Event Report: Creativetech Popup Day

Pitch Presentations by Startups (Photo: Shibuya City)

Gathering of Creative Tech Startups from Around the World: Business Matchmaking with Japanese Companies

On the first day, approximately 12 startups from around the world presented their pitches, followed by business matching sessions with Japanese companies and VCs. One of the attendees, Stenomatic, demonstrated their real-time automatic translation technology — allowing the event to be conducted in English with Japanese appearing on participants’ smartphones.

The post-pitch business matching and roundtable discussions between startups and companies/VCs featured simultaneous interpretation tools provided by POCKETALK.

The second day of the event primarily focused on showcasing startup products, attracting general attendees, some of whom had visited after participating in other DIG Shibuya events.

Pitch Presentations by Startups (Photo: Shibuya City)

Participating Startups

• OurSong (Taiwan): Service that brings fair revenue to the music industry through the licensing of songs.
• WhiteSquare (USA/Japan): A one-stop platform for artists, centralizing production, curation, and exhibition.
• DMKTZ (Taiwan): Simplifies the production of 3D fashion.
• HybOrg (Mongolia): Specializes in anime and fashion mobile gaming businesses, providing an immersive community environment by combining game elements and AR.
• Once Upon Music Ltd (UK/Japan): AI app for children, teaching piano and music via gamification.

• Toii Games (Taiwan): Expands AR games playable through an app, offering location-based gaming experiences.
• Tenatch (South Korea): Utilizes generative AI mapping to provide a platform for discovering unknown creators within the city.
• dissant productions (Germany/Japan): VR-based programming tool to simplify programming.
• ChoozMo Inc. (Taiwan): Advanced AI-Generated Video (AIGV) platform that uses diffusion models and deep learning to turn written text into lifelike avatars, scenes, and videos.
• Kessaku (Japan): Platform for collective ownership of heritage buildings to support their preservation and utilization by fans.
• SAMANSA (Japan): Video-on-demand service specializing in short films originating from Shibuya.
• Gaudiy Inc. (Japan): Platform for IP fans using blockchain technologies.
• Art2All (France): Uses AI and cameras to turn physical paintings into art in a new dimension through NFTs.
• Marionette (Denmark): Enables AI motion capture with a single camera, supporting video and VR-based motion capture.
• Artivive (Austria): A service that connects physical and digital art using AR tools.
• StoryDrops (Finland): Location-based audio social media app.
• Holonic Systems (Finland/Canada): Acoustic AR platform that generates music based on movement and GIS information, offering music tailored to the user’s environment.
• Shion (Austria): Specialized noise canceling speakers.

Business Matching Roundtable (Photo: Shibuya City)

Participant Feedback

Feedback from the startups that visited Japan included statements such as:

• “I was able to discuss collaboration with other participating startups.”
• “It was great to establish connections with neighboring startups.”
• “Actual investment discussions are progressing.”
• “I didn’t know that the support from the SSS program was so comprehensive; I want to apply for a visa through SSS.”

Investors and representatives from participating companies expressed their enthusiasm, with quotes like, “the fact that startups were curated by SSS was beneficial; the quality was high,” and “establishing connections with neighboring startups was a fantastic experience.” Positive feedback was also received regarding the effective use of translation tools.

Vibrant matchmaking between international art and creative startups and Japanese companies took place at this event, transforming the event into a pivotal opportunity for entering the Japanese market.

SSS will continue to support international startups to enter the Japanese market while strengthening collaboration with the creative tech industry. If you are a creative tech-related 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!

More information on Shibuya Startup Visa program: https://shibuya-startup-support.jp/sws/

Shibuya Startup Support’s Social Media Account:

Twitter：http://twitter.com/ShibuyaStartup

Facebook：https://www.facebook.com/shibuya.startup.support

LinkedIn：https://www.linkedin.com/company/shibuya-startup-support/

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