Startup JAPAN EXPO 2026 Winter
Overview
The second edition within the same year of the startup exhibition organized by Eight, Sansan's business-card app. Following the April Makuhari edition, it moves to Ariake GYM-EX. Startups meet large corporations, investors, municipalities, and media through Dream Pitch, conferences, and themed networking sessions. Its shift to a twice-a-year cadence reflects growing demand for domestic startup exhibitions.
Foundation
- Founded
- 2024
- Founder
- Sansan, Inc.
A startup-focused exhibition founded by Sansan, provider of the Sansan business-card management service, leveraging the event platform of its Eight business.
Transition
- 2024 First Startup JAPAN EXPO held
- 2025 Expanded to two locations, Tokyo and Osaka
- 2026 The spring edition at Makuhari Messe had over 450 exhibitors and around 13,000 visitors
- 2026 Moved to Ariake GYM-EX for a winter edition, the second within the same year
Voices
As an exhibitor, one participant held repeated dialogues with the buyer side and analyzed the types of startups that get chosen in fundraising and M&A (from Hitoshi Kawano's exhibitor report, in Japanese)
Management-level visitors reacted strongly to a demo of AI agents integrated with core systems; concerns such as shadow AI surfaced, and inquiries and spot-consulting applications increased (from Qualiteg's exhibitor report, in Japanese)
ProductZine Day 2026
The fifth edition of the annual conference run by ProductZine, Shoeisha's product management media. Under the theme of the chaos product managers face in the AI era and how to systematize their work, it offers eight free sessions covering discovery, strategy, analytics and talent development, plus small-group discussions with speakers and a networking reception aimed at in-house product managers.
Innovation Japan 2026 (University Trade Fair)
Japan's largest university-industry matching event, hosted by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). Patented technology seeds from universities nationwide are exhibited for matching with corporate R&D and new business teams. The 2025 edition drew about 14,000 visitors to 291 exhibited seeds. Less a startup conference and more a trade fair that seeds technology transfer and joint research.
ICC Summit (Industry Co-Creation Summit)
A conference built on 'learning together, creating industry together.' The signature event is 'Catapult,' a 7-minute pitch contest. Held twice yearly (Fukuoka/Kyoto). Over 80% of attendees rate it 'the best.'