From June 22 to 30 2025, Bansko Nomad Fest, an event for international digital nomads, was held in Bansko, Bulgaria. Nomads from all over the world gathered for workshops, networking, and speaker sessions. Mari Matsuzaki and Sayaka Nakashima from Shibuya Startup Support (SSS) were in attendance, engaging with the digital nomad community and introducing Shibuya Ward's startup support initiatives and assistance for digital nomad entrepreneurs.
Bansko Nomad Fest
Bansko Nomad Fest is an annual international event for digital nomads, attracting a diverse range of professionals including freelancers, content creators, engineers, entrepreneurs, and founders. Sessions like ‘Longevity’ and ‘Nomad Family’ were among the most popular at the event.
The Host City of Bansko
Bansko, Bulgaria, is a mountain town located about 3 hours by bus from the capital city of Sofia. It offers well-equipped coworking spaces and coliving facilities, creating an environment where digital nomads can comfortably stay long-term. Many participants actually stay in Bansko for about a month including the period around the Bansko Nomad Fest!
“Unconference:” Participant-driven Pitching
One of the most popular features at Bansko Nomad Fest was the Unconference. On the first day of the event, all participants gathered and pitched topics they wanted to discuss or workshops they wanted to host in 30-second pitches. Winners were selected through voting and then developed into approximately 45-minute sessions during the event. SSS hosted a session titled ‘Learning Startup Visa in Japan?,’ introducing SSS’s startup support initiatives and programs for digital nomads. Active questions were raised about SSS's support programs and the cost of living in Tokyo.
Japan Night by Colive Fukuoka
On June 25th, Colive Fukuoka hosted a side event called “Japan Night.” Colive Fukuoka is a unique gathering designed for digital nomads, entrepreneurs, investors, freelancers, remote workers, and anyone exploring innovative ways of living and working. Around 90 participants gathered for pitches to showcase the appeal of various regions in Japan. In addition to SSS, presenters included Fukuoka City, Okinawa Prefecture, Nagasaki Prefecture, the Goto Islands, Kanazawa City, and Hakuba Village. Many attendees expressed interest in SSS's program.
SSS will continue to strengthen its collaboration with all overseas startups—not just digital nomads from Bulgaria!—while supporting their entry to the Japanese market. If you are a creative startup interested in expanding to Japan or collaborating with SSS, feel free to reach out. Stay up-to-date with upcoming events and seminars by following us on social media!
More information on Shibuya Startup Support: https://www.shibuya-startup-support.jp/ja
Shibuya Startup Support’s social media accounts
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shibuya-startup-support/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shibuya.startup.support
X (formerly Twitter): http://twitter.com/ShibuyaStartup
Shibuya Bridge B-5,
1-29-3 Higashi, Shibuya City, Tokyo
JAPAN 150-0011
Shibuya Startup Support
