[On-site Report] The Near-Future Face of MICE and Events Found On-Site at IVS2025 / Introducing What Was Actually Used at IVS and the MICE- and Event-Oriented Services Showcased by Exhibiting Startups
Held at Miyakomesse in Kyoto, IVS2025 is one of Japan’s largest startup conferences. This year it drew about 13,000 attendees, recorded 3,900 matches made via the official system, hosted 500 side events, and welcomed over 2,000 participants from 70 countries.
We focused on services that could be applied to MICE. Would we find them…?
IVS2025 — Event Overview
Theme: “Reshape Japan with Global Minds”
Dates: Main Event: July 2 (Wed)–July 4 (Fri), 2025 / IVS Youth: July 5 (Sat), 2025
Location: Kyoto International Exhibition Hall (Miyakomesse), ROHM Theatre Kyoto, and other venues
Participants: Approximately 13,000 (per official X)
Organizer: IVS KYOTO Executive Committee (Headline Japan / Kyoto Prefecture / Kyoto City)
Official Website https://www.ivs.events/
What Is IVS in the First Place? Its History and Scale Rank Among Japan’s Largest
Launched in 2007, IVS is one of Japan’s largest startup conferences, bringing together startups, investors, major corporations, and creators from Japan and abroad. The 2025 edition will be the 32nd (with multiple editions held in the same year in the past), and this will mark the 10th time it has been hosted in Kyoto. Notably, since 2023 IVS has adopted an executive committee format and abolished its invitation-only policy, evolving into a more open platform.
The purpose is clear: to convene entrepreneurs and investors from around the world; to facilitate the acquisition of investment, partners, and talent through direct negotiations; to keep abreast of the latest developments in each field; and to promote the creation of new businesses through diverse networking. In short, it serves as a venue to energize the entire startup ecosystem.
Four MICE-Applicable Services Found Among IVS Exhibiting Startups
Auris (オーリス): Using Audio to Prompt Foot Traffic
With earphones on, when you look all around or walk with your smartphone, the audio shifts forward, backward, left, and right. Just audio? Hardly—audio makes all the difference. The immersion is remarkable, so it’s a service we strongly recommend trying at least once. The system determines your position by matching the scene captured by the smartphone camera with scan data of the facility. The stated accuracy—down to 1 cm—is astonishing.
Beyond theme parks, museums, art museums, and cultural heritage sites, it can be combined with IP content for pilgrimages to real-world locations tied to fictional works (oshi-katsu). As they put it, even in recessed or out-of-the-way areas of a facility, well-crafted content can entice visitors to go there. They are currently exhibiting at trade shows related to fan “oshi” activities.
It may also be possible to guide visitors through MICE venues using audio. Because staff don’t need to be glued to every walk-through, it could help ease labor shortages. It can also be used for excursions on group trips and for team-building.
Reelu Baito (リールバイト): Hire English/Chinese-Speaking Staff by the Hour
Reelu Baito is a job search service for people who want to work using language skills such as English or Chinese. As the founder explained, “Think of it like Timee”—a clear analogy that makes the service easy to understand.
The founder, Mr. Konno, previously worked at H.I.S. Having witnessed the rapid increase in inbound visitors to Japan and seeing people who want opportunities to use their language skills, he started the company. It feels like a waste when there are people in need on both sides who aren’t being matched.
It supports everything from customer service, guidance, reception, and tour guiding to staffing for exhibitions and conventions that require business-level skills, as well as private tours for affluent/VIP clients. It is already slated for use at an international conference scheduled for November. This is a service that helps address both multilingual needs and labor shortages.
MICEee (マイシー): Turn Coordination Time into Value Creation
“Coordination between organizers and service providers goes back and forth dozens of times right up to the last minute.” MICEee is a system now in development that rescues on-site teams from that “we just can’t anymore” moment. Mr. Nakano, who spoke with us, has on-the-ground experience handling multiple MICE projects simultaneously as a sales rep and director at a travel agency.
Drawing on that experience, he told us:
“Creating spaces for thousands of people is rewarding. But the workload is heavy, and it wasn’t sustainable over the long term. Core staff in their thirties burn out and leave. On site, we’re consumed by coordination tasks and can only manage ‘as long as the event runs without a hitch.’ In reality, we need time to generate added value.”
MICEee is a cloud-based MICE arrangement management platform. With one-stop AI-driven oversight of arrangements, it aims to eliminate manual transcription, fruitless searching, and missed items—evolving event operations from “just getting it done” to producing outcomes. We’ll be watching development progress closely.
kaeka (カエカ): A Personal Trainer for How You Speak
kaeka provides a “speaking training service” that hones speaking and communication skills. A 30-minute oral assessment quantifies speaking ability with an AI evaluation tool. Based on a participant’s characteristics and challenges, the team designs a personalized curriculum. Training with a dedicated coach is available either in person or online. The company currently has locations in Ginza, Tsukiji, and Osaka.
Hearing about the service, “a personal trainer for how you speak” is exactly right. Speakers, emcees, salespeople, leaders—whoever you are, how you speak strongly influences how you’re perceived. It’s a service that proves useful for pitches and presentations as well.
Services Introduced at IVS That Enhance Participant Satisfaction
4S (フォース): A Platform Used by All IVS Participants
IVS2025 could not have happened without 4S. Participant registration, ticket purchasing, QR-code entry control, a catalog of side events, payments for paid events, and participant-to-participant matching—everything was consolidated in 4S. We were told the system is developed in-house.
What it enabled
Create event pages
Event application form templates
Ticket sales
Application/registration management
Check-in functions
Profile creation
It played a major role in day-of appointment coordination and sign-ups for side events. Once participants registered, they could complete everything within 4S.
A Strong Ally for Parents: Don’t Give Up Opportunities Even When Bringing Kids
Since 2024, IVS has been working to create an environment where people raising children can attend with peace of mind. This year, we again saw attendees with strollers and baby carriers around the venue—still a rare sight at business events in Japan.
Josan-she’s Inc.
At Miyakomesse, two childcare spaces accommodating infants from 0 months were provided, staffed by licensed professionals such as midwives and nursery teachers. At The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo, a limited-time postpartum care hotel was also available, with overnight childcare support.
asuiku, Inc.
While guardians attended the event, an “event-based experiential childcare” program was offered: children were looked after while joining a tour designed for them. It allowed parents to concentrate on the event and spend their time without worry.
Chartering a Shinkansen Car: “Go to IVS with KIDS!”
Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) and asuiku, Inc. collaborated to charter an entire car of the Nozomi Shinkansen on the morning of July 2 (the first day of IVS). Only the regular reserved-seat fare was required; there was no additional fee. Because the passengers were families bringing children to IVS, it reduced the pressure often felt in general cars and helped build excitement even during travel.
On Site, We Caught a Glimpse of the Near Future
We introduced services found at IVS2025 that we thought would be exciting to see in MICE settings. Thanks to the organizers’ efforts, IVS implemented a wide array of innovations. With tools like 4S, which the organizers developed in house, convenience has been increasing year by year. It is fascinating that by attending startup events, you can experience a near future just a step ahead of the present.
