Marui Group launches initiatives to create new businesses through open innovation with future generations

What is the Future Accelerator Gateway?

In this program, Marui Group employees and Mr. Mizuno of Life's Tech will work together with selected teams of university and graduate students, who are the future generation, to refine their ideas and create a concrete business plan. The team will be selected from among the selected teams.
For university and graduate students, who are the future generation, the program will provide an opportunity to realize their ideas and to acquire entrepreneurship skills through dialogue with Mr. Mizuno and Marui Group employees.
The best proposals will receive a cash prize of 300,000 yen at the final presentation, and the company will also consider purchasing or investing in the project.

Future Accelerator Gateway" Application Overview

Application period： Until November 12, 2020 (Thursday)

number of people to be admitted or accepted　: 4 to 5 teams (up to 5 people per team, individuals may apply) Individuals can also apply)

Eligibility for ApplicationUniversity students, graduate students and those of equivalent age (18-24 years old)
　　　　　　　and who are able to participate in the program for 3 months.

How to apply： Fill out the application form on the application website to select a theme and fill out the necessary information.

Recruitment site:https://www.0101maruigroup.co.jp/future/

Flow of Initiatives

(1) Solicitation and selection of ideas
Ideas will be solicited on two themes.

• A: Social and environmental issues you would like to solve and the solutions... that will realize a sustainable society and global environment through business.
• B: New businesses to be undertaken by the Marui Group... that will strengthen the Marui Group's core businesses, retail and fintech.

After two rounds of selection, Marui Group employees will join the selected teams and begin planning.

(2) Business plan planning and review
Members who pass the selection process will team up with a supporting Marui Group employee to plan a new business plan for approximately three months.
During the planning process, the students will brush up their business plans with mentoring from Mr. Mizuno of Life's Tech.

(iii) Presentations and awards
As the culmination of approximately three months, participants will make a presentation of their plans.
The judges will include Marui Group executives and young entrepreneurs from Marui Group's capital and business partners.
After the judges give their comments on each team's idea, awards will be given and announced.

Background

Marui Group's vision for 2050 is "to create a world that overcomes all dichotomies through business," and has established three businesses based on co-creation to realize this vision.
This initiative is being launched with the aim of realizing one of these businesses, the "business of connecting generations "*.
So far, Marui Group has formed teams of employees to propose new businesses, and excellent proposals are being considered for commercialization. The intention is to realize a "business that connects generations" by involving future generations who are digital natives and sustainability natives in this initiative.
Through this initiative, the company will work to co-create with future generations, transcending the boundaries of the company, by examining plans with the aim of realizing new businesses.

*"The Business of Connecting Generations
In order to realize its mission of expanding "happiness" for all people, including future generations, Marui Group is promoting "business that connects generations," which includes not only the interests of the current generation but also those of future generations. The Marui Group believes that in order to realize a sustainable society and global environment through business, it is necessary to work together with its stakeholders, the future generations.

From Mr. Mizuno, CEO and Representative Director, Life is Tech, Inc.

This is Marui Group's first attempt at a business plan contest with the future generation! We are very much looking forward to it.
I will also accompany the team for about 3 months as a mentor.
For those who will be selected as members, it may not be easy, but let's enjoy and run through the race to the best of our ability, aiming for the sense of accomplishment that will come after the race!

Outline of Marui Group

Outline of Life is Tech