Global Impact Ecosystems Converge in Tokyo: 'IMPACT GALLERIA TOKYO 2026' Announced
IMPACT SHIFT will host the invitation-only global conference 'IMPACT GALLERIA TOKYO 2026' at the University of Tokyo on August 1, 2026, to connect the world's impact ecosystems.
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IMPACT SHIFT (Headquarters: Tokyo, Representative Director: Masaki Kawai) will host the invitation-only global conference "IMPACT GALLERIA TOKYO 2026" at the Ito International Research Center, The University of Tokyo (7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo) on Saturday, August 1, 2026.
"IMPACT GALLERIA TOKYO 2026" is a one-day, invitation-only conference for individuals involved in the impact economy. Ecosystem builders who run some of the world's largest impact conferences will co-participate, bringing together curated leaders in startups, investing, and policymaking. The goal is to create a practical "corridor" that leads to future collaboration and market connection, ensuring that the fragmented ecosystem remains continuously connected.
Waiting List Registration Form
*This event is invitation-only. Those wishing to attend are requested to register on the Waiting List above.
Background of the Event
Climate change, inequality, demographics, local economies, and well-being. While social issues are chained across borders, the ecosystems supporting the startups tackling them remain fragmented by region. Practical knowledge of converting capital into impact remains accumulated among operators on the ground, without circuits to circulate across organizations, regions, and borders.
To date, IMPACT SHIFT has hosted some of Japan's largest impact conferences, "IMPACT SHIFT 2024" and "IMPACT SHIFT 2025," with over 2,500 total participants. They have formed a "commons" where diverse stakeholders—including startups, investors, corporations, NPOs, and governments—intersect through the common language of "impact." The GIIN (Global Impact Investing Network) reports that the impact investing market has expanded to an estimated $1.6 trillion. However, the root eradication of social issues remains limited, and we believe that the background to this is not just the amount of funding, but structural challenges such as the fragmentation of ecosystems.
Together with ecosystem builders from around the world, we are taking a step toward building an international platform in Tokyo to connect the knowledge, capital, policies, and business opportunities that have been nurtured in various regions.
Representative Director Masaki Kawai has written a note about the background and thoughts that led to this concept, so please be sure to read it.
Representative's Message (note)
What is the new concept "IMPACT GALLERIA"?
"IMPACT GALLERIA" is an invitation-only international conference where ecosystem builders from around the world co-participate, and leaders in startups, investing, and policymaking gather in one place.
Starting with the Tokyo event, we envision expanding it in an annual rotation format that tours host cities while collaborating with ecosystem builders in each country and region. IMPACT GALLERIA TOKYO 2026 is positioned as the pilot event for this.
It is not a one-off event, but a continuous mechanism to build trust between ecosystems by continuing to hold it every year while changing cities, and we are also planning to form a global executive committee composed of members from partner organizations in various countries.
Features
This is an invitation-only conference where only decision-makers working towards the realization of the impact economy gather. Participants span diverse sectors such as startups, venture capital, institutional investors, large corporations, and government ministries, but all are restricted to the decision-making layer of each organization.
1. Invitation-only, limited to 300 decision-makers
Approximately 300 individuals restricted to the decision-making layer of their respective organizations will participate, including startup Founders/CxOs eyeing global expansion, GP/Partners of impact VCs, institutional investors, foundations, large corporations, government ministries, international organizations, ecosystem builders, and accelerators.
2. Carefully selected invitation of approximately 100 globally-minded impact entrepreneurs/CxOs
Over 100 impact-oriented entrepreneurs/CxOs aiming for global expansion will be carefully selected and invited. Centered on domestic startups, entrepreneurs recommended by partner organizations around the world will participate. This is a place where encounters with promising impact startups are generated intensively.
3. International collaboration with world-leading impact conferences
Ecosystem builders hosting major impact conferences in Japan and abroad will co-participate. Members with diverse backgrounds will form a cross-organizational executive committee to co-design various sessions and pitches.
Global Partners
We collaborate with ecosystem builders in various regions of the world.
"IMPACT GALLERIA TOKYO 2026" is a one-day, invitation-only conference for individuals involved in the impact economy. Ecosystem builders who run some of the world's largest impact conferences will co-participate, bringing together curated leaders in startups, investing, and policymaking. The goal is to create a practical "corridor" that leads to future collaboration and market connection, ensuring that the fragmented ecosystem remains continuously connected.
Waiting List Registration Form
*This event is invitation-only. Those wishing to attend are requested to register on the Waiting List above.
Background of the Event
Climate change, inequality, demographics, local economies, and well-being. While social issues are chained across borders, the ecosystems supporting the startups tackling them remain fragmented by region. Practical knowledge of converting capital into impact remains accumulated among operators on the ground, without circuits to circulate across organizations, regions, and borders.
To date, IMPACT SHIFT has hosted some of Japan's largest impact conferences, "IMPACT SHIFT 2024" and "IMPACT SHIFT 2025," with over 2,500 total participants. They have formed a "commons" where diverse stakeholders—including startups, investors, corporations, NPOs, and governments—intersect through the common language of "impact." The GIIN (Global Impact Investing Network) reports that the impact investing market has expanded to an estimated $1.6 trillion. However, the root eradication of social issues remains limited, and we believe that the background to this is not just the amount of funding, but structural challenges such as the fragmentation of ecosystems.
Together with ecosystem builders from around the world, we are taking a step toward building an international platform in Tokyo to connect the knowledge, capital, policies, and business opportunities that have been nurtured in various regions.
Representative Director Masaki Kawai has written a note about the background and thoughts that led to this concept, so please be sure to read it.
Representative's Message (note)
What is the new concept "IMPACT GALLERIA"?
"IMPACT GALLERIA" is an invitation-only international conference where ecosystem builders from around the world co-participate, and leaders in startups, investing, and policymaking gather in one place.
Starting with the Tokyo event, we envision expanding it in an annual rotation format that tours host cities while collaborating with ecosystem builders in each country and region. IMPACT GALLERIA TOKYO 2026 is positioned as the pilot event for this.
It is not a one-off event, but a continuous mechanism to build trust between ecosystems by continuing to hold it every year while changing cities, and we are also planning to form a global executive committee composed of members from partner organizations in various countries.
Features
This is an invitation-only conference where only decision-makers working towards the realization of the impact economy gather. Participants span diverse sectors such as startups, venture capital, institutional investors, large corporations, and government ministries, but all are restricted to the decision-making layer of each organization.
1. Invitation-only, limited to 300 decision-makers
Approximately 300 individuals restricted to the decision-making layer of their respective organizations will participate, including startup Founders/CxOs eyeing global expansion, GP/Partners of impact VCs, institutional investors, foundations, large corporations, government ministries, international organizations, ecosystem builders, and accelerators.
2. Carefully selected invitation of approximately 100 globally-minded impact entrepreneurs/CxOs
Over 100 impact-oriented entrepreneurs/CxOs aiming for global expansion will be carefully selected and invited. Centered on domestic startups, entrepreneurs recommended by partner organizations around the world will participate. This is a place where encounters with promising impact startups are generated intensively.
3. International collaboration with world-leading impact conferences
Ecosystem builders hosting major impact conferences in Japan and abroad will co-participate. Members with diverse backgrounds will form a cross-organizational executive committee to co-design various sessions and pitches.
Global Partners
We collaborate with ecosystem builders in various regions of the world.
FAQ
When and where is IMPACT GALLERIA TOKYO 2026 held?
It will be held on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at the Ito International Research Center, The University of Tokyo.
What are the features of this conference?
It is an invitation-only event for about 300 global decision-makers and 100 selected entrepreneurs, with plans to become an annual event rotating through different cities.
What is the purpose of the event?
To continuously connect the fragmented global impact ecosystems and create a practical corridor leading to collaboration and market connections.