Office of the City of Yokohama Rep. to the Americas will host “Japan Gateway for Climate & Deep Tech” during New York Tech Week, convening investors, corporates, and policymakers from the United States and Japan.

This event will explore how climate and deep tech innovations can move from proof of concept to large-scale deployment, with a particular focus on U.S.–Japan collaboration.

For the concept and program details, please see below.

If you are interested in attending, please register via the link below:
https://partiful.com/e/8hY03hoEB7xDq7J3Rc7B

Concept

Where will climate and deep tech actually scale—and with whom?

As AI-driven energy demand accelerates and geopolitical shifts reshape global supply chains, investor focus is moving toward one critical question: which markets, platforms, and partnerships can turn innovation into real-world deployment.

At the same time, cities and states across the U.S. are taking on a more decisive role in shaping the conditions for that deployment. Governors in 24 states—representing approximately 60% of the U.S. economy and 55% of its population—remain committed to climate action, while 46 states and more than 350 cities continue to advance local initiatives. Beyond federal policy, these subnational dynamics are becoming increasingly central.

In parallel, attention is turning to partners capable of supporting the transition from proof of concept to commercialization. Japan, with its deep industrial base, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and global corporate networks, is emerging as a critical partner in enabling large-scale deployment—particularly in sectors such as energy systems, infrastructure, and materials.

This event will convene investors from the U.S. and Japan, along with policymakers and industry leaders, to share insights on these trends from a U.S.–Japan investor perspective, and to explore where and how the next phase of scaling will take place through emerging opportunities for U.S.–Japan collaboration.

Overview

• Date: Monday, June 1st
• Time: TBD (Expected: 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM, including networking)
• Venue: Baker & McKenzie LLP (452 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10018)
• Format: Invitation-only (Up to 130 participants)
• Initiated by: City of Yokohama, Greennex Global, ShibuLA Ventures
• Venue Sponsored by: Baker & McKenzie LLP
• Tea Sponsored: ITO EN
• In Partnership with: Deep Tech Forum

Program Detail

1. Introduction
2. Keynote “How NYC is Building the Next Climate Tech Hubs”

At NYCEDC, Nicole leads innovation programs to address NYC’s most pressing climate challenges and help shape a NYC economy that is more inclusive and sustainable. Her portfolio focuses on de-risking and accelerating climate solutions that decarbonize buildings and construction, develop a renewable energy system, and enable low-carbon alternatives in transportation.

3. Fireside Chat
   “Where to Scale Next: U.S.–Japan Investor Perspectives on Climate & Deep Tech” (30 min)

• Latest investment trends in climate and deep tech
• When and why Japan becomes part of a scaling strategy
• What Japanese corporates look for in partnerships
• Key challenges and success factors from PoC to commercialization

4. Startup Pitch
   Selected startups participating in the pitch session include companies working across fusion energy, circular materials, thermal electrification, critical mineral recovery, and advanced sensing technologies. Several are backed by leading investors, strategic industrial partners, and U.S. federal programs.

• Realta Fusion — Compact Fusion Energy
A university spinout developing modular magnetic mirror fusion systems for industrial-scale deployment. The company achieved a world-record 17 Tesla magnetic field on confined plasma and is backed by a $36M Series A and U.S. DOE fusion program support.

• Evrnu— Circular Textile Materials
Commercializing regenerative lyocell fiber made from post-consumer cotton waste, capable of being recycled multiple times without quality degradation. The company has secured over $330M in purchase commitments from global apparel brands.

• MIMiC Systems — Next-Generation Heat Pumps
Developing solid-state heat pumps with no refrigerants and no moving parts, targeting major reductions in HVAC energy consumption and emissions through advanced thermoelectric systems.

• FAST Metals — Critical Mineral Recovery
Recovering rare earths and high-value minerals from industrial waste streams through a proprietary low-energy hydrometallurgical process. The company is backed by a major global mining player.

• Vyir Tech — Infrared Sensing & Autonomous Systems
Building next-generation infrared imaging systems for defense, methane monitoring, automotive safety, and autonomy applications using proprietary low-cost optical technologies.

• Florrent — Grid-Scale Energy Storage

Developing next-generation ultracapacitors for renewable integration, EV charging infrastructure, and grid stabilization. The company’s proprietary low-cost energy storage technology targets critical power stability gaps that conventional batteries cannot efficiently address.

5. Networking (Approx. 60 min)