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In January 2026, TechGALA Japan 2026, a startup event, will be held in Central Japan (Nagoya). Ahead of this, a hybrid press briefing will be held on Friday, September 5, 2025, to introduce key aspects of TechGALA Japan 2026.

 

TechGALA Japan 2026 is being positioned as an entrance for players in the startup ecosystem from around the world to connect with Central Japan, with the goal of promoting collaboration between a variety of players and strengthening the branding of the Central Japan startup ecosystem in order to increase its international presence. TechGALA Japan 2026 is organized by the Central Japan Startup Ecosystem Consortium, made up of members including the Central Japan Economic Federation, Nagoya University, Aichi Prefecture, the City of Nagoya, and Hamamatsu City.

The event will be held for three days, from Tuesday, January 27, to Thursday, January 29, 2026. In addition to keynote speeches by world famous speakers and sessions and exhibitions by Japanese and international startups, businesses, research institutes, and investors, projects to promote culture involving art and music are also planned.

 

This press briefing is planned to be the first time information is publicly released.

Additionally, with the consortium, now including Gifu Prefecture, Mie Prefecture, and Shizuoka Prefecture, having been selected as one of the cities for the second phase of the Cabinet Office’s Startup Ecosystem Global Hub City project, a TechGALA & Consortium Kickoff Session will also be held at the press briefing. We hope you will attend.

Outline of Event
■Time and Date: 17:30–19:00, Thursday, September 5, 2025 (Registration opens at 16:30)
■Venue: Nagoya Innovator’s Garage
4F, Nadya Park, 3-18-1 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya City
5 minute walk from Exit 6 of Yaba-cho Station on the Nagoya City Subway Meijo Line
7 minute walk from Sakaechika Exit 7 of Sakae Station on the Nagoya City Subway Higashiyama Line

■Schedule:
16:30                   Registration opens
17:30-17:35         TechGALA organizers photo session
17:35-17:55         TechGALA & Consortium Kickoff Session
[Content] Introduction of the Consortium, comments about holding TechGALA by Consortium members
[Speakers]
Yoshihide Esaki, Gifu Prefecture Governor/Hideaki Omura, Aichi Prefecture Governor/Satoru Katsuno, Central Japan Economic Federation Chair/Takami Saito, Shizuoka Prefecture Economy and Industry Department Director/Yusuke Nakano, Hamamatsu City Mayor/Yukitoshi Noro, Mie Prefecture Vice-Governor/Ichiro Hirosawa, Nagoya City Mayor/Seiichi Matsuo, Tokai National Higher Education and Research System Chancellor

*Speakers are subject to change
[Moderators]

Hiromi Okuda, TechGALA Producer/Wizgroup, Inc. CEO

Makoto Aou, LEO Co., Ltd. CEO

17:55-18:00         Consortium photo session
18:00-18:10         Scene change
18:10-19:00         Greeting by TechGALA Japan 2026 producer, introduction of TechGALA content
[Content] Overview of event/Content themes/Programme/Ticket plans/Introduction of ambassadors, special partners, and sponsors
[Speaker] Hiromi Okuda, TechGALA Producer/Wizgroup, Inc. CEO

19:00-19:30         Q&A session, individual interviews

Points to Note
・This press briefing will be held in Japanese only; no English interpretation will be available.
・The content and schedule of the briefing may change without warning.
・This event is also planned to be livestreamed online.

How to Apply
If you would like to apply, please fill out the response form or send an email by 17:00 on Thursday, September 4. (The response form is in Japanese only)

Response Form: https://x.gd/Y2PRC (Japanese only)
Email: techgala2026_pr@ssu.co.jp
*When applying by email, include the following information:
  □Attending in person　□Watching online　
<If attending in person>　□Will be filming (video/photos)　□No filming
Company name/Media name/Department name/Participant name/Total number of participants/ Emergency contact/Phone number/Email

*If interested in individual interviews, please include the details.

〇 Website URL
https://techgala.jp (Japanese)
https://techgala.jp/en/ (English)
*Registration for newsletters related to the event is available.

[About the Central Japan Startup Ecosystem Consortium]
Representative: Satoru Katsuno, Central Japan Economic Federation Chair
Members: 327 businesses, universities, and organizations including the Central Japan Economic Federation, Nagoya University, Aichi Prefecture, City of Nagoya, Hamamatsu City, Gifu Prefecture, Mie Prefecture,  Shizuoka Prefecture

https://central-startup.jp/　(Japanese)
https://central-startup.jp/en/　(English)

 

Contact Information
Japanese
TechGALA Japan 2026 PR Office
Contact Persons: Ozu (mobile: 080-7954-0956), Yuyama (mobile: 080-7653-4587), Yano, Iwasaki

Email: techgala2026_pr@ssu.co.jp

English
Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Nagoya

Contact Persons: Watanabe, Kameta
Email: Hiroki_Watanabe1@jetro.go.jp
*JETRO Nagoya has outsourced overseas PR for the Central Japan Startup Ecosystem Consortium to Foreign Press Center Japan (FPCJ).

Photos (from the left):
1. 「TechGALA Japan 2026」logo
2.  Producer Hiromi OKUDA