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10 “Next Generation Innovative Companies” selected by investors and entrepreneurs

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Innovative Company. Literally means "an innovative company."

Many companies have been called innovative companies in the past, but as the world changes, the definition has changed.

Up until now, capitalist innovation aimed at maximizing profits has been well-received. However, what shareholders, investors, and consumers now expect from companies is not just maximizing corporate profits. They also expect companies to address environmental and human rights issues, employment issues, and economic disparities, as well as management transparency and long-term improvements in corporate value.Having a positive impact on the industry, society as a whole, and even the entire world is an important barometer that determines a company's value.Has become(*1, *2).

Following this trend, in this article we define three conditions for a "next-generation innovative company."

Three conditions for becoming a "next-generation innovative company"

1. Have a clear vision for the future of the industry and society

2. We are not just streamlining the existing system and improving its convenience, but are working on fundamental reform.

3. Rather than solely pursuing profits for the company, we aim to bring about change that will have a positive impact on the industry, society, and the environment.

We then asked seven investors and entrepreneurs to name 7 "next-generation innovative companies," along with the reasons why they recommended them.

The ten companies span a wide range of industries, but upon closer inspection, some commonalities become apparent.

EX-Fusion (PIVOT CEO Norihiko Sasaki)

EX-Fusion Company Profile

Amid the global movement to "achieve a decarbonized society," we aim to contribute to social development and sustainability through the realization of a "commercial laser fusion reactor."

They have entered the field of nuclear fusion research and development, which had previously been the domain of the government, and are challenging themselves with rapid technological development. They are not only working to realize commercial reactors, but are also taking on challenges in various fields, such as the space industry, the manufacturing industry, including semiconductor manufacturing, and technological development that contributes to regional stability and peace, and are putting into practice efforts that will change the very meaning of the existence of "laser nuclear fusion."

https://www.ex-fusion.com/ja

(I.e.　Using laser fusion technology to tackle the energy problem, one of the most important issues for Japan and the worldIt is also unique that they have chosen to start up their business in Japan for competitive strategic reasons.

TBM (K & Company CEO Kozo Takaoka)

TBM Company Profile

With the vision of "Leveraging the past to create the future. Circular innovation that will be sustainable even 100 years from now," this manufacturing startup is creating a sustainability revolution by developing environmentally friendly materials and products and building resource circulation models.

They have developed "LIMEX," a plastic and paper alternative material made primarily from limestone, and "CirculeX," a material that contains more than 50% recycled materials such as recovered LIMEX and used plastic. They also work on resource circulation projects that maximize the use of resources and continue to recycle the value of resources in a sustainable manner, aiming to realize a sustainable circular economy.

https://tb-m.com/limex/

Takaoka　The main raw material is limestone, which is inexhaustible on Earth.The new material "LIMEX" replaces paper and plastic, helping to reduce the use of fossil fuels and natural woodLIMEX can be used to produce sheets that can replace paper without using water or wood, and can also be used as a substitute for plastics, such as polyethylene and polypropylene films and sheets.Realizing a sustainable society originating from Japanis currently facing the challenge.

Regional Fish (K & Company CEO Kozo Takaoka)

Regional Fish Company Profile

With the mission of "Providing the fish that the Earth and humanity need now," the organization is working to solve the world's protein shortage and the problems facing the domestic fishing industry. It was established in 2019 as a joint research organization between Kyoto University and Kinki University.

According to a survey, demand for protein will exceed supply in 2030, and approximately twice the current amount will be needed in 2050. With next-generation aquaculture that combines ultra-high-speed breeding using genome editing technology with smart land-based aquaculture using AI and IoT, the company aims to contribute to alleviating the global protein shortage and revitalizing Japan's fishing industry and regional economy.

https://regional.fish/

Takaoka　The dramatic advances made possible by genome editing technology have led to ultra-fast breeding, and the year 2030 is fast approaching.Solving problems such as the global protein crisis and the decline of Japan's fishing industryTrying to.

Susten Capital Management (Money Forward CEO Yosuke Tsuji)

Susten Capital Management Company Profile

Founded in July 2019, the company's mission is to "create investment management services that can be recommended to family and friends" and its vision is to "realize a sustainable society where everyone can live in peace of mind."

We provide "SUSTEN", a fully performance-based, fully-managed asset management service for individuals. "SUSTEN" is strong in its use of the latest technology, and has introduced Japan's first (*) "fully performance-based" investment management, where fees are charged only when the all-time high valuation of managed assets is reached.

(*) The company is the first in Japan to adopt a "complete" performance-based fee model with no basic fee for its discretionary investment service aimed at general investors that provides international diversified investments.

https://susten.jp/

A street　With individual financial assets in Japan exceeding 2000 trillion yen,A groundbreaking service that promotes the shift from savings to investmentIn 2021, the company raised a total of 4 million yen in a Series B round with four companies, including Money Forward, as underwriters, and is expected to continue to expand its business in the future.

Empey (DNX Ventures, Akira Kurabayashi)

Enpei Company Profile

Based on the vision of "Fintech that is easy to use - creating a new flow of money and society through the power of technology," the company provides the Fintech x SaaS platform "enpay," which enables the automation and cashless payment collection process.

We use technology to eliminate the frustration, inconvenience, and anxiety about money that arise from long-standing customs and rules. We aim to create a friendly society where everyone can realize their potential. We actively donate to NPOs that support children.

https://www.enpay.co.jp/

Kurabayashi　Easy FintechAs a result, we have realized digital transformation and cashless payment for collection work specialized for the education industry, such as nursery schools.Engaging in social contribution activities since the company's founding.

Skymatics (Leos Capital Works President Hideto Fujino)

Skymatics Company Profile

A technology startup whose mission is to "create a new society through remote sensing."

Remote sensing is a technology that uses sensors to observe and investigate objects from a distance. It is now possible to obtain a variety of remote sensing data using drones, satellites, smartphones, etc. However, specialized knowledge is required to handle that data, and the larger the amount of data, the more difficult it becomes to manage and analyze it.

We develop and provide a "space-time analysis platform" that provides not only information that could not be obtained by actually going to the site, but also information that could not be obtained by the human eye and perspectives different from those of the human eye. With the theme of "Making the invisible visible," we continue to challenge ourselves to remove the constraints on the information that humans can receive.

https://skymatix.co.jp/

Fujino　With an eye on "challenges 10 years from now," the company is focusing on the possibility of utilizing image data obtained from the sky. It offers cutting-edge technology at an affordable price for industries such as agriculture, construction, surveying, disaster prevention, and infrastructure inspection.A tech company with the power to implement in societyIt is attracting attention as such.

ViXion (Leo Capital WorksThe president Hideto Fujino)

ViXion Company Profile

Triggered by an internal start-up at optical lens manufacturer HOYA Corporation, the company was spun off into an independent company in March 2021 and began operations as a new company.

The scotopic vision support glasses "HOYA MW10 HiKARI" are unprecedented glasses-type wearable devices that provide bright and color vision to visually impaired people who have trouble seeing in the dark due to night blindness, and a wide field of vision to those with narrowed visual field. They aim to support employment and academic achievement by improving QOL.

With the motto "Light the World - Light up your world," we aim to be an organization that supports people around the world who have problems with their vision through the provision of vision care equipment and services.

https://vixion.jp/

Fujino　The company will be spun off from HOYA in 2021. It develops glasses for people with low vision, who are said to number about 180 million in Japan and have trouble seeing due to visual impairment.Aiming to realize a comprehensive support service that helps the visually impaired take a step forward, we aim to balance social contribution and profitsWe are working on this.

Tea Room (PIVOT CEO Norihiko Sasaki)

Tea Room Company Profile

We develop businesses that focus on "tea," a traditional cultural value of Japan. We see "tea" not as a product, but as a means to solve problems based on the spirit of "tea ceremony," and have built a flow that manages the entire process from production to sales with flexible development and speedy proposals. We develop comprehensive production businesses through the experience value of "tea."

The tea industry is said to be in decline, with the amount of Japanese tea consumed per household decreasing year by year. However, the company has once again focused on the value of tea and Japanese culture, and continues to challenge itself to prove this to the world.

Based on the company philosophy of "Striving for a kind world without conflict," the company sees the ideas and culture of "tea" and "the way" as a means to solve problems that kindly and affirm others in order to eliminate all barriers in the world.

https://tearoom.co.jp/

(I.e.　I resonate with the vision of "proving the value of Japanese culture to the world through tea."In the future, Japanese companies will be asked how they can connect cultural values ​​to business.TeaRoom could be a pioneer in this area.

Yamappu (Mr. Seiji Murakami, co-founder of Signifiant)

Yamap Company Profile

With the purpose of "The joy of connecting with the earth," we continue to combine technology and ideas to create new value for mountains and other natural environments.

In order to realize a world where people can enjoy nature more and feel closer to it, we provide YAMAP, a map app and web service for mountain climbing and the outdoors. It has become Japan's largest mountain climbing and outdoor platform, with over 320 million downloads (as of July 2022).

The company also operates mountaineering media outlets such as "YAMAP STORE" and "YAMAP MAGAZINE," which sell a selection of mountaineering and outdoor equipment, and conveys the charm of mountains through a variety of approaches.

https://yamap.com/

(I.e.　Determining the relationship between nature and humans is not easy.Rather than simply viewing "mountains" as a business opportunity, we view them as the relationship between people and nature.By doing so, we are exploring new platforms and relationships with stakeholders.

CAVIN Inc. (Coconala CEO Akiyuki Minami)

CAVIN Inc. Company Profile

With the mission of "creating a world where honest feelings can be conveyed," the company has developed "CAVIN," a platform for direct transactions and mutual exchange between florists and producers. They have created a system that makes it easy to trade flowers via smartphone and delivers flowers with unprecedented freshness.

In addition to allowing people to enjoy the beauty of flowers, the company also aims to reduce flower waste. It allows customers to buy in small quantities, and purchase only what they need. It also focuses on the value of mutated, deformed flowers, and aims to reduce waste by identifying consumer needs and developing them accordingly. It is working to update the conventional wisdom of the flower industry.

https://cavin.ooo/

south　By not going through the market, the number of days required for delivery is shortened, flowers can be sold fresh for a long period of time, and flower loss is reduced. Florists can order the flowers they want at the time they want without having to go to the market, and growers can receive feedback directly from florists, allowing them to grow flowers that meet the needs of users.By reforming the entire market structure, we can simultaneously solve the issues facing various stakeholders.are doing.

Postscript

What these 10 companies have in common is thatWe conduct our business with an eye toward a better future for our industry, Japanese society, and the world as a whole.Each company is seeking to leverage technology and ideas to create new industries and new value, thereby passing on significant assets to future generations.

Along with changes in global consumption and investment behavior that emphasizes social value, from a recruitment perspective, in the mid-career market, many job seekers place importance on a company's attitude and efforts toward the SDGs (*3), and even in the new graduate market, a company's "high level of social contribution" is the most important point that job seekers consider when choosing a company to work for (*4).

These various data seem to suggest that the conditions for "next-generation innovative companies" introduced in this article are now essential for companies.

Three conditions for becoming a "next-generation innovative company"

1. Have a clear vision for the future of the industry and society

2. We are not just streamlining the existing system and improving its convenience, but are working on fundamental reform.

3. Rather than solely pursuing profits for the company, we aim to bring about change that will have a positive impact on the industry, society, and the environment.

At XICA, we too aim to realize a future in which everyone can master data science, creating a world in which all people can develop their talents and take on new challenges freely.

Our mission is to liberate every market by simplifying the complexities that have been created by restrictions and opaque practices.

We would like to work hard together with the companies introduced here to create a better future.

(*1) In developed countries in the US and Europe, CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) regulations and initiatives have been implemented, and the importance of corporate social responsibility has increased. The establishment of the SDGs and the expansion of ESG investment have also boosted this trend.
・In 2006, Kofi Annan, who was then Secretary-General of the United Nations, proposed the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) to the financial industry, providing guidelines stating that "ESG issues should be incorporated into the investment decision-making process."
・In 2010, the International Organization for Standardization announcedISO260000" is published, providing guidelines regarding the social responsibility of organizations.
In 2011, the EUNew CSR Strategy 2011-2014" Clarifying the definition of CSR as "a company's responsibility for its impact on society."
・In 2011, the OECDGuidelines for Multinational Enterprises" has been revised to include the statement that "companies have a responsibility to respect human rights."
・In 2012, CSR Europe, a leader in CSR promotion, launched the Enterprise 2020 project, providing a platform and know-how for putting CSR into practice.
- In 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted at the United Nations Summit, presenting 2030 goals and 17 targets to be achieved by 169 toward the realization of a sustainable international economy and society.
・In 2020, Keidanren willNew Growth StrategyThe keyword he set out was "establishing sustainable capitalism."

（*2）世界のESG投資の投資残高は、2016年の22兆8390億ドルから、2020年には35兆3010億ドルに増加（約1.5倍）。米国に限っては、2016年の8兆7230億ドルから、2020年には17兆810億ドルと倍増。（参照：https://www.nli-research.co.jp/report/detail/id=70652?pno=2&site=nli#:~:text=%EF%BC%A7%EF%BC%B3%EF%BC%A9%EF%BC%A1%E3%81%AE%E8%AA%BF%E6%9F%BB%E3%81%AB%E3%82%88%E3%82%8C,%E5%84%84%E3%83%89%E3%83%AB%E3%81%AB%E5%80%8D%E5%A2%97%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E3%80%82）

(*3) 65% of people consider SDGs to be important when changing jobs. Related job trends | Nikkei BizGate https://bizgate.nikkei.co.jp/article/DGXZQOLM05224005062022000000?channel=BSH05013&page=3
74.1% of job seekers "want to change jobs to a company that promotes SDGs," according to a survey by Workport Co., Ltd. | HRog | A media that shines a light on the future of the human resources industry https://hrog.net/news/trend/102525/

(*4) Survey on job seekers' company choices and SDGs (August 2020) | DISCO
https://www.disc.co.jp/press_release/7937/

References

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