Look out Fukuoka: Tech in Asia’s Road to Tokyo is coming your way

On July 16th, Tech in Asia will continue its Road to Tokyo 2015 tour in the city of Fukuoka, on the southwestern island of Kyushu.

Hakata ramen, motsu nabe, and riverside yatai – here we come.

Investors, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in tech are welcome to join us at the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, where five startups of our choosing will battle each other for top honors. The competition’s winner will receive travel fare and accommodation to appear with its very own startup booth at September’s Tech in Asia Tokyo 2015.

Our judges – Nulab founder and CEO Masanori Hashimoto, Atomico Japan representative Shin Iwata, and IMJ Investment Partners general manager Yasuhiro Seo – will share advice and input with each startup and participate in a panel discussion on how to build a global startup from Fukuoka.

Fukuoka may not enjoy the same international recognition that Tokyo or Osaka do, but Mayor Soichiro Takashima is determined to make his city the startup capital of Japan. He told Tech in Asia last year of his plans to double the rate of startup establishment in Fukuoka by 2018, citing convenient geography and low cost of living as key selling points to young entrepreneurs.

Fukuoka is one of several Japanese cities designated as a special economic zone under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s namesake “Abenomics” structural reforms. Takashima’s goals under the new law include revamping old labor laws, cutting taxes for new ventures, and fostering a young startup community.

Free tickets to the Road to Tokyo Tour Fukuoka event are still available, with registration here.

See you in Fukuoka!

Location

Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Ajibi Hall

3-1 Shimokawabatamachi, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka

Fukuoka Prefecture 812-0027

Directions here.

Agenda

16:00-16:30: Registration, Networking

16:30-16:40: Opening

16:40-17:10: Panel Discussion

17:10-17:15: Break

17:15-18:15: Startup Demo (5min pitch / 5min Q&A)

18:15-18:20: Break

18:20-18:30: Winner announcement

18:30-19:30: Networking

Please note: English pitches are welcome, but the event will mainly be held in Japanese.

Judges

Masanori Hashimoto, Nulab founder and CEO

Masanori Hashimoto was one of collaborative software company Nulab’s three co-founders in 2004. They bootstrapped the whole operation from Fukuoka and Hashimoto now presides over a growing company with branches in Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, and the US.

Shin Iwata, Atomico Japan representative

Shin Iwata has run VC firm Atomico’s Japanese operations from Tokyo since their office opened in 2012. Prior to Atomico, Iwata served as president of Skype Japan KK.

Yasuhiro Seo, IMJ Investment Partners general manager

Yasuhiro Seo joined IMJ Investment Partners in 2007 after working as a video journalist. He works with startups around Southeast Asia to promote development.