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 Startup JAPAN EXPO初開催
- 2025 東京・大阪の2拠点開催に拡大
- 2026 春開催は出展450社超・来場13,000人規模（幕張メッセ）
- 2026 有明GYM-EXへ会場を移し同年2回目の冬開催
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)
AI Agent Day 2026 Summer
One of Japan's largest AI agent conferences, hosted by the AICX Association. Under the theme of "complete case-study dissection," two days of sessions unpack real enterprise deployments and the common walls of AI agent adoption, such as stalled rollouts, over-reliance on individuals, and unmanaged "rogue agents." The past three editions drew over 12,000 cumulative viewer registrations.
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.'