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

Authors: Matt Phillips, Senior Engineer, and Hoan Pham, Senior Product Designer at Moon Creative Lab<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:25%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1238/1032;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_2025_03_26_at_11_46_45_AM_1b034ce669.webp" alt="Screenshot_2025-03-26_at_11.46.45_AM.webp" width="1238" height="1032"></figure>Matt Phillips, Senior Engineer&nbsp;For Matt, one of the best parts of his job is hearing new ideas daily. Pitches for products, ways technology can improve society — which he sometimes gets to help build as a full stack developer and opinionated teammate. He thinks “LLMs are the coolest thing I've seen in my career.”<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:25%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1788/2064;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Hoan_profile_f457b0d8f5.png" alt="Hoan profile.png" width="1788" height="2064"></figure>Hoan Pham, Senior Product DesignerHoan helps entrepreneurs brainstorm, define, and strategize future iterations of their product. He specializes in communication design, AI conversation design, and designing for AI workflows.<hr><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:720/405;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/short_090b1ea96d.gif" alt="short.gif" width="720" height="405"></figure>Hoan Pham and Matt Phillips work with Stephy Deng, founder of Adofaer.Moon Creative Lab recently had the pleasure of crossing paths with Stephy Deng, the founder of Adofaer, an AI-powered creative studio that enables fans to bring their wildest imaginings to life. With Adofaer, anyone can design custom toys and produce them at any scale, from a single prototype to a mass production run. Fun fact: Adofaer created possibly the first toy created by an AI-driven design tool!Stephy joined our educational program in Tokyo before diving into a more intensive workshop at our Palo Alto studio, where we had the opportunity to support her as she honed both her product and business.&nbsp;Designing and manufacturing a toy has long been a daunting endeavor: expensive, sluggish, and riddled with bottlenecks. Working alongside Adofaer gave us a rare glimpse into the industry’s challenges, and showed us three patterns that reduce impedance along the founder’s path.<h3>Pattern One: Founder-Market&nbsp;Fit Provides Unique Insight</h3>Stephy understands toys at a molecular level. She grew up immersed in the industry, watching the intricate ballet between designers, factories, and customers — the painstaking process of refining concepts, the smell of fresh-molded plastic, the final brushstrokes of paint before a toy reaches the shelf.She is also, by her own admission, a workaholic. Independent in thought, relentless in execution, and deeply embedded in her craft, she possesses an insider’s fluency in a world that outsiders struggle to grasp. This combo of deep domain expertise paired with an ability to build is what encourages her to see opportunities invisible to others.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:384/512;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Adofaer_idea_board_566c8303ef.jpg" alt="Adofaer idea board.jpg" width="384" height="512"></figure><h3>Pattern Two: New Tech Unleashes Uncharted Creativity</h3>AI has iterated the approach. With today’s generative models, fans and hobbyists no longer need years of professional design experience to create something extraordinary.But deploying AI effectively is an art in itself. Because of Stephy’s profound knowledge of the toy industry, we were able to quickly identify which traditional processes were ripe for disruption — not with gimmicky, one-off AI solutions, but through an integrated, AI-driven pipeline.By sketching out ideas and testing workflows, we saw how multiple machine-learning techniques like diffusion models, mesh generation, and intelligent rendering could fuse into a single, seamless creative process. This interconnected approach is becoming a hallmark of the next wave of AI-powered design tools.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:512/384;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Adofaer_whiteboard_8a2701a762.jpg" alt="Adofaer whiteboard.jpg" width="512" height="384"></figure><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:512/384;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Adofaer_whiteboard_2_69547101c4.jpg" alt="Adofaer whiteboard 2.jpg" width="512" height="384"></figure><h3>Pattern Three: A Global Mindset Builds Resilience</h3>Though based in Hong Kong, Stephy’s reach is planetary. Her ability to navigate multiple markets isn’t just an advantage — it’s a necessity.The most resilient entrepreneurs, we’ve found don’t just operate within a single ecosystem; they draw on knowledge, networks, and resources from across the world. Stephy, for example, merges her experience in Chinese manufacturing with an understanding of intellectual property law in Japan and the U.S., while cultivating partnerships in Europe and the Middle East.In an era where supply chains are volatile and digital platforms transcend borders, founders who can think globally — who can stitch together insights from disparate industries and regions — position themselves for success.<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>Adofaer Is On The Move!</h3>We’re thrilled to see Adofaer expanding, including an&nbsp;<a href="https://global.creww.me/global/en/real-madrid-next-accelerator-for-asia">exciting partnership with Real Madrid</a>. Want to design your own custom toy? Follow Adofaer on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/helloadofaer">X</a> and visit<a href="https://adofaer.com">&nbsp;Adofaer.com</a>.<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>Join Moon’s In-Residence Program</h3>Are you a founder with a bold vision? Our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/in-residence">Moon In-Residence</a> program, based in Palo Alto, is designed to help entrepreneurs like you turn ideas into reality. Let’s build the future, together.

small_short.gif

thumbnail_short.gif

short.gif

<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Thumbnail_eureca_5bc27eedbe.png" alt="Thumbnail_eureca.png">This alumni interview features individuals who experienced in-house entrepreneurship through a secondment from Mitsui &amp; Co. to Moon Creative Lab. This time, we spoke with members of the Eureca team, who took on the challenge of creating a business to foster space-related talent. What did they learn from their startup journey at Moon?<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:25%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:270/316;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/naoya_profile_d6835b20ed.png" alt="naoya profile.png" width="270" height="316"></figure>Naoya Shiraishi: Joined Mitsui &amp; Co. in April 2022 and was assigned to the Mobility Business Unit I. He was involved in investment management of the U.S. truck leasing business and business creation leveraging that expertise. After his entrepreneurial journey at Moon, he returned to Mitsui and now works in the Light Vehicle Solutions Business Division, engaged in passenger car sales and new business development in North America.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:25%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:252/316;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/green_profile_47aba0d0a9.png" alt="green profile.png" width="252" height="316"></figure>Yasuhiro Hasegawa: Joined Mitsui &amp; Co. in April 2022 and was assigned to the HR &amp; General Affairs Division. He participated in the global HR system "Bloom" supporting career development for all group employees. After his secondment to Moon, he supported Moon venture CARRIUM on its HR team as an HR professional. He then transferred to the Integrated Digital Strategy Division. Currently, he supports IT/DX initiatives in the mobility sector, focusing on operational efficiency and new business creation. His lucky color is green.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:25%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:264/316;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/yorifuji_profile_049f99ff51.png" alt="yorifuji profile.png" width="264" height="316"></figure>Haruka Yorifuji: Joined Mitsui &amp; Co. in April 2022 and was assigned to the Retail Business Unit. She was involved in intermediate distribution and product export for domestic and international retailers. Unlike her peers, she did not transfer to Moon but dedicated 20% of her working hours to entrepreneurial activities. She also contributes to the global expansion of her current business.*The project name "Eureca" was modified from "Eureka" (already trademarked) by changing "k" to "c."Table of Contents<ul><li>Co-founding business as a trio</li><li>Fostering Space Talent</li><li>Curriculum receives favorable reviews</li><li>From zero to one: experiencing the entire business journey</li></ul><hr><h3>Co-founding business as a trio</h3>Before joining Mitsui, Naoya Shiraishi, Yasuhiro Hasegawa, and Haruka Yorifuji participated in the company’s internship program, working together on a recycling-themed business project within the Mineral &amp; Metal Resources Business Unit. Their team won the pitch contest, and after joining Mitsui, each member was assigned to a different department. Despite being in different business units, they continued to meet once a week to discuss ideas they could bring to Moon using their diverse backgrounds.Shiraishi, influenced by his engineer father and the manga “Space Brothers,” had a strong interest in technology and space. Hasegawa, raised by teacher parents and accustomed to peer learning with siblings, was passionate about education and talent development. Yorifuji was interested in consumer behavior and psychology, especially in tourism-related fields.Around February 2023, about a year after joining Mitsui, the trio applied to Moon’s ILLUMINATE idea competition. They were selected to join a Moon program that helps materialize business ideas through workshops. The issue they focused on: the shortage of talent in the space industry.&nbsp;<h3>Fostering space talent</h3>The space business market is projected to reach 1 trillion USD by 2040. While Japan has the potential to lead through manufacturing capabilities and geographic advantages, the lack of talent is a critical issue.The team proposed a STEAM-based education product aimed at fostering talent. Specifically, they developed an educational curriculum for middle and high school students, simulating satellite development. The long-term vision included actual satellite launches to promote space education.In August, the team joined Moon’s incubation program and the project was accepted. By October, Shiraishi and Hasegawa were seconded to Moon to focus fully on business creation. Yorifuji, whose departmental work aligned with her goals, participated concurrently, dedicating 20% of her working hours to the project.&nbsp;<h3>Curriculum receives favorable reviews</h3><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:720/405;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image7_3962540e67.gif" alt="image7.gif" width="720" height="405"></figure>"The first day of our secondment was filled with welcome events, but from day two, the freedom left us a bit perplexed," recalls Shiraishi.While Moon experts provide support, the project direction is left to the idea owners. The team started by defining goals, gradually gaining momentum through discussions. For the prototype, Shiraishi and Hasegawa utilized their programming skills to develop the learning tool themselves.During user tests, despite setting prices ten times higher than the market average, they secured customers from domestic educational institutions eager to purchase the curriculum.The product was an intuitive web application that visually demonstrated satellite mechanisms through simulations. It addressed a clear need: while STEAM education was gaining traction, many teachers had never experienced it firsthand, leading to confusion about effective teaching methods.Teachers praised the program, saying, "Students could think independently, engage hands-on, and experience the journey from concept to social implementation. Most importantly, they genuinely enjoyed it."However, scaling the business presented challenges. The team explored expanding beyond educational institutions to university students and professionals through e-learning platforms and talent introduction services. Although student feedback was positive, the team couldn’t achieve the necessary growth for sustainability. Unfortunately, the project was discontinued in March 2024.&nbsp;<h3>From zero to one: experiencing the entire business journey</h3>The three founders reflect on their entrepreneurial journey: &nbsp;Shiraishi: "We handled everything ourselves—user interviews, product design, app and landing page development, and user testing. Experiencing entrepreneurship firsthand was invaluable. From Mitsui’s perspective, it was a unique opportunity to understand the investor-recipient dynamic."&nbsp;Hasegawa: "It was the first time I discussed financial projections with such clarity, like estimating the required funds ten years ahead. Listening to user feedback, confirming feasibility, and designing UI myself was incredibly fulfilling. Making our first sale through direct outreach was profoundly moving."&nbsp;Yorifuji: "Managing the entire business, not just a part of it, and focusing on user-driven value rather than company assets through design research was significant. I believe colleagues working in consumer sectors should also experience this."&nbsp;The common thread among the three was the joy of creating something from nothing and the invaluable experience of being involved in every aspect of the business.They also faced the challenges of working as a trio. While diverse interests broadened perspectives, they sometimes led to differing visions. Yorifuji, balancing her main corporate role and the Eureca project, found it challenging to keep pace with the rapid discussions of her seconded teammates and struggled to maintain a clear 80:20 work split.Reflecting on their experiences, they shared their future aspirations:<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image8_7471c54df5.jpg" alt="image8.jpg">Shiraishi: “The methods I learned at Moon can be applied in various situations. The frameworks for visualizing ideas helped clarify what wasn’t fully understood within the team. Business creation is like mixed martial arts—you have to do everything and continuously learn what’s necessary. At the same time, it’s important to rely on others. In hindsight, I think I should’ve asked others for support more often. Since investment plays a crucial role in the space industry, I plan to gain experience in investment management at Mitsui &amp; Co. and return to the space sector when the time is right.”&nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image4_de5c981fc9.jpg" alt="image4.jpg">Hasegawa: “Business creation felt like clearly defining your purpose and strategically playing the cards of skills you already have. I also discovered new “cards” beyond my original technical expertise—for example, earning stakeholders’ trust, energizing team members, resilience in overcoming challenges, and effective communication with engineers. At Moon, I was amazed by the performance that emerged when people with different strengths worked seamlessly together. Moving forward, I want to leverage the unique skills and strengths I’ve gained through these challenges in my career.”&nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image2_432df8449a.jpg" alt="image2.jpg">Yorifuji: “The great thing about co-founding is the ability to complement each other’s strengths. Shiraishi and Hasegawa made significant contributions in technology and the space and education sectors, while I contributed from a marketing perspective, applying behavioral economics I studied at university. This challenge gave me a valuable sense of how I’m evaluated through my work and how much value I can create financially. The experiences gained will be useful not only for business creation at Mitsui &amp; Co. but also for future ventures at Moon and in a wide range of situations. Having the opportunity to pursue entrepreneurship while still being an employee is invaluable. I highly recommend participating in the workshops, even if that’s your starting point.”&nbsp;<hr>At Moon, we offer a variety of programs to support new business development. For learning programs, head to our website and check out <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/learn?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=eureca+story2503&amp;utm_id=eureca+story2503">Learn</a>. For incubation programs, see <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/build?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=eureca+story2503&amp;utm_id=eureca+story2503">Build</a>, and for growth programs, explore <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/grow?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=eureca+story2503&amp;utm_id=eureca+story2503">Grow</a>. To receive the latest updates, consider registering as a <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/connect?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=eureca+story2503&amp;utm_id=eureca+story2503">Moon Community Member</a>.Stay informed about the latest from startups working on business creation at Moon Creative Lab through the <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/stories/page/1?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=eureca+story2503&amp;utm_id=eureca+story2503">Moon Stories Blog</a>. &nbsp;

large_Thumbnail_eureca.png

medium_Thumbnail_eureca.png

small_Thumbnail_eureca.png

thumbnail_Thumbnail_eureca.png

Thumbnail_eureca.png

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>

large_DSCF9830-2.jpg

medium_DSCF9830-2.jpg

small_DSCF9830-2.jpg

thumbnail_DSCF9830-2.jpg

DSCF9830-2.jpg

<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Frame_1354_9ff9c573c6.jpg" alt="Frame 1354.jpg">Carrium Inc. was founded in June 2024 by Hiroyuki Narihara, who started business planning and service development as an Entrpreneur-In-Residence at Moon Creative Lab, and has officially released "CAREER FORTH," a career strategy support tool for corporate clients.<a href="https://www.careerforth.me/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog1218&amp;utm_id=blog1218">https://www.careerforth.me/</a>CAREER FORTH provides a function that quantitatively visualizes and maps potential future career paths for highly specialized young professionals who will play a central role in future business, based on the large data of one million people’s job changes. The company aims to expand the use of this service, especially among companies that provide career transition and career support services for professionals, and will support the provision of quantitative career advice based on objective data.The service has been undergoing business validation, service platform construction, and interface improvement at Moon since 2022, and a beta version of the service was launched in 2023. To date, six companies, mainly recruitment companies, have implemented the service.The company aims to expand the use of the service with the goal of "providing a digital map of career paths to realize data-driven, autonomous career strategies," as more and more human capital management is required in business activities.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1744/958;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/main_b23d9403c2.png" alt="main.png" width="1744" height="958"><figcaption>キャリアマップ機能によるキャリアパスの可視化</figcaption></figure>CAREER FORTH provides three main services to enable job seekers to autonomously build their career strategies and to provide quantitative career advice based on big data from a human resources support company.&nbsp;<ol><li>Career Map function: A map function that visualizes and presents possible future career path options based on the company/organization, industry, job type, etc.</li><li>Career Route: A route search feature that visualizes and displays the path to your career goals.</li><li>Reverse Route: An analytics feature that visualizes the type of job seekers flowing into the desired company, job type, and job field, and displays their career paths in reverse.</li></ol>&nbsp;Moon EIR and Carrium Inc. representative, Hiroyuki Narihara, joined Mitsui &amp; Co. in 2005. After working in business in the retail, distribution, and food industries, he was stationed in Southeast Asia for about 5 years. While working overseas, he was troubled by the difficulty of forming a professional identity throughout his life, and developed the business idea of “CAREER FORTH” to solve the same problem of people struggling with autonomous career formation in the 100-year life era.The company plans to develop and expand job information recommendation functions, personalize management tools and dashboards, and expand integrated data in order to realize a “career strategy management tool that everyone can carry in their pocket".&nbsp;<a href="https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000357.000060069.html?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog1218&amp;utm_id=blog1218">Press release available here.</a>&nbsp;<h3 style="margin-left:0px;">About Carrium Inc.</h3><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1600/900;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Frame_1354_6713adc11b.jpg" alt="Frame 1354.jpg" width="1600" height="900"></figure>Carrium Inc. is a data-driven, unbiased career planning support company. It offers "CAREER FORTH," a career visualization service for young professionals that utilizes big data on career changes. The service was commercialized at Moon Creative Lab, a venture studio of the Mitsui &amp; Co. group, and incorporated in June 2024. The company is currently working on a business aimed at realizing passionate professional lives through the creation of data-driven career strategies.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.carrium.co.jp/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog1218&amp;utm_id=blog1218">https://www.carrium.co.jp/</a>　<ul><li>Company name: Carrium Inc.</li><li>Representative: Hirotaka Naruhara</li><li>Registered capital: 10 million yen</li><li>Shareholders: Mitsui &amp; Co.</li><li>Address: 2F Spring Terrace Omotesando, 3-10-5 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo</li><li>Business: Operation and provision of CAREER FORTH, development of career-related services</li></ul><h3 style="margin-left:0px;">&nbsp;</h3><h3 style="margin-left:0px;">Related Blog</h3><a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/stories/idea-careerforth?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog1218&amp;utm_id=blog1218">・Internal Motivation Is Your Greatest Asset: Why a Career Exploration Map was Needed ｜CAREER FORTH</a>

large_Frame 1354.jpg

medium_Frame 1354.jpg

small_Frame 1354.jpg

thumbnail_Frame 1354.jpg

Frame 1354.jpg

<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:25%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:526/665;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image1_2_f9a19e996c.png" alt="image1 2.png" width="526" height="665"></figure>Author: Serene Li, is a Moon Entrepreneur-In-Residence (EIR) from Mitsui Singapore. She joined the Boost program in 2024 with the goal of solving the problem of creating sustainable exercise habits for long-term health benefits. Here is what she experienced at Moon on her entrepreneurial journey.<hr>"Do I need to wait for instructions to start interviewing users?""What are the safest choices to go with?"&nbsp;"Should I wait for Moon's approval for my next concept design plan?"&nbsp;These questions frequently popped up during my early days exploring startup ideas at Moon Creative Lab. They appeared naturally from my corporate-employee mindset. I felt anxious when I realized I no longer had the "safety net" of a manager or senior colleague providing clear instructions and guidance, unlike my previous role at Mitsui &amp; Co.Letting go of this employee mindset wasn't easy. It took courage to take charge of my own plan and execution for the idea. Adjusting to this mindset took time, but it felt necessary because I wanted to see if I could bring my startup idea into reality.In the <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/boost">Boost program</a>, I researched, designed, tested, learned, and adapted continually to deepen my understanding about the market and customers, and considered other factors such as industry trends, on-going innovation, available government support and many more. This constant iteration is essential to drive the idea forward.One of the most important principles that shaped my entrepreneurial mindset is Design Thinking. The problem serves as our compass — whether designing, testing, or connecting with stakeholders, keeping the problem statement in mind has prevented me from pursuing creative concepts that don't effectively solve the problem.&nbsp;<h3>Focus on ends, not means</h3>When I started my entrepreneurial journey, my purpose was to help people develop sustainable exercise habits for their health. I tested a few ideas and struggled to grasp users’ interest in relation to their problem.Later, I moved on to test the next idea: an app that curates audio playlists for users to use while running.&nbsp; I developed a prototype to keep people motivated to run by providing them with stimulating music synced to their heartbeat, interesting, location-specific information, and random fun facts while they are running. However, I was too obsessed with the concept of the playlist, and the problem solving became secondary. Eventually, I realized that providing the curated content was not the means necessary to the problem I really wanted to solve. It was difficult, but I was able to step back and refocus on the important issues.&nbsp; It was a wake-up call that reminded me to stay focused on “solving the right problem.”My key learning in the <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/boost">Boost program</a> has been the importance of staying open-minded and agile. To gather feedback, I've initiated conversations with Moon employees, target users, and even strangers. It was initially challenging for myself as an introvert, but pushing past my shyness and being open-minded have led to unexpected insights and inspiration.&nbsp;&nbsp;For example, I have noticed that asking open-ended questions such as “What approach do you think would work best?” or “How do you identify your exercise motivation from time to time?” and listening closely without jumping to conclusions or imposing my own opinions, has helped me build stronger connections with target users. Those connections have encouraged them to continuously share deeper thoughts about their personal exercise experiences, useful articles, and fitness trends, and even helped to discover an innovative market player that addressed the habit-creation problem with a different approach. Such enthusiastic sharing from target users has quickly deepened my understanding about the market and fueled innovation.The process of concept brainstorming and selection, developing the prototypes, reaching out to people, learning from user-testing, and iterating the concept (mostly on my own with some support from Moon) requires much agility. Staying flexible and adapting quickly without being overly attached to the concept allowed me to refocus on the core mission, which is to solve users’ problems.&nbsp;<h3>View risk as an opportunity for growth</h3>Developing an entrepreneurial mindset has opened a new world to me. I've transformed from someone who avoided risks into someone who embraces them as opportunities for growth. While this journey isn't about becoming the next Steve Jobs or Mark Zuckerberg, it's a transformative experience that's helping me — and those around me — become more innovative, inspiring, and empathetic in both work and life.If I could share one piece of advice: Don't wait until you feel ready, because you never will. Embrace the uncertainty of growth and you'll discover you're capable of more than you ever imagined!&nbsp;Author: Serene Li EIR at Moon, from Mitsui &amp; Co.(Asia Pacific) Pte. Ltd.

large_image2.jpg

medium_image2.jpg

small_image2.jpg

thumbnail_image2.jpg

image2.jpg

<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;

medium_Founder Focus.jpg

small_Founder Focus.jpg

thumbnail_Founder Focus.jpg

Founder Focus.jpg

<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/havier_blog_b6c53fccc0.jpg" alt="havier-blog.jpg" width="2550" height="3300"></figure>Author: Javier Mata is a workshop designer and facilitator specializing in learning development and instructional design. With extensive experience creating both in-person and digital content for HRD and MBA programs, he also led a team developing digital content for a business microlearning platform within the corporate arm of a leading organization known for its MBA programs, corporate education, and venture capital initiatives. Passionate about fostering growth and innovation, he engages participants at Moon through dynamic, hands-on learning experiences that drive real-world impact. His interests lie in business innovation, design, and strategy.<hr>“Are you a Monday person or a Friday person?”That was a question posed by Dr. Paris de L’Etraz, Managing Director of the Venture Lab at IE Business School, during my MBA. He explained that Monday people leap out of bed, excited to take on the week, while Friday people count down the days until the weekend. That question stuck with me.Over time, as I worked with entrepreneurs and innovators, I found myself shifting from a Friday person to a Monday person. What made the difference? It was ikigai—the Japanese concept of finding your “reason for being.” During my MBA, we focused a lot on frameworks like ikigai. I discovered in the process that my mission lies in designing impactful learning experiences for entrepreneurs in Japan and beyond.For early-stage entrepreneurs,&nbsp;ikigai isn’t just about personal fulfillment—it’s a practical tool for identifying meaningful problems to solve. Let’s explore how ikigai can guide your entrepreneurial journey and help you focus on challenges that truly matter.&nbsp;<h3>The Cultural Roots of Ikigai: More Than Just Unicorn Chasing</h3>In Japan, ikigai isn’t about becoming a billionaire overnight chasing the next unicorn. It’s more about finding the balance between the small, everyday joys and your contributions to society. Think of it as the antidote to burnout: you’re still hustling, but with heart and soul, not just caffeine and all-nighters.In the West, ikigai often gets hyped up as the “one true purpose” you must find, as if you’re on a treasure hunt for a magical career. Spoiler alert: it’s not that dramatic. The Japanese approach is much more grounded—about gradually integrating joy, purpose, and responsibility. Understanding this makes ikigai way more approachable, especially for entrepreneurs who might feel the weight of building the “perfect” business. Spoiler #2: there’s no perfect, just progress.&nbsp;<h3>Case Studies:&nbsp;</h3>To see how ikigai can play out in real life, we can look at two entrepreneurs who built meaningful businesses rooted in purpose.Yvon Chouinard, Founder of Patagonia – Where Passion Meets Profit<figure class="image image-style-side image_resized" style="width:25%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:400/580;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Ivon_36795d64c9.jpg" alt="Ivon.jpg" width="400" height="580"><figcaption><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yvon_Chouinard_by_Tom_Frost.jpg">A photo of Yvon Chouinard by Tom Frost</a></figcaption></figure>Yvon Chouinard didn’t start Patagonia with dollar signs in his eyes. He just wanted to make rock-climbing gear that wouldn’t fall apart. His love for nature and talent for crafting quality outdoor products guided him. The profits? They came second. By staying true to his values, Patagonia evolved into a pioneer in sustainable business.Chouinard didn’t just build a brand—he reshaped consumerism. Patagonia’s “Don’t Buy This Jacket” campaign didn’t push products; it pushed a mindset centered on purpose and environmental activism. By finding the sweet spot where passion, profit, and societal impact meet, Chouinard embodied ikigai—and changed the game.&nbsp;Yoshiharu Hoshino, CEO of Hoshino Resorts – Tradition Meets Innovation<figure class="image image-style-side image_resized" style="width:25%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1200/1200;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Hoshino_56e54f93d5.jpeg" alt="Hoshino.jpeg" width="1200" height="1200"><figcaption><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yoshiharu_Hoshino.JPG">A photo of Yoshiharu Hoshino</a></figcaption></figure>Yoshiharu Hoshino didn’t just inherit a family business—he transformed it in a fiercely competitive market. As global hotel chains poured into Japan, reshaping the hospitality industry with foreign investment, Hoshino faced a challenge: how to preserve Japanese culture while competing with these international brands. Instead of following the foreign model, he doubled down on Japan’s rich traditions, evolving his family’s century-old hot spring resort into a globally recognized luxury brand.His approach wasn’t about resisting change but about weaving innovation into the fabric of tradition. By embracing modern travelers’ needs without losing sight of Japan’s cultural heritage, Hoshino not only survived but thrived. His journey is an embodiment of ikigai—where passion, skill, and purpose align to create something meaningful and sustainable, even in the face of fierce competition.&nbsp;<h3>Using Ikigai to Find the Right Problem for Your Startup</h3><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:600/600;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Diagramo_de_Ikigajo_en_svg_e0f6855683.png" alt="Diagramo_de_Ikigajo_-en.svg.png" width="600" height="600"><figcaption><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diagramo_de_Ikigajo_-en.svg">Image of finding the IKIGAI by Eugenio Hansen, OFS</a></figcaption></figure>Ikigai isn’t just about personal fulfillment; it can be used as a roadmap for identifying business problems worth solving. By breaking down four key elements—Passion, Profession, Mission, and Vocation—you can spot a problem that resonates with you and has real market potential.&nbsp; Let’s break it down:&nbsp;<h4>1. What You Love (Passion)</h4>Passion is what keeps you going when things get tough—and trust me, they will get tough. The more you care about the problem, the more likely you are to stay motivated.What you can do: Make a list of industries, causes, or issues that get you fired up. Love technology? Maybe dive into problems in AI, privacy, or digital ethics. Passionate about sustainability? You could consider gaps in renewable energy or waste management. Focus on problems you’d be excited to tackle every day—because if you’re not motivated, you’ll probably move on to something else the second things get hard.<h4>2. What You’re Good At (Profession)</h4>Passion’s great, but solving problems requires expertise. Enthusiasm alone won’t get the job done—you need the skills to make it happen.What you can do: Map out your core competencies. If you’re a data whiz, maybe there’s an opportunity in analytics or finance. If you’re a designer, you could consider solving problems in usability or innovation. Match the problem to your skills,&nbsp;so you’re not just offering ideas but real, workable solutions.<h4>3. What the World Needs (Mission)</h4>A great problem is one the world is practically begging for a solution to. Being passionate and skilled is fantastic, but if the problem isn’t relevant, it’s going nowhere.What you can do: Talk to potential users and uncover their biggest frustrations. What gaps do they see? If people are saying, “Yes, please fix this,” you’re on the right track. Focus on problems with a clear demand for change.&nbsp;The more urgent the need, the more likely a solution will succeed.<h4>4. What You Can Be Paid For (Vocation)</h4>Lastly, if no one is willing to pay for your solution, it’s a hobby, not a business. You need a clear path to monetization..What you can do: Look into the market—are customers willing to pay for a solution? Is there a growing need? Whether through subscriptions, one-time purchases, or services, it needs to make money. Focus on problems that not only resonate with your skills and passion but also have a clear path to revenue.&nbsp;<h3>Conclusion: Using Ikigai to Find the Right Problem</h3>The ikigai framework isn’t just a tool for personal fulfillment; it can be a strategic method for finding meaningful, solvable problems that have real market demand. As you embark on this journey, remember that aligning your work with your purpose will sustain you through the ups and downs, helping you stay grounded in what truly matters.So, what are you waiting for? The world—and your next great business idea—are waiting for your ikigai to emerge.<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=CTA241023&amp;utm_id=storytelling+by+javier">top page</a>.

medium_Finding Ikigai.jpg

small_Finding Ikigai.jpg

thumbnail_Finding Ikigai.jpg

Finding Ikigai.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.

Learning From the Founder: Adofaer AI Toy-Designing Service

Creating From 0 to 1: Learning From the Challenges of a Startup｜Moon Alumni Interview

Boost #3 “PITCH & CONNECT” Event Report

Moon Venture Carrium Releases CAREER FORTH Career Strategy Support Tool

How an Intrapreneur Develops an Entrepreneurial Mindset

Founder Focus: Showcasing the Ventures Incubating at Moon

Finding Your Ikigai: The Secret Sauce to Building a Meaningful Business

Boost #2 “PITCH & CONNECT” Event Report

Nordic Talks Event Report

Moon Creative Lab Congratulates Our Second Boost Cohort

Join the Moon Community!

entrepreneurship - Moon Stories Blog