JStories ー Two landmark startup events in Osaka and Tokyo this August underscored the deepening ties between Taiwan and Japan’s innovation ecosystems. Organized by Startup Island TAIWAN — a government-backed brand under Taiwan’s National Development Council — the conferences brought together about 75 startups and hundreds of investors, officials, and entrepreneurs in what participants described as the largest Taiwan-Japan startup showcase to date.
The Osaka event’s highlight was the 2025 Taiwan Tech Week (Aug. 20-22), while Tokyo had its Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit (Aug. 25–26). From AI and smart cities to renewable energy and cross-border M&A, the two events showcased the ambitions of Taiwan’s next-generation founders and their growing influence in Japan.
Osaka: AI solutions for urban innovation (Aug. 20)
The series opened in Osaka with a one-day forum, “AI Solutions for Creating the Future of Urban Innovation.” One of the speakers, Startup Island TAIWAN Director Leo Wu, noted that more than 40 Taiwanese startups now operate in the Kansai region — double the number just two years ago. He pledged further regional partnerships and revealed that as many as 100 Taiwanese startups are expected to receive government-backed funding over the next three years to expand globally.
Takuro Maekawa, general manager at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC), was next to take the stage. He acknowledged that Japan has lagged in the shift toward cashless payments and continues to face challenges, but said the upcoming Osaka-Kansai Expo is helping to energize innovation communities. Maekawa emphasized that SMBC is working toward a fully cashless payment system and highlighted the importance of collaborating with leading startups from Taiwan and other markets to achieve that goal.
The main event featured a roundtable discussion featuring David Bae, a Korean entrepreneur and head of Japan’s BIG Impact Inc.; Brian Lim, COO of Encognize GK from Malaysia; and Joshua Flannery, an Australian who co-founded and leads the Innovation Dojo group, which connects startups between Japan and Australia.
Drawing on cross-border case studies — from Silicon Valley firms entering Japan to Japanese startups expanding abroad — the panelists discussed the prospect of a wider Asia-Pacific startup ecosystem through collaborations not just between Japan and Taiwan, but across Korea, ASEAN, and Australia.
A key theme that emerged was the importance of Kansai as a market. Panelists noted that the region’s GDP is larger than that of many countries. Foreign firms often target Tokyo as their entry point, but expanding into Osaka and the surrounding areas is just as critical for success in Japan.
Meet the Tech Founders (Aug. 21)
The second day of the conference featured a pitch contest among Taiwanese startup founders. Thirteen companies joined from different fields, such as autonomous driving, smart parking, energy IoT, and satellite communications.
One of the notable participants was NextDrive, which partnered with TEPCO and Chubu Electric and won Japan’s New Energy Award in 2022. The company said it aims for a Japanese IPO by 2027, building on contracts already secured in the Kansai region.
Exhibition booths were set up to allow visitors to experience the technologies. Yohei Takeda of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who also attended last year, told JStories, “Since the Expo is also happening this year, I noticed that more rising top-level startups have gathered this time compared to last year.”
Tokyo: Fourth Japan–Taiwan Innovation Summit (Aug. 25-26)
On Aug. 25, all roads led to Tokyo Imperial Hotel, where 45 Taiwanese startups joined the fourth Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit.
In his keynote speech, Chin-Ching Liu, minister of Taiwan’s National Development Council, reported that Taiwan’s GDP grew 6.7% in the first half of 2025, attributing much of it to startups. Japan, he said, is Taiwan’s “most natural first partner” in international expansion, citing cultural and industrial similarities.
The next speaker was Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, who in 2024 signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with SIT regarding support for startups. She shared that a joint event with Taiwan was held in Taipei this July, joined by five startups from Tokyo, with the goal of strengthening collaboration in the Japan-Taiwan startup ecosystem and promoting its initiatives. She also wished to continue building a bridge between Taiwan and Tokyo to foster innovation in the future.
CVC Strategies and Cross-Border M&A (Aug. 25)
One of the main events of the day was the Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) session, which featured leading Taiwanese VCs such as Z Venture Capital and Sony Ventures and was moderated by SparkLabs Taiwan representative Edgar Chiu. This session, designed to accelerate the growth of the Japan-Taiwan startup ecosystem and promote capital and business collaboration, discussed the potential of investment strategies and partnerships in the “CVC 4.0” era. Amid international initiatives such as Taiwan’s “Global Bridge” program and new startup hubs in Japan, the discussion focused on deep tech cooperation in semiconductors and AI to tackle shared challenges like declining birthrates and aging populations.
Another event was a panel discussion focusing on Japan-Taiwan cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A). The moderator was Hidetaka Kojima, general manager of Group Management Promotion at SHIFT, a rapidly growing company executing around 40 M&As annually. The panelists included notable M&A experts May Kao, CFO of 91APP*-KY; Allen Sung, CEO of USPACE; and Ying Wei Chen, head of corporate development at Appier. Drawing on their extensive experience, they discussed the trends in Japan-Taiwan M&A and opportunities for business expansion.
Pitch Marathon and Tokyo Hub Anniversary (Aug. 26)
Day 2 happenings were held at Tokyo Innovation Base (TiB) in Marunouchi. Around 40 Taiwanese startups pitched innovations in AI, health tech, and smart cities to an audience of investors and Japanese founders.
After the event, a commemorative ceremony was held at the Tokyo Hub, which Startup Island Taiwan established last year in conjunction with the “2024 Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit,” to celebrate its first anniversary. At the ceremony, participants were briefed on the Tokyo Hub’s achievements over its first year and its plans. Toshi Maeda, executive editor of JStories, the official media partner of the event, took the stage to communicate the potential of Japan-Taiwan collaboration through news reports and the significance of startups taking on cross-border challenges.
When these two big startup events concluded, it left a strong sense that Japan-Taiwan collaboration is moving to the next stage. Shuhei Yamada, professor at Oberlin University Graduate School, told JStories that regarding the future prospects of Japan-Taiwan cooperation, “It is increasingly recognized in Japanese society that Taiwan is a hub for high-tech industries such as semiconductors.” He added, “I believe there will continue to be opportunities to expand collaboration, especially in the high-tech and tourism sectors.” He has participated in the Innovation Summit since its inception and is well-versed in Taiwanese startups in Japan.
Additionally, Liu Chin-Ching, minister of Taiwan’s National Development Council, reflected on the event, telling JStories: “We are once again grateful to Japan for warmly welcoming Taiwanese startups. We look forward to even greater collaborative achievements from the passion of Japanese startups and the bonds of Japan-Taiwan friendship.”
Event Overview:
Name: AI Solutions for Creating the Future of Urban Innovation
Date & Time: Wednesday, Aug. 20, 13:00-17:00
Venue: NORIBA 10 Umeda (inside Hankyu Hanshin MEETS), 1-1-3 Shibata, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0015
Languages: English and Japanese (with AI simultaneous interpretation)
Supported by 2025 Japan International Expo Association
Name: Taiwanese Entrepreneurs’ Day
Date & Time: Wednesday, Aug. 21, 13:30-17:30
Venue: NORIBA 10 Umeda (inside Hankyu Hanshin MEETS), 1-1-3 Shibata, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0015
Name: Bridging Day
Date & Time: Monday, Aug. 25
Venue: Imperial Hotel, 1-1-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Organizer: Startup Island TAIWAN (supported by Taiwan National Development Council)
Languages: Chinese and Japanese (with simultaneous interpretation)
Name: Startup Pitch
Date & Time: Tuesday, Aug. 26
Venue: Tokyo Innovation Base (TiB), 3-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Organizer: Startup Island TAIWAN (supported by Taiwan National Development Council)
Languages: Chinese and Japanese (with AI interpretation)
Article by JStories
Top photo: Emi Takahata | JStories
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