TechCrunch is partnering with SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, Asia’s largest global innovation conference, to be held at Tokyo Big Sight from April 27-29. And we don’t just show up to cover it. Our very own Startup Battlefield program manager, Isabelle Johannessen, will be on site as a judge for the conference’s flagship global pitch competition, the SusHi Tech Challenge.
For the winners, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Winners of the SusHi Tech Challenge Grand Prize will be automatically entered into the TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield Top 200 and will be eligible to pitch on one of the startup world’s most coveted stages.
What is SusHi Tech Tokyo?
Now in its fourth year, SusHi Tech Tokyo (short for Sustainable High City Tech Tokyo) has grown to become Asia’s largest innovation conference, attracting startups, investors, corporate partners, and city leaders from around the world. This year is the biggest ever, with 750 startups from 60 countries exhibiting, more than 10,000 business conferences, and 60,000 attendees expected over the three days.
The conference is hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government with a clear mission: to bring together the world’s best innovators to build sustainable cities of the future.
At the expo, 62 corporate partners including Sony, Google, Microsoft and Mizuho are hosting reverse pitches and actively seeking startup collaborators, making it as much a live deal market as a conference. And our program reflects that ambition.
Four Frontier Domains
SusHi Tech 2026 focuses on four technology areas that are reshaping society: AI, robotics, resilience, and entertainment. Expect live demos of humanoid robots, sessions on the software revolution in self-driving cars, deep dives into cyber defense and climate technology, and candid conversations about how AI 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. Approximately 60% of the speakers are from outside Japan, and approximately half are women.
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October 13-15, 2026
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SusHi Technology Challenge
The pitch contest received 820 entries from 60 countries and regions. The breakdown was 437 from overseas and 383 from Japan. 20 semi-finalists will compete on April 27th, seven finalists will advance to the finals on April 28th, and one grand prize winner will win JPY 10 million in prize money and automatic entry into the TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield Top 200.
beyond the stage
Conferences take place far beyond the convention floor. From Los Angeles to Nairobi to Singapore, city leaders from 49 cities across five continents are convening at the G-NETS Leaders Summit to strengthen concrete commitments on climate resilience and urban sustainability. At the expo site, 62 corporate partners including Sony, Google, Microsoft, and Mizuho are hosting reverse pitches and actively seeking startup collaborators.
This being Tokyo, the experience doesn’t end at 6pm. Classical music performances by La Folle Journée, a waterfront cruise along Tokyo Bay, and the Tokyo Innovation Night Networking Series round out the program.
Download the app before you go
The SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 official app is your control tower on the ground. Before you arrive, AI-powered matching will recommend the right startups, investors, and partners to contact, and you can pre-book meeting rooms. On-site, GPS floor maps, QR business card exchange, and real-time push notifications provide location information throughout the vast Tokyo Big Sight venue. Download for iOS or Android.
SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 will be held at Tokyo Big Sight from April 27th to 29th. Business days are April 27th and 28th. The public opening day (free admission) is April 29th.
