TechCrunch is teaming up with SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, Asia’s largest global innovation conference, happening April 27–29 at Tokyo Big Sight. Our very own Startup Battlefield program manager, Isabelle Johannessen, will be present as a judge for the SusHi Tech Challenge, the conference’s main global pitch competition.
The stakes are high for the winner: The SusHi Tech Challenge Grand Prix recipient will automatically qualify for the TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield Top 200, granting eligibility to present on one of the startup world’s most prestigious stages.
What is SusHi Tech Tokyo?
In its fourth year, SusHi Tech Tokyo — an abbreviation for Sustainable High City Tech Tokyo — has grown into Asia’s largest innovation conference, attracting startups, investors, corporate partners, and city leaders globally. This year boasts 750 startup exhibitors from 60 countries, over 10,000 arranged business meetings, and approximately 60,000 attendees over three days.
The conference, organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, aims to unite the world’s best innovators to build sustainable future cities.
At the expo, 62 corporate partners, including Sony, Google, Microsoft, and Mizuho, are hosting reverse pitches and actively seeking startup collaborators, making it not just a conference but a live marketplace for deals.
Four domains at the frontier
SusHi Tech 2026 focuses on four technology domains reshaping society: AI, Robotics, Resilience, and Entertainment. Attendees can expect live demos of humanoid robots, sessions on the software revolution of autonomous driving, insights into cyber defense and climate tech, and discussions on how AI is transforming 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 many others. Approximately 60% of speakers are from outside Japan, with around half being women.
Going to be in Tokyo? Don’t miss it. [Get your tickets here](https://sushitech-startup.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/?utm_source=techcrunch&utm_medium=articlepost1&utm_campaign=stt2026).
The SusHi Tech Challenge
The pitch competition received 820 applications from 60 countries and regions — 437 international and 383 Japanese. Twenty semifinalists compete on April 27, seven finalists proceed to the finals on April 28, and one Grand Prix winner takes home ¥10,000,000 and automatic entry into the TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield Top 200.
Beyond the stage
The conference extends beyond the convention floor. City leaders from 49 cities across five continents — including Los Angeles, Nairobi, and Singapore — gather for the G-NETS Leaders Summit to cement commitments on climate resilience and urban sustainability. On the expo floor, 62 corporate partners, including Sony, Google, Microsoft, and Mizuho, host reverse pitches and seek startup collaborators.
And since this is Tokyo, the experience continues beyond 6 p.m.: Classical music performances from La Folle Journée, waterfront cruises along Tokyo Bay, and the Tokyo Innovation NIGHTs networking series complement the program.
Before you go, download the app
The official SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 app is your control center on the ground. Before arrival, AI-powered matching recommends suitable startups, investors, and partners for you, allowing you to book meeting rooms in advance. On-site, a GPS floor map, QR business card exchange, and real-time push notifications guide you around the extensive Tokyo Big Sight venue. Download for [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6478862220) or [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tokyo.eventos.sushitechtokyo2024).
SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 runs from April 27–29 at Tokyo Big Sight. Business days are April 27–28; Public Day (free admission) is April 29.