K-startups launch Japan entry at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2025

Korean innovative startups have opened the doors wide to the Japanese market. At 'Sushi Tech Tokyo 2025,' Asia's largest startup conference held at Tokyo Big Sight from May 8 to 10, eight promising Korean startups established a strong bridgehead for their entry into Japan and demonstrated their potential on the global stage. Sushi Tech Tokyo, an abbreviation for 'Sustainable High City,' served as a venue for future technologies aimed at sustainable advanced cities, a vibrant scene where approximately 500 startups from around the world participated and over 5,000 active business meetings took place. As the official Korean ambassador, the Korea Venture Business Association (KOVA) provided full support for the successful entry of Korean startups into the Japanese market. The companies that participated in the event with the association's support were Underdogs, Eta Electronics, EXIST, Oysterable, Nosenosoe, Davida, Man in Block, and Muker. These companies showcased their innovative technologies and ideas, attracting significant interest from local investors and corporate officials. Notably, Oysterable, which provides circular economy solutions utilizing AI and IoT technologies, achieved a remarkable feat by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Fills Inc., a leading Japanese eco-friendly company. Both companies plan to share core technologies and service know-how, and actively pursue joint sales and marketing using networks of public institutions and large corporations within Japan. This will be an important milestone for the entry of domestic circular economy solutions into the Japanese market. Man in Block, which developed a sleep disorder diagnosis solution, also launched its entry into the local market by forming a joint research collaboration with a Japanese medical institution. Park Jong-hyung, CEO of Man in Block, expressed his ambition, stating, “I am delighted to expand our business to Japan, a key medical market, following Southeast Asia.” He added, “We will contribute to solving global urban problems through AI-based medical innovation.” Furthermore, Nosenosoe, a senior healthcare solution company, also explored possibilities for collaboration with numerous Japanese companies at the event, laying the groundwork for expanding global partnerships. Nosenosoe's solutions are expected to generate significant resonance in the Japanese market, which faces the challenges of an aging society. An official from the Korea Venture Business Association emphasized, “Our participation in Sushi Tech Tokyo 2025 is significant because it goes beyond mere short-term exhibition attendance; it has established an important foundation for domestic startups to deeply root themselves in the Japanese market.” He added, “We promise to continue providing generous support so that our companies can demonstrate brilliant competitiveness and create new opportunities on the global stage.” This achievement served as an opportunity to once again confirm the potential for Korean startups to make a global leap.