Tokoshié's CEO Spoke at JETRO Startup Alumni Meetup 2026

Tatsunori Watanabe, CEO of Tokoshié, spoke as a panelist at “JETRO Startup Alumni Meetup 2026,” held in February 2026.

This invitation-only event brought together startups, venture capital firms, and ecosystem players who have participated in JETRO’s innovation programs, providing a platform to discuss the evolution of startup ecosystems and global expansion strategies.

Watanabe joined the Stage B session (16:30–) alongside

Stian Jakobsen, CEO of O-iD, and

Eric Chiahung Wei, CEO of MoveEz,

to discuss the future of hardware and Physical AI.

The panel focused on the following key topics:

• The fundamental differences between hardware and software companies
• How the environment surrounding hard tech / Physical AI has evolved
• Why hard tech startups need to think globally from day one

During the discussion, it was highlighted that while hard tech traditionally requires significant time, capital, and physical iteration, the landscape is rapidly changing due to advancements in AI, simulation technologies, and global supply chains.

In light of these changes, the importance of building with a global mindset from the earliest stages of a company was strongly emphasized.

Tokoshié will continue to develop technologies at the intersection of AI and manufacturing, aiming to deliver value on a global scale.