Last week, we attended TakeOff Tokyo, a two-day event that connects Japanese startups with global investors and ecosystem players. TakeOff is the revamped version of the Finnish event series "Slush". The key difference with Slush is that TakeOff aims to propel Japanese startups onto the global stage, rather than solely focusing on bringing international attention to Japan. Here's our completely biased and personal take on the event.

Startup focus

We found TakeOff more focused than other startup/tech events we attend throughout the year. Just two days, with networking opportunities between founders, investors, and supporting organizations using a meeting app, ongoing startup pitch contests, and targeted panel discussions. No governmental red tape or corporate booths. No aimless wandering to hear buzzwords or gadgets. Hats off to TakeOff for that.

Vibe

True to its Slush heritage, the Terrada Warehouse event felt more like a Scandinavian underground club than a conference. Though, after a few hours, the noise, and fog darkness got a bit tiring for us, it contributed to creating a disinhibited vibe for networking, just like being in a club. We appreciated the laid-back and non-salesy atmosphere.

Logistics and meetings

The Brella app was useful for scheduling meetings, but the matching functionality was disappointing. We also discovered the app too late and wished we had downloaded it earlier to book meetings in advance. The designated meeting areas were challenging to find due to dim lighting and the crowd; we ended up arranging meetings in front of the toilets for better visibility 🚻

Pitches

We stumbled upon some seriously cool startups, although they were a bit further along in their development than we expected. Here are our top picks:

Totemo: The world's first NFT marketplace dedicated exclusively to graffiti & street artists

It's intriguing to witness this innovation unfold in a country where graffiti is illegal and often destroyed. Perhaps it's precisely because street artists face such challenges—taking risks to see their work unpaid and eventually demolished—that the need for such a marketplace becomes more pronounced. The inclusion of NFT royalties makes Totemo an artist-friendly marketplace, as they receive a commission every time their art is bought or sold.

Dioseve: Biotech startup growing human eggs from non-reproductive tissue, to solve infertility.

Current infertility treatments only allow for the extraction of eggs from women with healthy ovaries. However, Dioseve aims to revolutionize the field by generating oocytes from non-reproductive tissues like blood and skin. This breakthrough opens up possibilities for women with ovarian dysfunction to conceive and give birth to their own genetically related children. The sheer sci-fi potential of this innovation blew us away.

Woodstock: a trading App adding a social layer to the investing experience that makes people allergic to asset management like us wanting to try our hand at investing.

Woodstock is a social investing app that lets you buy US stocks starting at 1000¥. With its inspiring GenZ-style design and seamless user experience, you can see who's investing in what and share your own investments. Woodstock stands out from other investing apps by making investing accessible and fostering a community for interactive learning—a welcome service in a country with limited financial education.

Ystory: an app to navigate menopause

Menopause has long remained a mysterious territory, not just because women have been reluctant to discuss it, but also because it hasn't garnered enough attention from researchers (and investors). As a result, there is a lack of data that could unlock the secrets of menopause. Partnering with Kyoto University, renowned for its expertise in the field, Ystory sets out to provide insights into symptom triggers, management, and prevention. While the demand is immense and the necessity evident, we're curious to see how Ystory will develop human-centered solutions and UX rooted in a deep understanding of users' needs and beliefs.

Messy logistics aside, TakeOff Tokyo offered incredible value with ¥9000 basic tickets and ¥4500 early bird options. We wholeheartedly recommend founders, investors, and ecosystem players to attend next year.

The Japanese startup scene needs more founders-oriented, bullshit-free events with community building at their core. We're excited to see more events like this emerge in the coming months!