Startups developing technology for more sustainable cities can enter SusHi Tech Challenge 2027. The Grand Prize winner will receive JPY 10 million, with applications due by December 18, 2026, at 17:00 Japan Standard Time. That is 08:00 UTC and 10:00 in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The competition offers a chance to present to investors and business partners in Tokyo, but founders should assess the travel commitment alongside the headline prize.
Who should consider applying?
The official call seeks startups with an existing product or service and a new technology or business model with growth potential. The business must fit the event’s sustainable-city focus.
Applicants need to participate in person in the semifinal and final on May 20 and 21, 2027, and exhibit throughout all three event days, ending May 22. English is required for materials, pitches and communication.
What selected startups receive
Twenty semifinalists gain opportunities to pitch, meet judges and promote their businesses. Their JPY 300,000 exhibition-booth fee is waived. Corporate partner awards are planned, while selected companies may also receive publicity or invitations to related events. The JPY 10 million Grand Prize goes to the winning startup, not every participant.
Budget for the commitment
The application guidelines state that applicants pay their own travel and accommodation expenses. They are also responsible for visas, passports and other entry documents. A waived booth fee therefore does not mean a fully funded trip.
Before applying, estimate the full cost of sending the people needed to demonstrate the product and hold meetings. Consider accommodation, flights, local travel and time away from operations. Decide what commercial result would make the visit worthwhile even if the company does not win the main prize.
For example, a useful goal might be understanding a potential market, finding a pilot partner or testing interest from a specific buyer group. Keep such goals practical and measurable. Attendance creates opportunities for conversations; it does not guarantee customers, investment or a distribution agreement.
Set a realistic meeting plan
The following is independent preparation advice rather than a contest condition. Before budgeting for the trip, list three types of people the company needs to meet and the question each could answer. A potential customer might test whether the problem is urgent; a technical partner might clarify integration needs; an investor might explain which commercial evidence is missing.
Prepare a short demonstration that works without a long explanation. Keep a backup version in case venue connectivity is unreliable, and distinguish a prototype feature from something customers can already use. After each meeting, record what the person actually requested, who will follow up and the next agreed step. This is more useful than treating every conversation as a confirmed sales opportunity. Review these notes with the team before promising a delivery date, technical integration or pilot budget.
Prepare the pitch and application
Apply through the official Agorize competition page and attach the pitch deck. Initial evaluation is scheduled for January and February, followed by a video-based round scheduled for March. The semifinal and final use five-minute pitches.
Use that short format to make the business understandable quickly. Show the problem, the product already available, evidence of demand and the reason the solution could work beyond its initial market. Avoid spending most of the presentation on background before explaining what the company does.
The guidelines allow one PDF or ZIP file up to 10 MB. Application content, names and affiliations may be publicly disclosed, so check rights and confidentiality before submitting. Rehearse the pitch with someone unfamiliar with the technology and ask them to explain the business back to you. If they cannot, simplify the explanation before polishing the slides.
