SusHi Tech Tokyo and TIB Named Core Hubs in Tokyo’s Drive to Build Global-Scale Startups
Tokyo names SusHi Tech Tokyo and TIB core startup hubs, launching SusHi Tech Global Startups with up to ¥200m support and a new public-private investment fund.
Tokyo’s metropolitan government has formally positioned SusHi Tech Tokyo and Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB) as the city’s two principal startup networking hubs in a push to cultivate globally competitive companies. SusHi Tech Tokyo will continue as an annual international gathering, while TIB serves as a permanent collaboration space in Chiyoda Ward, and both are central to the government’s renewed startup strategy. The plan, updated in November 2025, shifts emphasis toward nurturing high-growth “unicorn” firms and attracting increased private investment to the city’s innovation ecosystem.
Designation of Two Core Hubs
The metropolitan government announced the elevation of SusHi Tech Tokyo and TIB as complementary pillars of its startup policy, combining cyclical global convening with a fixed local base for year-round activity. Officials said the two platforms are intended to bridge entrepreneurs, investors, corporations and municipal agencies by concentrating resources and networks. The move reflects a strategic pivot from earlier, more diffuse support toward targeted backing of scale-up ventures able to compete globally.
TIB’s Permanent Base in Chiyoda and Public Access
Tokyo Innovation Base, located near JR Yurakucho Station in Chiyoda Ward, has operated as a continuous hub since May 2024 and is free for users, the metropolitan government reports. The facility hosts entrepreneurs, investors, local officials and students and includes a dedicated lab space where corporate technologies are displayed and demonstrated. TIB has recorded more than 80,000 registered users, signaling strong uptake among local and visiting stakeholders seeking collaboration and prototyping opportunities.
SusHi Tech Global Startups Financial Support
Under the banner SusHi Tech Global Startups, the metropolitan government will select high-potential companies for an intensive support package that can include up to ¥200 million in assistance over a maximum period of 18 months. The program is tailored to accelerate firms with the potential for rapid international expansion and to help bridge pre- and post-investment gaps that often stall scaling. Officials described the package as a focused instrument to give promising ventures both capital and access to business development resources.
Public-Private Fund to Drive Follow-on Investment
To complement direct support, Tokyo plans to create a joint public-private investment fund designed to deepen venture capital flows into the ecosystem and stimulate follow-on financing rounds. City authorities said the fund aims to leverage private sector expertise and capital while lowering early-stage risk through public anchoring. The structure is intended to attract domestic and international investors by aggregating deal flow routed through SusHi Tech Tokyo and TIB activities.
Geographic Expansion Plans Across Tokyo
Officials signaled that Tokyo intends to replicate the TIB model across other districts to strengthen regional innovation linkages and sector specialization. Planned expansion areas include the waterfront zone, where research institutions and technology firms cluster, and the Tama area, noted for its concentration of universities and research talent. By situating satellite facilities in these localities, the metropolitan government hopes to connect university-led research and waterfront R&D with commercialization pathways.
Administration and Collaboration Goals
Tomonobu Nishigawa of the metropolitan government’s Startup Strategy Promotion Headquarters said the city seeks to consolidate disparate support functions to improve coordination and access. The administration plans to work closely with private-sector partners to extend TIB’s role as a gateway to existing startup support centers across Tokyo’s wards. Officials emphasize that collaboration across municipal lines and sectors will be critical to moving companies from early-stage formation toward global competitiveness.
Tokyo’s refreshed strategy reflects a broader trend among city governments to prioritize scale and investment readiness rather than simply increasing the number of new ventures. By combining the global reach of SusHi Tech Tokyo with a permanent, free-access workspace at TIB and a new public-private fund, the metropolitan government aims to create a more integrated pipeline from idea to international market. The success of the initiative will hinge on sustained private investment, effective selection of beneficiaries for the SusHi Tech Global Startups program, and the ability of expanded local bases to connect talent, research and capital across the metropolis.
