Crossing Boundaries - Innovation Forum: Japan x Greater Bay Area
An IVS Extreme Outbound preview in Hong Kong
Ahead of this year’s IVS Extreme Outbound delegation to the Greater Bay Area, join us in Hong Kong for an evening bringing together startups, investors, family offices, universities, and ecosystem partners interested in stronger connections between Japan and the region.
This session will offer a closer look at how we think about cross-border startup building through selected portfolio stories, startup exposure, and curated discussion.
Whether you are looking to understand the IVS platform, connect with founders and ecosystem players, or explore future collaboration between Japan and the Greater Bay Area, this will be a strong room to be in.
Registration will take place at 5:30pm on the evening of the event.
Panel 1 — Crossing Boundaries: Japan x Greater Bay Area
Founders and operators from three Headline Asia portfolio companies share what building and scaling across the Greater Bay Area and Japan has really looked like on the ground.
Jeff Zielinski, CFO, Buy&Ship
Kazuhiro Shimada, CEO, ZAIKO
Moderated by Yuka Kawata, Investor, Headline - Asia
Panel 2 — Fireside Chat: Cross-Border Co-Creation
How can universities, venture capital, and industry actually build together across East Asia — and what does that look like in practice, beyond the concept?
Morgan Wong — Advisor, Headline - Asia
Raymond Chan — Assistant Director (Entrepreneurship), HKBU Institute for Innovation and Translation
ABOUT IVS
IVS is one of Japan’s largest startup conferences, bringing together founders, investors, corporates, engineers, researchers, and ecosystem leaders for high-level conversations, business opportunities, and cross-border connection.
The 2026 edition will take place in Kyoto from July 1 to 3, and serves as a major platform for startups looking to understand the Japan market, build local visibility, and connect with the broader innovation ecosystem through content, networking, and programs such as LAUNCHPAD.
LAUNCHPAD INTERNATIONAL TEASER VIDEO
About IVS LAUNCHPAD
Part of IVS 2026 in Kyoto, held July 1 to 3, 2026
🔷 20-year track record
🔷 5,000+ applicants
🔷 478+ startups pitched on stage
🔷 30 IPOs / 47 buyouts across the broader ecosystem
Applications for this year close on May 7th, 2026.
APPLY HERE
Who's organising IVS?
Headline Asia - investing in early-stage startups across fintech, e-commerce, and entertainment in Japan, Taiwan and broader SEA.
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