How to get the most out of IVS2026: The ultimate guide to bringing home real results with 80% preparation and 20% execution #IVS2026

Hello. I'm Sunagare, in charge of PR for IVS2026.

Finally, IVS2026 will be held in Kyoto from Wednesday, July 1 to Friday, July 3, 2026. This is an event where more than 10,000 people are expected to gather. With an event of this scale, many people might feel a bit apprehensive, thinking, "I want to go, but I'm shy, so I'm anxious," "I feel like the three days will end just with exchanging business cards," or "I don't really know what I should do in the first place."

Personally, I feel that whether you can bring back successful results from IVS is decided by "80% preparation, 20% execution." How you move around on the days of the event is incredibly important, but as someone who is involved in PR every year, my feeling is that what you can bring back changes significantly depending on how much you prepare before going.

Furthermore, this year, the exhibition period, venues, and participation system have all changed compared to last year. Therefore, as someone in my fifth year doing PR for IVS, I have put together a guide on "How to make the most of IVS2026."

First, I will summarize "What is different this year," and then guide you in order of preparation, the days of the event, and post-event actions. Just one quick note before starting. Details about the days of the event, such as registration, how to pick up your pass, the venue map, and shuttle buses, are compiled in detail in the official "GUEST GUIDEBOOK."

Since I will leave those details to the guidebook, this article will focus strictly on "How to make the most of IVS."

What is different about this year's IVS?

• From Wednesday, July 1 to Friday, July 3, 2026. The three venues are Miyako Messe, ROHM Theatre Kyoto, and Hotel Okura Kyoto.

• The invitation-only area "IVS CORE" has been newly established. It is invitation-only for about 1,000 people and set at Hotel Okura Kyoto. Details will be provided in the second half of the article.

• The "Referral Ticket" system, which allows you to invite your peers, has started. Along with this, the "IVS Family Tree (Referral Graph)" is also a new mechanism.

• The way networking (interaction) is done during the event has been redesigned. New initiatives, such as the "Black Market" for matching through bartering, are increasing.

• The theme for this year is "Japan is Back."

Let me explain a little bit more about this "Japan is Back" theme. While IVS has greatly expanded its base of participants until now, this year we are focusing even more on "high quality." Showing the true value of Japanese startups to the world once again. This year's IVS consists of three days filled with that passion.

Now, from here, let's look at "how to act to get the most benefit" one by one.

Preparation Phase: Set a Goal and Get Connected

First, narrow down your goal to just one

I think the most important thing in preparation is to narrow down "what you want to do at this year's IVS" to just one things. Do you want to raise funds, hire great talent, or find business partners? Once your goal is set, the people you want to meet and the places you should visit will naturally be determined. Conversely, if this is vague, you tend to spend the three days aimlessly and just end up finishing.

Get connected before going with 4S

IVS has a participant platform called "4S (Force)." I recommend starting your preparation for this year from here.

First, express your intention to participate. This year, you can use a dedicated generator (https://ivs.4s.link/ativs ). There are eight stances: "Want to raise funds," "Want to invest," "Want to do M&A," "Want to hire executives," "Want to change jobs," "Want to expand overseas," "Want to make friends," and "Want to get drunk on the atmosphere." If you select one close to yours, a vertical visual for IVS2026 will be automatically generated (you can also write whatever you like, just like I did).

If you post this on social media, it communicates to others before you even meet: "This person is coming with this purpose." This lowers the hurdle for talking to each other compared to suddenly speaking to someone on the day. If you can't decide on a goal, choosing one from these eight is also a good option.

Once you have expressed your intention to participate, create your profile on 4S and look for people you want to meet. Since you can send meeting requests before the event starts, it is much safer to set up some appointments before going rather than expecting coincidences on the day.

Actually, there were about 3,900 meetings booked at last year's IVS. This is one of the features that people in the know are utilizing intensely! Don't just rely on coincidences; please make full use of this function.

And starting this year, the "Referral Ticket" has begun, allowing you to invite up to 2 trusted peers using your code. Who invited whom can be traced on the "IVS Family Tree" on 4S. Many people should find it easier to move around with someone they know well rather than coming alone.

Using the IVS Family Tree...

"Oh, this person and that person are connected!"
"I've always wanted to talk to that person, maybe I can ask ⚪︎⚪︎-san to introduce me?"
"I want to connect this person and that person, so let's invite them with a referral."
"Since we are on the same family tree, let's contact this person."

And so on, I hope you will make effective use of it.

Personally, I've got in touch with people like, "Are these two close enough that this person invited that person? Then, let's all go grab dinner next time." Also, when utilizing the meeting function of 4S, I think communication will go much smoother if you understand who is whose parent or child, and who the founder is.

How to get tickets (the earlier, the cheaper)

The sooner you take action, the cheaper you can secure tickets. The free campaign for the first 6,000 tickets has already ended distribution, so from here on, the referral code discount price is the best deal.

The price goes up as the event approaches. If you use a referral code, it is 19,800 yen from June 23 to 30, and 29,800 yen from July 1 onwards.

For students, "IVS PASS Student" is available for 4,980 yen. If you are interested, I think it's better to secure a code early.

Prep for the people you will meet

Once you have set up appointments, research the people you are going to meet. Asking generative AI like ChatGPT or Perplexity, or compiling researched content in NotebookLM, will make conversation go smoother on the day. Just knowing a little bit about their business or recent statements will make them happy, and because you can skip some basic explanations to have deeper business discussions, there are only benefits for both sides.

Regarding this, it is something you can do even while on the move without spending the effort of researching everything yourself, by "letting generative AI search for you for the time being," and yet it makes the other person happy. So please take this opportunity to adopt and habitualize it.

At the same time, it is reassuring to prepare self-introduction materials or videos that you can send after exchanging business cards. If it's only verbal, meeting many people often leads to "Who was that person again?" having something they can look back at later will keep you in their memory.

Of course, IVS also has materials prepared. This year, we have set up a press kit page where media and sponsors can download materials. Having such materials and pages ready makes subsequent communication smoother.

One more thing, I also recommend bringing something that communicates at a glance "what you do." Whether the company logo or service name stands out on your T-shirt is super important in this kind of event. Each company uses various methods to make an appeal, such as wearing original Happi coats or bringing along / carrying characters on their back.

T-shirts with a subtle logo on the chest or only on the back might not be visible at all to others during events where you walk around carrying backpacks or wearing jackets (which is surprisingly common). Please take this opportunity to also pay attention to appealing through what you wear.

Schedule your side events

What greatly supports the fun of IVS is the many side events held around the main IVS event. Popular events fill up quickly, so be sure to sign up for those you want to attend in advance.

On top of that, if you create your own "schedule" with the feeling of making a festival timetable, you won't get lost on the day. Having the sessions you want to watch, appointments, and side events you want to attend arranged on a timeline will show you at a glance where you need to be.

As for side events, more than 500 were held last year. Since various events are held from morning till night, please try to find them utilizing 4S's event page. It might sound a bit strange coming from the management, but IVS is truly complete only when you participate in side events!

Every year we receive various reports such as getting work from someone met at a side event, making best friends, finding co-founders, or talking deeply with a prominent person they wanted to meet.

I also hold a side event for PR/public relations specialists every year.
Startup PR Night (A side event for PR specialists & CxOs or people interested in PR)

The Days of the Event: Set a Base and Interact Intensively

If you are prepared, moving around on the day becomes much easier. From here, let's talk about how to move at the venue.

First, set a base for yourself

My recommendation is to decide on your own