The domestic largest startup conference, "IVS2026," will be held for three days from July 1 (Wednesday) to July 3 (Friday), 2026, with Miyako Messe, ROHM Theatre Kyoto, and Hotel Okura Kyoto as the main venues. We are pleased to announce the second round of highlighted sessions to be held at IVS (Miyako Messe, ROHM Theatre Kyoto). The highlighted sessions for IVS CORE will be announced separately.
With the theme of "Japan is Back," IVS2026 is thoroughly designed to pursue "height" and prove the true value of Japanese startups to the world. In this release, as the second round, we introduce the highlighted sessions featuring leading entrepreneurs, investors, executives, and policymakers.
July 1 (Wednesday)
OPENING SESSION: Japan is Back: How to turn Nobel-prize level discoveries into industries - The frontier opened by Susumu Kitagawa and the future of deep tech investment -
Nobel-prize level scientific discoveries hold great potential not only for the progress of human knowledge but also for solving social challenges such as decarbonization and new energy. However, delivering that value to society requires industrialization support from a perspective different from research itself. Starting from "PCP/MOF" by Professor Susumu Kitagawa of Kyoto University, this session depicts the process through which advanced research progresses to social implementation via startups. While research, entrepreneurship, investment, and government intersect, we will discuss how to overcome the "valley of death in deep tech," presenting the possibilities of innovation from Japan and the trend of "Japan is Back."
Speakers:
Mr. Kazutaka Muraguchi (Representative of Japan Technology Venture Partners Co., Ltd.)
Mr. Susumu Kitagawa (Director of Research Promotion, Vice-President, and Distinguished Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto University)
Mr. Takatoshi Nishiwaki (Governor of Kyoto Prefecture)
Mr. Daisuke Asari (Representative Director and CEO of Atomis Inc.)
Start-up National Strategy originating from Japan opened by AI and On-Chain Finance
AI, stablecoins, tokenized deposits, on-chain payments, and more are not only changing the nature of finance but are also redefining industrial competitiveness and the structure of capital markets. In this session, we will discuss regulatory design, financial institution transformation, challenges faced by startups, and connection to capital markets. What is necessary for Japan to balance the reliability of existing finance with the innovativeness of new technology to construct a next-generation financial ecosystem? We will explore public-private social implementation and winning strategies for startups from Japan.
Speakers:
Mr. Rei Matsukura (Director and CEO of AVILEN, Inc.)
Mr. Seiji Kihara (Member of the House of Representatives, Secretary-General of the Japan Growth Strategy Headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party)
Mr. Noritaka Okabe (Representative Director of JPYC Inc.)
Mr. Tatsuya Saito (Representative Director of Progmat, Inc.)
New Standards for Startup Entrepreneurs - Diversity of Entrepreneurial Images and Redefining Their Mindset -
In recent years, the forms of startups have diversified significantly. The meaning implied by the word "entrepreneur" continues to expand, encompassing not only SaaS-like scale-oriented entrepreneurs but also social-implementation types, research-and-development types, D2C/real-industry originators, and regional/primary-industry players. In this session, welcoming four entrepreneurs leading businesses in different domains, we will return to fundamental questions such as "Why do you start a business?" and "What kind of life themes do you have?" to explore the entrepreneurial mindset and new standards required in the times to come.
Speakers:
Mr. Keisuke Tatsuoka (General Partner of ALPHA, Inc.)
Mr. Fumiyoshi Takahashi (Representative Director of concon Inc.)
Mr. Reiji Kobayashi (Representative Director of HAKKI GROUP Co., Ltd.)
Mr. Shingo Yuhara (Representative Director and CEO of forest Co., Ltd.)
July 2 (Thursday)
Is it true that Japan is not a resource-rich nation? Resource acquisition strategies facing geopolitical risks
In today's intensifying geopolitical environment where energy security is a top national priority, Japan is trying to transform into "a country that generates resources through technology." Under the objective of whether regenerability that leverages Japan's uniqueness and strengths can be created, how can Japan grip the "bottlenecks" of global supply chains and grasp opportunities by combining its precise technological capabilities with domestic resources? We will passionately debate that strategic roadmap.
Speakers:
Mr. Tatsuya Nakamura (Principal of Globis Capital Partners Co., Ltd.)
Mr. Naoya Kato (Representative Director of Enecoat Technologies Co., Ltd.)
Mr. Ryota Nomura (Representative of Quon Energy)
Mr. Takahisa Utaki (Director and COO of GeoDreams Co., Ltd.)
Mr. Mitsuo Shimofuji (Representative Director and CEO of ZettaJoule Inc.)
How Japanese companies fight in the AI agent era
With generative AI and AI agents spreading rapidly, we dive into how companies should evolve and fight in the future. In this session, DeNA, the titan of the Japanese internet industry wagering its entire collective company on AI, along with the AI lead of a domestic AI venture responsible for transforming large enterprises through social implementation, and a startup developing a speech recognition model specialized in Japanese (transcription AI), will speak on how startups, large enterprises, and governments should utilize AI going forward.
Speakers:
Mr. Koki Tanaka (Associate of Incubate Fund Co., Ltd.)
Mr. Masaaichiro Sumiyoshi (General Manager of AI Innovation Business Division at DeNA Co., Ltd.)
Mr. Yasuyuki Hama (Group Executive Officer and General Manager of AI Platform Business Division at ExaWizards Inc.)
Mr. Jungo Kasai (Co-founder & CTO of Kotoba Technologies, Inc.)
Why can't we win globally? Seriously considering the obstacles facing the Japanese entertainment industry
While contents like Japanese anime, manga, games, and music boast global popularity, in reality, foreign companies hold the initiative in terms of industrial scale and profitability. There are many structural issues hindering growth, such as IP rights structures, production systems, capital strength, and global development.
In this session, we will frankly discuss the reasons why the Japanese entertainment industry is unable to win completely in the world. From perspectives including how IP businesses should be run, returns to creators, utilization of capital and technology, and global strategies, we will search for breakthroughs to grow Japanese content into a true global industry.
Speakers:
Mr. Shunsuke Oyu (Representative Director and CEO of AnotherBall Inc.)
Mr. Mark Mao (General Manager of Sales Planning and Business Development Division at Cover Corp.)
Mr. Yuto Sakata (Film Producer at STORY inc.)
Mr. Ryoichi Suzuki (General Manager of Creators' Lab, Fourth Business Division, and General Manager of Global Strategy Office at Kodansha Ltd.)
July 3 (Friday)
Beyond the IPO Goal——How to create a startup market "chosen by shareholders"
In the Japanese startup market, it has long been pointed out that IPOs are designed as an "exit" rather than a passing point of growth. What is required not only to achieve a successful initial stock price, funding amount, and buzz at listing, but to also grow market capitalization post-listing, build trust relationships with shareholders, and become a company continuously chosen by institutional and individual investors? Seriously confronting issues that have been pointed out such as the "IPO goal," "disregard for shareholders," "immaturity of IR," and "management unable to explain cost of capital," capital market experts will discuss the conditions for a healthy startup market.
Speakers:
Mr. Hideto Fujino (Founder of Rheos Capital Works / Representative Director and Chairman of HEVN STAGE)
Mr. Shintaro Tabata (Activist Individual Investor / YouTuber)
Mr. Masayuki Mochida (Co-CEO at Mpathy / MD at Tybourne Capital)
Mr. Yusuke Asakura (Managing Partner of Animal Spirits)
"Will partnering with major companies really drive growth?" 〜 The "truth of failures" and conditions for "collaborations that grow" told by companies with different assets 〜
Collaborating with large companies is not magic. There are conditions. Where lies the difference between collaborations that failed to grow despite being adopted, and collaborations that truly became viable businesses? Parties who have continued to stand at the forefront of startup co-creation, using diverse strengths and assets as weapons, will thoroughly discuss "reproducible growth methods" without concealing failures and real feelings.
Speakers:
Ms. Yuko Takeda (Director of Startup Growth Strategy Department, Open Innovation Promotion Division at KDDI Corporation)
Mr. Tatsuya Takeda (General Manager of Seven Lab at Seven Bank, Ltd.)
Mr. Hiroki Kawame (Manager of DX Promotion Dept. and Urban Management Business Dept. at Hankyu Hanshin Properties Corp.)
Mr. Masato Kunezaki (Managing Partner of Japan Airlines Ventures, Inc.)
Product development and engineering organization redesign transformed by AI coding 〜 Destroy and update the common sense of development 〜
In an era where AI writes code, where does the essence of development remain? As the center of gravity shifts from implementation to design, and further to value creation, how will the competitive advantage of product development change? We will discuss the core of the tectonic shift occurring right now.
Speakers:
Mr. Mitsuhiro Suemoto (Executive Officer and Head of Findy Freelance Business at Findy Inc.)
Mr. Masataka Sato (Director and CTO of Findy Inc.)
Mr. Daichi Hiroki (Representative Director of Rector, Inc. / Author of "AI Agents: Machines Cooperating with Humanity")
Mr. Takayuki Okubo (Senior Executive Officer and CTO of NOT A HOTEL inc.)
Other Sessions
In addition to these, many sessions are scheduled throughout the three days. Details and speakers for each session will be announced sequentially as they are confirmed.
Overview of IVS2026
IVS is the domestic largest startup conference that started in 2007. Startups, investors, large corporations, and creators from Japan and abroad gather in one place, and in 2026, it will be held in Kyoto under the theme "Japan is Back."
This year, we will establish the "IVS" area (Kyoto International Exhibition Hall "Miyako Messe" and "ROHM Theatre Kyoto") as an evolved, compilation version of IVS2023, IVS2024, and IVS2025 held in Kyoto, and newly introduce the Reiwa version invitation-only "IVS CORE" area (Hotel Okura Kyoto). The event will be held across these two areas.
【IVS ("Miyako Messe," "ROHM Theatre Kyoto")】
Startup stakeholders, corporate businesses, investors, aspiring entrepreneurs, supporters, government, research institutions, and students. This area is open to everyone who will create the next generation. We will host stage sessions, the startup exhibition "Startup Market," and IVS's flagship pitch event "IVS LAUNCHPAD," among others.
【IVS CORE (Hotel Okura Kyoto)】*Newly established, invitation-only
This is a completely invitation-only area where only decision-makers participate, such as startup management, institutional investors, executives of large corporations, and government/policymakers. We will provide opportunities where concrete decision-making takes place, including off-the-record sessions, power matching between decision-makers, and M&A matching.
To participate in IVS2026, an access pass is required. There are two types: "IVS PASS" to participate in the IVS area, and the completely invitation-only "CORE PASS" to participate in the IVS CORE area. The CORE PASS is a pass subject to screening, and only invitees can purchase it.
Name: IVS2026
Theme: Japan is Back
Dates: July 1 (Wednesday) to 3 (Friday), 2026
Location: Kyoto International Exhibition Hall "Miyako Messe," ROHM Theatre Kyoto, Hotel Okura Kyoto, etc.
Organizer: IVS KYOTO Executive Committee (Headline Japan / Kyoto Prefecture / Kyoto City)
Official Website: https://www.ivs.events/
Official X: https://x.com/IVS_Official
About IVS KYOTO Executive Committee
Established jointly by Headline Japan, Inc., Kyoto Prefecture, and Kyoto City with the goal of further developing the startup ecosystem and promoting regional industry on the occasion of hosting IVS in Kyoto. We will promote the integration of startups with companies, universities/research institutions, and cultural resources accumulated in Kyoto, leading to the creation of new industries and spawning startup companies that compete globally.
Composing Organizations: Headline Japan, Inc., Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City