Scrum Studio and Tokyu Land Corporation have selected 13 startups for Full Bloom 2026, a deeptech business co-creation program based at SAKURA DEEPTECH SHIBUYA in Tokyo. The participating startups come from Japan, Israel, the United Kingdom, the United States, and New Zealand, with technologies spanning AI, XR, avatars, holograms, audio, energy-generating flooring, cooling materials, skincare, biosensors, and next-generation communications.
Full Bloom focuses on three areas: Entertainment & Media, Fashion & Beauty, and Food & Urban Innovation.
The program is designed to connect international deeptech startups with Japanese companies, local governments, investors, and industry experts while using Shibuya as a testing ground for commercial applications.
Participating companies include AVITA, bitBiome, Brelyon, Decart, Delavie Sciences, Edge Sound Research, Eztia, GATARI, meleap, Pavegen, Scentian Bio, and VISBAN. A 13th company remains in stealth mode.
The startups participated in Full Bloom 2026 Kickoff Week from June 29 through July 3, which included market education, networking, business co-creation discussions, and participation in the IVS2026 startup conference in Kyoto.
Participants also visited locations including Shibuya Fukuras and ROKU KYOTO to explore potential deployment sites for their technologies.
Square Enix and Spotify Japan have joined Full Bloom 2026 as corporate partners. Square Enix will explore opportunities involving gaming, intellectual property, fan communities, immersive experiences, and next-generation entertainment. Spotify Japan will work with startups around music, audio, creators, fan experiences, and brand communication.
KEY QUOTES:
“This year’s cohort is a supremely fascinating range of startups focused on some of the most important challenges for deeptech in the 21st century. I am eager to see how they develop their products and visions. This is a truly promising group.”
Ian Condry, Professor of Comparative Media Studies/Writing at MIT
“This year’s Full Bloom companies are really exciting. We have a great variety of ideas, technologies, and home countries. I am looking forward to working with them over the next several months and can’t wait to see the final results on demo day.”
Eran Egozy, Professor of the Practice in Music Technology at MIT
“We’re excited about Full Bloom 2026 as an opportunity to meet outstanding startups from around the world and co-create new value together. Through collaboration with startups gathered from across the globe, we look forward to encountering diverse ideas as we explore the future of entertainment together.”
Yurie Iino, North America Director, Group Investment & Business Development Office at Square Enix Holdings
“We are delighted to join the SDS program. By combining the startups’ new technologies and services with our expertise in music and audio culture, we hope to pioneer new forms of content experiences and creator support together.”
Fumi Otsuka, Head of Strategy and Operations at Spotify Japan
