IVS Kyoto 2026 is positioning itself as a defining platform for Japan’s startup ecosystem. The three-day event runs July 1–3 at Kyoto Municipal Kangyokan “Miyako Messe” and ROHM Theatre Kyoto.
The conference carries a bold theme this year: “Japan is Back.” It’s a message aimed squarely at international founders, investors and corporates who may have overlooked the country’s startup potential. The theme signals an attempt to reposition Japan as a serious global startup destination — not just a market to sell into, but one to build in.
The broader IVS area will host the usual mix of pitch competitions, startup showcases and networking events, with participants expected from more than 70 countries.
More Than 300 Startups in the Exhibition Hall
The IVS Startup Market will feature over 300 exhibiting companies. For overseas attendees, it offers a compressed look at Japan’s emerging companies across manufacturing, robotics, AI, climate technology, healthcare and deep tech. Japanese corporations are globally recognized. The country’s startups haven’t always received the same attention, and the exhibition partly aims to close that gap.
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International startups will also be present, using the market to explore entry into the Japanese market or find local partners.
LAUNCHPAD Finalists Reflect a Broader Ambition
Fifteen companies were selected from more than 500 applications to compete in IVS2026 LAUNCHPAD, one of Japan’s largest pitch events. About 20 percent of applications came from overseas — a record share. Each finalist gets six minutes to pitch at ROHM Theatre Kyoto on July 3, with judges drawn from the investor and entrepreneur communities. The winner receives the Startup Kyoto International Award and a 10 million yen runner-up prize in business support funds.
The finalists are:
- AKARI Guarantee Co., Ltd.
- inprog Inc.
- UMIAILE Co., Ltd.
- Elith, Inc.
- Satelyx
- zooba, Inc.
- Space Quarters Co., Ltd.
- ZetaX Co., Ltd.
- TAIAN Co., Ltd.
- tamateco Co., Ltd.
- Tofuchan
- HiStranger
- MUSE Co., Ltd.
- Ryp Labs
- Robotrack Co., Ltd.
The range of sectors represented — from satellite-related ventures to food tech to industrial automation — suggests organizers are deliberately pushing the conversation beyond software and consumer internet.
Building Networks Through Referrals
A new referral ticket system attempts to formalize something startup events have always relied on: introductions. Participants who receive a referral can attend, and in turn refer others. Through what they call the “IVS Family Tree,” attendees can visualize the chain of connections that brought people to Kyoto. It’s a structured approach to the trust-based networking that often matters more than panel content at events like these.
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Kyoto Positions Itself as More Than a Host City
Kyoto Prefecture and Kyoto City are treating IVS as ecosystem infrastructure, not a one-off event.
Governor Takatoshi Nishiwaki pointed to ongoing collaborations between past LAUNCHPAD winners and local universities and companies — work that continues long after the event ends. The prefecture will host a KYOTO ZONE bringing together local companies, universities and financial institutions. The aim is to let participants experience the region’s startup ecosystem directly. Kyoto has long been home to major technology and manufacturing firms, research universities and a cultural identity built around craftsmanship and long-term thinking. Officials are betting that mix can produce globally competitive startups.
Kyoto City, for its part, is linking the conference to themes of natural capital, sustainability and business succession through a series of official side events. Mayor Koji Matsui compared the city to nukadoko — a fermented rice bran bed that absorbs new ingredients while drawing on a deep history.
Side events will be scattered across the city, with organizers introducing a certified badge system for approved gatherings that meet operational standards. Certified events will be listed on the 4S ticket platform. The approach turns the three-day conference into something closer to a city-wide innovation week, with the main venue as an anchor and dozens of smaller events around it.
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