Major Tech Publication Partners with Asia’s Largest Innovation Conference in Tokyo

A leading technology media outlet has announced its partnership with SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, Asia’s premier global innovation conference, scheduled for April 27-29 at Tokyo Big Sight. The collaboration goes beyond traditional media coverage, with the publication’s startup program manager, Isabelle Johannessen, serving as a judge for the SusHi Tech Challenge, the event’s flagship pitch competition.

The partnership offers unprecedented opportunities for emerging companies, as the SusHi Tech Challenge Grand Prix winner will receive automatic entry into the media company’s prestigious Startup Battlefield Top 200, granting access to one of the startup ecosystem’s most sought-after platforms.

Entering its fourth year, SusHi Tech Tokyo has established itself as Asia’s largest innovation gathering. The conference name derives from Sustainable High City Tech Tokyo, reflecting its focus on urban innovation and sustainability. This year’s event promises to be the most ambitious yet, featuring 750 startup exhibitors from 60 countries, over 10,000 facilitated business meetings, and an anticipated 60,000 attendees over three days.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government organizes the conference with a focused mission: connecting global innovators to develop sustainable urban solutions for the future. The event serves as both a knowledge-sharing platform and an active marketplace for business development.

The expo floor hosts 62 corporate partners, including Sony, Google, Microsoft, and Mizuho, who conduct reverse pitches while actively seeking startup partnerships. This structure transforms the conference into a dynamic dealmaking environment alongside its educational programming.

SusHi Tech 2026 concentrates on four critical technology sectors reshaping modern society: Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Resilience, and Entertainment. Attendees can expect live demonstrations of humanoid robots, discussions on autonomous vehicle software developments, comprehensive explorations of cybersecurity and climate technology, and frank conversations about AI’s impact on global music and animation industries.

The speaker lineup includes notable industry figures such as Howard Wright from Nvidia, Eva Chen from Trend Micro, Qasar Younis from Applied Intuition, Christine Tsai from 500 Global, Kathy Matsui from MPower Partners, and Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike. The conference maintains strong international representation, with approximately 60% of speakers coming from outside Japan and roughly half being women.

The pitch competition attracted 820 applications from 60 countries and regions, split between 437 international and 383 Japanese submissions. The competition structure includes twenty semifinalists competing on April 27, seven finalists advancing to the final round on April 28, and one Grand Prix winner receiving ¥10,000,000 plus automatic entry into the Startup Battlefield Top 200.

Beyond the main conference activities, the event extends into broader urban leadership discussions. City representatives from 49 cities across five continents, spanning from Los Angeles to Nairobi to Singapore, will participate in the G-NETS Leaders Summit to establish concrete commitments regarding climate resilience and urban sustainability initiatives.

The conference experience extends beyond traditional business hours, incorporating Tokyo’s cultural offerings. Evening programming includes classical music performances from La Folle Journée, waterfront cruises along Tokyo Bay, and the Tokyo Innovation NIGHTs networking series, providing diverse opportunities for relationship building.

Event organizers have developed a comprehensive mobile application serving as the primary coordination tool for attendees. The app features AI-powered matching technology that recommends relevant startups, investors, and partners for networking before arrival, while enabling advance meeting room bookings. On-site functionality includes GPS floor mapping, QR code business card exchange, and real-time push notifications to help navigate the extensive Tokyo Big Sight venue.

SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 takes place April 27-29 at Tokyo Big Sight, with business-focused programming on April 27-28 and a free public day on April 29.