SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026: Where 60,000 Attendees Come to Close Deals, Not Just Collect Business Cards

SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 Is Redefining What a Tech Conference Should Actually Be

Most people know the drill at tech conferences: book an overpriced flight, sit through repetitive panel discussions, shake a few hands, grab a stack of business cards that will quietly gather dust on your desk, and head home with nothing to show for it. SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 was engineered from the ground up to break that cycle entirely.

Scheduled for April 27–29 at Tokyo Big Sight, the event is expected to draw 60,000 attendees, feature 750 startup exhibitors, host 151 sessions, and welcome city representatives from 49 countries. Those numbers are impressive on their own — but the figure that truly defines this event is 10,000 facilitated business meetings, all brokered, scheduled, and confirmed before most participants even board their flights to Japan.

A Matchmaking Engine, Not Just an Event App

The official SusHi Tech app does far more than display schedules and venue maps. It functions as an AI-powered matchmaking platform. Attendees create detailed profiles ahead of the event, outlining exactly who they want to meet and what kind of partnerships they are seeking. The app's algorithm then surfaces the most relevant connections, opens direct communication channels, and allows users to pre-book dedicated meeting spaces within the venue.

On the conference floor, QR code-based business card exchange replaces the awkward pocket-patting ritual everyone knows too well. It's a small convenience, but it speaks to a much larger design philosophy driving the entire event: eliminate the friction standing between people who should already be talking.

Pitch Competitions With Global Reach

The startup pitch competition at SusHi Tech carries real-world weight. TechCrunch Startup Battlefield Program Manager Isabelle Johannessen will personally select one standout semifinalist — a startup with strong potential in the North American market — to advance to the prestigious TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield 200. For early-stage founders, that pathway represents a rare and significant opportunity.

The Reverse Pitch: Flipping the Power Dynamic

One of the most structurally innovative features of SusHi Tech 2026 is its reverse pitch format. Instead of startups competing for the attention of large corporations and government bodies, the roles are flipped. Corporates and city governments take the stage to publicly present their unresolved challenges, effectively inviting global startups to step forward with solutions.

This year, both Moreton Bay and Rome are hosting reverse pitch sessions — essentially broadcasting open requests for proposals to an international startup audience. It's a transparent and efficient way to match real problems with innovative founders who are ready to solve them.

Corporate Giants Actively Seeking Collaboration

On the corporate innovation front, 62 partner companies — including industry heavyweights such as Sony, Google, Microsoft, and Mizuho — are operating dedicated Open Innovation exhibits and sessions. These aren't passive booths. These companies are actively scouting for startup collaborators and co-development partners.

Adding further depth to the exhibition floor, 12 domain-specific clusters are making their debut this year, representing sectors including logistics, life sciences, railways, and climate technology. Each cluster is positioned not to observe the startup ecosystem from a distance, but to actively build within it.

A Genuinely Global Startup Ecosystem Under One Roof

Of the 750 exhibiting startups, 400 are based outside Japan, making SusHi Tech one of the most internationally diverse startup gatherings in the Asia-Pacific region. City partners from 25 countries and regions have arrived with a clear directive: connect their startups to Japanese capital and strategic partners.

A particularly notable addition this year is a dedicated pavilion showcasing 45 SusHi Tech Global Startups — growth-stage Japanese companies backed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government — making their formal international debut on the global stage.

Can't Attend in Person? There Are Still Options

For those unable to travel to Tokyo, SusHi Tech has developed a remote participation experience that goes well beyond a basic livestream. On-site staff members will physically walk the conference floor on behalf of remote participants, carrying a device that displays the participant's face in real time, enabling genuine face-to-face interaction with exhibitors and other attendees. It's the most immersive remote conference experience currently available anywhere in the industry.

For those who can't access even that option, ticket holders can stream sessions online and engage with programming from any location worldwide.

Note: Select sessions may not be available for online streaming.

Key Event Details

• Dates: April 27–29, 2026
• Venue: Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo, Japan
• Business Days: April 27–28
• Public Day (Free Admission): April 29

For international founders and investors who have been watching Japan's innovation market from the sidelines, SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 represents the most accessible and strategically valuable entry point the market has ever offered. The connection you make on April 27 doesn't have to end up forgotten in a drawer.