Overview

The 10 startups supported by the Tokyo Consortium took the stage at the "Startup Lightning Talk by Tokyo Consortium" during the "SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 Global Startup Program" held at Tokyo Big Sight on May 15, 2024, showcasing their initiatives and future potential with an eye toward global expansion.

Mr. Masafusa Oe, COO of Algar Bio Co., Ltd.

AlgalBio is an algae R&D platform spun out from the University of Tokyo after over 20 years of research, with the goal of societal implementation. Its strength lies in proposing strain selection and optimal cultivation methods tailored to customer needs. Algae's potential stems from consuming over 50 times more CO2 than plants during cultivation and the versatility of utilizing cultivated algae for various applications. Examples include food ingredients, cosmetic materials, and bioplastics.Therefore, utilizing algae for each specific application can help realize a better life and serve as a countermeasure against food crises and global warming. Despite approximately 300,000 species of algae existing in nature, we currently utilize only about 30 species industrially, leaving significant room for industrial application. We can provide a one-stop R&D platform, starting with selecting the optimal strain for the client's needs and testing functionality and quality, then developing cultivation facilities and methods.With a rich library of 70 genera and 500 species of algae, supplemented by breeding technology, we have achieved productivity increases of over three times in some cases.
Examples of algae applications include CCU (carbon dioxide capture and utilization) and water purification, as well as the commercialization of supplements that improve sleep.
　

Idein Inc. Representative Director and CEO Koichi Nakamura

We provide platform services for large-scale AI device services. Our vision is to create a software-defined world. As you all know, Japanese society is very rigid and extremely difficult to change, but we want to transform this society. Our mission is to enable software to handle all kinds of information from the physical world. This is an extremely challenging technical problem. We also provide a platform for large-scale devices.AI device services like AI cameras, AI microphones, robots, and mobility services are emerging, primarily in industrial sectors. However, building such software is extremely difficult. Therefore, most companies should focus on the differentiation aspect—the value-added part—and not on the commoditized aspects like HIS execution, device remote operation cost reduction, or R&D.Therefore, this market requires a platform provider to support the core technology and infrastructure for such businesses, and we provide this service. Currently, our AI cameras are deployed in over 1,800 FamilyMart stores and over 2,000 mobile phone shops, and we have installed over 8,000 AI microphones to analyze in-store sales conversations.Our value lies in providing the core technology to build these solutions and the infrastructure for remote operation of large-scale systems, allowing our partners to focus on adding value and creating solutions. We believe this will invigorate the market. We project our market will expand to over $27 billion by 2013, and we aim to become the largest platform provider in this market. Thank you for your attention.
　

IntegriCulture Co., Ltd. Representative Director Mr. Yuki Hanyu

Have you noticed that restaurant prices, especially for meat like steak, have become more expensive compared to ten years ago? In fact, we're seeing inflation-like price increases, particularly for meat, where prices have risen sharply.The world's population is also growing. However, what's even more important is that people in China, India, and Africa are becoming wealthier and consuming more meat. Yet, our resources are limited. While demand increases, we cannot simultaneously increase supply. We also cannot simply raise prices, as in a so-called protein crisis. These issues are indeed progressing, and discussions about alternative proteins like cell-cultured meat are now advancing.The idea of cell-cultured meat itself is simple: essentially, it's about growing meat without killing animals by culturing cells. It has been approved in the United States, Singapore, and Japan, and there are many countries and companies very interested in producing cell-cultured meat. However, everyone faces the same challenges regarding research and development (R&D) and operational know-how. Regarding R&D, even if you ask agricultural startups about the contents of their culture media, they won't reveal their secrets. That's where our product comes in.We essentially provide the culture medium, buyers, cell culture serum, and everything else. This means anyone can start making cell-cultured meat using our products. This clearly leads to a significant reduction in R&D time. Our clients include large corporations. They want to build cell agriculture complexes along coastlines, similar to petrochemical complexes.We also have smaller clients, like Michelin-starred restaurants. As you can see, anyone can make cell-cultured meat using our technology.
Cell-cultured cosmetics are already on the market, so you can actually try them. There's also cultured foie gras, and using this method means no ducks are mistreated during production. If you're interested in making things via cell culture, please consult us. You can start a cell agriculture business using these products. Thank you.
　

Mr. Satoru Shimada, Director, Aerosen Co., Ltd.

We at Aerosen are a Japanese drone manufacturer. Drone users face challenges with multicopter drones, such as their limited flight range and the need for professional pilots to operate them. In contrast, our VTOL drone can fly long distances of up to 50km. It takes off vertically, maintains altitude, then switches to fixed-wing mode for horizontal flight, enabling fast travel over great distances.Fully automated, anyone can operate them after completing training. We also provide a cloud service that analyzes images captured by our drones, offering a complete solution from aircraft deployment to image analysis. For example, Uwajima City in Ehime Prefecture has adopted our VTOL drones to proactively assess potential damage following a major earthquake in the near future, establishing a system for constant operational readiness.Furthermore, when an earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula earlier this year, our VTOL drone was utilized to assess road damage, contributing to recovery efforts. Finally, we are currently developing a next-generation, large-scale VTOL drone. This next-generation model will have a payload capacity of 10kg and a maximum flight time of 90 minutes—more than double that of the current model—making it suitable for logistics applications. We look forward to your continued interest. That concludes my presentation. Thank you for your attention.
　

Global Mobility Service Co., Ltd. Director and Executive Officer, CFO Kazumasa Nakajima

Global Mobility Service is a company tackling poverty, the foremost challenge of the SDGs. Our mission is to create a system where hardworking individuals are fairly valued through the realization of financial inclusion. A decade ago, meeting a taxi driver in Southeast Asia sparked the founding of GMS.He had no credit, no cash, and no financial knowledge. Consequently, he had no choice but to rent a taxi from the vehicle owner. Astonishingly, after paying 30% of his total income to the owner, he was left with a mere $3 net per day. We launched this service because we felt it was unfair that people with a strong desire to work couldn't access sufficient opportunities simply because they were born into poor families. GMS builds a fair world that evaluates workers equally.A major reason financial institutions fear lending to customers with no credit history is default risk. We address this by installing our proprietary IoT device, the "MCCS," in vehicles. If a customer fails to pay their vehicle loan by the due date, we can safely perform remote ignition control to recover the vehicle, which also serves as collateral for the loan. This provides a secure means of repossession, complementing the initial credit assessment during loan approval.Furthermore, through our "MSPF" mobility platform—which connects any device—we monitor customer vehicle data and analyze whether vehicles are operating reliably. Since vehicle utilization rates correlate with on-time payment tendencies in auto loans, providing this system to financial institutions strengthens ongoing credit management during the loan period. These services enable financial companies to lend to customers previously denied credit, allowing customers to acquire their own vehicles.Additionally, vehicle dealers can now sell to customers who previously couldn't afford them. This creates a win-win situation for all stakeholders, enabling the creation of both social and economic value. GMS will provide these services not only in Southeast Asia but also in Africa and globally, building a sustainable society. That concludes my presentation. Thank you.
　

Kazunori Saito, CFO of I Robotics Co., Ltd.

Accidents at heights are occurring one after another. This is actually happening in Japan, where last year there were over 10,000 falls from height incidents, resulting in more than 200 deaths. That means almost every day, someone falls from a height and dies. We must stop this situation. Currently, people work cautiously at construction sites, but simply replacing them with autonomous robots can improve this situation.We provide such services, saving time, saving money, saving lives, and saving the planet. We are actually applying this robot to oil tanks. We also provide this to Nippon Steel and other major corporations. Our specific solutions include drones and robots, which work together to perform physical tasks at high elevations. We are a robotics integrator. We utilize all types of robots and provide the most challenging integrations.We provide Japanese companies with Japanese-quality robot integration. The mission of robotics is to solve societal problems through mechanization and automation. That concludes my presentation. Thank you for your attention.
　

AC Biode Co., Ltd. President and CEO: Naotsugu Kubo

We are a chemical startup with bases in Luxembourg, Japan, and the UK. We can chemically recycle not only plastic waste but also organic waste using catalysts. For example, instead of making monomers from oil and gas, we can recycle mixed plastic waste like PP, PE, and PET into monomers.PET can be chemically recycled through a very mild reaction: no organic solvents, no precious metals, and a reaction temperature of only 200°C. We are the first company in the world to have already patented a process for producing methanol from PET. We are currently working with companies in Europe and Japan, aiming for commercialization within a few years.The reason for producing methanol is that, among existing chemical recycling processes, its market is significantly larger than that for existing ethylene glycol. Furthermore, its viscosity is much lower, leading to lower operating costs. Beyond plastic waste, it can also recycle organic waste into hydrogen and CO, enabling sustainable power generation. Unlike methane fermentation, this reaction takes only a few hours and operates at a reaction temperature of 200°C.We are currently conducting 2-ton scale tests and have secured several contracts in Europe and Japan. We plan to conduct larger-scale tests with chemical companies and refineries. Next year, we intend to scale up further. Therefore, we are seeking companies interested in recycling plastic or organic waste or producing hydrogen from waste. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or requests. Thank you.
　

Green Carbon Inc. Representative Director Jun Ohkita

We are a natural carbon credit creation company. We operate three business lines: ESG consulting, research and development, and carbon credit solutions. Today, we will focus on introducing our carbon credit solutions. Why are we in this business? The reason is global warming. Since 93% of companies cannot achieve carbon neutrality on their own, we aim to solve this problem by creating carbon credits.By reducing greenhouse gases to create carbon credits, companies can purchase these credits and contribute to achieving carbon neutrality. The carbon credit market is projected to reach approximately $1 trillion by 2050. Agriculture accounts for 20% of this market. That's why we focused on agriculture. We collaborate with farmers to create carbon credits and sell them to companies. The profits are then distributed to the farmers.This year, we plan to generate 150,000 tons of carbon credits, equivalent to $6 million. We also plan to plant 1 million tons worth this year. We are seeking partners to save the future together. Thank you.
　

SOINN Corporation Representative Director and CEO Mr. Osamu Hasegawa

Today, we would like to introduce SOINN E-1, a fully automated energy-saving AI product that contributes to advancing the SDGs and reducing CO2 emissions. The market is enormous, projected to reach $14 billion by 2029. E-1 can achieve energy savings of up to 50%. From a technical perspective, E-1 uses only a single CPU and can train and update up to 300 AI models daily. It does not use GPUs.This is a major feature of our AI. Unlike deep learning, E-1 can divide large buildings into small zones, applying optimal air conditioning control to each zone without waste. This results in significant energy savings while improving overall building comfort. E-1 won the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's pitch event "UPGRADE with TOKYO," and a prototype is currently installed and operational in the control room of this building, Tokyo Big Sight.As a result, it has demonstrated a 40% energy savings performance compared to last year. E-1 can be easily used by connecting to the cloud or simply placing a single PC in the control room. As an operational example, it is currently also in operation in the Marunouchi district. The initial cost of E-1 ranges from $3,000 to $70,000. Please contact us for details. Thank you.
　

Ms. Nana Hori, Representative Director, Tensor Energy Co., Ltd.

We provide a cloud-based platform for renewable energy power plants, solar power plants, and energy storage facilities. Our vision is to create a world powered by clean energy for everyone and future generations. To achieve this, we leverage science and technology, human-centered design, and partnerships. We support clean energy generators in building and managing thousands of solar power plants and battery storage facilities. Clean energy capacity will triple by 2030.This means a significant increase in investment in solar power. Achieving this requires robust financial planning and excellent operations, yet clean energy providers often struggle with a lack of resources and expertise. We aggregate and integrate data on renewable energy projects, provide a virtual workspace for collaboration with numerous different partners, and offer AI-based optimization models to perform tasks intelligently.We also offer services that enhance the profitability of solar and storage assets through AI-powered energy trading technology. Currently, our platform manages 158 solar power plants and continues to grow. We are seeking partners to work with us to realize this vision. Let's work together to brighten the world with clean energy. Thank you.