TechCrunch is heading to Tokyo — and bringing the Startup Battlefield with it | TechCrunch

TechCrunch is partnering with SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026Asia’s largest global innovation conference, taking place April 27–29 at Tokyo Big Sight. And we’re not just showing up to cover it — our very own Startup Battlefield program manager, Isabelle Johannessen, will be on the ground as a judge for the SusHi Tech Challenge, the conference’s flagship global pitch competition.

For the winner, the stakes couldn’t be higher: The SusHi Tech Challenge Grand Prix recipient will be automatically entered into the TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield Top 200 — making them eligible to pitch on one of the most coveted stages in the startup world.

What is SusHi Tech Tokyo?

Now in its fourth year, SusHi Tech Tokyo — short for Theirtainable High City Tech Tokyo — has grown into the largest innovation conference in Asia, drawing startups, investors, corporate partners, and city leaders from around the world. This year’s 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.

The conference is organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government with a clear mission: bring together the world’s best innovators to build the sustainable cities of the future.

On the expo floor, 62 corporate partners — including Sony, Google, Microsoft, and Mizuho — 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.

Four domains at the frontier

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’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.

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.

Going to be in Tokyo? Don’t miss it. Get your tickets here.

The SusHi Tech Challenge

The pitch competition drew 820 applications from 60 countries and regions — 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 ¥10,000,000 and automatic entry into the TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield Top 200.

Beyond the stage

The conference extends well beyond the convention floor. City leaders from 49 cities across five continents — from Los Angeles to Nairobi to Singapore — 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.

And because this is Tokyo, the experience doesn’t stop at 6 p.m.: Classical music performances from La Folle Journée, waterfront cruises along Tokyo Bay, and the Tokyo Innovation NIGHTs networking series round out the program.

Before you go, download the app

The official SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 Official app 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 — 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 or Android.

SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 runs April 27–29 at Tokyo Big Sight. Business days are April 27–28; Public Day (free admission) is April 29.