TechCrunch Partners with SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026: A Global Innovation Extravaganza
TechCrunch is partnering with SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, Asia’s largest global innovation conference, taking place April 27-29 at Tokyo Big Sight. And we’re not just covering the event: our very own Startup Battlefield Program Manager, Isabelle Johannessen, will be on the ground as a judge for the SusHi Tech Challenge, the conference’s flagship global pitch competition.
For an exceptional team, the opportunity goes beyond the competition itself: a TechCrunch editor will select a notable startup from among the semi-finalists to advance to the TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield 200 — a launchpad to one of the industry’s most prestigious stages.
Image credits:Kimberly White/Getty Images
What is SusHi Tech Tokyo?
Now in its fourth year, SusHi Tech Tokyo — short for Theirsustainable High City Tech Tokyo has become the largest innovation conference in Asia, attracting startups, investors, corporate partners and civic leaders from around the world. This year’s edition is the largest to date: 750 startup exhibitors from 60 countries, more than 10,000 business meetings facilitated and 60,000 participants expected over three days.
The conference is organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government with a clear mission: to bring together the world’s best innovators to build the sustainable cities of the future.
At the expo site, 62 partner companies, including Sony, Google, Microsoft and Mizuho, are hosting reverse presentations and actively seeking startup collaborators, making it as much a live trading market as a conference. And the programming reflects this ambition.
Four Areas at the Frontier
SusHi Tech 2026 focuses on four technology areas that are reshaping society: AI, robotics, resilience and entertainment. Expect live demonstrations of humanoid robots, sessions on the autonomous driving software revolution, 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, among others. About 60% of speakers come from outside Japan and about half are women.
Techcrunch event
San Francisco, California
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October 13-15, 2026
Image credits:SusHi Tech Tokyo (opens in a new window) / SusHi Tech Tokyo (opens in a new window)
Are you going to be in Tokyo? Don’t miss it. Buy your tickets here.
The SusHi Tech Challenge
The competition attracted 820 entries from 60 countries and regions – 437 international and 383 Japanese. Twenty semi-finalists will take the stage on April 27, with seven advancing to the final on April 28. Alongside the ¥10,000,000 Grand Prize, TechCrunch will select a semi-finalist to qualify for the Startup Battlefield 200 at Disrupt.
Beyond the Stage
The conference extends well beyond the congress. Leaders from 55 cities across five continents – from Los Angeles to Nairobi to Singapore – are coming together for the G-NETS Leaders Summit to forge concrete commitments on climate resilience and urban sustainability. At the exhibition site, 62 partner companies, including Sony, Google, Microsoft and Mizuho, are holding reverse presentations and actively looking for startup collaborators.
And because we’re in Tokyo, the experience doesn’t stop at 6 p.m.: La Folle Journee’s classical music performances, waterfront cruises along Tokyo Bay, and the Tokyo Innovation NIGHTs networking series round out the program.
Before You Go, Download the App
The official SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 app is your on-field command center. Even before you arrive, AI-powered matchmaking recommends suitable startups, investors and partners to connect with – and lets you reserve meeting rooms in advance. On site, a GPS map, QR business card exchange and real-time push notifications help you find your way around the vast Tokyo Big Sight site. Download for iOS or Android.
SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 will take place from April 27 to 29 at Tokyo Big Sight. Business days are April 27-28; The public day (free entry) is April 29.
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