Uniting Global Innovators with a Sports Tech Focus During World Athletics Championships

TOKYO, August 8, 2025 – The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will host “TIB Global Day 2025 Autumn” at the Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB), a premier event bringing together startups from Japan and abroad aiming to expand globally, along with their supporters. The previous event, held in January of this year, attracted numerous participants from around the world and was filled with vibrant international energy.

Scheduled to align with two other major global events in September, TIB Global Day 2025 Autumn will serve as a platform for innovators to connect and showcase their work. It coincides with the Global Startup EXPO 2025, hosted by the Japanese government at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai site, and the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25, running from September 13 to 21. Together, these events create an opportunity for global exchange and help strengthen Tokyo’s connections with the world.

This year’s event will focus on sports tech—a field utilizing technologies like AI and wearable devices to improve athlete performance and enhance the spectator experience. As a rapidly expanding global market, sports tech is driving innovations that create new solutions for the sports industry and its audiences.

1. Event Details

(1) Date and Time

Friday, September 19, 2025
13:30–19:00 (check-in starts at 13:00)

(2) Venue

Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB) 3-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
https://tib.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en

(3) Key Program Highlights

• Special session featuring athletes like Asuka Terada, a top competitor in the women’s 100m hurdles.

• Pitch event focused on themes such as sports tech, led by startups.

• Exhibitions and demonstrations showcasing cutting-edge technologies developed by sports tech startups.

• Asuka Terada

  Talk sessions and networking with global venture capitalists and accelerators.

• Presentations by corporations and clusters collaborating with startups on innovative initiatives.

Note: Pitches and talk sessions will primarily be conducted in English (simultaneous interpretation available). Certain sessions will also be conducted in Japanese.
Additionally, frozen sushi utilizing advanced freezing technologies developed by startups will be sold at the event, offering a taste experience equivalent to fresh-made sushi.

(4) Registration Site

Register for the event using the following platforms:

• English (via Luma): https://lu.ma/clgj4wyb

• Japanese (via Peatix): https://tib-global-day-2025-autumn.peatix.com/

(5) Special Bonus for Attendees (Chance to win tickets to the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25)

• 6 winners will be selected by lottery from participants who attend both this event and the “Global Startup EXPO 2025.”

• 6 winners will be selected by lottery from participants who attend this event only.

For details on how to apply and other information, please visit the registration site listed above in Section (4).

 Global Startup EXPO 2025 (GSE 2025) is an international conference that will bring together approximately 150 deep-tech startups from around the world. The event is scheduled to take place on September 17–18, 2025, at the Osaka-Kansai Expo venue (EXPO Messe “WASSE”). For more details, please visit: https://global-startup-expo.go.jp/en/

2. Program Details

２F STAGE

■ From 13:30－”How Can Startups Get Selected by Global Accelerators?”

As AI continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the criteria global accelerators use to select startups are also constantly changing. This session will explore the latest trends and shed light on how accelerators evaluate startups. You might even learn how to craft an appealing presentation to improve your chances of being selected!

Speaker:

• Ryoko Manabe (Managing Director, Alchemist Japan), and others

■ From 15:00 – “Cutting-Edge Innovation Shaping the Future of Sports”

This session provides a space for participants with an interest in sports or global business expansion to come together and reflect on future initiatives from their own perspectives.

 a. Theme: Sports x Innovation

Speakers:

• Sorato Ijichi (President & CEO, Creww Inc.)

• Isamu Nishiyama (Director, Plug and Play Japan), and others

Topics:

• A discussion on the need for innovation and the growth potential of Japan’s sports industry, which lags behind other countries in terms of market volume

b. Theme: Open Innovation from a Startup Perspective
Speakers:

• Ryo Mizuno (Sales Division, SUSHI TOP MARKETING, INC.), and others

Topics:

• Insights into the benefits and challenges of collaborating with sports teams from a startup perspective

• Includes startup pitches and a panel discussion featuring participating corporations

■ From 17:30 – Future of Sports × Technology – Challenges From Athletes and Startups (In Japanese)

Speakers:

• Asuka Terada (Track and field athlete, women’s 100m hurdles)

• Anna Shimafuji (President & CEO, NeuralPort Inc.)

• Ryosuke Shiki (West Japan Area Lead, Creww Inc.)

Topics:

• With advancements in various technologies, the sports tech market is said to be expanding year by year. Increasingly, sports teams and related companies are promoting the adoption of innovative technologies through startup development and investment initiatives.

• In this session, startups and their supporters will discuss the latest trends in sports tech. Additionally, Asuka Terada, former Japanese record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles and a competitor aiming to qualify for the World Athletics Championships, will share how technological advancements are expanding the potential of athletes, from the perspective of an active competitor.

Profile: Asuka Terada

A former Japanese record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, Terada represented Japan at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. After taking time off for childbirth and a rugby career, she returned to track and field, achieving numerous accomplishments, such as winning the Japan National Championship and competing in the World Athletics Championships. She is also actively involved in mentoring the next generation and delivering motivational talks.

１F

■ From 13:30－TIB PITCH Global : Sports Tech and Healthcare Edition

• Pitch event featuring Sports Tech startups aiming for global expansion

• Companies offering innovative technologies and services will deliver presentations in English, creating opportunities for collaboration with Japanese and international investors and companies.

• The winner will receive the right to exhibit at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026.

• Applications for participating startups will open on Friday, August 8, 2025.

For details, please check the application page:
https://tib.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/posts/9Je2S7s9

■ From 14:00－Exhibitions and Demonstrations by Sports Tech Startups

• Sports tech startups will showcase advanced technologies through exhibitions and live demonstrations.

• The showcased technologies will represent solutions for shaping the future of sports in fields such as performance enhancement, fan engagement, and sports management.

■ From 17:30－TIB CATAPULT Kickoff (Partially in Japanese)

TIB CATAPULT supports the development of global startups by fostering an “innovation cluster,” a collaborative community of corporations and investors leveraging their strengths to nurture promising startups.

• This session will introduce the newly selected clusters for FY2025 and include a talk session by clusters selected last year.

• This session is highly recommended for startups interested in collaborating with large corporations or for innovation leaders in corporate organizations exploring open innovation opportunities.

Note: “CATAPULT” refers to a launching device, symbolizing the image of startups using TIB as a springboard to propel themselves onto the global stage.

Selected Clusters:

FY 2025

FY 2024

For more information on TIB CATAPULT, please visit the official website:
https://tibcatapult.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/

３F　SALON

■ From 17:30－Insights from Global VCs: Sustained Support and Relationship-Building with Startups

This session will explore how global venture capitalists (VCs) build and maintain supportive relationships with startups, featuring concrete case studies. Learn about the types of support offered post-funding, how these efforts contribute to business growth, and strategic tips for collaborating more effectively with international VCs.

Speaker:

• Sandeep Casi (Antler Partner / Head of Ibex Japan), and others

Note:

• Additionally, an online session in collaboration with the City of Helsinki is planned. Details will be announced on the application page as they are finalized.

• Speakers and session content are subject to change. Please refer to the application page for the latest updates.