IVS is collaborating with 90 English to host the "IVS EXTREME TOUR CHINA," accelerating global expansion efforts. English communication support will be provided for participants.

IVS, one of Japan’s largest startup conferences, will host the “IVS EXTREME TOUR CHINA,” traveling across China’s Greater Bay Area (Macau, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen), from Tuesday, May 26 to Wednesday, June 3, 2026.

Through this tour, in collaboration with the English coaching school “90 English,” we will launch a new initiative to support the global expansion of Japanese entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Overcoming “Language,” the Biggest Barrier to Global Challenges

To date, IVS has organized study tours to regions around the world, including India and Africa, providing opportunities for Japanese startups to challenge overseas markets.

Meanwhile, the most common issue raised by participants has been
“anxiety about communicating in English.”

In response, we are partnering with the English coaching school “90 English” to provide an integrated program that combines pre- and post-tour learning, on-site communication, and overseas challenges.

Rather than a simple inspection tour, the goal is to move participants from “going abroad” to “negotiating abroad” . Although the destination is China, local communication during the tour will primarily be in English.

About IVS EXTREME TOUR CHINA

This tour will visit China’s Greater Bay Area, one of the world’s largest innovation economies.

Shenzhen, known as “China’s Silicon Valley,” is home to global companies such as Tencent and BYD; Hong Kong serves as an international financial hub; and Macau functions as a base for international exhibitions.

Participants will join Asia’s largest tech event, “BEYOND EXPO,” as VIPs and gain practical opportunities for global business through interactions with local companies, investors, and entrepreneurs.

Event Overview

Dates: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 – Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Cities to Visit: Macau, Hong Kong, Shenzhen

Capacity: Up to 30 participants

Target Participants: Entrepreneurs, investors, business company executives, etc.

Details of Collaboration with 90 English

As part of this initiative, we will provide the following:

• English communication support for participants

• English communication support during the tour

• Special participation slots for 90 English students

IVS will provide networks and opportunities,
while 90 English will enhance communication skills,
building a framework that provides both opportunities to challenge and the ability to take on those challenges.

Background of This Initiative

When Japanese startups expand overseas,
“communication” is increasingly becoming a bottleneck even more than funding or product.

IVS has long provided overseas networks, and through this collaboration, by combining overseas opportunities (IVS) × practical English (90 English), we aim to increase the likelihood that Japanese challengers will step into the global market.

Comment from 90 English Representative, Shota Takada

We want to deliver Japanese entrepreneurs a “weapon called English.”
While the ability of Japanese entrepreneurs to build businesses is on par with global standards, we feel that the disadvantage in English leads to undervaluation globally and weaker negotiating power. That is why, if entrepreneurs themselves can speak about their business and market in their own words and with passion, and gain the ability to negotiate assertively, they can compete on equal footing with entrepreneurs around the world. Through this overseas tour collaboration with IVS, we will fully support participants from the English side so this becomes a first step toward increasing the number of entrepreneurs who build businesses with a global perspective and brightening Japan’s future.

Comment from IVS Representative, Toshiaki Shimakawa

What Japan needs from now on is not overseas travel for information gathering, but overseas negotiations involving decision-making. However, for many entrepreneurs, that boundary comes down to whether they can speak English. This collaboration with 90 English is not about turning the tour into education, but about building infrastructure to make challenge-taking part of daily life. Not increasing the number of people who go abroad, but increasing the number of people who compete abroad. IVS wants to continue creating that starting point.

About IVS

Founded in 2007, IVS is one of Japan’s largest startup conferences, bringing together startups, investors, major corporations, and creators from Japan and abroad. In 2026, it will be held in Kyoto from July 1 to 3 at a scale of over 10,000 participants. With the theme “Japan is Back,” it will realize both “discovery” and “practical benefit” through a two-area structure. IVS will prove the true value of Japanese startups to the world.

Official website: https://www.ivs.events/

About 90 English

“90 English” is a “super” hands-on English coaching school for busy business professionals. Distinct from typical short-term intensive English learning services, it redesigns the learning experience based on the premise that “people are weak alone.” Its strength lies in a method that enables efficient learning without burnout through dedicated Japanese coaches who acquired English later in life and a user experience designed for habit formation.

Official website: https://90english.com