When and where will IVS2026 be held?

It will be held from July 1, 2026 (Wednesday) to July 3, 2026 (Friday) for three days, with Miyako Messe, ROHM Theatre Kyoto, and Hotel Okura Kyoto as the main venues.

What is the new event 'Black Market'?

It is a participant interaction plan where participants write what they can offer (GIVE) and what they want (TAKE) on sheets and post them, conducting a barter-style matching at high tables.

What is the purpose of refreshing the networking area?

The purpose is to solve the issue of missed connections due to the expansion of the conference scale and to redesign networking as a key experience alongside sessions and pitches.

What is the difference between 'AMA' and 'Black Market' in IVS AMA?

AMA is an existing matching plan for those with clear needs such as investment or recruitment, while Black Market is a new plan designed to facilitate serendipitous encounters among participants with vague purposes.

Is there networking time after the sessions?

Yes, we have pre-scheduled 30 minutes of networking time 60 minutes after each session.

IVS2026 Redesigns Attendee Networking as a Core Experience; Launches 'Yami-ichi' Barter Matching

Published Jun 9, 2026 9:00 PM ・ Updated Jun 14, 2026 9:00 AM ・ 3 min read ・ Source: PR TIMES

IVS2026 is redesigning 'networking' as a primary experience alongside main sessions. By introducing the 'Yami-ichi' bartering-style matching and dedicated post-session networking time, the conference aims to provide tangible value to its over 13,000 attendees.

IVS2026, one of Japan's largest startup conferences, will be held from July 1st (Wed) to July 3rd (Fri), 2026, at major venues including Miyako Messe, ROHM Theatre Kyoto, and Hotel Okura Kyoto.

Promoting the theme 'Japan is Back,' IVS2026 will completely redesign its 'Networking Area' (Miyako Messe, ROHM Theatre Kyoto) to support meaningful interactions among participants.

Networking, often treated as secondary at conferences, will now be positioned as a 'main experience' on par with sessions and pitches. To address the issue of missed connections within a crowd of over 13,000 people, the conference introduces new mechanisms, most notably the 'Yami-ichi' barter matching initiative.

Two Core Redesign Concepts: 1. Delivering 'practical encounters' to every participant. 2. Maximizing both 'inevitable' and 'accidental' encounters.

Key Networking Area Initiatives: - IVS AMA (Ask Me Anything): Along with the existing 'AMA' for participants with specific objectives (e.g., investment, hiring), a new 'Yami-ichi' initiative is introduced. In 'Yami-ichi,' participants write what they can GIVE and what they want to TAKE on sheets, creating a bartering-style matching environment for casual connections. - Session-Specific Networking Area: A 30-minute networking time is now integrated after each 60-minute session to facilitate deeper discussions between speakers and participants. - IVS Meetup: A newly launched themed networking event held on the 3rd floor of Miyako Messe, lasting 1 to 3 hours.

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Source: PR TIMES
Category: Event
Products / services: IVS2026 / IVS AMA

IVS2026 Redesigns Attendee Networking as a Core Experience; Launches 'Yami-ichi' Barter Matching

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