What SusHi Tech Tokyo does

SusHi Tech Tokyo is a Tokyo Metropolitan Government-organized annual innovation conference held at Tokyo Big Sight over three days (two Business Days and one Public Day). The platform connects startups, venture capitalists, large corporations, national and municipal governments, universities, and the general public around the theme of "Sustainable High City Tech" (sustainable urban solutions powered by advanced technology), with the 2026 edition targeting 700 exhibiting startups, 10,000 business meetings, and 60,000 participants. Core program components include startup booth exhibitions (¥250,000 per booth for 3 days), the SusHi Tech Challenge pitch contest with a ¥10 million Grand Prize, business matching, themed sessions across AI, Robotics, Resilience, and Entertainment, and city-partner pavilions representing 25 countries, regions, and cities.

The event's commercial offering is built around a multi-tier ticket structure (VIP ¥100,000, General ¥20,000 with a 30% early-bird discount, Student ¥2,000, and free Public Day), corporate partnership packages (47 corporate partners in 2025), city-partner exhibition fees (full/half-pavilion formats), and ambassador/partner-event co-marketing. The official mobile app (iOS and Android) was substantially renewed for 2026 with three proprietary features: an AI Navigator for session and exhibitor discovery, an AI-enhanced Business Matching function connecting startups with investors and corporations, and a GPS-enabled venue map.

SusHi Tech Tokyo is co-organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Startup Strategy Promotion Headquarters together with Keidanren, Keizai Doyukai, the Japan Association of New Economy (JANE), the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Startup Ecosystem Association. Day-to-day secretariat operations are outsourced to EY Strategy and Consulting, Dentsu Live (which also handles ticket sales), and Plug and Play Japan. The conference originated as the City-Tech Tokyo initiative (2023), was rebranded as SusHi Tech Tokyo, and has scaled annually, with the 2027 edition already announced (May 20-22, 2027).

Name

SusHi Tech Tokyo

Legal name

SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026実行委員会

Website

https://sushitech-startup.metro.tokyo.lg.jp

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

SusHi Tech Tokyo is a Tokyo Metropolitan Government-organized annual innovation conference at Tokyo Big Sight that connects startups, investors, corporations, and city governments around sustainable urban technology, featuring a ¥10M pitch contest, business matching, and an AI-enabled official app.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation Conference and Startup Ecosystem Platform

akta.pro primary industry

Technology & Innovation Expos Organizers (THAHABAE)

Keywords

• Innovation conference
• Startup ecosystem platform
• Pitch contest events
• Business matching service
• Government innovation program

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: The event sells multiple tiers of tickets: VIP (¥100,000), General (¥20,000), Student (¥2,000), with a Public Day free of charge. Business Day is English-primary; Public Day is free and open to general public including families and students.
2. Startup Booth Exhibition Fees: Startups pay an exhibition fee of ¥250,000 for a 3-day booth at Tokyo Big Sight, which includes venue usage, basic frame, display table, chairs, panel hooks, electrical outlet, and company name panel. Companies passing the second round of the pitch contest evaluation are exempt from this fee.
3. Corporate Partnership Programs: Corporate partners pay to participate and gain logo placement on official websites, pavilion/booth exhibition options, and various GTM benefits. Applications close January 31, 2026.
4. City Partner Exhibition Fees: Countries, regions, or cities (city partners) pay to exhibit at the event, either as full pavilions, half pavilions, or joint exhibitions with multiple startups from their ecosystem.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

SusHi Tech Tokyo is an annual global innovation conference organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government that convenes startups, investors, corporations, governments, and researchers to showcase technology solutions to urban challenges. The conference features exhibition booths, a pitch contest (SusHi Tech Challenge), the SusHi Tech Award, a Business Matching Program, and AI-powered mobile app services for networking and navigation.

Product overview

SusHi Tech Tokyo is an annual Asia-largest global innovation conference organized by Tokyo Metropolitan Government and partner organizations. The core offering consists of the SusHi Tech Challenge pitch contest (with 10 million yen grand prize), exhibition spaces for startups (700+ exhibitors), business matching programs, and multi-track session programs across themed stages. The official SusHi Tech Tokyo App serves as the primary digital platform providing AI-powered navigation, business matching functionality, and GPS venue mapping. Additional experiences include partner events, public day activities, and special programs like Roof Park Fes & Walk.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SusHi Tech Tokyo Conference (Business Day) Annual global innovation conference organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government that convenes startups, investors, corporations, governments, and researchers to showcase technology solutions to urban challenges. Targeted at business stakeholders with paid ticket options.
• SusHi Tech Tokyo App Official mobile application for the SusHi Tech Tokyo conference featuring an AI Navigator for personalized recommendations and a GPS-enabled venue map to navigate exhibition booths and sessions. Available for iOS and Android.
• Business Matching Program Program that facilitates structured connections between startups, investors, and corporations during the conference, enabling deal-making, partnership formation, and investment discussions.
• SusHi Tech Challenge (Pitch Contest) Pitch contest featuring startups presenting innovative solutions to global challenges, with winners recognized through the SusHi Tech Award. Open to startups worldwide.
• SusHi Tech Award Award recognition for top startups competing in the SusHi Tech Challenge, providing visibility and prestige to winners.
• Exhibition Booths (Startup Booth) Exhibition booth space at the conference where startups and corporations can showcase their products and innovations to attendees. Available for purchase by participating companies.
• City Partner Exhibition Booths Exhibition booth space specifically for participating city governments and municipal authorities to showcase their urban innovation initiatives and connect with startups and investors.
• SusHi Tech Pavilion Dedicated pavilion space at the conference to showcase select innovations and startups as a curated highlight of the exhibition.
• Roof Park Fes & Walk 2026 Companion event to the main SusHi Tech Tokyo conference, featuring a festival and walking event that broadens community engagement and showcases urban innovation in a more accessible format.

Quantifiable outcome

• 43,000+ industry professionals attended the 2025 Business Days, generating 6,000+ business meetings.
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Tokyo Metropolitan GovernmentcoreOthersTokyo Metropolitan Government is the primary organizer and sponsor of SusHi Tech Tokyo. The Startup Strategy Promotion Headquarters, Innovation Strategy Division manages the Executive Committee and provides government authority, funding, and institutional network access.
• Keidanren (Japan Business Federation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of Japan's three major economic policy organizations (Keidanren) and a co-organizer of SusHi Tech Tokyo. Provides institutional credibility, network access to Japan's largest corporations, and helps recruit Corporate Partners.
• Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of Japan's three major economic policy organizations (Keizai Doyukai) and a co-organizer of SusHi Tech Tokyo. Contributes executive-level network and support for corporate engagement.
• JANE (Japan Association of New Economy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA co-organizer representing Japan's new economy and startup ecosystem. Connects the event with emerging companies and new economy stakeholders.
• Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and IndustrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA co-organizer providing access to Tokyo's business community, small and medium enterprises, and regional economic networks.
• Startup Ecosystem Association (Startup Ecosystem Kyokai)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA co-organizer representing the startup ecosystem community, connecting the event with incubators, accelerators, and startup support organizations.
• EY Strategy and Consulting Co., Ltd.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOne of three contracted operators (contractors) of the SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 Executive Committee secretariat. Provides strategic consulting and program management expertise for event execution. Also involved in Roof Park Fes & Walk 2026 organization.
• Dentsu Live Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOne of three contracted operators of the SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 Executive Committee. Provides event production, live marketing, and operational execution. Dentsu Live is also the ticket sales contract company (phone: 03-6216-7035).
• Plug and Play Japan Co.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOne of three contracted operators of the SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 Executive Committee. Plug and Play is a global innovation platform and accelerator, contributing startup network, ecosystem facilitation, and international connectivity.
• 47 Corporate Partner Companies (2025)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner47 major Japanese and international corporations participated as Corporate Partners at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2025. Partners receive logo placement, pavilion/booth exhibition options, and access to startup deal flow for open innovation and investment. Partners include companies across technology, manufacturing, finance, and service sectors.
• 25 Countries, Regions, and Cities as City Partners (2025)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner25 countries, regions, and cities exhibited as City Partners at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2025, promoting their national and regional startup ecosystems. Includes 35 Japanese municipalities. City Partners use pavilion/half-pavilion formats with startups from their ecosystems.
• Tokyo Consortium (Tokyo Consortium for Startup Promotion)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA consortium coordinated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to strengthen the startup ecosystem. Connected to the 'Green Startup Support' program that selected MECHANOCROSS in 2025.
• Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Tokyo Metropolitan Government startup support hub. Listed as a startup support resource on the SusHi Tech Tokyo website alongside X-HUB TOKYO and APT Women accelerator programs.
• Global City Network for Sustainability (G-NETS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn international network of cities focused on sustainability. Partnered with SusHi Tech Tokyo for cross-city knowledge sharing and global promotion of sustainable urban solutions.
• FinCity.Tokyo and Luxembourg for FinanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 featured a MoU signing ceremony between FinCity.Tokyo (Tokyo's international financial hub initiative) and Luxembourg for Finance to establish cross-border cooperation in financial innovation and startup ecosystem development.
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government Digital Services Bureau and Taipei City Government Information BureauminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA MoU signing ceremony in the digital field between Tokyo's Digital Services Bureau and Taipei's Information Bureau took place at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, promoting cross-border digital cooperation and smart city initiatives.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Slush: Slush is a major startup and tech conference held annually in Helsinki, focused on connecting European and global startups with investors and corporates. It is a direct comparable in scale, audience, and startup pitch/VC matching model.
• Web Summit: Web Summit is one of the world's largest technology conferences held in Lisbon, attracting startups, investors, corporates, and media. It is a direct comparable as a global innovation conference with startup pitch contests, business matching, and corporate partner programs.
• Tech in Asia Conference: Tech in Asia Conference is Asia's largest regional startup and tech conference, held across Southeast Asian cities. Direct comparable in target audience (Asian startups, VCs, corporates) and pitch/exhibition format, though smaller in scale.
• TechCrunch Disrupt: TechCrunch Disrupt is a premier startup conference featuring a pitch competition (Startup Battlefield), exhibitor floor, and VC networking. Direct comparable in pitch contest format, startup exhibition, and VC/investor participation.
• VivaTech: VivaTech is Europe's largest startup and tech event held annually in Paris, co-organized with public-sector partners. Direct comparable as a government-supported innovation expo with pitch contests, business matching, and international delegations.

Broad incumbents

• South by Southwest (SXSW): SXSW is a major annual conglomerate of film, interactive media, and music festivals held in Austin. Comparable as a large-scale multi-stakeholder innovation conference with startup exhibition, media coverage, and corporate partner programs.
• GITEX Global: GITEX Global is a major technology and startup exhibition held in Dubai, with strong government backing and global participation. Comparable as a government-supported innovation expo with international delegations and corporate partnerships.
• Mobile World Congress (GSMA): MWC is the world's largest mobile and connectivity industry trade show held in Barcelona. Comparable as a large-scale technology expo with global exhibitors, corporate partners, and government/city-level participation.
• CES (Consumer Technology Association): CES is the world's largest consumer electronics and technology trade show held annually in Las Vegas. It is a comparable technology/innovation expo organizer at much larger global scale, with similar mix of exhibitors, corporate partners, media coverage, and pitch/startup components.

Regional players

• Japan Innovation Campus / Startup Genome Tokyo: Tokyo-focused startup ecosystem programs and initiatives that intersect with SusHi Tech Tokyo's mission to position Tokyo as a global innovation hub. Comparable as regional ecosystem facilitation, though not a single event.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SusHiTech_SUJP
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SusHiTechTokyo_SU
• Facebookfacebook.com/SusHiTechTokyoStartup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sushi-tech-tokyo-official-account
• Instagraminstagram.com/sushi_tech_tokyo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 SusHi Tech Tokyo