Moon Creative Lab Favicon

Moon Creative Lab

Join Moon's 2-day, in-person open business building workshops in Tokyo.

Explore Moon's range of Tokyo-based customized business design workshops.

Learn

Explore Moon’s Tokyo–based incubation program, Boost.

Explore Moon’s Palo Alto–based incubation program, In–Residence.

Build

Grow

/grow

Connect

/connect

About

<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/DSCF_5011_1_d8360298c0.jpg" alt="DSCF5011 1.jpg">On September 3, 2024, the Moon Creative Lab Tokyo Studio in Omotesando buzzed with energy as the 5-day Spark program culminated in the exhilarating “Make-a-thon” event. 46 innovators from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Germany, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Malaysia came together to bring 36 groundbreaking business ideas to life, working both individually and in teams. They captivated visitors as they pitched their ventures, each presentation showcasing a unique innovative vision for a new business idea.  Spark isn't just a program—it's a melting pot of challenges and ideas from all over Japan and the world, consistently producing a rich tapestry of innovative solutions every time it's held. When we asked a representative from a renowned company—who continually encourages their employees to participate—what keeps them coming back, they shared, “Because the ideas here are always beyond the ordinary.”  This is the magic of Spark: it brings together a mosaic of perspectives to push boundaries and reimagine what's possible. Facilitators at each table witnessed participants stepping boldly out of their comfort zones, embracing invaluable feedback from peers, and refining their business models with newfound insight. The diversity here didn't just ignite innovation; it forged meaningful connections and collaborations that promise to extend far beyond the program itself.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Group_2215_cec0819bc6.jpg" alt="Group 2215.jpg">What groundbreaking ideas and startups will emerge next from the up-and-coming entrepreneurs nurtured here? Stay tuned! And of course, we warmly invite you to participate in the program yourself.&nbsp;<h3>Join the Next Spark</h3>Spark is Moon's practical 1-week intensive program for 0 to 1 business creation. Participants from various regions, industries, companies, and departments come together to participate in a dynamic program to develop their business ideas. Participants are divided into several groups to quickly shape their ideas through a mix of self-driven work, lectures, and advice from facilitators. In the end they pitch their ideas using a landing page created with no-code tools. The next Spark will be held May 14-20. Please check the registration page for details.&nbsp;<a href="https://share.hsforms.com/1npsWnu58T1a_EJzXt4AAvQcxaid?utm_source=Intranet_0925&amp;utm_medium=post0925&amp;utm_id=spark_report_0925">&gt;&gt; Apply to Next Spark</a><a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/spark?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=post0925en&amp;utm_id=spark_report_0925">&gt;&gt; Visit Spark Page</a><a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/stories/spark-202405?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=post0925en&amp;utm_id=spark_report_0925">&gt;&gt; Report of Spark Spring 2024</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/SPARK_GRAPHICS_GRADIENT_1_03240b9c37.png" alt="SPARK_GRAPHICS_GRADIENT (1).png">

medium_DSCF5011 1.jpg

small_DSCF5011 1.jpg

thumbnail_DSCF5011 1.jpg

DSCF5011 1.jpg

<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image1_162e3ddbd3.jpg" alt="image1.jpg">Established in September 2023, aequol Inc. is a company that spun off of Moon Creative Lab venture Metajob!, a digital work matching service. It is developing a job matching platform for spot work and other services in an effort to provide equal work opportunities to all people. How did the idea come about?<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1600/900;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image2_9adb52cc44.jpg" alt="image2.jpg" width="1600" height="900"><figcaption>Naohiro Hoshino, CEO of aequol Inc. In 2021, he launched Metajob! as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) at Moon Creative Lab and then incorporated it as a company in September 2023.</figcaption></figure>Table of Contents<ol><li>Helping launch Moon Creative Lab</li><li>Is labor shortage real?</li><li>Digital work level the playing field</li><li>Experiences become the true value</li></ol>&nbsp;<h3>1.Helping launch Moon Creative Lab</h3>How did you become an in-house entrepreneur at Moon?&nbsp;Naohiro Hoshino: Around 2016, I participated in the project that originally created Moon Creative Lab itself. Mitsui had been creating a long-term, 10-year vision and Moon was the centerpiece of that vision. In the next phase, we decided to start creating something from scratch, and we set up the motto "From 'tsunagu' (connect) to 'tsukuru' (create)."Later in 2018, Moon was launched and during an open call for ideas, I proposed my idea of&nbsp; a job-matching platform specialized for digital work, which was "Metajob!”At first, I was thinking of developing a platform that would bundle such things as remote-controlled delivery robots and remote-controlled construction work that can be done without having to go to the construction site, for example, or even telemedicine as another example.However, many remote-controlled robot technologies have not yet been put to practical use, so I decided to start with remote customer service, which we could start working on immediately.&nbsp;<h3>2.Is labor shortage real?</h3>Why did “digital” become the starting point?&nbsp;Naohiro: When I explain Japan's demographic projections and effective job openings to people overseas, they get very surprised. Certainly, the shortage of workers is one of the biggest issues facing Japan. However, from a micro-perspective, we also realize that it is not a simple matter, like the ratio of job offers to applicants = 1 or more, therefore there is a labor shortage.Even if the total amount of work exceeds the total number of workers, various barriers such as age, places to live, illness, nursing care, educational background, work experience, etc. prevent people from taking the first step. To begin with, there are few people who are willing to take any kind of Job. In other words, I feel that a lack of manpower appears to be there, partly because of those barriers.aequal's vision is to "help corporate business through individual life experiences.” We are trying to create a new market for non-manual spot-work, where people support corporate activities based on their unique experiences.If everyone stands on the same footing and runs the same 100 meters based on their own character, I think the result would be an interesting world based on different values than what we have seen so far.<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>3.Digital work level the playing field</h3>What made you feel challenged by work barriers?&nbsp;Naohiro: I was born and raised in “shitamachi” Tokyo [smaller, more familiar and traditional neighborhoods outside of the modern, cosmopolitan city, typically made of laborers, artisans, and merchants]. My parents were sole proprietors. Many of the families around me were like that. Because I grew up in such an environment, I thought it was natural that after graduating from high school, I would either find a job or go to college while earning tuition fees. At that time, I realized that there is a huge difference in the starting points for running those metaphorical 100 meters.I then began to wonder if it would be possible to create an environment in which all people could compete from the same starting point. The point is that I am not trying to develop "shoes that make you run faster.* My goal was to create a level playing field, and digital work was one of the approaches to achieve this.<h3>4.Experiences become the true value</h3>Isn't work dependent on past skills and background?&nbsp;Naohiro: When we tried to link digital workers with companies, we saw early on that securing social trust was an issue. However, there are actually ways of matching where the value is not in the skills or career, but in the individual’s experience itself.One example of this is the&nbsp;<a href="https://ijyu-chat.metajob.jp/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=CTA&amp;utm_id=Ijuuchat_LP">Ijuu Chat</a> immigration consultation service, released in October 2023 in collaboration with Japan Organization for Internal Migration (JOIN). In February 2024,&nbsp;<a href="https://numazu-ijyu-chat.metajob.jp/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=CTA&amp;utm_id=Ijuuchat_N_LP">Ijuuchat for Numazu</a> was launched through Numazu Livelihood, a portal site operated by Numazu City for immigrants and permanent residents. And in June 2024,&nbsp;<a href="https://ibaraki-ijyu-chat.metajob.jp/">Ijuuchat for Ibaraki</a> was launched for Ibaraki prefecture. We hope to make this available nationwide.&nbsp;Until now, local government officials in each area have tried to explain the convenience of living in that area, which is something that prospective immigrants want to know about. In Ijuu Chat, ChatGPT gives a rough answer, and then digital workers who have lived in the area answer the details beyond that. For example, if you ask, "What is the best area for a single mother to live?” a person with experience will answer that question.This is what makes it valuable – not the skill, but the experience. The fact that you have lived there becomes a value in itself. This system can be used not only for immigration but also for travel, and if a large log of exchanges can be accumulated, data utilization is also possible.The knowledge we have gained through our various practices is being applied in a wider range of areas as technology advances. The first remote customer service project we undertook was with a company that operates a karaoke box. By taking detailed sensory data from workers, we were able to get a variety of opinions, such as the difficulty of free talk and the demand for fortune-telling. We were able to start quizzes, including murder mysteries and quick-press quizzes, and collect a variety of data as a result.Now we are able to use that knowledge to conduct increasingly in-depth interviews, such as talking to people who have been using a cosmetics brand's products for more than 10 years, or one company talking to loyal users of a rival company.Although the public has high expectations for automation through AI and robots, the actual cost of 100% automation is significant, and the division of roles between AI and people is expected to continue to be an important point in the future. I believe that digital work will play a major role there.<hr>Naohiro Hoshino established&nbsp;<a href="https://aequol.com/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=CTA&amp;utm_id=aequol_LP">aequol Inc.</a> on September 14, 2023. In October 2023, he released&nbsp;<a href="https://ijyu-chat.metajob.jp/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=CTA&amp;utm_id=Ijuuchat_LP">Ijuu Chat</a>, a migration consultation service operated by both AI and people, in collaboration with the Organization for Promotion of Migration and Interchange. In January 2024, he collaborated with Chukyo Television Broadcasting Corporation and launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctv.co.jp/studyjam/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=CTA&amp;utm_id=StudyJam_LP">Study Jam</a>, a non-advertising method to reach Generation Z and create fandoms. Naohiro has also launched Metajob Research, an online interview service that enables users to obtain candid opinions from consumers, and&nbsp;<a href="https://aequol.com/posts/SNOKlBuY?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=CTA&amp;utm_id=vtuberscoring">Super-Subjective Vtuber Scoring</a>, a karaoke scoring tool that uses Vtuber digital workers, which Moon Creative Lab is currently helping Naohiro implement.Moon Creative Lab also supports various other ventures. Please check our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=CTA&amp;utm_id=aequol_idea_interview_en">official website</a> to learn more.&nbsp;

large_image2.jpg

medium_image2.jpg

small_image2.jpg

thumbnail_image2.jpg

image2.jpg

<figure class="media"><oembed url="https://vimeo.com/1009059390?share=copy#t=0"></oembed></figure>On Tuesday, August 6, 2024, a startup pitch and networking event called "Boost PITCH &amp; CONNECT" was held at Moon’s Tokyo Studio. The event was held in a hybrid format (on site and via Zoom webinar) and attracted over 200 participants including in-person and online. At the event, 15 startups from the Spring ‘24 cohort of Moon's Boost startup support program presented their pitches<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/DSCF_2095_f6835a3253.jpg" alt="DSCF2095.jpg"><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/DSCF_2220_0f50a42164.jpg" alt="DSCF2220.jpg"><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/DSCF_2337_cbd7f5653a.jpg" alt="DSCF2337.jpg"><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/DSCF_2041_657ff6d67b.jpg" alt="DSCF2041.jpg"><h3>15 Startups</h3><h3 style="margin-left:0px;">From Individual Entrepreneurs</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.babiew.com/">Babiew</a></li></ul>Baby products review &amp; ranking website with purchase option. Founder is Lina Kaneki.<ul><li><a href="https://www.baskit.app/">Baskit</a></li></ul>Help distribution businesses grow with financing &amp; technology. Founder is Yann Schuermans.<ul><li><a href="https://lightroads.co.jp/campusreach.html">Campus Reach</a></li></ul>Internship and career orientation app for university students across Japan. Founder is Ken Taniuchi.<ul><li><a href="https://cofilm.id/">Cofilm</a></li></ul>Health-conscious vegan snacks, gummy vitamins as first product. Founder is Royyan Wafi Pujiyanto.<ul><li><a href="https://drivejapan.co.jp/">Drive Japan Inc.</a></li></ul>Simplifies road trips planning in rural Japan for tourists. Founder is Takujiro Oto.<ul><li>FitVit</li></ul>Health-conscious vegan snacks, gummy vitamins as first product. Founder is Siward Ludin.<ul><li><a href="https://www.loovic.co.jp/">LOOVIC</a></li></ul>Guide/navigate visitors in local environments, voice-based. Founder is Toru Yamanaka.<ul><li><a href="https://www.mallsampah.com/">Mallsampah</a></li></ul>Circular economy tech provider, digitizing the traditional collection system. Founder is Adi Saifullah Putra.<ul><li><a href="https://mechlynx.com/">Mechlynx</a></li></ul>Small bicycle shop management platform with logistics capabilities. Founder is Jordan Scott.<ul><li><a href="https://www.moovby.com/jp/en/">Moovby</a></li></ul>Car-sharing marketplace where drivers can book cars from owners. Founder is Nik Muhammad Amin.<ul><li><a href="https://www.neufast.com/">Neufast</a></li></ul>AI video interview for screeners and mock interviews. Founder is Agnes Wun.<ul><li><a href="https://sellou.com/">Sellou</a></li></ul>Short-form video-based marketplace for local products. Founder is Salman Aljimeely.<ul><li><a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/stories/Lokasoka.com">SnapTap</a></li></ul>Custom gift marketplace via smartphone keyboard extension app. Founder is Tito Guntur Safirda.<ul><li><a href="https://tekeya.io/">Tekeya Global</a></li></ul>Marketplace for food products close to expiration date, at discounted prices. Founder is Maxim Haartsen.<ul><li>V-bay</li></ul>Online auction platform focused on imported used car from Japan. Founder is Noreen Nawaz.<h3>Looking back on Boost PITCH &amp; CONNECT</h3><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1165/1790;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/DSCF_0675_1_2_f5d0a7abde.jpg" alt="DSCF0675 (1) 2.jpg" width="1165" height="1790"><figcaption>Davide Petrillo, Boost Director, Moon Creative Lab.</figcaption></figure>Davide "We wrapped up the Spring ‘24 cohort of Boost – Moon’s 3-month startup support program – with an exciting event that showcased the progress of our participants. Boost’s mission is to help early-stage startups refine their product ideas towards product-market fit, offering them access to mentorship from Moon and industry experts, a supportive entrepreneurial community, and hands-on guidance from Moon’s product team.&nbsp;Selected startups also have the opportunity to receive investment support. The event was filled with energy and innovation, as 15 of the 28 startups involved in Boost’s Spring '24 program pitched their products and services in front of a panel that included members of Moon’s leadership and investment teams. This hybrid event, attended both in-person and online, featured startups from various regions, with 50% of the startups from Japan and 50% from the APAC area.&nbsp;The pitch event was packed with diverse ideas and different entrepreneurial spirits, as our Boost participants ranged from industries like food &amp; beverage, digital retail, AI-based HRTech, family wealth, and more. Following the pitch presentations,two panel discussions were held with former Boost participants, providing insights into the growth and evolution of startups after completing the program.&nbsp;We concluded the event with a lively networking session, accompanied by food and drinks, where Boost startups had the chance to connect with representatives from Moon, Mitsui, and other industry leaders.&nbsp;A particularly exciting moment for startups in the recruitment sector was when established Moon startups, current Boost participants, and even applicants for the upcoming cohort – all from different countries – held lively discussions about the future of work. It was a powerful exchange, planting the seeds for potential partnerships and mutual support on the path to success.&nbsp;With the Spring '24 cohort concluded, we are now gearing up for the Summer '24 cohort, set to begin on September 10. Applications are also open for the following cohort starting in November. We look forward to continuing our mission of supporting early-stage startups and we can't wait to see what their future holds."<h3>Learnings from Talk Session</h3><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:2400/888;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Group_2160_6769030dfe.jpg" alt="Group-2160.jpg" width="2400" height="888"><figcaption>(Left) Ms. Ikumi Narui, CEO, Inter Holdings, Inc.(Right) Mr. Shohei Horiguchi, Suup founder, Moon Creative Lab Investment Team</figcaption></figure>The pitch was followed by two panels. In the first, serial entrepreneur Ikumi Narui, who sold her company just one year after starting it and now represents Inter Holdings, Inc., which works to transform food logistics and achieve carbon neutrality through patented vacuum technology, and Shohei Horiguchi, former EIR of Moon, founder of Suup, a service that converts vacant space into unmanned coworking space, and currently a member of the Moon’s investment team after the business transfer, They shared their experiences and perspectives on a wide range of topics, from business creation to transfers and other progress. The two particularly empathized with each other when Ms. Narui reflected on the difference between her past experience in the media business and starting her current business, and how the learning that comes from experiencing the process of starting and transferring a business can increase the options for the next step in business creation. The topic also expanded to various worries and struggles related to starting a business, such as the disadvantage that in-house entrepreneurs feel towards individual entrepreneurs and the fact that female entrepreneurs are easily pointed out for the small market size of their businesses. Many stories were shared to encourage the entrepreneurs, such as real-life experiences that showed how the fear they felt was just a misunderstanding, and how small achievements paved the way for the next step.<blockquote>Horiguchi: If I were to give advice to myself at the time of starting a business, I would just say how important it is to act quickly, verify, and repeat the necessary pivots. And in starting a business, it is important to just aim high and find excellent colleagues. Those two things interact with each other, so I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that's the only thing that matters.</blockquote><blockquote>Narui: I was fortunate to experience business creation, product development, organizational development, and M&amp;A with the help of various people early on. This experience allowed me to focus more on scalability in the next steps. The experience, results, and connections I gained from my first startup give me unlimited options for my second one.</blockquote><blockquote>Horiguchi: I am currently in the investment business, and the five years of experience I gained from starting my own business has been very helpful in understanding the stories of entrepreneurs when making startup investments. If I were asked whether I am an entrepreneur or an investor, I would say the former. Someday I would like to try my hand at starting a business for the second time.</blockquote><blockquote>Narui: It is said that there are not many female entrepreneurs, but this can be seen as a tailwind because they attract more attention than their male counterparts. Even if the market is small, it is important to produce results and use those results to attract the next opportunity. I think it is important to create your own environment.</blockquote><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:3810/1265;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Group_2160_daadae34b1.jpg" alt="Group 2160.jpg" width="3810" height="1265"><figcaption>From left to right, moderator Yuki Saito, Founder CEO, FUKURY.LLC; Kotaro Takahashi, COO, Sustainable Lab Inc.; Hiroyuki Ano, Co-Founder and CEO, DELIGHT Inc.; Kiminori Yamaguchi, CEO, Atsumell Inc.</figcaption></figure>The second panel was about building an organization for a startup that determines business results and the speed of growth.&nbsp;Four speakers shared their experiences in finding co-founders and founding members and what they learned from their experiences.&nbsp;Mr. Anno of DELIGHT Inc. gave advice on the co-founder matching tool provided by Y Combinator, as well as support from the government and accelerators. Anno said, “Japan has money, Tokyo is large and has an inexhaustible support program, and there are many large companies. That kind of environment is hard to find. I think it is a good idea to take full advantage of this environment.” He also talked about his experience in searching for co-founders, saying that he was satisfied with the results of his search after interviewing people he met through the matching tool, having them take an entrepreneurial aptitude test, and choosing someone different from himself.&nbsp;Mr. Yamaguchi of Atsumell Inc. also had an experience where a founding member moved to another company when the company pivoted, and he said, "It's easy to find a co-founder if you focus on empathy for the product. However, pivots are common in startups and it is difficult to maintain a common motivation. It is necessary to share a vision at a high level."<blockquote>Follow up with people you met at the pitch</blockquote><blockquote>Use matching tools</blockquote><blockquote>Take an entrepreneurial aptitude test</blockquote><blockquote>Meet people who share a common vision</blockquote><blockquote>Invite people with different personalities to be co-founders</blockquote><blockquote>Continually promote your vision on social networking sites</blockquote><blockquote>Take full advantage of government, Tokyo, and accelerator support for entrepreneurship</blockquote>For more detail, Please check <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/boost?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=LP_en&amp;utm_id=boost2-report">Boost page</a>.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/BOOST_GRAPHICS_FLAT_5_7a480cad8f.png" alt="BOOST_GRAPHICS_FLAT 5.png">

large_DSCF1874.jpg

medium_DSCF1874.jpg

small_DSCF1874.jpg

thumbnail_DSCF1874.jpg

DSCF1874.jpg

<figure class="media"><oembed url="https://vimeo.com/962799539?share=copy"></oembed></figure>A panel discussion event "Nordic Talks" was held on Tuesday, June 11 at Moon Tokyo Studio. 60+ people from the startup community gathered to discuss how to increase startup success with a large audience of 150+ people watching online via Zoom.&nbsp;Pitch event organizers, VCs, and entrepreneurs shared their experiences and prospects from a variety of perspectives. The entire event was recorded, and you can watch the archive on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfuR0u4pmDY">YouTube</a>.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1600/820;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/DSCF_7329_1_1_e7c9c68387.jpg" alt="DSCF7329 1 (1).jpg" width="1600" height="820"><figcaption>From left to right: Niklas Karvonen, Antti Sonninen, Tobias Mathiasen, Amina Sugimoto, Shintaro Ishida.</figcaption></figure>Speakers included Niklas Karvonen (Community Director, Nordic Innovation House Tokyo), Antti Sonninen (Co-founder and CEO, Takeoff Tokyo), Tobias Mathiasen (Founding Partner, SKB.vc), Amina Sugimoto (Public Health Phd, CEO of fermata KK), and Shintaro Ishida (COO of Uninomics KK). In addition, many participants, including guests from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), discussed and exchanged opinions on Tokyo's startup environment. &nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1600/818;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/DSCF_0607_1_b3931b7f7f.jpg" alt="DSCF0607 1.jpg" width="1600" height="818"><figcaption>At the center in this photo: Yuki Obata (Moon Creative Lab), founder of ISSHO, a Work Tech SaaS tool that visualizes each person's valuable contributions, asked about the expectations and ideals for the startup environment 10 years from now.</figcaption></figure>“We believe that the Nordic startup infrastructure and the Japanese ambition are a match made in heaven." said Reetta Purontakanen, Press Counselor, Finnish Embassy in Tokyo. The discussion heated up, focusing on how the startup environment in Japan has improved so far, and the differences between the global and Tokyo startup environment in terms of the relationship between investors and entrepreneurs. The importance of direct support for seed and early-stage startups when considering global expansion was also a focus of attention.<hr>Moon Creative Lab also hosts many other events. Please check our <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/ja/stories/page/1">Moon Stories Blog</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/moon-creative-lab/">Official LinkedIn Account</a> for latest news!

large_nordic-talks-for-blog.jpg

medium_nordic-talks-for-blog.jpg

small_nordic-talks-for-blog.jpg

thumbnail_nordic-talks-for-blog.jpg

nordic-talks-for-blog.jpg

<figure class="media"><oembed url="https://vimeo.com/950982923?share=copy"></oembed></figure>28 ventures have been selected to participate in the second cohort of Boost, a business support program offered by Moon Creative Lab.Boost is an intensive 3 month program that provides early-stage startups with support for business expansion from Moon's experts in a variety of fields. After participating in the program, businesses will also have the opportunity to pitch to Moon's investment committee for funding. In the first cohort of the program, a total of 16 startups from 10 countries participated. This year's program similarly attracted a variety of startups from Japan and abroad who underwent a rigorous screening and interview process.&nbsp;<h3>From Individual Entrepreneurs</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.babiew.com/">Babiew</a></li></ul>Baby products review &amp; ranking website with purchase option. Founder is Lina Kaneki.<ul><li><a href="https://www.baskit.app/">Baskit</a></li></ul>Help distribution businesses grow with financing &amp; technology. Founder is Yann Schuermans.<ul><li><a href="https://lightroads.co.jp/campusreach.html">Campus Reach</a></li></ul>Internship and career orientation app for university students across Japan. Founder is Ken Taniuchi.<ul><li><a href="https://cofilm.id/">Cofilm</a></li></ul>Health-conscious vegan snacks, gummy vitamins as first product. Founder is Royyan Wafi Pujiyanto.<ul><li><a href="https://drivejapan.co.jp/">Drive Japan Inc.</a></li></ul>Simplifies road trips planning in rural Japan for tourists. Founder is Takujiro Oto.<ul><li><a href="https://educourse.id/">Educourse.id</a></li></ul>Help teachers simplify STEM courses, track and manage them. Founder is Mutiara Hikma Mahendradatta.<ul><li>FitVit</li></ul>Health-conscious vegan snacks, gummy vitamins as first product. Founder is Siward Ludin.<ul><li>Furious Green</li></ul>Advanced AI technology training and consulting services. Founder is Francisco Dalla Rosa Soares.<ul><li>LESS &amp; CO</li></ul>Beers made from surplus bread and sodas made from fruit &amp; vegetables loss. Founder is Travinder Singh.<ul><li><a href="https://www.loovic.co.jp/">LOOVIC</a></li></ul>Guide/navigate visitors in local environments, voice-based. Founder is Toru Yamanaka.<ul><li><a href="https://www.mallsampah.com/">Mallsampah</a></li></ul>Circular economy tech provider, digitizing the traditional collection system. Founder is Adi Saifullah Putra.<ul><li><a href="https://mechlynx.com/">Mechlynx</a></li></ul>Small bicycle shop management platform with logistics capabilities. Founder is Jordan Scott.<ul><li><a href="https://www.menopeer.com/">Menopeer</a></li></ul>Menstrual &amp; symptom tracker app and at home hormone test kit. Founder is Kotoko Kimura.<ul><li><a href="https://www.moovby.com/jp/en/">Moovby</a></li></ul>Car-sharing marketplace where drivers can book cars from owners. Founder is Nik Muhammad Amin.<ul><li><a href="https://mycl.bio/">MYCL</a></li></ul>Eco-friendly and high-performance mycelium leather. Founder is Adi Reza Nugroho.<ul><li><a href="https://www.neufast.com/">Neufast</a></li></ul>AI video interview for screeners and mock interviews. Founder is Agnes Wun.<ul><li><a href="https://qocolor.jp/">Qocolor</a></li></ul>Project management tool for freelancers juggling multiple projects. Founder is Reina Stott.<ul><li><a href="https://www.qolaba.ai/">Qolaba</a></li></ul>Multimodal gen-AI ecosystem with content management and monetization. Founder is Prakhar Aggarwal.<ul><li><a href="https://medical-literacy.com/runners-dock/">Runners Dock</a></li></ul>Running assistant with risk factor alerts and feedback. Founder is Shuhei Kobayashi.<ul><li><a href="https://sellou.com/">Sellou</a></li></ul>Short-form video-based marketplace for local products. Founder is Salman Aljimeely.<ul><li><a href="Lokasoka.com">SnapTap</a></li></ul>Custom gift marketplace via smartphone keyboard extension app. Founder is Tito Guntur Safirda.<ul><li><a href="https://tekeya.io/">Tekeya Global</a></li></ul>Marketplace for food products close to expiration date, at discounted prices. Founder is Maxim Haartsen.&nbsp;<h3>Entrepreneurs From Mitsui</h3><ul><li>VitalGrit</li></ul>Personalized fitness content platform with qualified trainers. Founder is Serene Li.&nbsp;<ul><li>V-bay</li></ul>Online auction platform focused on imported used car from Japan. Founder is Noreen Nawaz.<ul><li>Buddy</li></ul>Supports expats new to Japan with onboarding and professional networking. Founder is Maryam Fallah.&nbsp;<h3>Ideas and Startups From Mitsui Business Units (BUs)</h3><ul><li>Robot As A Service</li></ul>Fully automated robotics hands for food manufacturing and processing. Founder is Kurata Miyashita.&nbsp;<ul><li>Agritech</li></ul>Agritech is a sensor tech for improving their productivity toward sustainable farming. Team includes Alberto Takayama and Yoshihiro Katsuyama from the Mobility I &amp; II &amp; Food BU.<ul><li><a href="https://www.marimari.eco/en/about">Marimari</a></li></ul>Waste recycling service for residents and brands in Greater Jakarta. Founder is Aris Munandar who was a previous Spark participant and encouraged to apply to our Boost program. Munandar joins us from the Mitsui Indonesia BU.<hr>*These were the idea/business descriptions at the time of writing this article. Entrepreneurship and new ventures, by nature, are constantly evolving, so these descriptions may change along the journey. For more info, Please refer <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/boost">"Boost"</a> Page.

large_image1.jpg

medium_image1.jpg

small_image1.jpg

thumbnail_image1.jpg

image1.jpg

<figure class="media"><oembed url="https://vimeo.com/959892266?share=copy"></oembed></figure>Moon Creative Lab's Spark Spring 2024 program just wrapped up its third iteration with tremendous success. The event brought together 42 diverse participants from 11 countries and expatriates in Japan from Canada, the US, and the UK. The cohort included entrepreneurs, individuals, and corporate participants from Mazda, Kanazawa University, Modec, Mitsui, and Toyo Engineering.Over five days, participants explored problem spaces and ended by publishing business websites using no-code tools. The innovations ranged from vehicle lifecycle improvements and disruptive donation platforms to rejuvenation practices in agriculture and engaging millennials in farming. The next "Spark Summer 2024" is scheduled to Kick off on Wednesday, August 28. If you are interested in transforming your own business idea and growth, <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/spark?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=CTA&amp;utm_id=sparkLP">please join us!</a><h3>About Spark</h3><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/2_MB_DSCF_7329_1_2351ee2384.jpg" alt="2MB_DSCF7329-1.jpg">Spark is Moon's practical 1-week intensive program for 0 to 1 business creation. Participants from various regions, industries, companies, and departments come together to participate in a dynamic program to develop their business ideas.Participants are divided into several groups to quickly shape their ideas through a mix of self-driven work, lectures, and advice from facilitators. In the end they pitch their ideas using a landing page created with no-code tools.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1115/2780;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/B_Group_2138_7edb04d494.jpg" alt="B_Group-2138.jpg" width="1115" height="2780"></figure><h3>Hear from Participant's</h3><blockquote>“The experience of thinking through a design thinking, human-centered approach alone while getting feedback. Knowing and experiencing were two different things.”</blockquote><blockquote>“I was impressed by the fact that it forced the participants to have the experience of creating and pitching an landing page within a short period of one week.”</blockquote><blockquote>“Participants came from a diverse group of companies and generated a wide variety of ideas. Not only was there diversity, but also candid feedback.”</blockquote>&nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Group_2137_18d729792d.jpg" alt="Group 2137.jpg">”Javier, looking back on Spark Spring 2024, what was the highlight for you?”<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1300/2300;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/DSCF_6407_2_0163242854.jpg" alt="DSCF6407 2.jpg" width="1300" height="2300"></figure>“This Spark marked our first fully in-person, five-day intensive program. Transitioning from a hybrid model to all in-person posed new challenges but offered significant benefits. Enhanced networking among participants was a standout feature. Constant interaction through problem-space exploration, design research, solution ideation, business modeling, and final pitching transformed their ability to communicate ideas.This led to some of the best early-stage idea pitching we've seen, reflecting a significant psychological shift. The impressive business ideas wowed visitors from Moon and Mitsui, as well as invited external guests. The passion and energy were palpable, showcasing the transformative power of the Spark experience.”&nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Group_2121_34ee4cbddd.jpg" alt="Group 2121.jpg">One idea transformed from a generic travel app to focus on the safety and needs of solo female travelers, driven by real user feedback.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Group_2122_fdf0bc3b6a.jpg" alt="Group 2122.jpg">One team shifted from addressing vehicle recycling costs to exploring three new solutions after AI feedback showed user indifference. This led them to split up and tackle multiple approaches instead of working as a single unit.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Group_2121_1_5f0066a274.jpg" alt="Group 2121 (1).jpg">One person pivoted from developing a Mars rover energy generator to designing a unique GPS collar for dogs, showcasing their innovative spirit.<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>“Passion and persistence promise transformative impact, driving meaningful change in their respective spaces.”</h3>Javier: Spark ignited with a profound problem-exploration phase. Participants arrived with dreams of solving societal issues through business innovation. As they dived deeper, many had to pivot, embracing new directions. They repeatedly asked, "Why?" to uncover root causes, leading to profound insights. Some discovered they hadn't pinpointed the right stakeholders, while others realized their initial problems were just the tip of the iceberg. Their passion and persistence promise transformative impact, driving meaningful change in their respective spaces.<hr>Transform your business idea at "Spark Summer 2024," starting Wednesday, August 28. Spaces are limited, so apply now to secure your spot. Learn more on the <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/spark?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=CTA&amp;utm_id=sparkLP">"Spark"</a> page at Moon Creative Lab.&nbsp;Don’t miss this opportunity to ignite your creativity and growth!

large_2MB_DSCF7329-1.jpg

medium_2MB_DSCF7329-1.jpg

small_2MB_DSCF7329-1.jpg

thumbnail_2MB_DSCF7329-1.jpg

2MB_DSCF7329-1.jpg

large_Pioneer_Guild_8ec2895d18.jpg

medium_Pioneer_Guild_8ec2895d18.jpg

small_Pioneer_Guild_8ec2895d18.jpg

thumbnail_Pioneer_Guild_8ec2895d18.jpg

Pioneer_Guild_8ec2895d18.jpg

In a world buzzing with discussions on sustainability, Tommy Sekiguchi stands out with his mission to transform Japan's coffee scene into a beacon of sustainability, challenging consumers to rethink their purchasing habits.Key Learnings:<ul><li>Starting With a Spark</li><li>Diving Deep With Learning Labs</li><li>Innovating Through the Think Coffee Experiment</li></ul><figure class="image"><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image4_1d4862472d.jpg" alt="image4.jpg"><figcaption>Picture of Tommy graduating from Spark</figcaption></figure><h3>Starting With a Spark</h3>Leveraging his background of over 20 years in the Food &amp; Beverage industry, Tommy Sekiguchi embarked on his sustainable journey in Fall 2023 during Spark, Moon’s intensive educational program that guides entrepreneurs through the process of human-centered innovative business design. His current research at the Center for Global Commons (CGC) of the University of Tokyo fueled his quest to tackle the problem of Japanese consumers’ lack of motivation to buy sustainable food products. He thoroughly examined this issue and developed various solutions and an accompanying business model to see it through. His efforts culminated in a landing page that vividly presented his innovative approach to enhancing the customer experience and boosting interest in sustainable purchases, using coffee shops as a model case.<figure class="image"><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image1_dba085542b.jpg" alt="image1.jpg"><figcaption>Picture of Tommy in the Learning Lab</figcaption></figure><h3>Diving Deep With Moon Learning Labs</h3>Post-Spark, Tommy delved into the consumer psyche with Moon’s Learning Labs, hands-on, interactive workshops dedicated to the generation and refinement of business, product, or service concepts. He crafted personas such as Sustainers, who are focused on environmental impact; Tasters, who are in pursuit of quality; Trenders, those that are driven by social trends; and Neighbors, the local community members around coffee shops. Using these personas, Tommy and his team, along with Moon Mates, dissected the current customer journey and brainstormed ways to run experiments with it, hoping to change the journey and highlight pathways for sustainable awareness and purchasing.<figure class="image"><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image2_606f83d552.jpg" alt="image2.jpg"><figcaption>Moon’s People Transformation Team visiting think coffee Japan</figcaption></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image3_1174952f1f.jpg" alt="image3.jpg"><figcaption>Picture of the experiment at think coffee Japan</figcaption></figure><h3>Innovating Through the “Think Coffee” Experiment</h3>Tommy selected "Think Coffee Japan" in Kanda, Tokyo as the initial site for his experiment. This location is a mere 5-minute walk from Mitsui &amp; Co.’s headquarters, his career stomping grounds. Based on his learnings from the Learning Lab, he and his team designed an engaging sustainable journey for customers, who were presented with two choices upon entering: embark on a sustainable path to learn about coffee and its sustainable practices, or proceed directly to the register.&nbsp;The sustainable path that Tommy implemented comprised four distinct steps:&nbsp;1. Feel: Customers were presented with visual stories of the farms on a large display, offering an immersive experience.2. Meet: This step provided a hands-on experience with the coffee beans, alongside digital displays showing detailed information about the farms and images of the farmers.3. Think: During this phase, customers received one of five sustainability-related messages, labeled as “Simple,” “Negative,” “Positive,” “Fun,” and “Quiz.” These messages aimed to engage customers in considering various sustainability challenges.4. Decide: Finally, participants took a survey and decided whether to make a donation or receive 100 yen as a reward for joining the experiment.&nbsp;During the experiment, held from March 8 to 20, Tommy collected 155 responses. Of these, 22 participants chose to receive 100 yen, while 133 opted to donate to farmers in Nicaragua, Colombia, and Ethiopia. He is currently analyzing this data to refine his future experiments and further develop his business model idea. This work is part of his research at the CGC and aims to explore how businesses can encourage more ethical consumption among consumers.Tommy's ongoing journey is more than an experiment; it's a movement towards embedding sustainability in Japanese food culture and beyond. His work underscores the power of thoughtful innovation in transforming everyday habits into impactful, sustainable actions - one sip at a time!<hr>If you’re interested in our educational Spark program or Learning Lab workshops for your or your organization, check out our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/">website</a> or reach us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hello@mooncreativelab.com">hello@mooncreativelab.com</a>.&nbsp;

large_image4_1d4862472d.jpg

medium_image4_1d4862472d.jpg

small_image4_1d4862472d.jpg

thumbnail_image4_1d4862472d.jpg

image4_1d4862472d.jpg

Hear from a Moon Design Lead on how language plays a key role in managing projects, and the importance of creating spaces that take diverse languages into consideration.<hr><h3>Key Learnings</h3><ul><li>Be considerate of multiple languages used across a team.&nbsp;</li><li>Diversity produces more powerful conversations and outcomes.</li><li>Connecting through language creates empathy amongst team members.</li></ul><hr><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/PXL_20230426_092649278_2_1578932014.jpg" alt="PXL_20230426_092649278~2.jpg">I have never joined a project that departed from a specific business unit but had the aim to aggregate not only different departments but also a very complex system of stakeholders and project partners. But that changed with my recent experience with Agritech, a project that was born inside the Mobility Business team at Mitsui &amp; Co.’s headquarters. When the project arrived at Moon through a workshop, it was already formed by professionals from Logistics, DX, Machinery, and Food Business Units. Not only that, but the team had members from Mitsui &amp; Co. Japan and Mitsui &amp; Co. São Paulo, Brazil. The project was born from a unique business opportunity to collaborate with a development team from a partner (a large Japanese electronics manufacturer) that had been developing solutions in global connectivity and smart sensing on a planetary scale.&nbsp;&nbsp;As Moon, our initial challenge was to facilitate conversations among such a diverse team, and also support possible paths where the technologies developed by the partner could be applied to generate business in Brazil – while also improving the quality of processes in areas where Mitsui &amp; Co. is active in South America.&nbsp;&nbsp;Because Moon has its headquarters in Palo Alto, and a big part of our team and structure work on an English-speaking basis, English tends to become the main language used when we host workshops or work on projects with teams coming from different backgrounds. This is also common for Mitsui &amp; Co. since the company is present in more than 60 countries globally.&nbsp;&nbsp;For me, this project was especially exciting, not only because I was familiar with the Brazilian context and would work with a product targeting the place where I lived for a big part of my life, but also because I was in the middle of a large group of professionals who could speak three languages I am fluent in Portuguese, English, and Japanese. In the beginning, I was excited thinking about how that would be advantageous to me since I was leading the project. However, what came after was the realization of how language plays a key role in efficiently managing projects, as well as generating successful business. But this realization also came with learning about how to create spaces, frameworks, and processes that consider that.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/IMG_0050_9fd9d55fb5.jpg" alt="IMG_0050.jpg">It is important to remember that English is a useful, global&nbsp;lingua franca, but it also presents as a hegemonic power that can affect a professional’s confidence and work quality when we get lost in translation. The key learning I had was that the language barrier might cover up creativity. Many professionals who might have brilliant insights might step back, afraid of attempting to speak up in English which they might feel is insufficient. This was a common comment we received from professionals in Japan while running user interviews for&nbsp;<a href="https://goril.jp/">GORIL</a>, a language-learning app and former Moon venture that I also worked on. When people have to communicate in a language in which they aren’t fluent, defending their point of view or presenting a proposal might be negatively affected. In other words, the rhetoric might lack its full potential. Lastly, miscommunication also happens when people are listening. When information is being passed verbally in a language that one is not 100% fluent in, interpretation might be difficult, hence, reacting or responding to it might also be compromised.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/GORIL_285e5dfa13.jpeg" alt="GORIL.jpeg">I could list a dozen more aspects of miscommunication issues. Still, instead, I want to bring up some key learning tactics to improve communication and efficiency when two or more languages are being used in a project work environment.&nbsp;1. The Ones Who Get It All Make sure your team has an individual who can fluently deal with the languages involved in the project. This person can step in to clarify lost in translation moments and additionally might have cultural insights into each language, which can be helpful for conflict handling.2. Plain Language No matter if the language is English or another, if the other team members speak the language that is being used but is not 100% fluent, make sure to speak slowly and with seamless breaks between words – this is a classic podcast technique, by the way. Do not bring many expressions, figurative language, or highly complex vocabulary.3. Read People's Reactions and Add ComplementsNot just the facilitator, but also other team members should have the role of checking on everyone’s reactions and complementing conversations, statements, or questions that might sound too complex to be interpreted. They could even rephrase sentences for someone who could not fully communicate in the language being used, helping to close any gaps. Rephrasing is a great tool, and to be honest, sometimes it happens even if you do speak the same language. It is not always that we can be 100% clear using words.&nbsp;4. Allow Plurality Create teams who can speak multiple languages. The more bilingual or trilingual members you have, the more powerful the conversations and outcomes will be. And if some of the members do not speak a certain language, support them in learning it, even if they don’t become fluent or use it in daily life. Connecting with the language of their colleagues or business partners is an important tool for increasing empathy.&nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/PXL_20230320_163413890_41462b4011.jpg" alt="PXL_20230320_163413890.jpg">In our project with Mitsui &amp; Co., our partner, and many Brazilian stakeholders, we live within three languages. Of course, sometimes things become more complex, but what we try to avoid by all means is criticism and team members behaving with an air of superiority due to their language capabilities. But more important than anything, we make sure that all the information, coming from whichever of the three languages, is easily translated as context to all members so everyone can always be on the same page, at all times.&nbsp;Machi Rezende, Design Lead<img class="image_resized" style="width:25%;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Moon_Creative_Lab_Machi_1_da27c89ed0.jpg" alt="Moon Creative Lab_Machi_1.jpg">

Spark Summer '24 Exploration Report

Is the Labor Shortage Real? Why a Matching Service Dedicated to Digital Work Was Created｜aequol Inc.

Boost #2 “PITCH & CONNECT” Event Report

Nordic Talks Event Report

Moon Creative Lab Congratulates Our Second Boost Cohort

Spark Spring '24 Exploration Report

Internal Motivation Is Your Greatest Asset: Why a Career Exploration Map was Needed ｜CAREER FORTH

Brewing Sustainability: Tommy Sekiguchi's Quest for Sustainable Coffee Consumption in Japan

Translating Challenges Through Empathy

Join the Moon Community!

Moon Stories Blog - Page 3

Spark Summer '24 Exploration Report