TechCrunch is heading to Tokyo — and bringing the Startup Battlefield with it
TechCrunch Partners with SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026
TechCrunch is excited to announce its partnership with SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, Asia’s largest global innovation conference. The event will take place from April 27–29 at Tokyo Big Sight. But TechCrunch isn’t just attending the event — we are deeply involved. Isabelle Johannessen, our very own Startup Battlefield program manager, will be a judge at the SusHi Tech Challenge, the conference’s flagship global pitch competition. You can learn more about the event here.
The stakes for the winner of the SusHi Tech Challenge are high. The Grand Prix recipient will secure automatic entry into the TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield Top 200, giving them the chance to pitch on one of the most prestigious stages in the startup world.
Image Credits:Kimberly White / Getty Images
Understanding SusHi Tech Tokyo
In its fourth year, SusHi Tech Tokyo, an acronym for Sustainable High Tech City Tokyo, has emerged as the largest innovation conference in Asia. The event draws startups, investors, corporate partners, and city leaders from around the globe. This year’s edition is the largest yet, boasting 750 startup exhibitors from 60 countries, over 10,000 facilitated business meetings, and an estimated 60,000 attendees across three days.
Organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the conference aims to gather the world’s best innovators to build sustainable cities of the future. On the expo floor, 62 corporate partners, including Sony, Google, Microsoft, and Mizuho, will host reverse pitches and actively seek startup collaborations, making the event a live dealmaking marketplace as much as a conference.
Key Technology Domains for SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026
SusHi Tech 2026 will focus on four technology domains transforming society: AI, Robotics, Resilience, and Entertainment. Attendees can expect live demos of humanoid robots, sessions on the software revolution in autonomous driving, deep dives into cyber defense and climate tech, and candid discussions about how AI is reshaping the global music and anime industries.
The speaker lineup includes notable figures such as Howard Wright from Nvidia, Rob Chu from AWS, Eva Chen from Trend Micro, and Tokyo’s governor Yuriko Koike, among others. Approximately 60% of the speakers come from outside Japan, and half are women, indicating the event’s global reach and inclusivity.
The SusHi Tech Challenge
The SusHi Tech Challenge attracted 820 applications from 60 countries and regions — 437 international, 383 Japanese. Twenty semifinalists will compete on April 27, with seven finalists advancing to the final on April 28. The Grand Prix winner will walk away with ¥10,000,000 and an automatic entry into the TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield Top 200.
Beyond the Stage
The conference extends beyond the convention floor. City leaders from 49 cities across five continents, including Los Angeles, Nairobi, and Singapore, will gather for the G-NETS Leaders Summit to create concrete commitments on climate resilience and urban sustainability. In addition, classical music performances, waterfront cruises along Tokyo Bay, and the Tokyo Innovation NIGHTs networking series round out the program.
The SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 Official App
The official SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 app will serve as your command center on the ground. The AI-powered app recommends the right startups, investors, and partners for you to connect with and allows you to book meeting rooms in advance. On-site, a GPS floor map, QR business card exchange, and real-time push notifications will help you navigate the sprawling Tokyo Big Sight venue. The app is available for download on iOS and Android.
SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 runs from April 27–29 at Tokyo Big Sight. Business days are April 27–28; Public Day, with free admission, is on April 29.
