MassRobotics was thrilled to join Mitsubishi Estate and city officials from Yokohama for the grand opening of Tech Hub Yokohama on November 11, 2024. The event celebrated a new space designed to foster collaboration and innovation within the region, supported by Venture Cafe Tokyo and Yokohama Connect. This launch marks the beginning of a significant new chapter in the global tech ecosystem, connecting startups, corporations, government entities, and investors to spark innovation and create synergies between Boston and Yokohama.

The launch event kicked off with remarks from the Mayor of Yokohama as well as Tim Rowe (founder and CEO of CIC, and MassRobotics board member), and other distinguished leaders. The opening ceremony set the tone for the future of Tech Hub Yokohama as an integral part of Yokohama’s burgeoning innovation landscape. The space aims to support entrepreneurs, foster global connections, and help create a vibrant hub for collaboration across industries.

Bridging Innovation: Boston X Yokohama

MassRobotics has been proud to be part of an ongoing effort to bridge innovation between Boston and Yokohama, strengthening ties between these two innovation global centers. The partnership with Mitsubishi Estate is one of several initiatives to connect the startup ecosystems of both cities. This initiative began earlier in 2024 with a series of events designed to bring together robotics startups and innovators from both sides of the world.

In May 2024, MassRobotics and Mitsubishi Estate hosted an event for robotics startups in Yokohama following the ICRA conference in Japan. Then, in June 2024, the momentum continued with a reciprocal event hosted at MassRobotics in Boston, where we welcomed guests from Yokohama. The Tech Hub Yokohama launched on November 11 and further solidified this collaboration, which will continue throughout 2024 and beyond.

Unleashing Yokohama’s Potential

One of the highlights of the grand opening was a panel discussion titled “Unleash: The potential of YOKOHAMA! – The possibilities of the Yokohama ecosystem and the direction it should take.” This engaging session explored the strengths and challenges facing Yokohama as it seeks to become a globally connected innovation hub.

Panelists, including Joyce Sidopoulos, MassRobotics CoFounder and Chief of Operations, discussed critical questions surrounding the future of the Yokohama ecosystem, such as:

  • What are the strengths and weaknesses of Yokohama? The consensus was that the city’s strong corporate presence, with major corporations that can provide insight and mentorship to startups, is a key strength. However, to truly thrive as a global hub, Yokohama must focus on building a dense network of diverse companies and entrepreneurs.
  • What mindset is needed for Yokohama to become a globally connected ecosystem? Panelists emphasized that Yokohama must choose its focus carefully. It cannot lead every vertical, but should concentrate on key industries where it has a competitive advantage, such as robotics, mobility, and assistive technologies.
  • How can stakeholders collaborate and co-create in Yokohama? Facilitating ongoing dialogue and partnerships between universities, large companies, entrepreneurs, government agencies, and investors was identified as essential for nurturing innovation. Regular meet-ups and targeted challenges—like solving local issues such as transportation—can catalyze collaboration and help connect different sectors.

Innovation Events at Tech Hub Yokohama

Following the opening, MassRobotics hosted two afternoons of innovation events at Tech Hub Yokohama on November 12 and 13, continuing the momentum of the Boston-X-Yokohama bridge. These events were part of a larger series aimed at creating meaningful cross-border connections between startups, corporations, and government entities. In May and June, we focused on robotics innovation; in November, we expanded our focus to Assistive & Age Tech, Mobility, and Climate Technology.

Assistive & Age Tech | November 12, 2024

The Assistive & Age Tech event centered on the role of robotics and AI in enhancing the quality of life for aging populations. The session brought together healthcare professionals, government representatives, and tech innovators to explore the challenges faced by the elderly and the potential of technology to solve those challenges.

Key Highlights:

  • Presentation by Professor Ando Takatoshi, Faculty of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University
  • Innovations in robotics and AI that are transforming care for the aging and disabled population. Startup pitches included: Yukai Engineering, Xela Robotics, UnOrthoDOKS Technologies, Tatum Robotics, Glidance and Yokohama City University School of Medicine 
  • Opportunities to network with professionals, startups, and investors passionate about the future of assistive technology.

The Future of Mobility session was dedicated to exploring the latest developments in transportation technologies. From robotics to AI, this session featured presentations from industry leaders and startup innovators who are pushing the boundaries of mobility solutions.

Key Highlights:

  • Keynote speakers featured Mitsubishi Electric and NAGOYA WORKS Open Innovation Dept.  
  • Startups presented their solutions to emerging mobility challenges, particularly around autonomous transport and connected vehicles. Startup pitches included:  Humatics, Code Metal, Opteran, Haply and ChinoGijutsu
  • A networking session facilitated valuable connections between mobility innovators, end users, and policymakers.

Climate Technology | November 13, 2024

We hosted a session on Climate Technology, with a special focus on the role of robotics and AI in addressing climate challenges. The event brought together environmental innovators, entrepreneurs, and government representatives to discuss sustainable solutions for a changing world.

Key Highlights:

  • Keynotes included Chihiro Ohhigashi, Chief Officer JETRO and J-Power
  • Innovative climate tech solutions being developed by startups to address environmental challenges. Startup pitches included: Radmantis , Kitsuitech and Aladdin
  • Networking opportunities allowed for collaborations between investors, entrepreneurs, and government agencies.

Looking Forward

The Tech Hub Yokohama is just the beginning of a much larger vision to foster collaboration between Japan and the United States, particularly in the fields of robotics, AI, mobility, and climate technology. Through events like these and partnerships with organizations like Venture Cafe and CIC, MassRobotics is committed to building bridges that connect innovators from both sides of the Pacific.

As we look ahead, MassRobotics will continue to support startups, investors, and corporations across the globe to build the future of technology. 

Stay tuned for more exciting developments from Tech Hub Yokohama and MassRobotics as we continue to work together with our partners to make the world a more connected and innovative place!

Connecting with Venture Cafe and CIC

In addition to the activities in Yokohama, MassRobotics also participated in the grand opening of CIC and Venture Cafe in Fukuoka, Japan on November 7th. The event featured a variety of tech sessions and provided a unique opportunity to connect with the Venture Cafe Global team and our friends at CIC Boston. We look forward to building on these relationships as we continue our efforts to support innovation across both regions.

This collaboration continued as we brought several MassRobotics startups from the Tech Hub Yokohama launch to the Venture Cafe Tokyo event on Thursday, Nov 14 extending the reach of our shared mission to foster global innovation.

CIC Tokyo Venture Cafe provided a forum for an International Robotics Mixer Where several of our MassRobotics startups, as well as Japanese robotics startups gave 3 minute speed pitches which was followed by an evening of networking.

Stay connected with MassRobotics for more updates and opportunities to engage with the innovative tech ecosystem in both Japan and the United States!