3 EXCITING VENUES ACROSS TORANOMON HILLS AREA (TOKYO) FROM 1:30PM-9:00PM JST!
Uniting for “COLLECTIVE IMPACT”
Global Gathering is open to everyone, and attendance is FREE for all.
If you see a check mark inside the box on the SIGN UP button, your pre-registration has been successfully completed. Even if you don’t receive a confirmation email, that’s okay – your pre-registration is completed.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Venture Café Global Gathering Tokyo ’26 takes place on February 19th 2026. An international innovation gathering hosted by Venture Café in the heart of Tokyo. Centered around the theme of Collective Impact, the event connects changemakers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and ecosystem builders from across the globe.
Through a dynamic mix of pitch competitions, immersive workshops, regional showcases, and curated networking, Global Gathering fosters deep, cross-border collaboration and empowers meaningful, measurable outcomes. Anchored by Venture Café’s global network and community-first approach, the initiative positions Tokyo as a vibrant hub within the global innovation ecosystem.
Join us as we turn shared challenges into collective progress, connecting global innovators to make things happen.
WHO IS THE GLOBAL GATHERING FOR?
Any and all visitors are welcome at Venture Café!
We encourage anybody who is interested in making connections on a global scale to join us at Global Gathering.
It will be an especially valuable experience if you identify as one of the groups below.
Startup Founders
Looking to scale, connect, and gain insights from global leaders.
Investors and Corporate Innovators
Seeking growth opportunities across borders.
Nonnative Japanese
Wanting to explore Tokyo’s dynamic innovation landscape and expand their network.
Trade Organizations and Policy-Makers
Ready to build meaningful business relationships with leaders from 15 international ecosystems.
Explore Venture Café Global Gathering Tokyo’s 2026 Program
Beyond the Generic Hub: The Rise of Specialized Innovation Districts
Picking a Winner – Specialization & Cluster Focus
Activating Powerful Innovation Communities
Designing Collision: Creating Physical Spaces for Innovation
Going Global: How Ecosystems Scale Through Connection
The Innovation Ecosystem Blueprint: Foundational Keys to Success
From Tokyo to New York: Navigating Innovation Ecosystems with Hitachi
Tokyo's Ecosystem Playbook
Beyond the Generic Hub: The Rise of Specialized Innovation Districts
Picking a Winner – Specialization & Cluster Focus
Activating Powerful Innovation Communities
Designing Collision: Creating Physical Spaces for Innovation
Going Global: How Ecosystems Scale Through Connection
The Innovation Ecosystem Blueprint: Foundational Keys to Success
From Tokyo to New York: Navigating Innovation Ecosystems with Hitachi
Tokyo's Ecosystem Playbook
Beyond the Generic Hub: The Rise of Specialized Innovation Districts
Picking a Winner – Specialization & Cluster Focus
Activating Powerful Innovation Communities
Designing Collision: Creating Physical Spaces for Innovation
Going Global: How Ecosystems Scale Through Connection
The Innovation Ecosystem Blueprint: Foundational Keys to Success
From Tokyo to New York: Navigating Innovation Ecosystems with Hitachi
Tokyo's Ecosystem Playbook
Beyond the Generic Hub: The Rise of Specialized Innovation Districts
Picking a Winner – Specialization & Cluster Focus
Activating Powerful Innovation Communities
Designing Collision: Creating Physical Spaces for Innovation
Going Global: How Ecosystems Scale Through Connection
The Innovation Ecosystem Blueprint: Foundational Keys to Success
From Tokyo to New York: Navigating Innovation Ecosystems with Hitachi
Tokyo's Ecosystem Playbook
Beyond the Generic Hub: The Rise of Specialized Innovation Districts
Picking a Winner – Specialization & Cluster Focus
Activating Powerful Innovation Communities
Designing Collision: Creating Physical Spaces for Innovation
Going Global: How Ecosystems Scale Through Connection
The Innovation Ecosystem Blueprint: Foundational Keys to Success
From Tokyo to New York: Navigating Innovation Ecosystems with Hitachi
Tokyo's Ecosystem Playbook
We are proud to present the speakers joining us at Venture Café’s Global Gathering Tokyo ’26!
TIM ROWE
CAMBRIDGE INNOVATION CENTER (CIC)
JOANNA GRUAU BULDÓN
STATION F
AURELIUSZ GORSKI
CAMPUSAI
RUSSELL NICKERSON
MASSROBOTICS
SAM HUANG
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION ASSOCIATION
ROCKY SAWADA
GASTRONOMY INNOVATION CAMPUS TOKYO
BENJAMIN LIAO
FORTE HOTEL GROUP
KEIICHIRO NISHI
FUJITSU LIMITED
EXPLORE TOKYO’S ECOSYSTEM
Traveling to Japan for the Global Gathering on February 19th is a significant journey, and we appreciate your effort.
To enhance your experience, there will be opportunities throughout the week of the 16th-20th to join us for immersive experiences, cultural activations, and partner-led events to deepen your understanding of Tokyo’s ecosystem.
Global Gathering is an excellent opportunity to connect with innovators from around the world, and we hope to see you all there!
Calling founders, one and all!
We are once again hosting our global Pitch2Tokyo competition!
Founders from around the world will pitch at each of our Venture Café locations and in select partner cities for the opportunity to join us on the main stage at Global Gathering 2026.
To learn more and apply, please click the button below!
PARTICIPATE IN A GLOBAL PITCH COMPETITION
Three Venues. One Mission.
Gather, build, and co-create – Global Gathering 2026 pushes innovation forward together.
Toranomon Hills Forum
– The Gathering Ground –
The central hub of Global Gathering 2026. Keynotes, Pitch2Tokyo, cross-industry discussions, and spontaneous connections happen here – The community meets here! Ideas converge before spreading across industries and borders.
This venue will also three feature stages: the Main Stage, Innovation Bridge, and Japan Immersion.
CIC Tokyo
– Tech Meetup & Bilingual Career Fair –
The global tech commons. High-energy collisions between innovators, founders, and talent. Tech meetups, career-fair, and real-time networking drive innovation and opportunities.
Glass Rock
– Social Innovation Hub –
New in 2026, Glass Rock focuses on co-creating solutions for social impact. It tackles both Japanese and global issues, bringing together diverse perspectives for dialogue, learning, and collaboration.
Join the community update
Where is Global Gathering?
We are delighted to be hosting Global Gathering with our partners at the Mori Tower in Toranomon Hills. We will be in Hall B, which is on the 4th Floor.
We have held many amazing Rocket Pitch events at this location, and we look forward to taking that stage Global.
The Toranomon Hills Forum – Hall B
Toranomon Hills Mori Tower 4th Floor
1-23-3 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-6305, Japan
MADE POSSIBLE BY THE TOKYO METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT
SPONSOR
MADE POSSIBLE BY
Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) — Founder and CEO
Joanna Brudon Gruau Buldon — Station F
Aureliusz Gorski — Aureliusz Gorski CampusAI
Russell Nickerson — Russell Nickerson MassRobotics
Sam Huang — Sam Huang Secretary-General – Digital Transformation Association
Rocky Sawada — Rocky Sawada Gastronomy Innovation Campus Tokyo
Benjamin Liao — Benjamin Liao Chair, Forte Hotel Group
Keiichiro Nishi — Keiichiro Nishi Head of CEO Office – Fujitsu Limited.