TechCrunch is partnering with SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026<\/a>, Asia\u2019s largest global innovation conference, taking place April 27\u201329 at Tokyo Big Sight. And we\u2019re not just showing up to cover it \u2014 our very own Startup Battlefield program manager, Isabelle Johannessen, will be on the ground as a judge for the SusHi Tech Challenge, the conference\u2019s flagship global pitch competition.<\/p>\n For the winner, the stakes couldn\u2019t be higher: The SusHi Tech Challenge Grand Prix recipient will be automatically entered into the TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield Top 200 \u2014 making them eligible to pitch on one of the most coveted stages in the startup world.<\/p>\n Now in its fourth year, SusHi Tech Tokyo<\/a> \u2014 short for Sus<\/strong>tainable Hi<\/strong>gh City Tech Tokyo \u2014 has grown into the largest innovation conference in Asia, drawing startups, investors, corporate partners, and city leaders from around the world. This year\u2019s edition is the biggest yet: 750 startup exhibitors from 60 countries, more than 10,000 facilitated business meetings, and an expected 60,000 attendees across three days.<\/p>\n The conference is organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government with a clear mission: bring together the world\u2019s best innovators to build the sustainable cities of the future.<\/p>\n On the expo floor, 62 corporate partners \u2014 including Sony, Google, Microsoft, and Mizuho \u2014 are hosting reverse pitches and actively seeking startup collaborators, making it as much a live dealmaking marketplace as a conference. And the programming reflects that ambition.<\/p>\n SusHi Tech 2026 is zeroing in on four technology domains reshaping society: AI, Robotics, Resilience, and Entertainment. Expect live demos of humanoid robots, sessions on autonomous driving\u2019s software revolution, deep dives into cyber defense and climate tech, and candid conversations about how AI is rewriting the global music and anime industries.<\/p>\n 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 many others. Roughly 60% of speakers come from outside Japan, and approximately half are women.<\/p>\n Techcrunch event<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSan Francisco, CA<\/span> Going to be in Tokyo? Don\u2019t miss it. Get your tickets here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The pitch competition drew 820 applications from 60 countries and regions \u2014 437 international, 383 Japanese. Twenty semifinalists compete on April 27, seven finalists advance to the final on April 28, and one Grand Prix winner takes home \u00a510,000,000 and automatic entry into the TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield Top 200.<\/p>\n The conference extends well beyond the convention floor. City leaders from 49 cities across five continents \u2014 from Los Angeles to Nairobi to Singapore \u2014 are convening for the G-NETS Leaders Summit to forge concrete commitments on climate resilience and urban sustainability. On the expo floor, 62 corporate partners, including Sony, Google, Microsoft, and Mizuho, are hosting reverse pitches and actively seeking startup collaborators.<\/p>\n And because this is Tokyo, the experience doesn\u2019t stop at 6 p.m.: Classical music performances from La Folle Journ\u00e9e, waterfront cruises along Tokyo Bay, and the Tokyo Innovation NIGHTs networking series round out the program.<\/p>\n The official SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 Official app<\/a> is your command center on the ground. Before you even arrive, AI-powered matching recommends the right startups, investors, and partners for you to connect with \u2014 and lets you book meeting rooms in advance. On-site, a GPS floor map, QR business card exchange, and real-time push notifications keep you oriented across the sprawling Tokyo Big Sight venue. Download for iOS<\/a> or Android<\/a>.<\/p>\nWhat is SusHi Tech Tokyo?<\/h2>\n
Four domains at the frontier<\/h2>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t|<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOctober 13-15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/HIA00170-1.jpg\")
The SusHi Tech Challenge<\/h2>\n
Beyond the stage<\/h2>\n
Before you go, download the app<\/h2>\n