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

TechCrunch has partnered with SushiTech Tokyo 2026Asia’s largest global innovation conference, taking place from April 27 to 29 at Tokyo Big Sight. And we don’t just show up to report; our very own Startup Battlefield Program Manager, Isabelle Johannessen, will be on site as a judge for the SusHi Tech Challenge, the conference’s premier global pitch competition.

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

What is SushiTech Tokyo?

Now in its fourth year, SusHi Tech Tokyo – abbreviation for Like thisfeasible High City Tech Tokyo – has become the largest innovation conference in Asia, attracting startups, investors, corporate partners and city leaders from around the world. This year’s edition is the largest yet: 750 start-up exhibitors from 60 countries, more than 10,000 facilitated business meetings and an expected 60,000 visitors over three days.

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

On the show floor, 62 corporate partners – including Sony, Google, Microsoft and Mizuho – are hosting reverse pitches and actively seeking startup collaboration partners, making it both a live dealmaking marketplace and a conference. And the programming reflects that ambition.

Four domains on the border

SusHi Tech 2026 focuses on four technology domains that are reshaping society: AI, Robotics, Resilience and Entertainment. Expect live demos of humanoid robots, sessions on the software revolution of autonomous driving, deep dives into cyber defense and climate technology, 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. About 60% of speakers are from outside Japan, and about half are women.

Are you going to Tokyo? Don’t miss it. Order your tickets here.

The SushiTech Challenge

The pitch competition attracted 820 applications from 60 countries and regions: 437 international, 383 Japanese. Twenty semi-finalists will compete on April 27, seven finalists will advance to the finals on April 28, and one Grand Prix winner will take home ¥10,000,000 and automatic entry into the TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield Top 200.

Beyond the stage

The conference extends far beyond the conference floor. City leaders from 49 cities across five continents – from Los Angeles to Nairobi to Singapore – are meeting for the G-NETS Leaders Summit to make concrete agreements on climate resilience and urban sustainability. On the show floor, 62 corporate partners, including Sony, Google, Microsoft and Mizuho, ​​are hosting reverse pitches and are actively looking for startup employees.

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 network series round out the program.

Download the app before you go

The official SushiTech 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 map, QR business card exchange, and real-time push notifications keep you informed about the expansive Tokyo Big Sight location. Download for iOS or Android.

SushiTech Tokyo 2026 runs from April 27 to 29 at Tokyo Big Sight. Business days are April 27-28; Public day (free admission) is April 29.