Shibuya Ward establishes a global startup fostering organization, Shibuya Startups Co!

Background of the establishment of Sibuya Startups Co.

Shibuya's community originated in the late 90's when IT companies clustered around Shibuya Station, and today, over 2,000 startups have established a base in Shibuya, making it one of the largest startup communities in Japan.

On the other hand, despite having one of the largest startup communities in Japan, the lack of internationally competitive and internationally successful startups is an issue not only in Shibuya, but throughout Japan.

The Kishida administration's "Five-Year Startup Plan," which is aimed at realizing "new capitalism," also calls for "a viewpoint of creating startups that boldly challenge the global market without falling into a Galapagos way of thinking. Building an international startup community is necessary for economic development.

Shibuya Ward, like other advanced municipalities around the world, believes that a collaborative public-private environment is needed to solve these issues, and has therefore signed an agreement with Tokyu, Tokyu Land Corporation, and GMO Internet Group to establish a joint venture company.

Shibuya Startups provides and nurtures the greatest value for startups' growth. By doing so, we aim to create an international startup community by attracting a diverse range of startups with new ideas and technologies as well as high-level human resources to Shibuya to create startups that will become successful on a global scale.

By promoting the business of Shibuya Startups, we will further develop one of the largest startup communities in Japan, aiming to become a city of international innovation, and contribute to the development of the local economy of Shibuya through the creation of new internationally competitive industries and employment.

Business of the new company

1. start-up development program projects
2. consulting business
3. other businesses to support startups

New Company Structure

1. Shiho Watanabe, who has experience working for global companies and serving as an advisor to many startups both in Japan and overseas, will assume the position of President and Representative Director, and will promote the business by utilizing her extensive network.

2. Shibuya Ward will oversee the execution of the new company's business and support the growth of the startups through collaboration with startup demonstration projects such as the "Innovation for New Normal from Shibuya," a demonstration experiment support project conducted by Shibuya Ward, to create innovations that enrich the lives of ward residents. We will support the growth of startups and create innovations that enrich the lives of Shibuya Ward residents.

3. back up the business of Shibuya Startups by leveraging the networks and business know-how cultivated by Tokyu, Tokyu Land Corporation, and the GMO Internet Group, and support the growth of the startups.

Thoughts of each investor

Shibuya Ward
Shibuya Ward has started a startup support program in 2020, and has promoted various projects such as support for demonstration experiments, environmental improvement, and promotion of globalization. The newly established "Shibuya Startups Co., Ltd." is an organization established with the aim of developing Shibuya's startup community to a level on par with world-renowned cities, and to foster startups from Japan and abroad. Public-private partnerships are essential for startup support, and we are pleased to be working in collaboration with Tokyu Corporation and Tokyu Land Corporation, which are involved in urban development in Shibuya, especially in front of Shibuya Station, and GMO Internet Group, a company that symbolizes Shibuya's Bit Valley. We believe that by utilizing the knowledge and resources of each of these companies, we will be able to implement projects that have never been done before. Through the projects of this organization, we aim to further strengthen the startup community in Shibuya and to further enrich the lives of the residents of Shibuya Ward by implementing the innovations generated in the city.

Tokyu
Tokyu has been working to foster industry and promote the emergence of innovation through the Tokyu Alliance Platform, a co-creation program with startup companies, and the formation of startup communities at locations such as SHIBUYA QWS, a co-creation facility established in Shibuya Scramble Square, We have been striving to promote industrial development and innovation creation.
The establishment of "Shibuya Startups Corporation" is a groundbreaking initiative to support new mechanisms on a global level through public-private partnerships for the further development of the startup ecosystem in Shibuya, and is expected to further accelerate the development of the city.
Through this initiative, the Tokyu Group will cooperate with new players in Shibuya to realize its vision of "Entertainment City SHIBUYA" and promote urban development to improve the overall attractiveness of the Greater Shibuya area.

Tokyu Land Corporation
Tokyu Land Corporation is promoting the development of four projects in the greater Shibuya area: the Shibuya Station Sakuragaoka Exit Area Redevelopment, the Jingumae 6-chome Area Redevelopment, the Daikanyamacho Project, and the Yoyogi Park Park-PFI Project, and this year and next year will mark milestone timing as these projects reach completion.
We believe that attracting promising startups and companies seeking innovation to Shibuya, which has been the birthplace of various cultures and businesses, will lead to the birth of innovative businesses, and we have been deepening our partnerships with people involved in startups. We have worked to create a startup community in Shibuya, including co-creation with Silicon Valley-based Plug and Play, the opening of the "GUILD" small office for startups, and the opening of the "Shibuya SAUNAS" last year.
We will continue to work together with the players gathered through this initiative to make Shibuya an attractive town where new industries will continue to emerge.

GMO Internet Groupp
GMO Internet Group started its Internet business in 1995, and has since then been rooted in the Shibuya area.
Today, we have grown into a comprehensive Internet group that operates Internet infrastructure, Internet advertising and media, Internet finance, and crypto asset businesses. Therefore, as a corporate group that has grown together with Shibuya, we strongly agree with the desire of Shibuya Ward to "create an international startup community in Shibuya" and have decided to participate in Shibuya Startups.
By providing our comprehensive Internet expertise through the Shibuya Startups program, we hope to encourage entrepreneurs from all over the world to gather in Shibuya and bring smiles and excitement to people's faces.

About Sibuya Startups, Inc.