[Photo Report] Slush Asia was the coolest startup event in Japan

On April 24, Slush Asia was held in Odaiba(large artificial island in Tokyo Bay), Japan, and 3000 audiences and presses were gathered.

Slush is a startup event held in Helsinki, Finland in every November, and Slush Asia is its Asian version according to the name. However, there was not "slush" there. Rather there were sunburns! :)

Tokyo have some large facilities for international events, but unfortunately these are very busy in spring. Therefore Slush Asia set up huge tents "White Rock" in the large parking and made places. There was totally like rock festival.

And the event itself was like the rock festival, too. Many startup events are held in Japan. However, they are sometimes nerdy and boredom. Uncool dark suit, cheesey PowerPoint templates, the most of speakers are men etc... Slush Asia is different from them. It shows that entrepreneurs are cool like a rock star and establishing a company is same as form a band.

English ability of Japanese people is terrible, but the official language of Slush Asia was completely English. Main speeches, guide map, Pitch contests, apps etc... Anyway, the everything were English! Surprisingly even the mayor of Fukuoka gave a speech in perfect English. He was the only politician speaker in Slush Asia.

Furthermore, we were able to watch the various interesting gadgets in a demo area. There was totally like Oreilly's Maker Fair.

Various food trucks are indispensable for a festival. Of course they were perfect, too, and every light meal including Japanese foods were prepared. Foreigner audiences surely enjoyed them.

The final conclusion is a after party. Speakers, audiences, presses and staff completely burnt it by blast DJ play and cool Installation art. This is one of the characteristics of Slush, too. The after party in the Japanese conference event is boring Buffet party. Exchange of business cards? Hell!

The greatest point of Slush Asia is that a preparation time was only three months. Within the period, Slush Asia became the Japanese general incorporated association, organized volunteers of 300 university students and gathered sponsors. Were core members able to sleep? According to Slush Asia CEO Antti Sonninen, they will hold Slush Asia next year. Please prepare for the trip to Japan from now.

More photos are here.