Four Indonesian Startups Break into SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, Bringing Local IP to the Global Stage

The Ministry of Creative Economy, through the BEKUP (Creative Economy Startup Agency) Global Scale Up 2026 programme in collaboration with Kumpul, is once again promoting Indonesian digital talent to penetrate international markets. This time, four national startups have been officially dispatched to the prestigious technology event SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 in Japan. Creative Economy Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya emphasised that this step is part of a grand vision to bring Indonesian intellectual property (IP) to greater international recognition. “This is a matter of pride because Indonesian IP must become more global. We want to open access to markets and global investment opportunities for our startups,” he stated during a briefing in Jakarta on Tuesday (21/4/2026). The SusHi Tech Tokyo event is known as an international forum that brings together startups with global investors, focusing on sustainable technology innovations. The event will be held from 27–29 April 2026 in Tokyo. The four selected Indonesian startups are bringing different innovations: Bell Living Lab, which processes coffee waste into eco-friendly fashion and furniture products; IJO, which develops seaweed-based substitutes for fertilisers and pesticides; Spun, an AI-based visa processing service; and Gapai, a skill-based platform for channelling workers to international markets. Riefky stressed that participants are not only required to present their products but must also be able to prepare appropriate business proposals and deliver compelling storytelling to attract global investors. “The targets are business collaborations, market expansion, and of course investment to develop these startups,” he added. In addition to opening investment opportunities, the programme is expected to serve as a space for knowledge exchange with Japan’s technology ecosystem, so that the innovations brought back can strengthen Indonesia’s digital industry. Founder and Chairperson of Kumpul, Faye Wongso, added that this participation is not only about market expansion but also opportunities for cross-country technology collaboration. This step continues the government’s consistency in bringing Indonesian creative talent to the global stage, following previous support for participation in various international events such as game exhibitions in Germany and creative events in Singapore.