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In the fashion industry, 92 million tons of textile waste are produced every year. For Bethany Meuleners, Apparel and Textile Design &amp; Development Lead at Variloom, this isn't just a problem to be managed—it’s an industry ripe for reinvention.In a recent interview with&nbsp;Sourcing Journal, Bethany shared how Variloom, a Moon Creative Lab venture, is utilizing 3D printing and biobased materials to unlock a faster, cleaner, and more responsive future for fashion.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:4234/6351;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Variloom0069_3_5e38852ea8.jpeg" alt="Variloom0069 3.jpeg" width="4234" height="6351"></figure><h3>Innovation Beyond the Label</h3>One of the biggest misconceptions in the industry is that a "sustainable material" label makes a product responsible. “In reality, true sustainability goes far beyond the material itself. It begins at the design stage, by considering durability, understanding consumer needs so the product is genuinely valued and used, and making intentional choices about where and how it is produced. It continues throughout the supply chain, from manufacturing and distribution to how the product reaches the consumer, and ultimately, how it is handled at the end of its life,” Bethany explains.&nbsp;Variloom’s approach centers on an on-demand 3D printing system. By producing customizable soft goods on-demand and on-site, brands can design and manufacture fabrics in days rather than months, and with a lot less waste. Reducing the need for inventory and bringing manufacturing closer to the consumer, Variloom’s process minimizes reliance on offshore manufacturing.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:6720/4480;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Variloom0063_2_1_5a0fb8a82a.jpg" alt="Variloom0063 2 (1).jpg" width="6720" height="4480"></figure><h3>Closing the Loop</h3>In addition to its printing system, another facet of Variloom is its patent-pending soft, recyclable material. Developed using biobased thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and a proprietary blend of responsibly sourced natural additives and fibers, the material offers the stretch and performance consumers expect, but in a more sustainable, circular way. At a product’s end-of-life, the material can be recycled up to three times without losing its integrity.<blockquote>“A large share of waste happens on the consumer side.”&nbsp;</blockquote>“A large share of waste happens on the consumer side, often because people do not know what to do with a product at the end of its life. There is an opportunity to design products and create systems that make end-of-life solutions approachable and accessible for consumers.”&nbsp;<h3>A Personal Commitment to Purpose</h3>For Bethany, the philosophy of sustainability extends beyond the lab. Her own personal approach to clothing involves buying less, choosing quality staples, and caring for her clothing.&nbsp;“I have a very loved denim shirt that after several years, has now become my all-purpose yard work, crafting, and anything-messy shirt,” she shares. "How you care for your clothing is just as important to sustainability as what you purchase.”&nbsp;<blockquote>“Sustainability doesn’t have to come at the expense of&nbsp;great design.”</blockquote><h3>The Path Forward</h3>While sustainability is the core of Variloom’s mission, that doesn’t mean design comes secondary. As Bethany mentioned, it is all intertwined from the very beginning. From its 3D printing system to the patented soft material to a product’s end-of-life, Variloom has created a fully circular way of manufacturing textiles, all while keeping great fashion design at the forefront. “Sustainability doesn’t have to come at the expense of great design. With the flexibility of the Variloom technology, we aim to expand the possibilities for bespoke design while giving both designers and customers more freedom and customization. For us, sustainability and good design go hand in hand.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Make sure to follow&nbsp;<a href="https://www.variloom.com/">Variloom</a> to stay updated on the latest developments and news.&nbsp;

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A huge congratulations goes to Variloom, a Moon Creative Lab venture, for being named an honoree in the <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/innovation-by-design/list">Fast Company 2025 Innovation by Design Awards</a>! <a href="https://www.variloom.com/">Variloom</a> is helping the fashion industry reduce production waste, minimize excess inventory, and reliance on offshore manufacturing through the creation of its first two innovations: 3D printing and a recyclable, customizable material.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1600/900;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Variloom_Fast_Co_thumb_2455f19f46.png" alt="Variloom Fast Co thumb.png" width="1600" height="900"><figcaption>Variloom's patent-pending recyclable filament used to create custom 3D-printed garments.</figcaption></figure>Now in its 14th year, the Innovation by Design Awards celebrate the designers and businesses addressing today’s most urgent challenges while anticipating the problems of tomorrow. The program is one of the most prestigious design competitions in the industry, spotlighting work that exemplifies originality, beauty, sustainability, user insight, cultural significance, and measurable business impact. Honorees, which include nearly 300 projects, products, and services from The New York Times, Jones Knowles Ritchie, Adobe, and others, were selected by a panel of leading designers, business executives from leading organizations, and Fast Company editors.&nbsp; Variloom’s on-demand and on-site 3D print-to-shape fabrication system for how soft goods and apparel are made, gives brands and suppliers the ability to design and produce customizable, recyclable fabrics in days instead of months, all while bringing the manufacturing closer to the consumer. The system is capable of printing across a range of sizes from small components to large-format fabrics, enabling bespoke creations and custom-designed details for everything from shirts and pants to handbags and shoes, all while integrating seamlessly into existing supply chains. &nbsp; “When Moon Creative Lab was first founded by Mitsui &amp; Co., it was meant to create big and bold businesses that would have an exponential impact on the world,” said Mary Ann Gallo, Chief Growth Officer, Moon Creative Lab. “Variloom is a venture that is doing just that. WIth its patent-pending soft material and 3D printing system, Variloom is helping brands reduce waste, shorten lead times, and remove the need for large inventory positions, while also supporting sustainable, customizable production closer to the consumer.” Fast Company’s editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan explains “The Innovation by Design Awards celebrate bold ideas and work that proves design is a true driver of business and societal progress. This year’s honorees show how creative thinking can unlock new markets, build stronger organizations, and deliver meaningful impact at scale.”&nbsp; Head <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/innovation-by-design/list">here</a> to see the complete list of winners and honorees, and read about the winners in the Fall issue of Fast Company magazine on newsstands September 23, 2025.&nbsp;If you'd like to receive the latest updates from Moon Creative Lab,&nbsp;please sign up to be a Moon Community Member <a href="https://share.hsforms.com/1OHQANbcgR9q4ky5Q4M6wMQcxaid ">here</a>. We'll send you invitations to speaker events featuring industry pioneers, panel discussions, new ventures, and more.&nbsp; &nbsp;

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Moon-launched venture, Carrium Inc., which provides the career strategy support tool "CareerForth," released its new feature "<a href="https://www.careerforth.me/designer">AI Career Designer</a>" on July 1, 2025. "CareerForth" was adopted in 2022 as a new business by Mitsui &amp; Co.'s venture studio, Moon Creative Lab, after an internal call for proposals within Mitsui &amp; Co. It began offering a beta version in 2023, and Carrium Inc. was established as the operating company in June 2024. In addition to its existing service, which quantifies and maps potential career paths for highly specialized young professionals, "<a href="https://www.careerforth.me/designer">AI Career Designer</a>" will allow individual users to more intuitively build their career strategies. This new feature aims to provide an environment where individuals can design data-driven, unbiased careers, supporting them in achieving a passionate professional life.&nbsp;<h3>Leveraging over 1 million data points to provide personalized career support service</h3><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/a_image_a01_1_98b426ff51.png" alt="a_image_a01 (1).png">"<a href="https://www.careerforth.me/designer">AI Career Designer</a>" is a service that leverages over one million labor data points and AI technology held by Carrium to provide personalized career proposals. These proposals are based on the user's career values, including their work history, sources of motivation, and ideal communication methods. The service also includes specific job listings, allowing users to express their interest in a job with a one-stop application process.&nbsp;<h3>What are its main features?</h3>1.Career Design Based on Data&nbsp; Leveraging over one million labor data points accumulated by Carrium, <a href="https://www.careerforth.me/designer">AI Career Designer</a> advises optimal career plans based on the user's input work history and values. 2.Completed in Just 3 Minutes   Only three steps are required for input before a personalized career proposal is generated in approximately three minutes. 3.Presentation of Diverse&nbsp; Options In addition to conventional proposals based on your past career, you can also explore surprising alternative paths complete with concrete action plans. 4.Continuous Optimization   By providing feedback on the generated career proposal, you can discover an even more customized and personalized career path.&nbsp;<h3>Free to use, no need to register</h3><a href="https://www.careerforth.me/designer">AI Career Designer</a> is free for anyone to use, and no registration is required. Please feel free to give it a try! Your feedback is highly welcomed.Contact to Hiroyuki Narihara, founder of Carrium Inc. [📩]<a href="mailto:h.narihara@carrium.co.jp">h.narihara@carrium.co.jp</a><h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>More to read</h3>Interview to Hiroyuki Narihara, founder of Carrium Inc. <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/stories/idea-careerforth">https://www.mooncreativelab.com/stories/idea-careerforth</a>The Future of Work: Embracing a Role-Playing Approach With AI <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/ja/stories/rpg-work">https://www.mooncreativelab.com/ja/stories/rpg-work</a>

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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.

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<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;

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Congratulations to Moon venture, <a href="https://www.variloom.com/">Variloom</a>, for winning the <a href="https://www.ispo.com/en/promotion/ispo-award-winner-rip-curl-mirage-3d-boardshort">ISPO 2024 Award</a>! Every year, the ISPO award honors outstanding products in the sporting goods industry — past recipients include North Face, Kathmandu, Arc'teryx, and Puma. Variloom, along with Rip Curl and Bilio, has received this year’s award for the creation of the Mirage3DP Boardshort, which integrates 3D printing technology and sustainable materials into an innovative boardshort that sets a new standard for comfort, durability, and eco-friendly design. &nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:512/341;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/ISPO_award_e469d5f881.jpg" alt="ISPO award.jpg" width="512" height="341"><figcaption>From left: Danit Peleg (3D Printed Fashion Designer), Bethany Meuleners (Senior Product Development Lead, Moon), Milan Thompson (Global Head of Product Innovation &amp; Sustainability, Rip Curl), Kaichi Yokoyama (CEO, Moon), Billy Smith (Founder &amp; CEO, Bilio)</figcaption></figure>Using Variloom’s filament and 3D printing technology, the Mirage3DP boardshorts feature a 3D waistband for stability in the water, integrated panels for fit and ventilation, and a recyclable blend of bio-based TPU and wool for comfort and durability. “Winning the ISPO award for our innovations in sustainable 3DP material, production, and design is an amazing honor, and we could not be more pleased to receive this recognition with our partners Rip Curl and Bilio,” said Kaichi Yokoyama, Chief Executive Officer, Moon Creative Lab. “The Mirage3DP Boardshort made with Variloom’s 3D-printable materials is breaking ground for unrivaled comfort, resilience, fit, and performance. We will continue to work closely with Rip Curl to give customers completely on-demand, customizable, and 100% 3D printed and circular products made from sustainable materials.”&nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Mirage3dp_shorts_c37d33954b.png" alt="Mirage3dp shorts.png">In addition to its innovative filament, Variloom is further transforming the fashion industry by creating new systems and processes to bring production closer to the consumer and make circularity a reality. The patent-pending 3DP filament and print system balances softness, stretch, and adaptable performance by utilizing bio-based TPU with carefully selected natural additives and fibers. Variloom’s 3D printing technology will offer on-demand, on-site, print-to-shape 3D fabrication that exponentially reduces production waste, lead times, product inventory, and dependence on offshore manufacturing by bringing customizable production closer to consumers.To close the loop and improve circularity for a product’s end of life, goods made with the Variloom filament can easily be returned and recycled.&nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/MIRAGE_3_DP_INT_EXT_2_76bd96cf7c.png" alt="MIRAGE3DP_INT_EXT 2.png">“Our Variloom patents cover a number of ways to produce 3D printed textiles that are flexible, soft to the touch, and wearable with adaptable performance,” said Bethany Meuleners, venture lead, Sustainable Fashion, Moon Creative Lab. “The ISPO Award is a tremendous recognition of the work Moon, Rip Curl, and Bilio are doing in the area of sustainable and high-performance apparel and materials. We will be continuing to improve our capabilities and speed in our processes through innovations in revolutionary machinery to create and fully recycle these fabrics.”See Bethany talk more about Variloom in <a href="https://youtu.be/uMI13osJArI?si=qb5Ck69bIHbXbTjg">this video</a> and look out for the Mirage3DP boardshort, available in 2026.&nbsp;About Variloom Variloom is transforming the fashion industry by creating new systems and processes to bring production closer to the consumer and make circularity a reality. Variloom’s patent pending 3DP filament and print system balances softness, stretch and adaptable performance by utilizing bio-based TPU with carefully selected natural additives and fibers. The future of Variloom and 3D printing in soft goods offers on-demand, on-site, print-to-shape 3D fabrication that exponentially reduces production waste, lead times, product inventory, and dependence on offshore manufacturing by bringing customizable production closer to the consumer. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.variloom.com">www.variloom.com</a>.

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<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>

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<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image1_162e3ddbd3.jpg" alt="image1.jpg">Established in September 2023, aequol Inc. is a company that spun off of Moon Creative Lab venture Metajob!, a digital work matching service. It is developing a job matching platform for spot work and other services in an effort to provide equal work opportunities to all people. How did the idea come about?<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1600/900;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image2_9adb52cc44.jpg" alt="image2.jpg" width="1600" height="900"><figcaption>Naohiro Hoshino, CEO of aequol Inc. In 2021, he launched Metajob! as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) at Moon Creative Lab and then incorporated it as a company in September 2023.</figcaption></figure>Table of Contents<ol><li>Helping launch Moon Creative Lab</li><li>Is labor shortage real?</li><li>Digital work level the playing field</li><li>Experiences become the true value</li></ol>&nbsp;<h3>1.Helping launch Moon Creative Lab</h3>How did you become an in-house entrepreneur at Moon?&nbsp;Naohiro Hoshino: Around 2016, I participated in the project that originally created Moon Creative Lab itself. Mitsui had been creating a long-term, 10-year vision and Moon was the centerpiece of that vision. In the next phase, we decided to start creating something from scratch, and we set up the motto "From 'tsunagu' (connect) to 'tsukuru' (create)."Later in 2018, Moon was launched and during an open call for ideas, I proposed my idea of&nbsp; a job-matching platform specialized for digital work, which was "Metajob!”At first, I was thinking of developing a platform that would bundle such things as remote-controlled delivery robots and remote-controlled construction work that can be done without having to go to the construction site, for example, or even telemedicine as another example.However, many remote-controlled robot technologies have not yet been put to practical use, so I decided to start with remote customer service, which we could start working on immediately.&nbsp;<h3>2.Is labor shortage real?</h3>Why did “digital” become the starting point?&nbsp;Naohiro: When I explain Japan's demographic projections and effective job openings to people overseas, they get very surprised. Certainly, the shortage of workers is one of the biggest issues facing Japan. However, from a micro-perspective, we also realize that it is not a simple matter, like the ratio of job offers to applicants = 1 or more, therefore there is a labor shortage.Even if the total amount of work exceeds the total number of workers, various barriers such as age, places to live, illness, nursing care, educational background, work experience, etc. prevent people from taking the first step. To begin with, there are few people who are willing to take any kind of Job. In other words, I feel that a lack of manpower appears to be there, partly because of those barriers.aequal's vision is to "help corporate business through individual life experiences.” We are trying to create a new market for non-manual spot-work, where people support corporate activities based on their unique experiences.If everyone stands on the same footing and runs the same 100 meters based on their own character, I think the result would be an interesting world based on different values than what we have seen so far.<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>3.Digital work level the playing field</h3>What made you feel challenged by work barriers?&nbsp;Naohiro: I was born and raised in “shitamachi” Tokyo [smaller, more familiar and traditional neighborhoods outside of the modern, cosmopolitan city, typically made of laborers, artisans, and merchants]. My parents were sole proprietors. Many of the families around me were like that. Because I grew up in such an environment, I thought it was natural that after graduating from high school, I would either find a job or go to college while earning tuition fees. At that time, I realized that there is a huge difference in the starting points for running those metaphorical 100 meters.I then began to wonder if it would be possible to create an environment in which all people could compete from the same starting point. The point is that I am not trying to develop "shoes that make you run faster.* My goal was to create a level playing field, and digital work was one of the approaches to achieve this.<h3>4.Experiences become the true value</h3>Isn't work dependent on past skills and background?&nbsp;Naohiro: When we tried to link digital workers with companies, we saw early on that securing social trust was an issue. However, there are actually ways of matching where the value is not in the skills or career, but in the individual’s experience itself.One example of this is the&nbsp;<a href="https://ijyu-chat.metajob.jp/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=CTA&amp;utm_id=Ijuuchat_LP">Ijuu Chat</a> immigration consultation service, released in October 2023 in collaboration with Japan Organization for Internal Migration (JOIN). In February 2024,&nbsp;<a href="https://numazu-ijyu-chat.metajob.jp/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=CTA&amp;utm_id=Ijuuchat_N_LP">Ijuuchat for Numazu</a> was launched through Numazu Livelihood, a portal site operated by Numazu City for immigrants and permanent residents. And in June 2024,&nbsp;<a href="https://ibaraki-ijyu-chat.metajob.jp/">Ijuuchat for Ibaraki</a> was launched for Ibaraki prefecture. We hope to make this available nationwide.&nbsp;Until now, local government officials in each area have tried to explain the convenience of living in that area, which is something that prospective immigrants want to know about. In Ijuu Chat, ChatGPT gives a rough answer, and then digital workers who have lived in the area answer the details beyond that. For example, if you ask, "What is the best area for a single mother to live?” a person with experience will answer that question.This is what makes it valuable – not the skill, but the experience. The fact that you have lived there becomes a value in itself. This system can be used not only for immigration but also for travel, and if a large log of exchanges can be accumulated, data utilization is also possible.The knowledge we have gained through our various practices is being applied in a wider range of areas as technology advances. The first remote customer service project we undertook was with a company that operates a karaoke box. By taking detailed sensory data from workers, we were able to get a variety of opinions, such as the difficulty of free talk and the demand for fortune-telling. We were able to start quizzes, including murder mysteries and quick-press quizzes, and collect a variety of data as a result.Now we are able to use that knowledge to conduct increasingly in-depth interviews, such as talking to people who have been using a cosmetics brand's products for more than 10 years, or one company talking to loyal users of a rival company.Although the public has high expectations for automation through AI and robots, the actual cost of 100% automation is significant, and the division of roles between AI and people is expected to continue to be an important point in the future. I believe that digital work will play a major role there.<hr>Naohiro Hoshino established&nbsp;<a href="https://aequol.com/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=CTA&amp;utm_id=aequol_LP">aequol Inc.</a> on September 14, 2023. In October 2023, he released&nbsp;<a href="https://ijyu-chat.metajob.jp/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=CTA&amp;utm_id=Ijuuchat_LP">Ijuu Chat</a>, a migration consultation service operated by both AI and people, in collaboration with the Organization for Promotion of Migration and Interchange. In January 2024, he collaborated with Chukyo Television Broadcasting Corporation and launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctv.co.jp/studyjam/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=CTA&amp;utm_id=StudyJam_LP">Study Jam</a>, a non-advertising method to reach Generation Z and create fandoms. Naohiro has also launched Metajob Research, an online interview service that enables users to obtain candid opinions from consumers, and&nbsp;<a href="https://aequol.com/posts/SNOKlBuY?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=CTA&amp;utm_id=vtuberscoring">Super-Subjective Vtuber Scoring</a>, a karaoke scoring tool that uses Vtuber digital workers, which Moon Creative Lab is currently helping Naohiro implement.Moon Creative Lab also supports various other ventures. Please check our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=CTA&amp;utm_id=aequol_idea_interview_en">official website</a> to learn more.&nbsp;

Fashion On-Demand: A Conversation With Variloom

Moon Venture Variloom Is an Honoree in the Fast Company 2025 Innovation by Design Awards!

Carrium Releases New AI-Powered Feature, “AI Career Designer”

Learning From the Founder: Adofaer AI Toy-Designing Service

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

Moon Venture Wins Innovation Award for Groundbreaking Surfwear

Moon Venture Carrium Releases CAREER FORTH Career Strategy Support Tool

Is the Labor Shortage Real? Why a Matching Service Dedicated to Digital Work Was Created｜aequol Inc.

Internal Motivation Is Your Greatest Asset: Why a Career Exploration Map was Needed ｜CAREER FORTH

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