In an period the place cities worldwide are launching startup conferences beneath the banner of turning into “startup cities,” SusHi Tech Tokyo faces strain to evolve. What’s new this yr? We spoke with Miyasaka to seek out out.
New ‘Public Day’ created to encourage future entrepreneurs
Enterprise occasions, together with startup conferences, sometimes appeal to invited audio system, exhibitors and ticket purchasers, and are normally held on weekdays. Nonetheless, this yr’s SusHi Tech Tokyo introduces a brand new initiative — opening the ultimate day (Saturday) to most people as “Public Day.”
“VivaTech’s ultimate day is a public day, the place taking part startups shift from business-oriented displays to explanations tailor-made for basic residents. They use accessible language to elucidate how their applied sciences and providers will contribute to the longer term. I used to be impressed seeing youngsters among the many attendees enthusiastically taking part,” Miyasaka mentioned in an unique interview with JStories.
“Exposing youngsters to startups, entrepreneurs and rising industries which will change into established in 10 or 20 years is essential. I consider these youngsters will seemingly be exhibiting at VivaTech a decade or two from now. As a authorities initiative, we’re emphasizing next-generation improvement and long-term ecosystem constructing — work that may solely be achieved with an prolonged timeframe.”
Tokyo as a “node” relatively than an “ecosystem”
Whereas many startup conferences hosted by native governments give attention to their regional startups, Tokyo serves as Japan’s startup hub. From a regional revitalization perspective, Tokyo bears accountability for distributing startup momentum and power all through Japan.
“We acknowledge our position as an occasion contributing not simply to Tokyo however to Japan as an entire,” mentioned Miyasaka about SusHi Tech 2025. This yr, 35 native governments from exterior Tokyo will exhibit — 10 instances greater than final yr. This dramatic growth displays the rising curiosity in startup ecosystems amongst native governments.
“I discover it fascinating that areas are taking part as broader consortiums—like Hokuriku, Chukyo, Kansai and Setouchi — relatively than particular person cities like Osaka or Nagoya. Native governments throughout Japan need to join with abroad ecosystems, nevertheless it’s troublesome for worldwide guests to go to each metropolis. At SusHi Tech Tokyo, they’ve the chance to come across startup ecosystems from throughout Japan,” he mentioned.
This yr’s SusHi Tech Tokyo goals to draw 50,000 contributors, about 20% greater than final yr’s 40,000. The occasion has set “5-aligned” targets: 50,000 contributors, 500 taking part corporations and 5,000 conferences. These numbers serve not simply as targets however as indicators of the occasion’s scale and affect. Now in its third yr, Miyasaka mentioned that “worldwide recognition has positively improved.”
The title SusHi Tech Tokyo stands for “Sustainable Excessive Metropolis Tech Tokyo,” reflecting a spotlight not solely on startups however on applied sciences that allow cities to develop sustainably. With this attitude, the occasion emphasizes range — half of this yr’s audio system are from abroad, and a powerful 45% are girls.
Tokyo’s sensible mannequin for presidency assist of startups
Silicon Valley, the archetypal startup hub that cities worldwide emulate, developed organically round Stanford College as a supply of expertise, semiconductor corporations like Hewlett-Packard and Fairchild, and traders corresponding to Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB), who gathered to assist them.
This historical past means that the unique startup hub fashioned fully by way of non-public initiative, with out authorities assist. In distinction, exterior the US, central and native governments have typically invested substantial subsidies to create considerably synthetic startup hubs.
Authorities intervention in startup improvement can typically have detrimental penalties. Startups that fail to realize market traction after trial durations naturally exit the market, however authorities assist can typically merely postpone this inevitable end result.
For these causes, the writer was beforehand skeptical about extreme authorities assist for startups however has since reconsidered. Even globally famend entrepreneurial ventures like Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Tesla have survived by way of NASA and Protection Division contracts (by way of the Small Enterprise Innovation Analysis program), Vitality Division loans and tax incentives, and Normal Providers Administration (GSA) procurement.
This means that authorities assist is a rational scheme in growing new industries that rework social buildings, with advantages in the end returning to society, together with taxpayers. The Tokyo Metropolitan Authorities has lately strengthened procurement initiatives concentrating on startups, rising from 9 circumstances in 2022 to 153 in 2024, with plans to increase to 500 circumstances.
“Being chosen by the Tokyo Metropolitan Authorities, one of many world’s main cities, gives vital credibility for startups,” Miyasaka mentioned. “Whereas the financial quantity may not be substantial, the truth that Tokyo has adopted their options builds belief, which may result in growth to different home municipalities and even international authorities companies.”
“Assist for startups is not nearly direct funding; offering credibility on this means can be essential. Giant administrative organizations typically challenge contracts too massive for startups with restricted monetary assets to meet. Nonetheless, having been adopted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Authorities gives invaluable credentials that may result in future enterprise alternatives,” he mentioned.
A “Tokyo Mannequin” of startup ecosystem improvement is taking form. Miyasaka goals not for a brief growth however for strengthening Japan’s total startup capability in a sustainable method, because the title “Sustainable Excessive Metropolis” suggests. The long run outcomes of Tokyo’s distinctive initiatives might be price watching.
JStories, Japan’s solutions-focused multilingual information service, is an official media companion for SusHi Tech Tokyo 2025, Asia’s largest startup convention. This collaboration goals to amplify the occasion’s mission of fostering open innovation and addressing international city challenges by way of cutting-edge expertise and various concepts.
Edited by Desiderio Luna | JStories
Prime picture: Moritz Brinkhoff | JStories
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