Nobel Laureates and Leading VCs to Gather at GSE2026
Overview
The Kinki Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry introduced major programs and speakers for Global Startup EXPO 2026 (GSE2026), to be held in Osaka Prefecture. The event plans a keynote conversation between Ben Horowitz and Kathy Matsui, networking with deep tech startups from Japan and abroad, business matching, and pitches. Venues vary by date, and an admission ticket is required.
Key points
- Sessions featuring prominent guests and key opinion leaders are planned.
- Business matching will be conducted using an application platform.
- Pitches by finalists who pass the screening are planned.
Overview
The Kinki Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry introduced highlights of Global Startup EXPO 2026 (GSE2026), an international startup event focused on the deep tech sector. The event is scheduled to take place at Umekita, Nakanoshima Qross, and other venues in Osaka Prefecture, with participation from startups in Japan and abroad, as well as large corporations, universities, and investors.
Impact
Participants can interact directly with startups from Japan and abroad, as well as with the broader startup ecosystem, including large corporations, universities, and VCs. Matching through the application platform enables them to connect directly with people they want to meet.
The event notes that pitches provide an opportunity to grasp the latest technologies and trends among promising companies at once.
Details
The program plans a keynote conversation (fireside chat) between Ben Horowitz and Kathy Matsui, as well as sessions by domestic and international key opinion leaders, including Nobel Prize laureates. Ben Horowitz is introduced as a co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz (a16z).
Participating startups will cover fields including life sciences, quantum technology, fusion, communications and semiconductors, AI and advanced robotics, and space. Matching will also be organized by themes such as life sciences, investors, large corporations, and manufacturing, and side events are planned.
The venue on October 5 is Nakanoshima Qross; on October 6 and 7, venues include Umekita (Congrès Convention Center, Congress Square Osaka, and others). The event is organized by the Global Startup EXPO 2026 Executive Committee and co-organized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Kinki Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, JETRO, NEDO, and the Future Medical Promotion Organization. The working languages are English and Japanese, and an admission ticket must be purchased.