Tokyo Metropolitan Government announces SusHi Tech Tokyo Global Startup Programme 202
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Startups from all over the world are expected to gather in Tokyo to participate in Asia’s Largest Global Innovation Conference
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) announced today that the “SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 Global Startup Programme”, Asia’s largest global innovation conference, will be held on May 15-16, 2024. The event will be returning to great success, with expected participation almost doubling at over 40,000 visitors across 2 days, with more than 400 local and international exhibitors from 40 cities.
The programme aims to create “sustainable new values” through exchanges in ideas and discussions on how to address urban issues commonly faced across the globe. Key themes include demographic change, environmental and energy concerns, aging infrastructure, and the preservation of traditional culture through cutting-edge technologies, diverse ideas, and digital know-how.
Startups across the world, investors, major corporations, delegates from various markets and even enterprising students will participate in speaking sessions, a pitch contest and exhibit their solutions. Some highlights include a panel session where Yuriko Koike, the Governor of Tokyo, Adi Ignatius the Editor in Chief, at Harvard Business Review and other representatives from Bloomberg Associates, The Edgeof/ Mistletoe and Suntory Holdings Limited will discuss “Imagining the City of the Future and Innovation”. Other esteemed panelists and speakers include: Jen Carter, Global Head of Technology, Google.org and John Roos, Founding Partner at Geodesic Capital Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan.
SusHi Tech Tokyo stands for Sustainable High City Tokyo. The name represents Tokyo’s position in the global technology world, and how the event aims to be a platform where disruptive innovations that can solve urban city challenges are developed, powering the future not only for Japan but also the rest of the globe.
SusHi Tech Tokyo Global Startup Programme 2024 Executive Committee said, “SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 Global Startup Programme is Asia’s largest global innovation conference, and I am honored to welcome such a prestigious and meaningful event right here in Tokyo. With our vision to be a launchpad for innovations that can solve global urban challenges, we hope that every May, influential players from all around the world – startups, investors, major corporations, universities, and students, alike will gather in Tokyo to create a stronger future together.”
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[About Global Startup Programme]
TMG’s “Global Innovation with STARTUP” has been active since November 2022. The program strategy called “10×10×10 Innovation Vision” focuses on increasing the number of 1. Unicorn companies from Tokyo, 2. Startup companies from Tokyo, and 3. Public and Private Startups from Tokyo by ten times over the next 5 years. On February 2023, TMG held the “City-Tech.Tokyo” at the Tokyo International Forum which was Japan’s largest global startup event with 26,000 visitors in two days. This year, TMG levels up further with SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 as Asia’s largest global startup event including contents such as speaking sessions, a pitch contest and exhibits.
DATE: May 15-16, 2024
PLACE: Tokyo Big Site, West Exhibition Hall 1&2 (3-11-1 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan 135-0063)
DISCUSSION TOPIC: How to create a sustainable future urban city
TARGET AUDIENCE: World-leading startups, investors, major corporations, delegates from various markets and students.
WHY: Creating an opportunity for open innovations with members of startups who have different backgrounds.
Top Themes
- Infrastructure
・The realisation of safe, secure, and resilient urban infrastructure by utilizing cutting-edge technologies
・Enhancing short-distance urban mobility through precise and safe transportation options, as well as new mobility solutions.
【Related fields】 Infrastructure（Hardware・Softwa
【Keywords】 Disaster Prediction/ Infrastructure maintenance/ Micro-mobility, etc.
- Environment
・Reconstruction of energy production and consumption systems to realise a decarbonised and recycling-oriented society
・Increasing food security through next-generation food development and initiatives to reduce food loss
【Related fields】 Energy/ food tech/ climate tech/ green tech
【Keywords】 Ethical consumption, alternative protein, etc.
- Living
・Enhancement of support for everyone, from children to the elderly, to lead comfortable and active lives.
・Improve the convenience of people’s lives through the use of cutting-edge technology in the financial sector and other areas.
【Related fields】 Medical/ Healthcare/ Fintech/ Femtech
【Keywords】 Infectious disease control/ digital local currency/ Generative AI, etc.
- Culture
・Creating new types of entertainment by combining traditional culture and cutting-edge technology, and rediscovery of city attractions.
【Related fields】 Culture and entertainment/Sports tech
【Keywords】 Metaverse/ Digital Art/ NFT/ WEB3 etc.
- Impact
・Resolving social issues and powering sustainable growth to deliver a positive impact on society.
【Related fields】 Environment/ Energy/ Medical/ Welfare/ Food/ Agriculture/Education/ Childcare/
Financial Inclusion
[Pitch Contest SusHi Tech Challenge 2024]
· Asia’s largest Pitch Contest will see 507 companies from 43 countries and regions present their case for a chance to win the grand prize of 10 million yen
· The number of participating companies this year has increased by 1.5x (2023: 338 companies and 35 countries and regions)
· 8 startups from the APAC markets have been selected among the top 20 semi-finalists:
Entomal Biotech Sdn Bhd (Malaysia)
BUYO Bioplastics (Vietnam)
E-Port Pte. Ltd. (Singapore)
ImpacFat (Singapore)
TUBUDD Joint Stock Company (Vietnam)
CancerFree Biotech (Taiwan)
WRIGHT BROTHERS (South Korea)
Nanjing Deepctrls Technologies Co.,Ltd. (China)
· Judge:
<Semi-final Stage>
Kirstin Hunter,Techstars Managing Director (NSW), Saemin Ahn,500 Global, Partner, Miwa Seki, MPower Partners Fund L.P. General Partner, Koichiro Nakamura, Sozo Ventures Founder/General Partner,Murat Aktihanoglu, Remarkable Ventures and ERA Co-Founder/Managing Partner, Ravi Belani, Alchemist Accelerator Managing Director and Founder
<Final Stage>
Yukiko Kato,SBI Investment Co., Ltd. Director & Executive Officer, General Manager, Corporate Venture Capital Department, Mikio Kawahara,UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. Chief Investment Officer,Susan Su, Toba Capital, Partner, Climate Investing, Tomosaku Sohara, Nordicninja Managing Partner, Yamato Watanabe, DG Daiwa Ventures, Managing Director
· Details about the pitch contest can be found here.
[Startup Exhibition]
（Startups）
· 429 companies (265 international and 164 domestic) have been confirmed to exhibit.
· The breakdown of international startups includes 175 companies from Asia, 56 from Europe, 15 from North and South America, 8 from Oceania, and 11 from the Middle East.
Examples of exhibiting startups
（Markets）
· Exhibitors from a total of 47 countries, regions, and cities (30 international and 17 domestic) have been confirmed.
· Market pavilions: Taiwan, Hong Kong, France, Switzerland, and Israel
· Additionally, there will be 20 individual market booths:
Amsterdam, United Kingdom, Espoo, Austria, AUS-Queensland, AUS-Western Australia, Colombia, Singapore, Seoul, Thailand, South Chungcheong, Toronto, Bavaria, Bangladesh, Paris, Busan, Beijing, Berlin, Poland, Malaysia