Shibuya Startup Support (SSS) fosters startups growing in Shibuya while actively strengthening connections with the global startup ecosystem. As part of these efforts, in 2025 SSS participated in a number of major domestic and international events, building networks with startups, investors, governments, and ecosystem builders.
IVS Kyoto 2025 was held from July 2 to July 4, attracting 13,000 participants over the three days. It is one of Japan’s leading startup conferences, which brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and corporations from Japan and abroad.
Originally launched as an invitation-only event, IVS has evolved into an open platform welcoming participants regardless of nationality or background. Its core concept, “chaos matching,” aims to generate new forms of collaboration through unexpected encounters.
During the event, around 200 talks and panel discussions were held across 12 stages, covering a wide range of topics including AI, Web3, and Diversity & Inclusion. Numerous companies, support organizations, and startups also exhibited booths. The stages were designed to integrate seamlessly with the exhibition areas, and real-time transcription in both Japanese and English was provided for international attendees and presenters alike.
SSS exhibited a booth, with participants from both Japan and overseas stopping by to learn about Shibuya’s startup support initiatives and to exchange ideas on potential collaboration. Some domestic companies expressed interest in pilot projects conducted within Shibuya, highlighting opportunities for collaboration between local governments and businesses.
Compared to other large-scale business events, IVS stood out for the high number of new business leaders from major corporations and independent players engaged in global startup support.
One of IVS’s defining features is the large number of side events held within walking distance. It made it easy to encounter new people simply by moving through the city. This time over 500 side events took place across Kyoto, filling the city with startup energy.
SSS participated in the following side events:
Cross-Border Morning Café
Held at FebCafe Kyoto, the Cross-Border Morning Café is a morning networking event for “border-crossers:” individuals challenging boundaries between companies and startups, industries, cultures, and regions.
Participants enjoyed complimentary drinks while engaging in casual conversations about their past experiences, current initiatives, and future ideas. The relaxed morning atmosphere fostered open and candid exchanges across roles and industries.
Homerun Happy Hour
SSS also joined Homerun Happyhour organized by Takeoff Tokyo, one of Japan’s largest youth-led startup events. The gathering brought together startup community members in a flat and open environment, allowing for deeper connections that differed from those formed during the main IVS program.
On August 23, 2025, SSS participated in DATERISE!, a global startup event held in Sendai, Tohoku. Launched under the theme “SENDAI to Global!,” the event supported overseas expansion from startups originating from Sendai and the broader Tohoku region.
Entrepreneurs, investors, students, and support organizations gathered to participate in pitches by university-originated startups with global ambitions, as well as discussions focused on startup support policies and international expansion. Interactive content open to local citizens emphasized the event’s focus on accessibility and community.
Through its booth and participation in side events, SSS exhibited its startup visa program and initiatives supporting business development from Shibuya.
For a more detailed report on DATERISE!, check out our event report here.
Global Startup EXPO 2025 was held in September during the Osaka Expo. This global exposure positioned the event as a platform to showcase startups and ecosystems within an international context.
The event emphasized how technology-driven solutions can address major social challenges such as climate change, water and food security, and sustainability. More than 100 startups took part in pitch programs, presenting their technologies and services across themes including healthcare, environment, demographic change, and advanced technology governance.
Unlike typical startup events, the venue layout allowed general Expo visitors to freely enter, resulting in many non-industry attendees engaging with booth exhibitions and talks.
Tech Osaka Summit was held as a side event during Global Startup EXPO, organized by the City of Osaka, Osaka Business Development Agency, Umekita Future Innovation Organization, and JETRO Osaka.
The summit brought together startups at various stages, from research seeds to commercialization, focusing on areas where the Kansai region has strong advantages such as greentech, biotech & life sciences, and digital technologies. In addition to Kansai-based startups, companies from all over Japan and the world took part, including startups previously supported by SSS. S-Startups–certified company NERON, along with Verbal and dialogue and Seatech HIROSHIMA exhibited at the event, demonstrating the outcome of SSS’s ongoing support and relationships.
The event also highlighted strong industry–academia collaboration in the region, with many startups originating from Kansai’s universities and research institutions such as Osaka University and the Keihanna Science City.
In February SSS organized Creative Tech Shibuya 2025, an event connecting overseas startups with Japanese companies and investors, in conjunction with DIG SHIBUYA.
Through pitches and business matching sessions led by international creative tech startups, the program successfully fostered collaboration and enabled participants to move toward concrete partnership discussions after the event.
In February 2026, SSS will host Creative Tech Shibuya 2026. The program will expand into a five-day event once again aligned with DIG SHIBUYA, creating deeper engagement among overseas startups, investors, Japanese corporations, and ecosystem builders.
In addition to exhibitions, pitches, and networking, the extended program will emphasize multi-day interaction and dialogue, aiming to generate more practical and sustainable collaborations.
For those interested in international collaboration within the creative tech field, as well as new business development and investment opportunities, the event will offer concrete connections leading to next actions. We look forward to welcoming participants from Japan and around the world.
Shibuya Startup Support will continue to strengthen ties with global startup ecosystems while supporting overseas startups entering the Japanese market.
If you are a startup interested in expanding into Japan or collaborating with SSS, please don’t hesitate to contact us, and follow us on social media to keep up-to-date on upcoming events!
Shibuya Startup Support: https://shibuya-startup-support.jp/
Shibuya Startup Support’s social media accounts:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shibuya-startup-support/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shibuya.startup.suppor
X (formerly Twitter): http://twitter.com/ShibuyaStartup
Shibuya Bridge B-5,
1-29-3 Higashi, Shibuya City, Tokyo
JAPAN 150-0011
Shibuya Startup Support
