Uncut Gem Pt. IV: UNLEASH TOKYO Preview

Explore Tokyo from a whole new angle —the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is supporting initiatives focused on attracting startups interested in doing business in Tokyo, and as part of this will run an event “UNLEASH TOKYO”, showcasing the city as an innovation hub. Running 9-11 March 2021, this will be an unmissable event for startups looking to expand into one of the world’s most famous cities.

The constant drive for growth from innovation has seen many looking to push the boundaries to stay ahead of the curve. Tokyo has been at the forefront of this drive and has now begun to look outwards, pushing its own ambition of innovation to another level. With the support of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the city has unveiled initiatives to support the entry of the best overseas talent and companies with the goal of turning Tokyo into a world leading innovation hub.

In promoting Tokyo as the next hotspot for business, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will hold the inaugural “UNLEASH TOKYO” summit on March 9-11, 2021. The event aims to promote the irresistible Tokyo lifestyle as well as business, policy, people, market, and culture. It will deliver fresh perspectives about Tokyo and its new possibilities. It’s an event that cannot be missed and is a great gateway to the next big startup hub in Asia.

The event will be held on the official Invest Tokyo YouTube channel, so please click here and subscribe to get notifications for UNLEASH TOKYO March 9-11. To watch the event on 36Kr click here.

DAY ONE

The event will kickoff with an introduction of the various initiatives run by TMG to help companies setup and establish in Tokyo, as well as the overarching vision of “Future Tokyo”. This will be followed by a range of topics including business development and market opportunities of overseas companies in Japan, the startup ecosystem in Tokyo from the VC’s perspective and using local support when expanding into Tokyo. A highlight will be Ryushi Mitsuishi Banderas, Twitter Next Japan & Korea Director explaining what are some of the keys to growth in Tokyo. He will touch on areas such as the unknown advantages of the complex language, values and mobile content trends to watch out for in Japan. Two star Michelin Chef Zaiyu Hasegawa then shares his insights of the food culture in Tokyo. With his restaurant Den ranked 11th in the “50 Best Restaurants in the World”, Hasegawa will dive into his experiences to explain how Tokyo’s food makes the city so special.

DAY TWO

Continuing on from the opening session, day two opens with Imai Sanae, Salesforce Managing Executive sharing further advice on business development and opportunities in Tokyo. This will be followed by a panel discussion made up of startups Visenze and Snapask about how overseas startups manage and grow in Tokyo. The day continues with a discussion of the effects of COVID-19 and the business market in Tokyo from the perspective of Europe and the United States. It is then followed by a overview of startup investment by major Japanese financial institutions by Mizuho Financial Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group. The day is concluded by Kabuki actor Kazutaro Nakamura discussing Tokyo and its traditions.

DAY THREE

The climax of UNLEASH TOKYO begins with Gen Tsuchikawa, Sony Innovation Fund CEO & CIO, speaking about how his team discovers and nurtures innovative startups to not only find new technologies but create value for Sony. Other topics covered include diversity in Tokyo, how corporates are supporting startups, MUFG’s startup investment overview and a CVC case study presented by KDDI. The event will be closed by Masafumi Yonazu, Senior Director for National Strategic Special Zone, Office of the Governor for Policy Planning, Tokyo Metropolitan Government