SPORTS TECH TOKYO KICKOFF! Global Sports Tech Companies Gather in Tokyo
The sports-themed global acceleration program " SPORTS TECH TOKYO " (hosted by Dentsu Inc., program partner: Scrum Ventures) held its kickoff conference over three days from April 8 to 10 at BASE Q in Midtown Hibiya, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, and at the Imperial Hotel.
The conference, which brought together 104 startups from 19 countries to Tokyo, saw participation not only from startups but also from numerous leading Japanese sports teams and leagues, as well as companies aiming to create new ventures, resulting in many business matchings.
After the reception party on Day 1, participants gathered at BASE Q Hall on Day 2. Organizers Dentsu Inc. and Scrum Ventures, partner companies Itochu Corporation, Microsoft Japan, and CBC, along with the Sports Advisory Board featuring top executives from Japanese sports organizations and mentors, took the stage or delivered video messages, sending passionate messages to the startups.
Guest speaker Daichi Suzuki, Commissioner of the Japan Sports Agency, explained the agency's stance: "We view sports not merely as competition but as an industry. By collaborating and integrating with other industries, including the health industry, we aim to create a large market." He introduced the concept of the "Sports Open Innovation Platform" (SOIP) promoted by the agency.
Commissioner Suzuki stated the goal of SOIP: "Sports possess remarkable power—the power to communicate, to connect people and nations, and to promote health. It not only enhances the value of sports through collaboration with other industries but also uses the power of sports to enhance the value of other industries and solve social issues." He also praised the SPORTS TECH TOKYO initiative, calling it "an effort that truly embodies the SOIP concept on a global level," and offered encouragement, stating, "Together with everyone gathered here today, I want to realize changing the future and changing society through sports."
Following this, roundtable discussions on various themes were held at the venue, where companies with similar areas of interest met face-to-face to exchange ideas.
The afternoon of the second day featured pitch sessions by all 104 startups. Divided into three rooms—"Athlete Performance," "Fan Engagement," and "Stadium Solutions"—they delivered passionate presentations.
Day 3 began with speeches from the B.League and Hokkaido Ballpark as members of the Sports Advisory Board. Matchmaking meetings were held throughout the morning and afternoon, resulting in 564 successful matches in a single day.
Special sessions by LiveLike and Dentsu Inc. Ventures, followed by a special session by Nishimura & Asahi Law Offices, were interspersed throughout. The event concluded with a networking party at BASE Q Hall, wrapping up three days filled with hope and excitement for the future.
The program will now proceed to the selection phase for the 159 participating companies (startups that passed the initial screening), including the 104 companies that attended the Kickoff Conference. After selecting 10 to 20 finalists, the program will move into the "Business Development Program," which constitutes the first half of the overall initiative.
Innovation in Sports! SPORTS TECH TOKYO
https://dentsu-ho.com/booklets/339
SPORTS TECH TOKYO
https://sportstech.tokyo/
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