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<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Rectangle_2199_0162ada77f.png" alt="Rectangle 2199.png">On April 25th, Moon Creative Lab Tokyo hosted “Singapore Innovation Night,” a dynamic community event designed to introduce university students to the startup ecosystem. The evening started with stories from established entrepreneurs and industry leaders, and highlighted the challenges and success of projects between Singapore and Japan.Held at the Spring Terrace Omotesando space, the event welcomed 50+ students, aspiring entrepreneurs, and professionals for community building and inspiring talks.&nbsp;Six distinguished speakers took the stage to share their unique experiences navigating the startup world through a cross-boarders perspective. Among them was Rachel Leng, COO and Co-founder of SeiRogai Inc., who discussed her path from private equity to founding a Tokyo-based startup in media and business consulting. Allan Teng, Founder and Senior Advisor of Workato APAC &amp; Japan, spoke about scaling enterprise software across international markets and emphasized the importance of cultural intelligence in business.Also featured were Dr. Wanping Aw, CEO of TokudAw Inc., whose consultancy provides Japanese destination management services to travelers and business, and Satoshi Yoshida, CEO of GORIL Inc., who combines linguistic science with data visualization to enhance global communication. Shunsuke Katoh, COO of Moon Creative Lab, and Yuki Obata of ISSHO, Inc., rounded out the lineup by offering insider views on fostering innovation within a global organization and building entrepreneurial mindsets.Supported by organizations including the Singapore Chamber of Commerce Japan and the Singapore Global Network, Singapore Innovation Night reinforced the collaborative energy between Japan and Singapore, and highlighted the role of creative hubs like Moon Creative Lab in nurturing the next wave of innovators.Be sure to follow us on <a href="https://peatix.com/group/11677385?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=Singaporeblog&amp;utm_id=Singaporeblog">Peatix</a> for more information on upcoming events.

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<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image_12_e44739f7c4.png" alt="image (12).png">March 8 was International Women’s Day, a day for the world to celebrate women’s achievements. It’s also an opportunity to raise awareness about discrimination and bias, and accelerate action to create a gender-equal, inclusive, and equitable world free of discrimination and stereotypes.At Moon Creative Labs, we celebrated International Women’s Day during the entire month of March with different activities and discussions. Throughout these events, we focused on empowering women: how we can improve representation in leadership roles, tackle gender stereotypes, and better support women in innovation and entrepreneurship.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:6240/4160;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/IWD_1_bb49c8fc2f.png" alt="IWD 1.png" width="6240" height="4160"></figure>To kick off the month-long commemoration, Moon's Tokyo office hosted a workshop that used plastic building bricks, encouraging participants to ideate business innovations focusing on women's empowerment. The workshop was open to the public and encouraged anyone to attend regardless of gender. The 22 participants got into teams and built a physical prototype out of the toy bricks, named their new business, and shared their proposals with everyone. Business ideas ranged from women's healthcare apps to an exclusive community aiming to foster women's confidence in society. The workshop was a lot of fun, and we hope it encouraged participants to get creative and put their ideas into action to make them a reality!<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:512/341;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/IWD_lego_blog_photo_2_6e1bf9712d.png" alt="IWD lego blog photo 2.png" width="512" height="341"></figure><hr>We also held an internal discussion on what women’s empowerment meant to us, and to acknowledge the strong women in our lives. A panel of Moon leaders and team members led the discussion, sharing how women have made an impact on them and their careers. One speaker shared how he realized the power of empathy through working with female entrepreneurs. He witnessed how empathy — especially when approaching heavy topics and situations — along with passion and experience, made others feel seen. Even through small, seemingly trivial actions and details, showing that you truly understand customers and put their needs first can help strengthen your business and its impact. He also suggested that one key theme in creating a more gender-equal workplace — and society — is paying attention to how we each can help others. Being in a leadership position, he has the opportunity to identify others’ strengths and act as a “supportive sounding board.”&nbsp;&nbsp;<blockquote>With inflexible requirements and pressure to remain in a “traditional” role... the advancement of women is greatly hindered.&nbsp;</blockquote>Another leader on the discussion panel said she was pleased to see more female founders throughout the span of her career, particularly when it came to women-centered products and services. “Having a man ‘tell’ us how to solve a problem” in areas that affect and impact women, such as women’s health and wellness or childcare, doesn’t really make sense. When asked how women’s empowerment has changed throughout the years, she recalled often being the only female in a male-dominated corporate world. “I just wanted a seat at the table,” she said, acknowledging how thankful and happy she is to see more women in corporate leadership roles. And how can we continue to see more women in those roles? More flexibility, she said. The key to that is normalizing non-”traditional” home and parental roles. It needs to be more widely accepted that all parents, not just mothers, take responsibility for raising a family, which can be supported by reformed policies like parental leave. Another panelist mentioned that he makes sure to share responsibilities with his wife, remaining flexible to accommodate her needs and decisions. “I prioritize my family and take action to empower my wife and daughters. I ask questions and communicate, and support their decisions. Sharing those responsibilities and staying flexible in your roles as parents are core to empowering and supporting women.”Flexibility with work scheduling and requirements can also help bring more equity to career advancement. For example, leadership roles shouldn’t be heavily dependent on aspects like travel requirements — such demands can hinder women from advancing if it’s perceived that a mother can’t travel due to her assumed responsibility of raising children. With inflexible requirements and pressure to remain in a “traditional” role, like a mother staying home to raise children and not taking on a corporate career, the advancement of women is greatly hindered. Though much progress has been made, there are still significant hurdles in the way. One Moon leader said, “A lot has changed, but there’s a lot of political headwind that slows these things down,” which then led to a brief discussion about the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. “DEI helps the bottom line,” a panelist added.The discussion was insightful and it was great to hear our leaders’ and team mates’ perspectives on women’s empowerment. Hearing their personal stories and how they take action to empower women illustrates how crucial it is for everyone to play a part in advancing gender equality and equity.&nbsp;Key takeaways from the discussion<ul><li>The power of empathy:&nbsp;Making others feel seen and understood creates powerful connections. When we truly see others, we can better understand how we can be supportive.&nbsp;</li><li>Career advancement requires flexibility:&nbsp;To see more diversity in leadership roles, we need to&nbsp;normalize non-traditional gender roles and create equity through flexibility and policy reform.</li><li>Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is critical:&nbsp;Despite progress, gender equality and the advancement of women throughout their careers is still hindered by traditional expectations and political resistance, highlighting the importance of DEI initiatives.</li></ul><hr>Later in the month, Moon Creative Lab, in collaboration with Japanese Women’s Initiative in the Bay Area (JWIBA), hosted an inspiring panel discussion on the challenges and opportunities for women in innovation and entrepreneurship.&nbsp;Beyond Bias: Unleashing Women’s Potential brought together five accomplished women—founders, CEOs, and government consultants—who shared their personal journeys and the obstacles they’ve overcome in their careers.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:4032/3024;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Speaker_panel_2_7466483f5a.png" alt="Speaker panel 2.png" width="4032" height="3024"></figure>The conversation delved into the multifaceted experiences of women in the innovation sector, encompassing a broad spectrum of challenges and triumphs. The panelists candidly shared their personal journeys, highlighting common themes such as the delicate balancing act of raising a family while pursuing a demanding career, the geographical and emotional upheaval of relocation, the continual pursuit of knowledge and skills through education, the decision to pivot careers, the subtle and overt biases that persist in the workplace, and the frustrating experience of being underestimated due to gender.One panelist recounted her decision to leave a prestigious and well-compensated position at a renowned tech company to embark on the uncertain path of entrepreneurship. Her choice was met with skepticism from her family as they struggled to grasp her willingness to relinquish the stability and security of a corporate role. However, rather than succumbing to the doubts, she harnessed the skepticism as a catalyst for her ambition, channeling her energy into creating and building her own venture.The audience engagement was just as powerful. An attendee shared a particularly striking experience: while pitching her business to a male investor, she faced blatant microaggressions. When she stated how much funding she had raised, the investor questioned whether she meant the amount in yen rather than U.S. dollars—implying a condescending disbelief in her financial success.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:4032/3024;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Speaker_panel_1_7791d2b106.png" alt="Speaker panel 1.png" width="4032" height="3024"></figure>Some panelists shared valuable lessons and words of encouragement. One speaker recalled her mother’s advice: “Always be yourself. If you want to do something, do it—no matter what others say.” This sentiment resonated deeply, serving as a reminder that confidence and resilience are just as critical as business acumen when it comes to driving innovation.Panelists also recalled the support they received from others including many men who were mentors and sponsors for them in the workplace. And now, they look to extend that help to other women. “I’m at a point in my career where I think about legacy. What can I do to open the door for other women to walk through and give them the encouragement and support that I at times did not find for myself? What opportunities can I uncover for other women to reach beyond what they thought possible?” one panelist asked.&nbsp;&nbsp;Beyond Bias: Unleashing Women’s Potential wasn’t just a conversation; it was a call to action—a reminder that supporting and championing women in innovation leads to greater creativity, stronger businesses, and a more inclusive future.Key takeaways from the discussion<ul><li>Resilience is essential: Success often comes with setbacks, and overcoming doubt—whether from family, investors, or society—is part of the journey.</li><li>Bias still exists, but it shouldn’t define you:&nbsp;From microaggressions to deeply ingrained societal expectations, the barriers are real, but they are also surmountable.</li><li>Innovation requires authenticity: Staying true to your vision and values is crucial in entrepreneurship and leadership.</li><li>Community matters: Spaces like this event create networks of support, mentorship, and shared learning that help drive change.</li></ul>Though March was an opportunity to commemorate International Women’s Day and Month, we know that achieving gender equality and diminishing discrimination and bias requires continuous effort. We look forward to holding more events and activities like these where we can continue the dialogue on gender equality and equity, and build even stronger opportunities for women in leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation.&nbsp;

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<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:25%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:646/644;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image1_a5c8b7adce.png" alt="image1.png" width="646" height="644"></figure>Author: Takuya Yamagishi, Senior Design Researcher at Moon.&nbsp;Takuya brings extensive experience in advertising strategy, brand concept development, and user research from his time at various advertising agencies. To deepen his understanding of human-centered thinking, he studied design research and service design at Goldsmiths, University of London, and Hyper Island design school. He leads projects ranging from user understanding, needs assessment to hypothesis validation, prototype development and testing.<hr>At Moon, we host "Future Visioning" workshops to uncover emerging trends and potential business opportunities in specific industries. Earlier this year, from January to February, the workshop series focused on "Future Work Styles and Upskilling."<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1999/1579;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image5_37dc33cbef.jpg" alt="image5.jpg" width="1999" height="1579"><figcaption>Workshop Scene</figcaption></figure>With the rapid evolution of AI services, like ChatGPT, we pondered a critical question: what will be the purpose and nature of human work in the new AI-driven world? The workshop revealed a future where work styles may become more fluid with greater value placed on individual uniqueness.&nbsp;Here’s a closer look at some of the ideas and predictions that emerged from our sessions.&nbsp;Table of Contents<ul><li>The Dragon Quest-Style Work Style Brought by the Spread of AI</li><li>Featured News and Related Startups</li></ul>&nbsp;<h3>The Dragon Quest-Style Work Style Brought by the Surge of AI</h3>Are you familiar with Dragon Quest? It's a role-playing game (RPG) series where players take on the roles of heroes and adventurers, collaborating with companions to face powerful enemies like demon kings and explore vast worlds.Our workshop suggested that as AI becomes more integrated into work, Dragon Quest-style work styles may become more prevalent. So, what is a "Dragon Quest-Style Work Style"? Based on the workshop results, we've identified five key elements.🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉<h3>Characteristics of the Dragon Quest-Style Work Style</h3><h4>1. Mission-Driven</h4><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:2000/2000;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image3_d5eb50b3a8.png" alt="image3.png" width="2000" height="2000"></figure>In many RPGs, including Dragon Quest, the story starts with a clear "mission"—whether it is defeating a demon king or pacifying a war-torn world. This mission serves as the driving force that motivates players to spend countless hours on the game.Our workshop suggested that as AI reshapes the workplace, people will become more "vision-driven" and will be motivated by a sense of "purpose." Freed from mundane and repetitive tasks being handled by AI, people will place increased value on the "why" behind their work.&nbsp;This shift will increase the desire to work for companies whose missions, visions, and values resonate with them. It will also lead to the growth of mission-driven communities, connecting individuals, businesses, and even local governments around shared goals and values.<h4>2. Project-Based Teams With Necessary Members</h4><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:2000/2000;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image8_aab73d890f.png" alt="image8.png" width="2000" height="2000"></figure>In Dragon Quest, there’s a "party" system that allows players to form teams with specialized characters like wizards and warriors, selected based on the type of challenge or enemy.&nbsp; Similarly, with increased AI integration, work will be more "project-based" and "team-oriented." It will be structured around project units with the necessary skills, personnel, and budgets set for attaining the specified goals. Teams will be assembled from both internal and external talent, combining the right expertise to meet project demands. After project completion, teams will dissolve and reorganize for new projects.&nbsp;This fluidity will create opportunities for knowledge-sharing and unexpected collaborations—key ingredients for successful innovation and new project successes.Professional history will also adapt to this new model. Resumes will shift from listing job titles to highlighting&nbsp;project-based achievements, detailing the projects you contributed to, the team members you worked with, and the outcomes you helped deliver. This evolution will reflect a more dynamic and skills-focused career narrative.&nbsp;<h4>3. Visible Skills and Level-Ups Through Work</h4><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:2000/2000;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image2_aba16b83d3.png" alt="image2.png" width="2000" height="2000"></figure>In many games, character skills like strength, agility, and intelligence are scored and displayed to players. Experience points earned through battles with monsters allow characters to increase their abilities.Similarly, we can envision a future where individual skills&nbsp;are tracked and visualized in real-time, with personalized training programs tailored to each person’s strengths and development areas.&nbsp;In the U.S., "Skills Tech," a technology area focused on managing and improving employee skills, has been gaining traction. Instead of traditional classroom learning, "simulated practical styles," where skills are learned naturally through simulated work, will become more common.This applies not only to technical skills but also to soft skills such as communication, leadership, and emotional intelligence. Our workshop emphasized the importance of these human-centric skills, which are essential for successful teamwork and relationship-building. Visualizing a range of skills will simplify team formation and make training more effective, creating more agile and capable teams.&nbsp;<h4>4. Freedom To Change Jobs</h4><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:2000/2000;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image4_6034b88ec1.png" alt="image4.png" width="2000" height="2000"></figure>In Dragon Quest III, the “job change” system allows characters to switch roles once they reach a certain level. For example, a wizard who transitions to a warrior becomes a warrior who can use magic—combining the strengths of both roles.&nbsp;In the real world, switching to a completely different occupation through job changes or transfers is uncommon. However, with the surge of AI and the increased access to diverse skill sets, we will move closer to a world where we can freely choose jobs and design careers based on what we want to do rather than what we have done in our past careers.This shift will enable more flexible and creative career paths where individuals can design their professional journeys based on their interests and evolving skills. Eventually, we can expect to see the emergence of unique hybrid roles created by combining diverse skill sets—blurring the lines between traditional job categories and opening up new career possibilities.&nbsp;<h4>5. AI Tools for Enhancing Abilities and Skills, and Autonomous AI Agents</h4><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:2000/2000;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image6_aa8363d702.png" alt="image6.png" width="2000" height="2000"></figure>In Dragon Quest, weapons and armor are used to enhance a character’s attack and defense abilities. These tools are critical for advancing in the game. Some items possess special skills, while legendary weapons offer exceptional performance. Similarly, AI will serve as a powerful tool for enhancing individual capabilities and improving work efficiency through specialized skills..In the later Dragon Quest series, a system was introduced where players could recruit monsters to fight alongside them. These monsters can be seen as a today's AI agents. How well you command and utilize these AI agents will determine your success.As AI becomes more widespread, mastering AI tools and strategies will become a fundamental aspect of business literacy. Furthermore, high-performance AI and agents may become premium assets—accessible only to a select few at high costs. We may even see the rise of legendary AI tools, akin to the coveted “Erdrick’s Sword,” becoming rare and highly sought-after advantages in the business world.🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️We have now explored the five characteristics of the Dragon Quest-style work style. While news about AI replacing jobs can make the future of work seem uncertain, it's worth reflecting on how we felt while playing games. Weren’t we excited and fully absorbed, losing track of time?&nbsp;The Dragon Quest-style of work envisions a future where people work with that same sense of joy and purpose.Just as using computers became second nature over the past few decades, mastering AI will become indispensable in the near future. However, there is something more important than skills: the question of "Who do I want to have adventures with, and what kind of adventures do I want to have?"Even if your answer to that question is unclear, AI will be able to serve as a powerful tool to help support and realize your vision.For further reading, explore startups and news related to the Dragon Quest-style work style:&nbsp;<h3>Featured News and Related Startups</h3>1. Launch of "In-House BizReach by HRMOS," a New Service to Prevent Talent Outflow Through Internal ScoutingUsing generative AI, this service creates "internal resumes" by summarizing several years of employee achievements and experiences in minutes. This helps in building and maintaining in-house talent repositories. By inputting "in-house job postings," the system automatically verbalizes and proposes position requirements. It also helps recruiters&nbsp; It also supports recruiters by enabling them to define and refine position requirements based on an employee's specific career history and skill set.Reference: <a href="https://www.bizreach.co.jp/pressroom/pressrelease/2025/0128.html">https://www.bizreach.co.jp/pressroom/pressrelease/2025/0128.html</a>&nbsp;BizReach, a Japanese company renowned for its recruitment platform that connects high-caliber professionals with businesses seeking immediate talent, has launched a new service, 'In-House BizReach by HRMOS'. While the name has drawn attention, the service's standout feature is its 'internal resume' creation capability.Visualizing skills is a key step toward the "Dragon Quest-style work style," where skills are clearly defined and leveled up through work experience. The system will help in creating internal resumes to visualize skills and accelerate project-based team formation.&nbsp;2. DeNA Tomoko Namba Talks "Company Management and Growth Strategies in the AI Era" (Full Transcription)We will grow our existing business with half the personnel. And with the other half, we will work on new businesses. Not just one new business, but with the image of producing unicorns with groups of 10 people, we will attack crazily.Reference: <a href="https://fullswing.dena.com/archives/100153/">https://fullswing.dena.com/archives/100153/</a>&nbsp;This is an excerpt from a speech by Tomoko Namba, Founder and Chairperson of DeNA, at the opening of "DeNA × AI Day || DeNA TechCon 2025," hosted by DeNA Corporation. In the speech, Namba outlined a bold strategy: rather than relying on the full workforce to grow existing business, DeNA plans to dramatically increase productivity through AI and redirect half of the workforce towards building new businesses. The idea of "mass-producing unicorns with 10 people" reflects the current trend in the United States, where unicorns valued at 300 billion yen are being created with teams as small as just 7 people.This strategy perfectly embodies the "Dragon Quest-style work style" of forming small, focused teams to achieve ambitious goals, with AI serving as a powerful tool. Namba’s phrase “attack aggressively” hints at a future where forming lean, highly skilled teams to drive innovation with AI will become the norm..3. Adventure Your Career with Data, Chart a Map to the Future | Carrium Inc.Carrium Inc.'s "Career Force" service (<a href="https://www.carrium.co.jp/">https://www.carrium.co.jp/</a>) visualizes career paths and explores future possibilities based on real career data from approximately 1 million people. You can quantitatively learn about the career paths of people who have had similar careers to yours in the past.This service reveals a broader range of career options than you might have imagined. Knowing your career possibilities and expanding your options connects to the "Dragon Quest-style work style" world, where you can freely change jobs and roles based on your evolving skills and interests.In the future, the company plans to offer services that propose personalized career paths based on work histories, shaping a new era of career design.&nbsp;4. Audio Education Media for Sharpening Thinking Skills | VOOXVOOX (<a href="https://www.voox.me/">https://www.voox.me/</a>) is an audiobook service where authors deliver knowledge from their books in their voices, with content distributed through apps like "Amazon Audible" and "VOOX."Their newly launched "Future Lab" service offers workshops aimed at enhancing the human ability to "conceptualize and understand the essence" of complex ideas, drawing from liberal arts. The workshop focuses on "themes that create the future," "interdisciplinary discussions," and "social implementation of intelligence."As mentioned, In the&nbsp;Dragon Quest-style work style, missions play a central role. To create compelling missions, it is essential to deeply understand the essence of the business and identify key elements. By enhancing conceptualization abilities, companies can craft meaningful ‘missions’ that resonate with employees, attract top talent, and drive higher engagement.&nbsp;<h3>Would You Like to Think About the Future of Work with Moon?</h3>At Moon, we would like to explore new possibilities through discussions and workshops on future work styles and upskilling/reskilling with HR personnel and companies/startups engaged in this field. If you are interested, please contact<a href="mailto:takuya@mooncreativelab.com"> takuya@mooncreativelab.com</a>.<img class="image_resized" style="aspect-ratio:646/644;width:25%;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image1_a5c8b7adce.png" alt="image1.png" width="646" height="644">Author: Takuya Yamagishi, Senior Design Researcher at Moon.&nbsp;<hr>All Illustration by Freepik Storyset (<a href="https://storyset.com/">https://storyset.com/</a>)

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<figure class="media"><oembed url="https://vimeo.com/1052170837?share=copy"></oembed></figure>While a wide range of research methods exist, interviews are often favored for their speed and ease of execution, especially when resources are limited. However, is the information gathered through interviews truly sufficient?<a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/stories/field-research1">In the previous article</a>, we explored the fundamentals of research and highlighted the significance of field research. This article delves deeper into field research—despite being time-consuming and labor-intensive, it plays a crucial role in uncovering valuable insights. We will illustrate its importance with real-world examples from Moon Creative Lab’s venture, MariMari. &nbsp;Table of Contents<ol><li>Marimari Project Overview</li><li>Why Field Research?</li><li>Research Planning</li><li>Research Practices and Findings</li></ol>&nbsp;<h3>1.Marimari Project Overview</h3>Marimari is a project by Mitsui Indonesia that aims to solve Jakarta's waste management problem.In Indonesia, rapid population growth and urbanization have led to a surge in waste generation. However, essential waste management infrastructure—such as proper separation and collection systems, incineration facilities, and landfill sites—remains insufficient, raising concerns about environmental pollution and public health risks.Moreover, public garbage collection services are unavailable, leaving most residents to contract with private waste collection companies and pay a monthly fee. Many residents express frustration over inconsistent collection schedules and unreliable service.In response to this situation, Mitsui Indonesia is addressing waste separation, collection, and environmental pollution as part of its broader mission to create a cleaner Indonesia and promote ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives.The project's name,&nbsp;“Marimari,” comes from Malay, meaning “Let’s do it!” The initiative was conceptualized by Aris Munandar from Mitsui Indonesia through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/learn">Moon’s ideation program</a>. He later advanced to Moon’s incubation program where the team began conducting research for business development.Born and raised in Indonesia, his vision is to “Make cleaner Indonesia a personal mission for everyone.” To bring this vision to life, he is collaborating with Moon to explore innovative waste management solutions.&nbsp;<h3>2.Why Field Research?</h3>At Moon, we prioritize defining problems and users to maximize the likelihood of product success. Clearly identifying "for whom" and "for what purpose" a product is being developed enables evidence-based decision-making and ensures services align with user needs.Marimari was no exception. Field research was conducted to gain an in-depth understanding of the problem, user, and stakeholders involved. The research had two primary objectives:<ol><li>Understanding Jakarta residents' waste-related behaviors, values, and pain points.</li><li>Understanding the waste collectors' business, processes, and challenges.</li></ol>The necessity of objective 1: Understanding different cultures Indonesia differs significantly from Japan in climate, society, economy, and religion, with over 80% of its population being Muslim. Conducting on-site research allowed the team to directly experience local customs and gain a deeper cultural understanding.The necessity of objective 2: Understanding an unfamiliar industry The waste management industry was largely unfamiliar to the team. Field research was crucial not only for understanding Indonesia’s broader waste challenges, but also for analyzing the structure, operations, and specific difficulties faced by individual waste collection businesses.&nbsp;<h3>3. Research Planning</h3>Once the research objectives were defined, we developed a research plan to determine how best to achieve them.1)&nbsp;Research Jakarta Residents' Waste-related Behavior<ul><li>Waste Stations in the City<ul><li>Investigate how waste is handled in residents' daily lives.</li></ul></li><li>Residential Home Visits<ul><li>Observe actual waste collection and sorting practices at home and conduct interviews with residents to understand their values and concerns.</li></ul></li><li>Resident-participatory Behavioral Experiment<ul><li>Identify the factors that hinder waste separation through observed actions rather than verbal responses.</li></ul></li></ul>(2) Industry Research on Waste Collectors<ul><li>Visits Waste Collection Sites and Landfills<ul><li>Observe the entire process from waste collection to recycling. Engage with business owners and on-site workers to gain insights into their challenges and perspectives.</li></ul></li></ul>Once the overall research plan was established, we detailed implementation procedures:<ol><li>Select target participants</li><li>Specify research methodology</li><li>Recruitment</li><li>Schedule coordination</li><li>Create discussion guides</li><li>Arrange recording equipment, consent forms, and other materials</li><li>Hire interpreters, if needed</li></ol>With preparations complete, the research moved into execution.&nbsp;<h3>4. Research Practices and Findings</h3>The following are key observations and insights from the two-week field survey.&nbsp;Waste Stations in the City<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1500/1999;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image4_93682afbf4.jpg" alt="image4.jpg" width="1500" height="1999"></figure>Upon arriving in Jakarta, we immediately noticed trash cans in shopping malls and office buildings designed for waste separation. However, as we observed users, many appeared confused about where to dispose of their trash.Was this due to unclear signage? Or were people simply unaccustomed to sorting? At this stage, the exact cause remained unclear, but we identified several potential factors:<ul><li>Residents are making an effort to dispose of trash correctly.</li><li>All trash bins are the same size and color, making distinctions difficult at a glance.</li><li>Illustrations indicating waste categories are attached to the bins but positioned too low to be visible when standing in front of them.</li></ul>While these challenges highlighted areas for improvement, a key finding was that residents showed a willingness to separate their waste correctly. This suggested that with better design and clearer guidance, waste separation could be more effectively implemented.The next step was to visit people living in Jakarta.<figure class="media"><oembed url="https://vimeo.com/1052171809?share=copy"></oembed></figure>Residential Home VisitsThe team visited condominiums and single-family homes to examine waste management systems and household conditions. This investigation revealed factors unique to Indonesia’s economic and climatic environment, including:<ul><li>The common employment of maids, even in middle-class households, plays a key role in waste disposal.</li><li>Concerns about winged ants and flies attracted to indoor waste.</li><li>The presence of stray cats that tear garbage bags when left outside.</li></ul>The research also uncovered the root causes of residents' distrust of waste collectors. Key issues included:<ul><li>Irregular and delayed collections leave residents uncertain about waste disposal schedules.</li><li>No uniforms make it difficult to recognize whether the person is a waste collector or a stranger.</li><li>Overflowing collection trucks result in scattered waste and environmental concerns.</li></ul>Additionally, residents expressed skepticism toward waste collectors because they were not required to separate waste. Many assumed that all collected waste was simply dumped in landfills, reinforcing negative perceptions.However, as the investigation progressed, the team discovered that some waste collectors were actively sorting waste by themselves. This finding highlighted that distrust stemmed not from actual practices but from longstanding operational transparency issues, fueling misconceptions about the industry.Based on these findings, the team proceeded with a behavioral experiment to assess residents' willingness and accuracy in waste sorting.&nbsp;Resident-participatory Behavioral Experiment: Exploring the potential of a sorting system<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:705/1000;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image5_d591820e6a.jpg" alt="image5.jpg" width="705" height="1000"></figure>When asked, "Why don’t you sort your waste?" many residents responded, "We’re too spoiled!" However, it remained unclear whether this was due to a genuine lack of motivation or simply a lack of knowledge and proper infrastructure.To address these questions and determine whether sorting could be successful with the right system in place, the team conducted a behavioral experiment involving 230 households to measure both their willingness and accuracy in waste sorting.&nbsp;Experiment details<ol><li>Distribution of garbage bags Two types of garbage bags—one for food scraps and one for other waste—were distributed to each household.</li><li>Measurement of Garbage Bag Usage Two weeks after distribution, the collected garbage bags were counted based on color.</li><li>Assessment of Sorting Accuracy Feedback was gathered from waste collectors to evaluate the accuracy of waste separation and the overall participation rate.</li></ol>Results<ul><li>Participation rate: 54%</li><li>Accurate sorting rate: 84%</li></ul>Despite the simplicity of the experiment—merely distributing garbage bags—the findings revealed that residents were more willing to separate waste than expected. The results confirmed that proper waste sorting was entirely feasible, provided that an appropriate system was in place.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1526/646;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/2025_03_14_13_59_22_5d6589e671.png" alt="スクリーンショット 2025-03-14 13.59.22.png" width="1526" height="646"></figure>Furthermore, the steady increase in the participation rate throughout the two-week period highlighted the importance of providing clear information on waste separation and the need for continuous efforts to raise awareness.<figure class="media"><oembed url="https://vimeo.com/1052172769?share=copy"></oembed></figure>Visits Waste Collection Sites and Landfills: Confirmed the lack of awareness of recycling activitiesPreliminary surveys revealed that only 7.5% of waste collection businesses handle the entire process from collection to sorting and recycling. To gain deeper insights into their operations, the team conducted site visits to observe their actual working conditions.During the visit, the team observed a facility using recycling equipment to separate plastics into 14 different types and compress them into small, fine pellet-like solids. However, it became evident that these recycling efforts remain largely unknown to residents.The distinction between businesses engaged in recycling and those that simply dispose of waste in landfills is not widely recognized. As a result, the efforts of recycling businesses are not being effectively communicated to the public, limiting awareness and potential support for sustainable waste management practices.&nbsp;<hr>This summarizes the field research conducted for the Marimari project. Through this research, we gained an in-depth understanding of Indonesia’s waste collection industry, shaped by a unique cultural background.We hope that the full process introduced here—from defining research objectives and designing the method to execution and key discoveries—serves as a valuable reference.Stay tuned for the next chapter where we’ll discuss how research findings impact the decision-making process in new business creation.&nbsp;<img class="image_resized" style="aspect-ratio:1440/2160;width:25%;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Moon_Creative_Lab_Yui_2_ab4b9bfe9c.jpg" alt="Moon Creative Lab_Yui_2.jpg" width="1440" height="2160">Yui Aiyama, Craft Lead

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<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:3024/4032;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/IMG_3695_1_427bf48618.jpeg" alt="IMG_3695 (1).jpeg" width="3024" height="4032"></figure>Moon Creative Lab recently presented to Stanford University’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stanfordfashionx.com/">FashionX</a> group, a student-led, pre-professional group focused on innovation in fashion design. The discussion dove into the intersection of sustainability and technology in fashion, with a spotlight on 3D printing. The fashion industry, long marred by significant material waste, sees much of its surplus end up in landfills, a problem ripe for innovation.Lovette Appleton, Sr. Product Developer at Moon Creative Lab,&nbsp;explored the pressing need for sustainable material alternatives in fashion, highlighting how this mission aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12, which advocates for sustainable consumption and production patterns. The emphasis of the discussion was on how 3D printing could radically transform the future of fashion by disrupting traditional manufacturing and the fashion supply chain.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1600/1200;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/variloom_2_use_dac4ee2369.png" alt="variloom 2 use.png" width="1600" height="1200"></figure>Traditional fashion manufacturing often yields excessive material waste with designers forced to cut from bulk materials, leaving scraps and unused remnants. By contrast, 3D printing offers a precision-focused solution, enabling designers to build garments and accessories layer by layer, using only the materials required. Materials used in 3D printing allow for reusing and recycling, embedding sustainability not only into the reduction of waste during the production process but also into the end-of-life of the product as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;Moon Creative Lab’s sustainable 3D printed fashion venture,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/stories/variloom-wins-ispo-2024">Variloom</a>, is tackling this problem and transforming the fashion industry by inventing new 3D-printable materials that create soft wearable fabrics that are fully recyclable.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1201/1600;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/unnamed_463dc1eb0b.png" alt="unnamed.png" width="1201" height="1600"></figure>We were thrilled to engage with students, answering their questions on scalability, material innovation, and the design possibilities of 3D-printed fashion. The collaboration highlighted the shared vision between academia and industry to pioneer advancements in sustainable practices. Stanford's FashionX students – future leaders in design and innovation – bring fresh perspectives to solving complex challenges like waste reduction in fashion. These discussions open up exciting pathways to reimagine how fashion can evolve in a resource-conscious world, aligning with Moon Creative Lab's mission to drive purposeful innovation that contributes to a more sustainable planet.&nbsp;Learn more about Variloom at&nbsp;<a href="http://variloom.com">variloom.com</a>.

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<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:2550/3300;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Subaru_b6c53fccc0_1_c34176d9a0.png" alt="Subaru_b6c53fccc0 1.png" width="2550" height="3300"></figure>Author: Subaru (Ting Yan Wong) is a design lead passionate about crafting impactful solutions through product design and research. Her versatile background spans visual, product, and branding design, with hands-on experience in eCommerce, logistics, and healthcare. Since joining Moon, she has embraced her curiosity and commitment to innovation to create designs that improve lives. Subaru’s professional interests center on design, product innovation, and aligning business strategy with creative solutions.&nbsp;<hr>Throughout my time at Moon, I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with an amazing team on various healthcare projects. These endeavors have been both fascinating and deeply meaningful, as they touch on an area intrinsically connected to everyone’s life. Healthcare is not just a service or a system; it’s a deeply personal and universal experience.“Health is like air,” one participant told us during an interview — a simple statement that perfectly captures the paradox of health. It’s essential yet often invisible, deeply personal but challenging to articulate. It’s this abstract nature of health that makes design research in this space so complex and rewarding.At the heart of every healthcare project lies curiosity: How do people define health? Where does it fit in their lives? What motivates or hinders their well-being? Uncovering these insights requires creativity, empathy, and the willingness to embrace abstraction.So, how can we, as design researchers, translate intangible ideas into tangible insights? In this post, I’ll share strategies that help us understand users’ needs and craft solutions that truly matter.&nbsp;<h3>Ask the Right Questions</h3>To truly grasp people’s thoughts on healthcare, our first instinct is often, “Let’s talk to them.” Qualitative research allows us to go beyond surface-level insights, uncovering rich, personal stories that shape people’s experiences.But when it comes to health — something deeply personal yet shaped by emotional, cultural, and societal layers — the challenges multiply. Asking someone about their health priorities or habits demands more than simple questions. It requires trust, sensitivity, and an environment where people feel comfortable sharing openly.Take the “BEEfficient” project, for example, which aimed to introduce healthy eating habits for busy individuals.&nbsp;The team sought to gain a deep understanding of the participants' eating and cooking habits. However, they knew that directly asking interviewees straightforward questions, such as what they eat or cook, might result in overly predictable and surface-level responses. So, how could they uncover deeper insights? The key was in asking the right questions: thoughtfully crafted ones that encouraged reflection without leading answers.Rather than starting with direct questions about food, we encouraged participants to talk about their daily lives, including work, relationships, and social environments. By exploring how external influences shaped their habits, we gained a more comprehensive view of the factors driving their lifestyles and values. This approach revealed unexpected insights and highlighted the interconnectedness of health behaviors with broader life contexts.In qualitative research, the quality of engagement is just as important as the data itself. By&nbsp;facilitating an open dialogue and digging deep into the participants' lives, we uncover insights that lead to meaningful design solutions.&nbsp;<h3>Make It Fun</h3><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image3_5943838812.gif" alt="image3.gif">Speaking isn’t always the best way for people to express their thoughts fully. Often, individuals aren’t entirely aware of their deeper feelings or complex thought processes. As researchers, our goal is to gather diverse perspectives and enable analysis from multiple angles, uncovering hidden layers of meaning.“Interactive Interview Exercises”&nbsp;can transform the research process. These activities create a relaxed, engaging environment that encourages participants to share their experiences more freely.&nbsp;Not only do they provide thoughtful reactions, but they also make the process enjoyable, reducing the formality and pressure often associated with traditional interviews.For the “BEEfficient” project, the team designed “Interactive Interview Exercises” to explore the factors influencing participant’s eating and cooking decisions as an online exercise. Participants were asked to select and prioritize these factors, leading to fascinating insights. For example, while many spoke about their family’s influence on shaping their food and health values, family often didn’t rank highly as a direct influence on immediate food decisions. At first glance, this seemed contradictory. But it revealed an important distinction: family plays a long-term,&nbsp;passive role in shaping habits over time, while immediate food decisions are driven by short-term factors like convenience, cost, or cravings.The interactive exercise not only surfaced these nuanced dynamics but also fostered a fun, collaborative atmosphere. Participants felt less like they were being interrogated and more like they were engaging in a meaningful activity. By creating this relaxed environment, we uncovered deeper, more authentic insights while ensuring the process was positive for everyone involved.&nbsp;<h3>Get Closer to Your Users</h3>We’ve discussed the value of online interviews and remote interactions, but sometimes, the most profound insights come from stepping away from the computer and meeting users where they are. Going offline allows us to observe real-life behaviors and experiences, providing a richer understanding of the user’s world.For instance, a Moon Entrepreneur-In-Residence (EIR), <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/stories/entrepreneurial-mindset?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=subarublog250207en&amp;utm_id=subarublog250207en">Serene Li</a>, exemplified this approach during her work on the venture “Vital Grit,” a product designed to boost workout habits and performance. She was particularly interested in how her product could serve families with young children. Serene wanted to explore the challenges and joys of exercising with toddlers aged 1-3 and the potential hidden benefits of family workouts.To gain these insights, Serene visited participant’s homes to observe their weekend routine. She examined the living environment, interactions between family members, and how parents guided their child through workout activities under her in-person guidance. As a professional trainer, Serene offered guidance, making the experience both observational and participatory.This hands-on approach uncovered valuable insights. For example, the team discovered that parents faced difficulties in guiding their toddler’s exercises due to their lack of motor control and short attention spans. But they also found&nbsp;a significant opportunity: family workouts could not only serve as a way to encourage healthy habits but also act as a prompt for building emotional bonds and strengthening relationships with a shared focus on wellbeing. On the flip side, the research provided deeper insights into the challenges of designing effective workout programs for kids and the difficulties parents face in managing their children during exercise sessions. These findings reframed the productʻs value proposition, highlighting emotional connection as an essential benefit of exercising together as a social activity. Additionally, the team gained a clearer understanding of the productʻs feasibility, allowing them to refine their concept to explore opportunities that connect individuals, workouts, and their environment through social elements.By immersing ourselves in users’ lives and observing their realities, we uncover challenges and opportunities early in the process. Sometimes, the best way to understand your users is simply to step into their shoes, or in this case, their living room, for a workout session.&nbsp;<h3>Turning Abstract Idea Into Measurable Understanding</h3>Design research is collecting tangible insight that bridges the gap between abstract ideas and actionable solutions. Whether it’s asking the right questions, making the process fun, or immersing ourselves in users’ lives, each step deepens our understanding of what truly matters to people. In healthcare, this journey is particularly meaningful because it touches one of the most personal and universal aspects of life.By embracing curiosity, empathy, and creativity in our research practices, we uncover the hidden layers of human behavior and values. These insights guide the development of impactful solutions and foster deeper connections between teams and the people they serve.Ultimately, understanding users isn’t just about collecting data; it’s about telling their stories, respecting their experiences, and designing with their needs at heart. As we continue exploring the intricate world of healthcare, let’s remember that every question, every exercise, and every observation brings us one step closer to creating solutions that truly make a difference.&nbsp;<hr>Moon Creative Lab offers several programs to support startups. If you are interested in transforming your own business idea and growth, please check out the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=CTA2502&amp;utm_id=storytelling+by+subaru">top page</a>.

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<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:4200/2801;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/mcl_Dr_Conway_Ai_In_Healthcare_047_a767a7faad.jpg" alt="mcl_DrConway_AiInHealthcare_047.jpg" width="4200" height="2801"><figcaption>Moon’s Chief Creative Officer, Mike Peng, leading a Fireside Chat with Dr. Allan Conway.</figcaption></figure>A part of Moon Creative Lab’s Speaker Series events, AI in Healthcare: Pioneering Precision was an insightful talk on how artificial intelligence is emerging in the healthcare industry.Dr. Allan Conway, Clinical Associate Professor of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, UCSF and MarinHealth, was the first surgeon to use AI technology in a vascular surgical procedure for aneurysm repair. In a Fireside Chat with Moon’s Chief Creative Officer, Mike Peng, he shared his insights on how AI enables medical professionals to perform complex procedures with greater precision, and how AI can improve healthcare and patient outcomes.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:4200/2801;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/mcl_Dr_Conway_Ai_In_Healthcare_019_9a783f7378.jpg" alt="mcl_DrConway_AiInHealthcare_019.jpg" width="4200" height="2801"></figure>Opportunities for AI in Healthcare Allan discussed how AI can play a significant part in making healthcare professionals’ jobs much more efficient. By optimizing workflow and reducing the daily tasks that are part of medical professionals’ jobs, such as charting patient data and documentation, healthcare can become more accessible. More efficient operations and automated tasks would allow doctors to see more patients and spend more time interacting with them than on paperwork. Relieving some of the administrative burden that doctors face daily could lead to improved patient communication, wider availability of healthcare, and better access to care for underserved communities.Not only would AI make daily administrative tasks more efficient, but it would also help increase efficiency in the operating room. Allan envisions AI reducing surgery times by 20-30 minutes, which would allow doctors to treat more patients.&nbsp;The Current State of AI Allan and his team at MarinHealth used Cydar Maps, an AI-powered surgical platform that can create a detailed 3D map of a patient’s anatomy. Such visualization helps with pre-surgical planning, image guidance during surgery, and automated evaluation of surgical outcomes. This technology allows medical teams to better visualize during the surgery, operate with more precision, make better decisions in the operating room, and guide care throughout the patient’s entire journey.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/mcl_Dr_Conway_Ai_In_Healthcare_036_8a0e663cf1.jpg" alt="mcl_DrConway_AiInHealthcare_036.jpg">Implementation Challenges Like with any new technology, implementing AI in healthcare has not been immediate. Allan attributed the lack of AI-prevalence to financial hurdles. Most AI technology comes with high subscription costs, and many medical institutions might be reluctant to invest heavily into something that might not have the data to back the technology up — yet. But as AI technology is adopted, Allan is hopeful that as the data grows, so will implementation across the industry. To help overcome the financial hurdles AI technology faces, Allan thinks philanthropy and product champions are key. More philanthropic support from strong believers and evangelists of new technology could be key to ushering more AI in healthcare. No, AI Will Not Replace Surgeons With new ideas comes new misconceptions — and Allan addressed those head-on by assuring that AI will not replace surgeons. He emphasized the need to wane expectations about AI capabilities and that, instead of focusing on the fear of AI, the focus should be on enhancing and augmenting the work of medical professionals, not entirely replacing them.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:4200/2801;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/mcl_Dr_Conway_Ai_In_Healthcare_110_1e5f3785f2.jpg" alt="mcl_DrConway_AiInHealthcare_110.jpg" width="4200" height="2801"><figcaption>Pictured: Moon CEO Kaichi Yokoyama, Dr. Allan Conway, Moon CCO Mike Peng, and Moon CMO Mary Ann Gallo,</figcaption></figure>Moon’s Focus&nbsp; Moon is always open and welcoming to new ideas, and one particular focus area of ours is AI in Healthcare. How might we leverage cutting-edge technologies to deliver more personalized and better outcomes for patients around the world? How can we use AI to augment the already-incredible abilities of medical professionals and transform healthcare as we know it? If you have ideas, we’d love to hear them! Chat with us, attend an event, and meet incredible innovators and entrepreneurs by joining our Moon Community <a href="https://share.hsforms.com/1OHQANbcgR9q4ky5Q4M6wMQcxaid">here</a>.Interested in being a featured speaker at Moon or partnering for your event? Reach out to us <a href="https://share.hsforms.com/1u98RYOcPTfefjoRhgX-xewcxaid">here</a>.&nbsp;

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To celebrate the end of the Boost Summer '24 cohort, on Dec. 3, Moon’s Tokyo Studio held a "Boost Pitch &amp; Connect" event where 13 ventures - 2 online and 11 in person - presented their businesses to an audience of 60 guests including VCs, startups, and organizations such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and JETRO. The event was followed by networking time to deepen the exchange.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Boost_348e28871a.png" alt="Boost.png">&nbsp;<h3>Looking back on the pitch</h3><ol><li>ijo – Developing seaweed-based bioplastic products and bio-stimulants to promote vegetable growth at high quality vegetables and low cost.</li><li>Polls – Automate the creation of survey question branches for efficiency and promote consistency in responses. Conduct regular observations of employees makes sure their alignment with company goals.</li><li>KiFor – Facilitate collaboration between charities and organizations engaged in SDGs. Work with educational institutions to connect them with job training to expand their workforce.</li><li>Growth Watcher – Provides use of satellite data to monitor the growing environment of vegetables in order to facilitate the transition to the cultivation of alternative crops against the environmental changes.</li><li>BooksPetal – A platform that makes it easy for students to purchase and sell books on demand. The company designs a unique system in which the amount of money is determined by weight.</li><li>HomeTrimmer – Provides trimming services at pet owners' homes, ensuring the safety of pets &amp; the peace of mind of owners while also creating an improved working environment for trimmers.</li><li>Grouping – Facilitates social interaction by matching groups of three. More casual and dynamic, and monetizes by directing users to partner restaurants. Free for both genders.</li><li>Krip – Aggregates promotions, discounts and deals from credit cards providers and financial services, easily accessible to consumers and partners from their app and APIs.</li><li>DROP System – Provides a platform that centralizes different loyalty programs offered by companies, allowing users to use them without worrying about expiration.</li><li>CACARU – Provides a platform for a university’s physicians to search for specialists and clinics to refer patients to, send referral letters, and make appointments in one place.</li><li>Robot ATTA! – A matching website with a collection of use cases for companies considering robot implementation. Focuses on the central concern: the feasibility of implementation on site.</li><li>Kutoon – Subscription-based rental of children shoes, with home-delivery. Shoes are collected, cleaned and reused after the children outgrow them.</li><li>MEs – Develop a virtual space dedicated to creative teams, to capture, catalogue and visualize data in a 3D environment, breaking the boundaries of standard productivity tools.</li></ol><a href="https://share.hsforms.com/1xfbn-6k6Q3GsIa1jMxWUcwcxaid?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog1218&amp;utm_id=blog1218">&gt;&gt; Register "Boost"</a>

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<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:4000/4000;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Luma_final_3f4005f343.png" alt="Luma final.png" width="4000" height="4000"></figure>In October, Moon Creative Lab held its first Founder Focus event, which spotlights some of the ventures incubating at Moon as part of the Moon In-Residence program.<a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/in-residence">Moon In-Residence</a> (MIR) is Moon’s incubation program based in Palo Alto, California. The program offers entrepreneurs and founders the support they need for their venture, including project space, advisory from experts in design, engineering, product, and more, tools and software, and other hands-on help they need to gain traction in their market.This first Founder Focus event, held at Moon’s Palo Alto studio, showcased three ventures from the MIR program: Amotions AI, deCH.at, and Imagined. Each venture team presented their business to a crowd, discussing not only their venture but also the work they’ve been doing at Moon. Each presentation concluded with a Q&amp;A session with the audience, where founders were asked thoughtful questions and offered feedback. &nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1024/768;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/David_851bc192ea.png" alt="David.png" width="1024" height="768"></figure><h3>Getting New Perspectives&nbsp;</h3>Events like this are opportunities for founders to present their business to new audiences, getting fresh eyes and perspectives on their pitch. David Fernandez Vinuales founded deCh.at, a tool that helps businesses scale their customer engagement using AI. David, an experienced founder and presenter, has pitched his ventures to crowds of thousands of people. Whether the audience is of one or one thousand, he believes getting new eyes on pitch presentations helps founders see things they might otherwise be blind to. “You need to get different eyes on your presentation or product because as a founder, you get deep into the grass with your product and there are some things you can’t see yourself, so having other perspectives helps you improve,” David says.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:5244/4542;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/dollar_4bf6b0546e.png" alt="dollar.png" width="5244" height="4542"></figure><h3>Connecting Through Storytelling</h3>Storytelling, which is a large part of building a venture, also comes through in pitches. Dollar Zhu and Jack Wang are the founding team of <a href="https://imagined.framer.ai/">Imagined</a>, which helps aspiring professionals navigate their career. Since they’ve been in the MIR program, they have pivoted with their business, which happens often in the venture-building journey, and was a significant part of their storytelling. “As founders, it is always helpful to hone our storytelling skills through these presentations; each occasion to present is an opportunity to reflect and iterate on our vision… For us specifically, since we are at an earlier stage and recently made a pivot from virtual campus tours to helping people navigate their careers, this event encouraged us to build a strong foundation in storytelling,” Dollar says.<blockquote>"Each occasion to present is an opportunity to reflect and iterate on our vision."-Dollar Zhu, cofounder, Imagined</blockquote> Improving storytelling was also something deCh.at’s founder learned through his presentation. “It was nice to get feedback from the audience. It allowed me to see where I could improve, such as telling a better story for people to connect to in addition to the product itself,” David added.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:2100/1500;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/pianpian_4d9d0fecc6.png" alt="pianpian.png" width="2100" height="1500"></figure><h3>Hearing From the Audience</h3>But perhaps the most helpful aspect of a pitch presentation is the Q&amp;A that happens after the pitch. Questions from the audience can be challenging, but that often leads to finding the holes in a pitch, helping founders realize what’s missing or what can be improved. Pianpian Guthrie, founder of <a href="https://www.amotionsinc.com/">Amotions AI,</a> which improves productivity for employees with personalized AI coaching and support, was able to get helpful insight and make new connections. “I got some excellent and thoughtful questions from the audience, and met some people interested in our space. For example, someone who worked as a salesperson and thought the AI coaching product we are building for sales people could be very helpful.”David from deCh.at also finds great value in Q&amp;A sessions, acknowledging the importance of audience engagement. “I want to make sure people are engaged and I want them to ask questions. Questions help improve my product and see where I need improvement or see the problem in a different perspective, or confirm my hypotheses with the product,” he says. &nbsp;<blockquote>"As a founder, you get deep into the grass with your product and there are some things you can’t see yourself."&nbsp;-David Fernandez Vinuales, founder, deCh.at</blockquote>Like the other founders, the Imagined team also got a lot from the conversations they had with event attendees. “After the talk, we engaged with a diverse audience in thought-provoking conversations. One notable example is a data scientist who raised questions about the ways we can collect data on educational opportunities so that we can offer a tailored experience to aspiring professionals. We walked away from that conversation with more insights into the data-collection strategy and an introduction to a labor-data analysis group at Stanford!”&nbsp;This event was just the first of more Founder Focus events to come. If you’d like to be invited to events like this and others at Moon Creative Lab, be sure to <a href="https://share.hsforms.com/1OHQANbcgR9q4ky5Q4M6wMQcxaid ">subscribe to our mailing list</a>.Are you a founder or have an idea for a new business? Learn more about the Moon In-Residence program and apply <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/in-residence">here</a>. &nbsp;

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<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Design_x_AI_featured_image_f9a7ab1683.jpg" alt="Design x AI featured image.jpg">In August, Moon held its very first series of Design x AI Workshops at both our Tokyo and Palo Alto studios. These workshops are designed to help understand and utilize emerging AI technologies to build stronger, more creative business ideas.&nbsp;&nbsp;For these first two workshops, participants gathered in person at Moon’s studio in Tokyo or Palo Alto. The day started with our Design x AI team covering the fundamentals of LLMs, including its strengths and weaknesses, and discussing the ethics surrounding the use of generative AI. Participants then learned how to use AI beyond the back-and-forth prompting of chatbots, building their own complex LLM systems that they can use in their work.&nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Design_x_AI_Nic_3145b233a8.jpg" alt="Design x AI Nic.jpg">Some of the participants were completely new to learning about and working with AI, while others seemed to be more familiar with it. But regardless of their AI knowledge, everyone was eager to learn and build. Lots of conversations even continued after the workshop was over, filling our studios with lively discussions and insightful perspectives.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I liked that there were so many opportunities to ask questions and develop a really good understanding of the content. The presented content was very clear and simple, and at the same time, it became clear through the answers that Nic and Daniel [facilitators] were really knowledgeable far beyond what they presented,” said one participant in the Palo Alto workshop.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Design_x_AI_Rika_a47694e804.jpg" alt="Design x AI Rika.jpg">Some participants were very focused on taking what they learned about LLMs and applying that to the specific needs of their company’s department. “In each workshop, the group experienced an ‘aha’ moment: a moment where they understood that LLMs are statistical models, trained on the Internet, that predict the next word in a sequence of words. For many participants, understanding this technical fact and considering how it impacted the utility of LLMs as tools was a huge unlock,” said&nbsp;<a href="mailto:nic@mooncreativelab.com">Nic Schumann</a>, Moon engineer and workshop facilitator.&nbsp;“Our premise for the workshops was that understanding – even in broad terms – how LLM’s work, helps designers and business-builders make much better informed decisions about where to apply the technology and where not to,” Nic added.&nbsp;Of course, the AI landscape is rapidly evolving with new tools and technologies being introduced constantly. With Moon’s Design x AI Workshops, we can learn and explore these new resources together and apply them to better, more innovative business creation.&nbsp;<a href="https://share.hsforms.com/1viPhBVoDSl6EqouYB4Ckhwcxaid">Stay connected</a> to receive updates on more workshops and events to come.&nbsp;

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