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Ryukyu Launchpad 2025 Demo Day: A Gateway to Global Expansion

On February 5, 2026, the Ryukyu Launchpad 2025 program will host its highly anticipated Demo Day at the Ryukyu Shimpō Hall located in Naha, Okinawa. Organized by Zero One Booster, the event marks a significant milestone in supporting startups from Okinawa as they venture into international markets, particularly targeting the US and five Asian countries, including South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Purpose of the Ryukyu Launchpad Initiatives

The Ryukyu Launchpad, initiated in 2025, aims to establish Okinawa as a hub for domestic startups aiming for overseas expansion. The program collaborates with local accelerators and venture capitalists (VCs) from five countries to provide startups with a variety of resources as they strive to make a mark in global markets.

In preparation for the Demo Day, participants undergo rigorous training that includes approximately one month of online workshops and two weeks of on-site immersion programs in these target markets. The focus of this training is on testing business hypotheses tailored to international markets, engaging in meetings with potential local partners, and showcasing their projects at relevant events.

Highlights of Demo Day

During the event, selected startups will have the opportunity to present their achievements in a series of pitch sessions. Invited guests from the partnered accelerators and VCs in the five countries will also participate in a panel discussion. They will share insights about Okinawa's emerging startup ecosystem and the day-to-day realities of expanding into overseas markets. This session promises to be valuable for businesses, support organizations, and local government representatives interested in understanding the practices and outcomes of these international ventures.

To enhance attendance, the event offers translation tools, ensuring that Japanese speakers can participate comfortably alongside their English-speaking peers.

Event Details

• - Date & Time: February 5, 2026, from 1 PM to 3 PM.
• - Venue: Ryukyu Shimpō Hall, 1-10-3 Izumizaki, Naha, Okinawa.
• - Participants: Open to startups, businesses, supporters, and local government officials interested in overseas expansion.
• - Admission Fee: Free of charge.

Registration

Registration for the Demo Day is available for free at Peatix.

Additional Events

In conjunction with the Demo Day on February 5, the Ryukyu Shimpō Hall will host several global events on February 5-6, providing attendees with a unique opportunity to engage directly with startups, VCs, and businesses from around the world. These sessions include:

• - SHINRYO Acceleration Program Demo Day (February 5, 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM): Showcasing Asian (mainly Taiwanese) startups entering the Japanese market. Registration details can be found here.
• - JETRO Blue Economy Research Project Results Presentation (February 5, 11:30 AM to 11:50 AM): Discussing the future formation of a Blue Economy hub in Okinawa.
• - NextT Travel Creation Accelerator Demo Day (February 5, 3 PM to 5 PM): Featuring results from Taiwanese travel tech startups. More information is available on Facebook.
• - Dosanko Shimanchu Forum (February 5, 5 PM to 6:30 PM): A discussion themed around tourism collaboration between Hokkaido and Okinawa. More details here.
• - Asia New Travel Bootcamp 2026 (February 6, 9 AM to 6:30 PM): A global conference focusing on tourism, innovation, and collaboration in Asia. Additional details are available here.

The Zero One Booster organization, which supports the Ryukyu Launchpad initiative, aims to leverage its extensive experience in fostering partnerships between large corporations and startups. By advocating for open innovation, they assist in the development of new business models and help entrepreneurs bring their ideas to fruition.

As Okinawa continues to emerge as a prominent location for startup innovation, the success stories shared during the Demo Day will highlight the potential of local startups to thrive in competitive international markets.