TOKYO (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese startups are deepening their efforts to enter the Japanese market, with more than 50 companies participating in SusHi Tech Tokyo, the country’s largest startup-focused event.
The delegation was led by Startup Island Taiwan, backed by Taiwan’s National Development Council, in coordination with AWS Taiwan and ecosystem partners.
Among the featured speakers was Taiwan’s former Digital Minister Audrey Tang (唐鳳), who joined a panel alongside David Ha, co-founder of Sakana AI, a Tokyo-based company that has quickly emerged as a key player in Japan’s generative AI sector. Also speaking was Chin-Han Yu (游直翰), founder of Tokyo-listed AI company Appier, reflecting the growing presence of Taiwanese entrepreneurs in Japan’s tech landscape.
Japan has taken steps to formalize cross-border engagement. In 2024, the Tokyo Stock Exchange launched the TSE Asia Startup Hub, selecting 14 companies across the region, including four with core teams in Taiwan: NextDrive, KKday, Ubitus, and 21st Financial Technology. All four were present at SusHi Tech this year.
One day before SusHi Tech, Startup Island Taiwan co-hosted Asia MirAI Day with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and partners from Techsauce, Techshake, and ASEAN.
The event, held at Tokyo Innovation Base, attracted more than 300 participants and featured a panel on Japan’s AI competitiveness, startup integration challenges, and cross-border collaboration. Panelists included Wesley Kuo (Ubitus), Ilya Kulyatin (Tokyo AI), Kei Furukawa (UTokyo IPC), and Jon Yu (Asianometry).
During the event, Startup Island Taiwan signed a memorandum of understanding with the Mitsubishi Research Institute, MRI, to support Taiwanese startups expanding into Japan through joint research and business matching. Representatives from both sides described the agreement as a starting point for longer-term cooperation.
As part of the week’s broader program, Taiwan Innovation Night was held at JETRO’s Tokyo headquarters in partnership with Mighty Net, Nirik, and Startup Island Taiwan.
The event included pitches from six Taiwanese startups — including Mobagel, VM-Fi, and Avalanche Computing — focusing on AI, digital transformation, and multilingual communication tools. Corporate attendees included representatives from Salesforce CVC, Fujitsu Ventures, and AWS.
Several Taiwanese startups also reported progress in their Japan market efforts. AlleyPin, a smart health startup, has signed contracts with more than 30 clinics within one year.
CancerFree Biotech was selected for the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology’s startup program. Yallvend has deployed its smart vending systems to over 500 locations across Osaka and was preparing for expansion ahead of Expo 2025. Asia Pathogenomics, a startup specializing in infectious disease diagnostics, reached the semifinal round of the SusHi Tech pitch contest and received the Corporate Partner Award.
Despite momentum, challenges remain. Taiwanese founders continue to cite language barriers, long B2B sales cycles, and integration with Japan’s conservative corporate culture as hurdles to scaling. Several startups said that maintaining a physical presence in Japan remains a key factor in building trust with local partners.
