TechCrunch is heading to Tokyo — and bringing the Startup Battlefield with it

TechCrunch is partnering with SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 , Asia’s largest global innovation conference, taking place April 27–29 at Tokyo Big Sight. And we’re not just showing up to cover it — our very own Startup Battlefield program manager, Isabelle Johannessen, will be on the ground as a judge for the SusHi Tech Challenge, the conference’s flagship global pitch competition. For the winner, the stakes couldn’t be higher: The SusHi Tech Challenge Grand Prix recipient will be automatically entered into the TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield Top 200 — making them eligible to pitch on one of the most coveted stages in the startup world. Image Credits: Kimberly White / Getty Images What is SusHi Tech Tokyo? Now in its fourth year, SusHi Tech Tokyo — short for Sus tainable Hi gh City Tech Tokyo — has grown into the largest innovation conference in Asia, drawing startups, investors, corporate partners, and city leaders from around the world. This year’s edition is the biggest yet: 750 startup exhibitors from 60 countries, more than 10,000 facilitated business meetings, and an expected 60,000 attendees across three days.