The Rise of Asia's Largest Innovation Conference: SusHi Tech Tokyo
As the world continues to grapple with the complexities of sustainable development, the city of Tokyo has emerged as a beacon of innovation and forward thinking. This April, the city will host SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, Asia’s largest global innovation conference, which promises to bring together the world’s best innovators to shape the future of sustainable cities.
The conference, now in its fourth year, has grown exponentially, drawing startups, investors, corporate partners, and city leaders from around the world. This year’s edition boasts an impressive 750 startup exhibitors from 60 countries, over 10,000 facilitated business meetings, and an expected 60,000 attendees across three days.
At the heart of SusHi Tech Tokyo is the SusHi Tech Challenge, a global pitch competition that pits the most promising startups against each other. The stakes are high: the Grand Prix winner will receive ¥10,000,000 and automatic entry into the TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield Top 200. This year’s challenge has drawn an impressive 820 applications from 60 countries and regions.
The conference is not just about pitching; it’s also a platform for corporate partners to connect with startups and forge meaningful partnerships. With 62 corporate partners, including Sony, Google, Microsoft, and Mizuho, hosting reverse pitches and actively seeking startup collaborators, the expo floor has become a live dealmaking marketplace.
SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 is zeroing in on four technology domains that are reshaping society: AI, Robotics, Resilience, and Entertainment. Expect live demos of humanoid robots, sessions on autonomous driving’s software revolution, deep dives into cyber defense and climate tech, and candid conversations about how AI is rewriting the global music and anime industries.
The conference has also attracted an impressive lineup of speakers, including 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 many others. Roughly 60% of the speakers come from outside Japan, and approximately half are women.
As the conference takes place at Tokyo Big Sight, attendees can look forward to a range of activities beyond the convention floor. City leaders from 49 cities across five continents will convene for the G-NETS Leaders Summit to forge concrete commitments on climate resilience and urban sustainability. The official SusHi Tech Tokyo app will also provide attendees with AI-powered matching recommendations, GPS floor maps, QR business card exchange, and real-time push notifications.
SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 runs from April 27-29 at Tokyo Big Sight. Business days are April 27-28, while Public Day (free admission) is on April 29. Don’t miss this opportunity to shape the future of sustainable cities – get your tickets now!