Collective for Equality (CofE)

In a CoFE Conversations interview at IVS Kyoto 2026, the executive coach and community builder reflects on founder burnout, women's representation and the need to build startup cultures where people can thrive KYOTO, Japan - Startup ecosystems are often measured by funding, pitch competitions, exits, unicorns and investor attention. Heather Dobbin believes another question deserves equal weight: are founders and teams building in a way that is humanly sustainable?

SINGAPORE: SAP Asia Pacific has appointed Verena Siow as President for the APAC region, effective immediately, as the enterprise technology company looks to accelerate customer success, cloud adoption and AI-led business transformation across the region. Based in Singapore, Siow will lead SAP's Asia Pacific operations across a region that includes Australia and New Zealand, Greater China, India, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia.

MACAU - Artificial intelligence may be transforming industries, workplaces and societies at an unprecedented pace, but one challenge remains stubbornly familiar: ensuring women have an equal voice in shaping the future. That was one of the central themes discussed by Rita Chao, Co-Founder of SHERO Initiative and Partner at HKX Qianhai Fund, during a CoFE Conversations interview on the sidelines of BEYOND Expo 2026 in Macau.

TOKYO – Japan’s SME and private market ecosystem has historically been dominated by male leadership, but according to Mika Fukutomi, founder and CEO of Akamira Inc., gradual change is beginning to emerge as more women step into leadership, entrepreneurship and investment-related roles.

SINGAPORE – As Singapore enters a “super-aged” phase in 2026, a newly launched professional society is aiming to reshape how societies support older adults, not only through technology, but through inclusion, dignity and community-centred innovation. The Society for Gerontechnology Singapore (SfG), formally launched on 16 May, seeks to advance practical applications of technology that enable older persons to live independently, remain socially connected and age with dignity.

TOKYO – As SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 continues to grow into one of Asia’s most influential innovation platforms, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is signalling a shift in how it views startup ecosystems, not just as engines of growth, but as platforms for inclusion, collaboration and global participation.

TOKYO – As SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 opened in Tokyo this week, one of the most powerful images from the stage was not just about startups, technology or investment, it was about leadership. In a special keynote session titled “Expectations for Startups Driving Transformation and Growth,” Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi joined Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike on stage, bringing together two of the country’s most prominent women leaders at one of Asia’s largest innovation platforms.

As global innovation platforms evolve, the question of who participates in building the future is becoming increasingly important. At SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, inclusion and diversity are emerging as key themes alongside technology and sustainability. Taking place from April 27–29, the event brings together a diverse range of stakeholders, from startups and investors to students, policymakers and global leaders.

As Japan’s startup ecosystem gains global visibility through platforms like SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, conversations around diversity and inclusion are becoming increasingly important. In an exclusive conversation with Collective for Equality (CoFE) in the lead-up to the event, Lina Sakai Watanabe reflected on her journey as a female founder in deep tech and the structural challenges that continue to shape participation in Japan’s innovation ecosystem.

Japan’s robotics sector is charging into a future where machines bridge the nation’s acute labour gaps, blending cutting-edge AI with hardware prowess to power factories, homes, and disaster zones. At the forthcoming SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, Japan’s robotics sector will showcase prototypes hinted at the government’s 2027 mass-production goal for humanoid robots, targeting a market worth trillions of yen as demographics demand smarter automation.