Creww Growth Case Study Interview】Ando Hazama has selected Cube Earth, a startup company offering a "smart disaster prevention system" to local governments through the "Ando Hazama New Business Co-Creation Program 2022," an accelerator program for fiscal year 2022, utilizing Cube Earth, a geographic information system platform patented in the United States and Japan. Cube Earth, a startup company that provides municipalities with a "smart disaster prevention system" using the geographic information system platform "Cube Earth" patented in the U.S. and Japan, was selected for the Ando Hazama New Business Co-Creation Program 2022. The startup is developing next-generation social infrastructure infrastructure such as disaster prevention systems, smart cities, drones, and digital twin systems as part of the DX approach to municipal crisis management. What specific initiatives are they pursuing? We interviewed Hiroyuki Horii, Deputy General Manager of the Innovation Department, Corporate Strategy Division, Ando Hazama, Shigehiko Amo, Chairman of Cube Earth, and Zenshi Takeda, President and Representative Director.

Sanki Kogyo Corporation, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2025, has set its sights on becoming a company that will "continue to be chosen" in accordance with its vision for 2050, and is working to strengthen its core businesses and enhance the Sanki brand. One of our new initiatives is to strengthen our core business and improve the Sankiki brand. Therefore, as one of the new initiatives, we are challenging the "SANKI Open Innovation Program 2023". We interviewed Mr. Hiroyuki Sasaki, Facility Systems Business Department, Mr. Tadashi Ishiwata, Corporate Planning Department, Corporate Planning Office, and Mr. Naoya Tokuda, Corporate Planning Department, who are challenging the accelerator program for the first time, about their frank thoughts from their respective standpoints.

Ando Hazama, a general construction company that promotes the creation of new businesses through open innovation, has selected Air Digital Inc. Air Digital, Inc., a company involved in the development of digital sports space and the operation of digital sports fields, was selected for the program. Subsequently, Ando Hazama, Air Digital, and Kuki City, Saitama Prefecture, signed a collaboration agreement and are now working together on "Sports 60 & Smart," one of the largest digital sports clubs in Japan, which is located in the "Ario Washinomiya" shopping mall facility in Kuki City. What specific initiatives are being undertaken? We interviewed Tsubasa Sakakibara, Manager of the Innovation Department of Ando Hazama's Corporate Strategy Division, Sobaku Maeda, Representative Director of Air Digital, and Takeshi Kanazawa, a member of the Sports Promotion Section of the Health and Sports Department of the Kuki City Office.

Aisei Pharmacy has more than 400 dispensing pharmacies nationwide. As the company will soon celebrate its 40th anniversary, we are challenging the accelerator program in search of the next pillar of our business! Aiming to become a pharmacy that is needed by local residents, the company will explore the possibility of creating new businesses. In this interview, we spoke with Hiroyuki Hori, General Manager of the Business Planning Department of Aisei Pharmacy Inc. about why Aisei Pharmacy is now taking on the challenge of open innovation with startups.

【スタートアップニュース】今年は52の国と地域で予選を繰り広げた世界最大級のスタートアップピッチコンテスト「スタートアップワールドカップ2023」の世界決勝戦が、ヒルトン・サンフランシスコ・ユニオンスクエアにて12月1日に開催されました！ 世界チャンピオンの座を獲得しましたのは、東京予選代表のアイリスです。同社はAI医療機器の開発を手がけ、世界で初めてインフルエンザ判定が可能な感染症診断AI搭載内視鏡の商品化に成功しています。その優れた技術とビジネス・スキームが評価され、約3000人の注目を集める中、見事世界で第一位の優勝の座を獲得しました。

[Startup News] ALGO ARTIS, a provider of automated operational planning optimization solutions with optimization AI, has won the "Startup CTO of the Year 2023 powered by Amazon Web Services" contest!

ELSA has completed a Series C equity financing totaling US$23 million! The round was led by Singapore-based UOB Venture Management, with new investment participation from UniPresident from Taiwan and Asia Growth Investment Fund, an investment fund jointly established by Aozora Bank and the Development Bank of Japan, from Japan. In addition, the existing investors, Grassroots Investment Fund, Inc. Existing investors Gradient Ventures, Monks Hill Ventures, Globant Ventures, and Vietnam Investment Group also made additional investments in this round.

Open Innovation News] DNP will start providing RFID-based library collection inspection services to libraries nationwide in October 2023! With regard to library book inspection, DNP will develop unique robots and systems in collaboration with Fuji Logistics to significantly reduce work hours. In addition, DNP will exhibit its library collection inspection services, including this service, at the Library Exhibition 2023 to be held at Pacifico Yokohama from October 24 (Tue.) to 25 (Wed.), 2023.