO・M＆Aスクール for exit preparation, and the スタートアップ・メンタリング・プログラム (SMP) pitch event for growth-stage companies. The organization also provides physical facilities including NBC BASE meeting spaces and NBCスタジオ for member activities. Members gain access to dozens of committees, study groups, and hobby clubs spanning business development, global expansion, entrepreneurship, finance, AI literacy, and various social activities, along with award programs including the IPO大賞, 経営者大賞, MVP賞, and グローバル大賞.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Membership (法人会員) Annual subscription membership tier for corporate entities providing access to NBC events, committees, study groups, hobby clubs, award ceremonies, and the 787-member peer network. Primary revenue stream.
• Associate Membership (副会員) Secondary annual membership tier for individuals affiliated with corporate members, providing access to NBC events and networking.
• Executive Training Program (幹部育成塾 / NBC Executive Training) A 4-month executive development program (5th cohort) for directors, executive officers, and future management candidates covering leadership, organizational management, marketing, finance, and innovation. Capacity 24 participants (minimum 16), 7 sessions from September to December 2026, with online participation available for up to 4 participants outside Tokyo. Tuition ¥168,000 (excluding tax).
• Startup Mentoring Program (SMP) A pitch competition program where growth-oriented companies present business strategies to listed company executives and receive practical feedback and mentorship. Features qualifying rounds leading to a final championship; 25th edition scheduled for October 5, 2026 with application deadline September 11, 2026.
• IPO & M&A School (IPO・M&Aスクール) An educational program focused on IPO and M&A preparation for companies aspiring to exit through listing or acquisition.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20+ years of IPO Awards with documented winners, and multiple SMP participants achieving fundraising, business partnerships, and new customer acquisition through the pitch program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• 富山ニュービジネス協議会 (Toyama New Business Conference)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Toyama NBC co-hosts events with Tokyo NBC, including a July 2026 lecture by Tokyo NBC President Aoki Masayuki in Toyama. The collaboration supports the 2027 National Convention in Toyama/Ishikawa.
• オルクドール・青山/東京 (Or-do-du-Salon Aoyama/Tokyo)coreOthers · 1 January 2026Or-do-du-Salon serves as the primary venue for NBC's SMP pitch events and other major programs. Located in Aoyama, the venue provides a professional setting for networking and pitch events.
• 公益社団法人日本ニュービジネス協議会連合会 (JNB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025NBC is the Tokyo chapter of the Japan New Business Conference (JNB), a national federation of regional new business conferences. JNB coordinates nationwide activities, shares best practices among regional chapters, and organizes the annual National Convention (全国大会). NBC's activities are closely aligned with JNB's national agenda, including entrepreneurship promotion and SME support.
• 東京証券取引所 (Tokyo Stock Exchange)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025TSE cooperates with NBC as a co-host/ supporter of the flagship 'Path from Startup to Success' (起業から成功への道) event, providing market listings expertise and IPO support visibility.
• 名古屋証券取引所 (Nagoya Stock Exchange)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Nagoya Stock Exchange cooperates with NBC as a co-host/supporter of the 'Path from Startup to Success' flagship event.
• 経済産業省/関東経済産業局 (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry / Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025METI and its Kanto Bureau provide official endorsement (後援) for NBC's flagship entrepreneurship event 'Path from Startup to Success', signaling government-level support for NBC's SME and startup promotion mission.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Toyama New Business Conference (富山NBC): Regional NBC chapter serving Toyama Prefecture, co-hosting events with Tokyo NBC and sharing the same national federation affiliation. Smaller-scale analogue of NBC that demonstrates the chapter model.
• Osaka New Business Conference (大阪NBC): The Osaka regional chapter of NBC's national federation (JNB). Operates the same pitch events (SMP), awards, and member programs as Tokyo NBC but serves Kansai-region entrepreneurs. Directly comparable in model, scale, and programming - a sibling peer within the same national network.
• Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO): EO is the leading global membership organization for entrepreneurs - founded in 1987, member-driven chapters, peer forums, learning events, and accelerator programs (EO Accelerator). EO is the most direct international analogue to NBC, sharing the same DNA: membership-based, focused on growth-stage entrepreneurs, event-heavy programming, and peer networking.

Broad incumbents

• Vistage: Vistage is the largest US peer advisory and executive coaching organization, serving CEOs and business owners through peer group meetings, one-on-one coaching, and speaker events. Comparable to NBC's committee/peer group structure and executive education programs (幹部育成塾). Vistage operates globally while NBC is Japan-focused.
• Young Presidents' Organization (YPO): YPO is the global gold standard of peer networks for CEOs and business leaders. Like NBC, it operates by invitation/selection and emphasizes peer learning, with chapters running events and member-driven programs. Unlike NBC's Japan-focused SME/startup flavor, YPO serves larger established leaders globally, but the peer-network business model is closely aligned.
• Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (東京商工会議所): Japan's largest regional business association, serving ~80,000 member companies in Tokyo. Provides policy advocacy, networking events, and business support - similar mission to NBC but at much greater scale and with broader SME focus rather than growth/entrepreneur orientation.

Others

• Japan Business Federation (Keidanren / 経団連): Japan's most influential business lobby representing large corporations. While NBC focuses on SMEs/startups with a service-delivery model, Keidanren operates at the policy advocacy scale that NBC's Policy Recommendation Committee aspires to. Both serve as convening bodies for Japanese businesses but at vastly different scales.
• Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO): Government-affiliated organization supporting Japanese companies' overseas expansion through advisory services, market research, and global network access. NBC's Global Committee/Study Tours overlap with JETRO's mission of supporting Japanese SME internationalization, though NBC is private/non-government and entrepreneur-focused rather than trade-policy focused.

Emerging players

• Peatix (peatix.com): Event management and ticketing platform widely used in Japan for community events. While Peatix is a SaaS tooling provider rather than a community organizer, it represents the digital-platform model competing with traditional in-person membership-association event delivery. Indirect overlap with NBC's event programming business.
• Startup Weekend (by Techstars): Global program of 54-hour entrepreneurship events where aspiring founders pitch and build startups. Comparable to NBC's SMP pitch events in format (pitch competition for early-stage companies), though Startup Weekend focuses on idea-stage while SMP targets growth-stage companies seeking IPO/M&A exits.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/nbc_kanto
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCywvZx7QjBiptS7s1iSha8Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/NBC.publicty
• Instagraminstagram.com/nbc_jimukyoku

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Tokyo New Business Conference