Overview

In this program, five companies selected for the 2024 Deep Ecosystem Project and five companies selected for the Green Startup Support Project gave pitch presentations reporting on the results of the support they received. This was followed by a CES 2025 Dispatch Program report meeting, where JETRO introduced its startup support projects and held a panel discussion with two startups that received support.

1. Opening Remarks

First, Akari Mima from the Tokyo Consortium Secretariat explained the Tokyo Consortium project, followed by an introduction of today's program and the companies selected for the 2024 Deep Ecosystem and Green Startup Support programs (five companies each).

2. Deep Ecosystem Business Overview and Results Presentation

This fiscal year, we held a results presentation and Q&A session by the five companies selected for this program, with Keisuke Ide (Partner, The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners Co., Ltd.) and Chieko Nishiyama (Soar Inc.) serving as commentators.

Taku Edatsune (Director and CFO, KINS Co., Ltd.)

Edatsune: We develop and sell supplements and skincare products based on research into microorganisms such as the gut flora, providing goods that support health and beauty. The support we received included introductions to affiliated companies in the B2B sales domain and M&A advice. We are grateful for the wealth of information provided, the speed of the process, and the high quality of the advice.

Mr. Takaharu Nakajima (President and CEO, Photraction Inc.)

Nakajima: We operate in the construction tech and construction DX domains. We provide "Photoruction," a cloud-based construction management application for the construction industry. This application streamlines on-site photo and drawing management, supporting improved operational productivity. We received support regarding future initiatives, including the rollout of "Photoruction" to government agencies and listening to the challenges faced by these agencies.

Mr. Kento Kishigami (Representative Director and CEO, MyDearest Inc.)

Kishigami: We plan, develop, and sell VR (virtual reality) games, aiming to provide innovative VR content and deliver new experiences to users in recent years. In this project, we were introduced to ideas for applying our VR technology to B2B business and partnership opportunities with several major corporations. Additionally, we secured funding agreements worth hundreds of millions of yen, receiving support across various fronts.

Mr. Shingo Otobe (President and CEO, LIGHTz Inc.)

Otobe: We develop solutions utilizing AI (artificial intelligence) technology to enhance business efficiency and support decision-making for companies. We are particularly focused on platforms that support the visualization and transfer of knowledge. We greatly appreciate the advice received regarding the necessity of creating not only uniqueness but also relative value as we look ahead to post-IPO management.

Mr. Yasuhisa Abe (Executive Vice President / CMO, ZenmuTech Inc.)

Abe: We provide secret sharing technology that enables zero trust through secure distributed data management. Specifically, we offer solutions that support information leak prevention and data protection. Primarily, we received support regarding matching with various parties and promoting utilization patterns.

3. Green Startup Support Project Overview and Results Presentation

This year, we had Mr. Shohei Onishi (Partner Attorney, Miura Law Office [at the time]) and Ms. Liang Joy (Principal, Investment Group, Global Brain Corporation) serve as commentators. We conducted achievement reports and Q&A sessions with the five companies selected for this program.

Mr. Lee Uiseong (Overseas Business Development Department, Asuen Co., Ltd.)

Li: We offer a one-stop service supporting corporate decarbonization, centered around our CO2 visualization cloud platform. Through this program, we received market research and networking support for overseas expansion.

Mr. Masashi Motohashi (CFO, Degas Inc.)

Motohashi: We provide microfinance to small-scale farmers in Africa who are traditionally excluded from conventional financial institutions, leveraging technology. Instead of providing farmers with fertilizers and seeds, we receive a portion of their harvested crops as repayment and sell these to manufacturers. We received various forms of support, including introductions to investors and staffing agencies.

Mr. Taki Sato (President and CEO, TopoLogic Inc.)

Sato: We provide next-generation semiconductor memory and sensor technologies by leveraging advanced topological material technologies. Currently, we are developing high-speed thermal detection sensor technologies utilizing novel physical phenomena. In this project, we received support in establishing connections with companies that could be potential candidates for utilizing the sensors, along with market outlook analysis.

Mr. Koji Okuyama (Director of New Business Development, Nippon Agriculture Co., Ltd.)

Okuyama: We provide agricultural consulting and technical support, aiming to enhance agricultural production efficiency and quality by offering advanced farming techniques and management expertise. We assisted in building agricultural plus-alpha business models, matching with large corporations considering agricultural investments, and creating collaborative proposals.

Mr. Kyo Ikegami (President and CEO, Planet Savers Inc.)

Ikegami: We are developing Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology using zeolite. We aim to expand our business as a manufacturer providing services that reduce energy consumption and construction costs by commercializing zeolite adsorbents and CO2 capture equipment.The Secretariat provided us with various forms of support, including introductions to overseas customers and business partners, and overseas market research, all with an eye toward our future full-scale overseas expansion. Furthermore, by utilizing the advice we received during this support, we achieved results such as being selected for projects supported by foreign governments.

4. CES 2025 Delegation Program Report Session

Mr. Yasuya Mori (Deputy Director, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO))

Mori: Since the Japanese government announced its five-year plan for fostering super-accelerators in November 2021, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) has supported over 700 startups annually. Currently, more than 126 companies have successfully secured overseas partnerships and funding.Through the CES 2025 Dispatch Program, we aim to introduce overseas accelerators to Japan's startup ecosystem environment and create matchmaking opportunities achievable only at CES.

Mr. Makoto Haga (President and CEO, PBADAO Co., Ltd.)

Haga: We provide an application service called "Pucre," which is a green tech solution specializing in the entertainment field. The strength of this service lies in its ability to simultaneously promote corporate tie-ups and environmental contributions. CES is a very large-scale conference, and it was an extremely stimulating experience, allowing us to connect with fellow entrepreneurs from overseas and discover new technologies. The secretariat provided us with generous support, not only during our participation at CES, but also before the event, helping us coordinate appointments and more. We are very grateful for their assistance.

Ms. Nana Hori (President and CEO, Tensor Energy k.k.)

Hori: We provide software for power generation businesses utilizing renewable energy sources such as solar power and storage batteries. We hope to find partners in the power sector for future collaboration. CES showcased cutting-edge technologies across an extremely wide range of industries, making it an excellent opportunity to learn about long-term technology trends. During our CES participation, the secretariat provided invaluable assistance with booth operations and even handled some product demonstrations on our behalf. Given our limited staffing, their support was tremendously helpful.