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This article shares the experience of a participant in the two-day Moon Open Workshops, where they brought a business idea to life. They share their concrete experiences and what they learned about overcoming the challenges of business development.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1980/1113;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blog_Yu2_added2d969.jpg" alt="blog Yu2.jpg" width="1980" height="1113"><figcaption>Author: Yu Sun, who is currently with the Retail Infrastructure Business Division at Mitsui &amp; Co. After launching a retail joint venture in China and promoting domestic and international investment projects at various stages, she is now engaged in new business planning and promotion.</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;<h3>Introduction: What are Moon Open Workshops?</h3>Moon Open Workshops is a two-day workshop program held at the Moon Creative Lab Tokyo studio in Omotesando. It brings together members from the Mitsui &amp; Co. group, partner companies, and individual entrepreneurs to receive feedback from diverse perspectives and refine ideas into highly feasible business concepts.Participants design solutions to their own business challenges using a human-centered approach. Over the two days, they utilize various frameworks and tools to transform their ideas into concrete concepts.&nbsp;<h3>Why I Decided To Participate</h3>Having experienced 0-to-1 business development in an internal project at Mitsui, I had a strong desire to delve deeper into venture-style approaches, techniques, and mentality to expand my own business development toolkit. A personal issue I was facing also aligned with the participation criteria, which further encouraged me to join.Until then, my career had primarily focused on business investment and launching ventures in the consumer-related industry. However, most of this involved evaluating business value or replicating and scaling success based on established models.A turning point came during the year and a half I spent on an internal project creating a new business, which concluded in March 2025. It was a daily process of identifying issues, forming hypotheses, and experimenting repeatedly to find a way into the market. In the process of creating a new business where no one had gone before, past success patterns were useless. I keenly felt the importance of forging my own path. Rather than spending time perfecting a plan, it was crucial to first identify the ultimate goal—the problem to be solved—then formulate hypotheses and take numerous actions toward it, quickly discerning which paths were promising and which were not.This experience was a valuable opportunity for me to touch upon the venture-style approach—the "Fail fast, fail cheap" spirit—and to master the method of shaping a business through trial and error.In today's world, the ability to define a problem yourself and combine technology and resources to build a business to solve it is becoming increasingly essential. I feel that for large corporations rich in technology and management resources, this venture-style approach is truly adding strength to strength.I expected the Moon workshop to be a perfect opportunity for me to systematically organize the framework and mentality of this venture-style thinking and to re-examine my own experiences and understanding.&nbsp;<h3>Unforgettable Moments</h3><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blog_Yu3_fcb8e3258f.jpg" alt="blog Yu3.jpg">There were countless stimulating moments over the two days. What left a particularly strong impression was a role-playing exercise where I presented my idea to various people of different nationalities, professions, and backgrounds. In response, I heard:&nbsp;"I can really relate to that!""I would definitely want this service! If possible, maybe you could add this feature...""There's a similar service in the U.S. You should check this out."&nbsp;The empathetic feedback from participants, the words affirming the need for the service, and the concrete reference information—all of it was incredibly encouraging, making me feel that my idea might be more than just a whim and could be worth bringing to life.Of course, in the process of refining my ideas within a limited time, the mountain of things to research piled up, and I sometimes felt lost, not knowing where to start. But at those times, the Moon facilitators were there to consult with, asking great questions that served as shortcuts to refining my thoughts.Seeing the other participants, who were just as dedicated and immersed in their own challenges, also gave me the courage to push forward. A strange, strong sense of camaraderie bloomed with these peers who were struggling through the same process and approach but remained positive and determined.I've heard that the venture world has strong horizontal connections and a culture of mutual help. Through this workshop, I feel like I got a taste of that. It truly was two days of feeling that "There's a mountain of things to do, and my thoughts are still jumbled... but I'm definitely not alone. There's always someone watching over me, encouraging me, and supporting me."&nbsp;<h3>A New Step</h3><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blog_Yu4_e5b5162cec.jpg" alt="blog Yu4.jpg">My biggest takeaway is the attitude of "not fearing uncertainty and boldly challenging the problem in front of you."Even in this modern era where science and technology like medicine and AI are advancing daily, many people around us still live with frustrations and inconveniences. Many of these issues exist in an invisible form, neither visualized nor quantified. However, there are certainly earnest needs that can only be noticed by those who are directly affected or have deeply experienced these problems.People can suddenly face serious life challenges like a severe illness or caring for a parent. It's their first time, they don't know what to do, and they have to spend an enormous amount of time and effort gathering information through trial and error.I want to launch a service that organizes reliable information (explicit knowledge) and the voices of those with experience (tacit knowledge) and provides it in a way that anyone can easily access and compare, allowing them to quickly find the necessary solutions. By doing so, I aim for a future where people can recover no matter what life challenges they face. I hope to create a sort of shelter that accepts us when we are feeling down and helps us prepare to start over with renewed energy.From now on, using the small hints gained from my own experience, I want to contribute to social progress by visualizing and quantifying these often-overlooked issues and developing universal solutions. I now feel this strongly.&nbsp;<h3>To You Who Are Hesitating</h3>New challenges are always accompanied by uncertainty and anxiety. It's only natural to hesitate before taking the first step. If you are currently hesitating to try something new, try asking yourself this:"What do I lose by not taking a step?" versus "What do I lose if I take a step and fail?" Which is greater?By asking myself this, my vague anxieties often transform into concrete images, and the path forward becomes clear. If you feel that you would lose more new experiences and possibilities by not taking that step, your heart should naturally lean towards taking the step.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blog_Yu5_a9c2fb7b24.jpg" alt="blog Yu5.jpg">If you can't ignore the "I want to try this" feeling welling up from the bottom of your heart, then muster your courage and take that first step. You might find that a greater reward than you imagined awaits you. And as for what comes after that first step, leave it to your future self.I believe that the me of tomorrow will not betray the me of today. I trust that she will see it through. &nbsp;<hr>Join the Moon Open Workshops! &nbsp;Learn more about the <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/openworkshops?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=post0617&amp;utm_id=blog-yu-sun-202506">program here</a>. &nbsp;2025 Schedule:<ul><li>Summer: 8/21 (Thu) – 22 (Fri)</li><li>Fall: 11/13 (Thu) – 14 (Fri)</li><li>Winter: 2/19 (Thu) – 20 (Fri)</li></ul><figure class="media"><oembed url="https://vimeo.com/1089982366"></oembed></figure>

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<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Rectangle_2199_0162ada77f.png" alt="Rectangle 2199.png">On April 25th, Moon Creative Lab Tokyo hosted “Singapore Innovation Night,” a dynamic community event designed to introduce university students to the startup ecosystem. The evening started with stories from established entrepreneurs and industry leaders, and highlighted the challenges and success of projects between Singapore and Japan.Held at the Spring Terrace Omotesando space, the event welcomed 50+ students, aspiring entrepreneurs, and professionals for community building and inspiring talks.&nbsp;Six distinguished speakers took the stage to share their unique experiences navigating the startup world through a cross-boarders perspective. Among them was Rachel Leng, COO and Co-founder of SeiRogai Inc., who discussed her path from private equity to founding a Tokyo-based startup in media and business consulting. Allan Teng, Founder and Senior Advisor of Workato APAC &amp; Japan, spoke about scaling enterprise software across international markets and emphasized the importance of cultural intelligence in business.Also featured were Dr. Wanping Aw, CEO of TokudAw Inc., whose consultancy provides Japanese destination management services to travelers and business, and Satoshi Yoshida, CEO of GORIL Inc., who combines linguistic science with data visualization to enhance global communication. Shunsuke Katoh, COO of Moon Creative Lab, and Yuki Obata of ISSHO, Inc., rounded out the lineup by offering insider views on fostering innovation within a global organization and building entrepreneurial mindsets.Supported by organizations including the Singapore Chamber of Commerce Japan and the Singapore Global Network, Singapore Innovation Night reinforced the collaborative energy between Japan and Singapore, and highlighted the role of creative hubs like Moon Creative Lab in nurturing the next wave of innovators.Be sure to follow us on <a href="https://peatix.com/group/11677385?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=Singaporeblog&amp;utm_id=Singaporeblog">Peatix</a> for more information on upcoming events.

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<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image_12_e44739f7c4.png" alt="image (12).png">March 8 was International Women’s Day, a day for the world to celebrate women’s achievements. It’s also an opportunity to raise awareness about discrimination and bias, and accelerate action to create a gender-equal, inclusive, and equitable world free of discrimination and stereotypes.At Moon Creative Labs, we celebrated International Women’s Day during the entire month of March with different activities and discussions. Throughout these events, we focused on empowering women: how we can improve representation in leadership roles, tackle gender stereotypes, and better support women in innovation and entrepreneurship.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:6240/4160;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/IWD_1_bb49c8fc2f.png" alt="IWD 1.png" width="6240" height="4160"></figure>To kick off the month-long commemoration, Moon's Tokyo office hosted a workshop that used plastic building bricks, encouraging participants to ideate business innovations focusing on women's empowerment. The workshop was open to the public and encouraged anyone to attend regardless of gender. The 22 participants got into teams and built a physical prototype out of the toy bricks, named their new business, and shared their proposals with everyone. Business ideas ranged from women's healthcare apps to an exclusive community aiming to foster women's confidence in society. The workshop was a lot of fun, and we hope it encouraged participants to get creative and put their ideas into action to make them a reality!<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:512/341;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/IWD_lego_blog_photo_2_6e1bf9712d.png" alt="IWD lego blog photo 2.png" width="512" height="341"></figure><hr>We also held an internal discussion on what women’s empowerment meant to us, and to acknowledge the strong women in our lives. A panel of Moon leaders and team members led the discussion, sharing how women have made an impact on them and their careers. One speaker shared how he realized the power of empathy through working with female entrepreneurs. He witnessed how empathy — especially when approaching heavy topics and situations — along with passion and experience, made others feel seen. Even through small, seemingly trivial actions and details, showing that you truly understand customers and put their needs first can help strengthen your business and its impact. He also suggested that one key theme in creating a more gender-equal workplace — and society — is paying attention to how we each can help others. Being in a leadership position, he has the opportunity to identify others’ strengths and act as a “supportive sounding board.”&nbsp;&nbsp;<blockquote>With inflexible requirements and pressure to remain in a “traditional” role... the advancement of women is greatly hindered.&nbsp;</blockquote>Another leader on the discussion panel said she was pleased to see more female founders throughout the span of her career, particularly when it came to women-centered products and services. “Having a man ‘tell’ us how to solve a problem” in areas that affect and impact women, such as women’s health and wellness or childcare, doesn’t really make sense. When asked how women’s empowerment has changed throughout the years, she recalled often being the only female in a male-dominated corporate world. “I just wanted a seat at the table,” she said, acknowledging how thankful and happy she is to see more women in corporate leadership roles. And how can we continue to see more women in those roles? More flexibility, she said. The key to that is normalizing non-”traditional” home and parental roles. It needs to be more widely accepted that all parents, not just mothers, take responsibility for raising a family, which can be supported by reformed policies like parental leave. Another panelist mentioned that he makes sure to share responsibilities with his wife, remaining flexible to accommodate her needs and decisions. “I prioritize my family and take action to empower my wife and daughters. I ask questions and communicate, and support their decisions. Sharing those responsibilities and staying flexible in your roles as parents are core to empowering and supporting women.”Flexibility with work scheduling and requirements can also help bring more equity to career advancement. For example, leadership roles shouldn’t be heavily dependent on aspects like travel requirements — such demands can hinder women from advancing if it’s perceived that a mother can’t travel due to her assumed responsibility of raising children. With inflexible requirements and pressure to remain in a “traditional” role, like a mother staying home to raise children and not taking on a corporate career, the advancement of women is greatly hindered. Though much progress has been made, there are still significant hurdles in the way. One Moon leader said, “A lot has changed, but there’s a lot of political headwind that slows these things down,” which then led to a brief discussion about the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. “DEI helps the bottom line,” a panelist added.The discussion was insightful and it was great to hear our leaders’ and team mates’ perspectives on women’s empowerment. Hearing their personal stories and how they take action to empower women illustrates how crucial it is for everyone to play a part in advancing gender equality and equity.&nbsp;Key takeaways from the discussion<ul><li>The power of empathy:&nbsp;Making others feel seen and understood creates powerful connections. When we truly see others, we can better understand how we can be supportive.&nbsp;</li><li>Career advancement requires flexibility:&nbsp;To see more diversity in leadership roles, we need to&nbsp;normalize non-traditional gender roles and create equity through flexibility and policy reform.</li><li>Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is critical:&nbsp;Despite progress, gender equality and the advancement of women throughout their careers is still hindered by traditional expectations and political resistance, highlighting the importance of DEI initiatives.</li></ul><hr>Later in the month, Moon Creative Lab, in collaboration with Japanese Women’s Initiative in the Bay Area (JWIBA), hosted an inspiring panel discussion on the challenges and opportunities for women in innovation and entrepreneurship.&nbsp;Beyond Bias: Unleashing Women’s Potential brought together five accomplished women—founders, CEOs, and government consultants—who shared their personal journeys and the obstacles they’ve overcome in their careers.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:4032/3024;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Speaker_panel_2_7466483f5a.png" alt="Speaker panel 2.png" width="4032" height="3024"></figure>The conversation delved into the multifaceted experiences of women in the innovation sector, encompassing a broad spectrum of challenges and triumphs. The panelists candidly shared their personal journeys, highlighting common themes such as the delicate balancing act of raising a family while pursuing a demanding career, the geographical and emotional upheaval of relocation, the continual pursuit of knowledge and skills through education, the decision to pivot careers, the subtle and overt biases that persist in the workplace, and the frustrating experience of being underestimated due to gender.One panelist recounted her decision to leave a prestigious and well-compensated position at a renowned tech company to embark on the uncertain path of entrepreneurship. Her choice was met with skepticism from her family as they struggled to grasp her willingness to relinquish the stability and security of a corporate role. However, rather than succumbing to the doubts, she harnessed the skepticism as a catalyst for her ambition, channeling her energy into creating and building her own venture.The audience engagement was just as powerful. An attendee shared a particularly striking experience: while pitching her business to a male investor, she faced blatant microaggressions. When she stated how much funding she had raised, the investor questioned whether she meant the amount in yen rather than U.S. dollars—implying a condescending disbelief in her financial success.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:4032/3024;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Speaker_panel_1_7791d2b106.png" alt="Speaker panel 1.png" width="4032" height="3024"></figure>Some panelists shared valuable lessons and words of encouragement. One speaker recalled her mother’s advice: “Always be yourself. If you want to do something, do it—no matter what others say.” This sentiment resonated deeply, serving as a reminder that confidence and resilience are just as critical as business acumen when it comes to driving innovation.Panelists also recalled the support they received from others including many men who were mentors and sponsors for them in the workplace. And now, they look to extend that help to other women. “I’m at a point in my career where I think about legacy. What can I do to open the door for other women to walk through and give them the encouragement and support that I at times did not find for myself? What opportunities can I uncover for other women to reach beyond what they thought possible?” one panelist asked.&nbsp;&nbsp;Beyond Bias: Unleashing Women’s Potential wasn’t just a conversation; it was a call to action—a reminder that supporting and championing women in innovation leads to greater creativity, stronger businesses, and a more inclusive future.Key takeaways from the discussion<ul><li>Resilience is essential: Success often comes with setbacks, and overcoming doubt—whether from family, investors, or society—is part of the journey.</li><li>Bias still exists, but it shouldn’t define you:&nbsp;From microaggressions to deeply ingrained societal expectations, the barriers are real, but they are also surmountable.</li><li>Innovation requires authenticity: Staying true to your vision and values is crucial in entrepreneurship and leadership.</li><li>Community matters: Spaces like this event create networks of support, mentorship, and shared learning that help drive change.</li></ul>Though March was an opportunity to commemorate International Women’s Day and Month, we know that achieving gender equality and diminishing discrimination and bias requires continuous effort. We look forward to holding more events and activities like these where we can continue the dialogue on gender equality and equity, and build even stronger opportunities for women in leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation.&nbsp;

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To celebrate the end of the Boost Summer '24 cohort, on Dec. 3, Moon’s Tokyo Studio held a "Boost Pitch &amp; Connect" event where 13 ventures - 2 online and 11 in person - presented their businesses to an audience of 60 guests including VCs, startups, and organizations such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and JETRO. The event was followed by networking time to deepen the exchange.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Boost_348e28871a.png" alt="Boost.png">&nbsp;<h3>Looking back on the pitch</h3><ol><li>ijo – Developing seaweed-based bioplastic products and bio-stimulants to promote vegetable growth at high quality vegetables and low cost.</li><li>Polls – Automate the creation of survey question branches for efficiency and promote consistency in responses. Conduct regular observations of employees makes sure their alignment with company goals.</li><li>KiFor – Facilitate collaboration between charities and organizations engaged in SDGs. Work with educational institutions to connect them with job training to expand their workforce.</li><li>Growth Watcher – Provides use of satellite data to monitor the growing environment of vegetables in order to facilitate the transition to the cultivation of alternative crops against the environmental changes.</li><li>BooksPetal – A platform that makes it easy for students to purchase and sell books on demand. The company designs a unique system in which the amount of money is determined by weight.</li><li>HomeTrimmer – Provides trimming services at pet owners' homes, ensuring the safety of pets &amp; the peace of mind of owners while also creating an improved working environment for trimmers.</li><li>Grouping – Facilitates social interaction by matching groups of three. More casual and dynamic, and monetizes by directing users to partner restaurants. Free for both genders.</li><li>Krip – Aggregates promotions, discounts and deals from credit cards providers and financial services, easily accessible to consumers and partners from their app and APIs.</li><li>DROP System – Provides a platform that centralizes different loyalty programs offered by companies, allowing users to use them without worrying about expiration.</li><li>CACARU – Provides a platform for a university’s physicians to search for specialists and clinics to refer patients to, send referral letters, and make appointments in one place.</li><li>Robot ATTA! – A matching website with a collection of use cases for companies considering robot implementation. Focuses on the central concern: the feasibility of implementation on site.</li><li>Kutoon – Subscription-based rental of children shoes, with home-delivery. Shoes are collected, cleaned and reused after the children outgrow them.</li><li>MEs – Develop a virtual space dedicated to creative teams, to capture, catalogue and visualize data in a 3D environment, breaking the boundaries of standard productivity tools.</li></ol><a href="https://share.hsforms.com/1xfbn-6k6Q3GsIa1jMxWUcwcxaid?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog1218&amp;utm_id=blog1218">&gt;&gt; Register "Boost"</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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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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<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:25%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:526/665;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image1_2_f9a19e996c.png" alt="image1 2.png" width="526" height="665"></figure>Author: Serene Li, is a Moon Entrepreneur-In-Residence (EIR) from Mitsui Singapore. She joined the Boost program in 2024 with the goal of solving the problem of creating sustainable exercise habits for long-term health benefits. Here is what she experienced at Moon on her entrepreneurial journey.<hr>"Do I need to wait for instructions to start interviewing users?""What are the safest choices to go with?"&nbsp;"Should I wait for Moon's approval for my next concept design plan?"&nbsp;These questions frequently popped up during my early days exploring startup ideas at Moon Creative Lab. They appeared naturally from my corporate-employee mindset. I felt anxious when I realized I no longer had the "safety net" of a manager or senior colleague providing clear instructions and guidance, unlike my previous role at Mitsui &amp; Co.Letting go of this employee mindset wasn't easy. It took courage to take charge of my own plan and execution for the idea. Adjusting to this mindset took time, but it felt necessary because I wanted to see if I could bring my startup idea into reality.In the <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/boost">Boost program</a>, I researched, designed, tested, learned, and adapted continually to deepen my understanding about the market and customers, and considered other factors such as industry trends, on-going innovation, available government support and many more. This constant iteration is essential to drive the idea forward.One of the most important principles that shaped my entrepreneurial mindset is Design Thinking. The problem serves as our compass — whether designing, testing, or connecting with stakeholders, keeping the problem statement in mind has prevented me from pursuing creative concepts that don't effectively solve the problem.&nbsp;<h3>Focus on ends, not means</h3>When I started my entrepreneurial journey, my purpose was to help people develop sustainable exercise habits for their health. I tested a few ideas and struggled to grasp users’ interest in relation to their problem.Later, I moved on to test the next idea: an app that curates audio playlists for users to use while running.&nbsp; I developed a prototype to keep people motivated to run by providing them with stimulating music synced to their heartbeat, interesting, location-specific information, and random fun facts while they are running. However, I was too obsessed with the concept of the playlist, and the problem solving became secondary. Eventually, I realized that providing the curated content was not the means necessary to the problem I really wanted to solve. It was difficult, but I was able to step back and refocus on the important issues.&nbsp; It was a wake-up call that reminded me to stay focused on “solving the right problem.”My key learning in the <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/boost">Boost program</a> has been the importance of staying open-minded and agile. To gather feedback, I've initiated conversations with Moon employees, target users, and even strangers. It was initially challenging for myself as an introvert, but pushing past my shyness and being open-minded have led to unexpected insights and inspiration.&nbsp;&nbsp;For example, I have noticed that asking open-ended questions such as “What approach do you think would work best?” or “How do you identify your exercise motivation from time to time?” and listening closely without jumping to conclusions or imposing my own opinions, has helped me build stronger connections with target users. Those connections have encouraged them to continuously share deeper thoughts about their personal exercise experiences, useful articles, and fitness trends, and even helped to discover an innovative market player that addressed the habit-creation problem with a different approach. Such enthusiastic sharing from target users has quickly deepened my understanding about the market and fueled innovation.The process of concept brainstorming and selection, developing the prototypes, reaching out to people, learning from user-testing, and iterating the concept (mostly on my own with some support from Moon) requires much agility. Staying flexible and adapting quickly without being overly attached to the concept allowed me to refocus on the core mission, which is to solve users’ problems.&nbsp;<h3>View risk as an opportunity for growth</h3>Developing an entrepreneurial mindset has opened a new world to me. I've transformed from someone who avoided risks into someone who embraces them as opportunities for growth. While this journey isn't about becoming the next Steve Jobs or Mark Zuckerberg, it's a transformative experience that's helping me — and those around me — become more innovative, inspiring, and empathetic in both work and life.If I could share one piece of advice: Don't wait until you feel ready, because you never will. Embrace the uncertainty of growth and you'll discover you're capable of more than you ever imagined!&nbsp;Author: Serene Li EIR at Moon, from Mitsui &amp; Co.(Asia Pacific) Pte. Ltd.

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<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:800/534;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/54123221287_a09013fbf4_c_6bd4f768e7.jpg" alt="54123221287_a09013fbf4_c.jpg" width="800" height="534"><figcaption>Photo courtesy of @design.bayarea and RVSF.co @rvsf.inc.</figcaption></figure>In October, Moon Creative Lab hosted&nbsp;<a href="https://designpaloalto.org/about/">Design Palo Alto</a> — a series of events for industry professionals focused on Innovation, Architecture, Tech, Startups, Ventures, Art, and more. The multiday series took place across various locations in Palo Alto and Stanford, California, featuring panel discussions, presentations, and tours of studios and homes.&nbsp;&nbsp;The event, held at Moon’s Palo Alto studio, kicked off with a thought-provoking discussion on "Design Meets Venture Capital," featuring Bill Burnett, Executive Director of the Life Design Lab at Stanford and co-author of the New York Times bestseller,&nbsp;Designing Your Life, alongside Tara Tan from Strange Ventures. They explored the evolving interplay between design, innovation, and investment, sharing insights from their extensive experiences with founders, tech giants, and investors over the years. “Their reflections brought in a diverse audience we were grateful for,” shared Peter Antonelli, Moon’s Global Head of Design. “The audience was very engaged, and we made a lot of great new connections!”&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:800/534;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/54123221722_845083edc5_c_307cbd082a.jpg" alt="54123221722_845083edc5_c.jpg" width="800" height="534"><figcaption>Photo courtesy of @design.bayarea and RVSF.co @rvsf.inc.</figcaption></figure>Following “Design Meets Venture Capital,” Peter presented&nbsp;<a href="https://designpaloalto.org/event/adaptive-by-design/">Adaptive by Design</a>, where he discussed Moon's human-centered design philosophy and how it shapes the products, services, and experiences we develop. “At Moon, design and entrepreneurship are highly symbiotic. Particularly with our early founders, design helps unlock emergent ideas by translating them into tangible, user-facing provocations, which in turn helps shape the path forward. Conversely, entrepreneurs often bring a holistic perspective that provides the essential constraints for design to thrive,” he says.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:800/534;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/54123220167_d50047981f_c_06e447830e.jpg" alt="54123220167_d50047981f_c.jpg" width="800" height="534"><figcaption>Photo courtesy of @design.bayarea and RVSF.co @rvsf.inc.</figcaption></figure>Moon’s Chief Creative Officer, Mike Peng, then took the stage to elaborate on how we apply design in diverse ways to unlock value within Moon and in collaboration with founders. “Design to me is all about intention. It's about taking the time to think through what experience you want people to have and then executing it to the best of your ability," Mike says. "Whether it's our space, our programs, or how we communicate to the world, we want to make sure it feels very Moon — and that's why design is so important to all of us."&nbsp;This insightful event allowed us to engage deeply with the design community and offer them a sneak peek of Moon’s innovative projects. “Hosting events like Design Palo Alto lets us share Moon’s culture and initiate new conversations, opening doors to valuable future collaborations,” Peter explains.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:800/534;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/54124067071_c199a43a7b_c_443918dd52.jpg" alt="54124067071_c199a43a7b_c.jpg" width="800" height="534"><figcaption>Photo courtesy of @design.bayarea and RVSF.co @rvsf.inc.</figcaption></figure>New collaborations and connections are a current focus of Moon Creative Lab, particularly for our new incubation program, Moon In-Residence. “One of our main goals is to bring even more creative energy to our Palo Alto studio through our Moon In–Residence program, which is designed to help entrepreneurs push their ventures to the next level,” Peter adds. With industry events like this one, Moon aims to bring the entrepreneur and startup communities together to create meaningful interactions that inspire creativity, diverse perspectives, and innovation.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:800/534;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/54124523425_af3402bed1_c_45df758931.jpg" alt="54124523425_af3402bed1_c.jpg" width="800" height="534"><figcaption>Photo courtesy of @design.bayarea and RVSF.co @rvsf.inc.</figcaption></figure>To learn more about Moon’s In-Residence program and how you can get hands-on help and support for your venture,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/in-residence">check out our website</a>.If you’d like to collaborate and host an event or workshop with Moon, reach out to us with <a href="https://share.hsforms.com/1u98RYOcPTfefjoRhgX-xewcxaid">this form</a>.&nbsp;

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<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:4000/4000;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Luma_final_3f4005f343.png" alt="Luma final.png" width="4000" height="4000"></figure>In October, Moon Creative Lab held its first Founder Focus event, which spotlights some of the ventures incubating at Moon as part of the Moon In-Residence program.<a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/in-residence">Moon In-Residence</a> (MIR) is Moon’s incubation program based in Palo Alto, California. The program offers entrepreneurs and founders the support they need for their venture, including project space, advisory from experts in design, engineering, product, and more, tools and software, and other hands-on help they need to gain traction in their market.This first Founder Focus event, held at Moon’s Palo Alto studio, showcased three ventures from the MIR program: Amotions AI, deCH.at, and Imagined. Each venture team presented their business to a crowd, discussing not only their venture but also the work they’ve been doing at Moon. Each presentation concluded with a Q&amp;A session with the audience, where founders were asked thoughtful questions and offered feedback. &nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1024/768;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/David_851bc192ea.png" alt="David.png" width="1024" height="768"></figure><h3>Getting New Perspectives&nbsp;</h3>Events like this are opportunities for founders to present their business to new audiences, getting fresh eyes and perspectives on their pitch. David Fernandez Vinuales founded deCh.at, a tool that helps businesses scale their customer engagement using AI. David, an experienced founder and presenter, has pitched his ventures to crowds of thousands of people. Whether the audience is of one or one thousand, he believes getting new eyes on pitch presentations helps founders see things they might otherwise be blind to. “You need to get different eyes on your presentation or product because as a founder, you get deep into the grass with your product and there are some things you can’t see yourself, so having other perspectives helps you improve,” David says.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:5244/4542;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/dollar_4bf6b0546e.png" alt="dollar.png" width="5244" height="4542"></figure><h3>Connecting Through Storytelling</h3>Storytelling, which is a large part of building a venture, also comes through in pitches. Dollar Zhu and Jack Wang are the founding team of <a href="https://imagined.framer.ai/">Imagined</a>, which helps aspiring professionals navigate their career. Since they’ve been in the MIR program, they have pivoted with their business, which happens often in the venture-building journey, and was a significant part of their storytelling. “As founders, it is always helpful to hone our storytelling skills through these presentations; each occasion to present is an opportunity to reflect and iterate on our vision… For us specifically, since we are at an earlier stage and recently made a pivot from virtual campus tours to helping people navigate their careers, this event encouraged us to build a strong foundation in storytelling,” Dollar says.<blockquote>"Each occasion to present is an opportunity to reflect and iterate on our vision."-Dollar Zhu, cofounder, Imagined</blockquote> Improving storytelling was also something deCh.at’s founder learned through his presentation. “It was nice to get feedback from the audience. It allowed me to see where I could improve, such as telling a better story for people to connect to in addition to the product itself,” David added.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:2100/1500;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/pianpian_4d9d0fecc6.png" alt="pianpian.png" width="2100" height="1500"></figure><h3>Hearing From the Audience</h3>But perhaps the most helpful aspect of a pitch presentation is the Q&amp;A that happens after the pitch. Questions from the audience can be challenging, but that often leads to finding the holes in a pitch, helping founders realize what’s missing or what can be improved. Pianpian Guthrie, founder of <a href="https://www.amotionsinc.com/">Amotions AI,</a> which improves productivity for employees with personalized AI coaching and support, was able to get helpful insight and make new connections. “I got some excellent and thoughtful questions from the audience, and met some people interested in our space. For example, someone who worked as a salesperson and thought the AI coaching product we are building for sales people could be very helpful.”David from deCh.at also finds great value in Q&amp;A sessions, acknowledging the importance of audience engagement. “I want to make sure people are engaged and I want them to ask questions. Questions help improve my product and see where I need improvement or see the problem in a different perspective, or confirm my hypotheses with the product,” he says. &nbsp;<blockquote>"As a founder, you get deep into the grass with your product and there are some things you can’t see yourself."&nbsp;-David Fernandez Vinuales, founder, deCh.at</blockquote>Like the other founders, the Imagined team also got a lot from the conversations they had with event attendees. “After the talk, we engaged with a diverse audience in thought-provoking conversations. One notable example is a data scientist who raised questions about the ways we can collect data on educational opportunities so that we can offer a tailored experience to aspiring professionals. We walked away from that conversation with more insights into the data-collection strategy and an introduction to a labor-data analysis group at Stanford!”&nbsp;This event was just the first of more Founder Focus events to come. If you’d like to be invited to events like this and others at Moon Creative Lab, be sure to <a href="https://share.hsforms.com/1OHQANbcgR9q4ky5Q4M6wMQcxaid ">subscribe to our mailing list</a>.Are you a founder or have an idea for a new business? Learn more about the Moon In-Residence program and apply <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/in-residence">here</a>. &nbsp;

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<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:2550/3300;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/havier_blog_b6c53fccc0.jpg" alt="havier-blog.jpg" width="2550" height="3300"></figure>Author: Javier Mata is a workshop designer and facilitator specializing in learning development and instructional design. With extensive experience creating both in-person and digital content for HRD and MBA programs, he also led a team developing digital content for a business microlearning platform within the corporate arm of a leading organization known for its MBA programs, corporate education, and venture capital initiatives. Passionate about fostering growth and innovation, he engages participants at Moon through dynamic, hands-on learning experiences that drive real-world impact. His interests lie in business innovation, design, and strategy.<hr>“Are you a Monday person or a Friday person?”That was a question posed by Dr. Paris de L’Etraz, Managing Director of the Venture Lab at IE Business School, during my MBA. He explained that Monday people leap out of bed, excited to take on the week, while Friday people count down the days until the weekend. That question stuck with me.Over time, as I worked with entrepreneurs and innovators, I found myself shifting from a Friday person to a Monday person. What made the difference? It was ikigai—the Japanese concept of finding your “reason for being.” During my MBA, we focused a lot on frameworks like ikigai. I discovered in the process that my mission lies in designing impactful learning experiences for entrepreneurs in Japan and beyond.For early-stage entrepreneurs,&nbsp;ikigai isn’t just about personal fulfillment—it’s a practical tool for identifying meaningful problems to solve. Let’s explore how ikigai can guide your entrepreneurial journey and help you focus on challenges that truly matter.&nbsp;<h3>The Cultural Roots of Ikigai: More Than Just Unicorn Chasing</h3>In Japan, ikigai isn’t about becoming a billionaire overnight chasing the next unicorn. It’s more about finding the balance between the small, everyday joys and your contributions to society. Think of it as the antidote to burnout: you’re still hustling, but with heart and soul, not just caffeine and all-nighters.In the West, ikigai often gets hyped up as the “one true purpose” you must find, as if you’re on a treasure hunt for a magical career. Spoiler alert: it’s not that dramatic. The Japanese approach is much more grounded—about gradually integrating joy, purpose, and responsibility. Understanding this makes ikigai way more approachable, especially for entrepreneurs who might feel the weight of building the “perfect” business. Spoiler #2: there’s no perfect, just progress.&nbsp;<h3>Case Studies:&nbsp;</h3>To see how ikigai can play out in real life, we can look at two entrepreneurs who built meaningful businesses rooted in purpose.Yvon Chouinard, Founder of Patagonia – Where Passion Meets Profit<figure class="image image-style-side image_resized" style="width:25%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:400/580;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Ivon_36795d64c9.jpg" alt="Ivon.jpg" width="400" height="580"><figcaption><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yvon_Chouinard_by_Tom_Frost.jpg">A photo of Yvon Chouinard by Tom Frost</a></figcaption></figure>Yvon Chouinard didn’t start Patagonia with dollar signs in his eyes. He just wanted to make rock-climbing gear that wouldn’t fall apart. His love for nature and talent for crafting quality outdoor products guided him. The profits? They came second. By staying true to his values, Patagonia evolved into a pioneer in sustainable business.Chouinard didn’t just build a brand—he reshaped consumerism. Patagonia’s “Don’t Buy This Jacket” campaign didn’t push products; it pushed a mindset centered on purpose and environmental activism. By finding the sweet spot where passion, profit, and societal impact meet, Chouinard embodied ikigai—and changed the game.&nbsp;Yoshiharu Hoshino, CEO of Hoshino Resorts – Tradition Meets Innovation<figure class="image image-style-side image_resized" style="width:25%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1200/1200;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Hoshino_56e54f93d5.jpeg" alt="Hoshino.jpeg" width="1200" height="1200"><figcaption><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yoshiharu_Hoshino.JPG">A photo of Yoshiharu Hoshino</a></figcaption></figure>Yoshiharu Hoshino didn’t just inherit a family business—he transformed it in a fiercely competitive market. As global hotel chains poured into Japan, reshaping the hospitality industry with foreign investment, Hoshino faced a challenge: how to preserve Japanese culture while competing with these international brands. Instead of following the foreign model, he doubled down on Japan’s rich traditions, evolving his family’s century-old hot spring resort into a globally recognized luxury brand.His approach wasn’t about resisting change but about weaving innovation into the fabric of tradition. By embracing modern travelers’ needs without losing sight of Japan’s cultural heritage, Hoshino not only survived but thrived. His journey is an embodiment of ikigai—where passion, skill, and purpose align to create something meaningful and sustainable, even in the face of fierce competition.&nbsp;<h3>Using Ikigai to Find the Right Problem for Your Startup</h3><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:600/600;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Diagramo_de_Ikigajo_en_svg_e0f6855683.png" alt="Diagramo_de_Ikigajo_-en.svg.png" width="600" height="600"><figcaption><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diagramo_de_Ikigajo_-en.svg">Image of finding the IKIGAI by Eugenio Hansen, OFS</a></figcaption></figure>Ikigai isn’t just about personal fulfillment; it can be used as a roadmap for identifying business problems worth solving. By breaking down four key elements—Passion, Profession, Mission, and Vocation—you can spot a problem that resonates with you and has real market potential.&nbsp; Let’s break it down:&nbsp;<h4>1. What You Love (Passion)</h4>Passion is what keeps you going when things get tough—and trust me, they will get tough. The more you care about the problem, the more likely you are to stay motivated.What you can do: Make a list of industries, causes, or issues that get you fired up. Love technology? Maybe dive into problems in AI, privacy, or digital ethics. Passionate about sustainability? You could consider gaps in renewable energy or waste management. Focus on problems you’d be excited to tackle every day—because if you’re not motivated, you’ll probably move on to something else the second things get hard.<h4>2. What You’re Good At (Profession)</h4>Passion’s great, but solving problems requires expertise. Enthusiasm alone won’t get the job done—you need the skills to make it happen.What you can do: Map out your core competencies. If you’re a data whiz, maybe there’s an opportunity in analytics or finance. If you’re a designer, you could consider solving problems in usability or innovation. Match the problem to your skills,&nbsp;so you’re not just offering ideas but real, workable solutions.<h4>3. What the World Needs (Mission)</h4>A great problem is one the world is practically begging for a solution to. Being passionate and skilled is fantastic, but if the problem isn’t relevant, it’s going nowhere.What you can do: Talk to potential users and uncover their biggest frustrations. What gaps do they see? If people are saying, “Yes, please fix this,” you’re on the right track. Focus on problems with a clear demand for change.&nbsp;The more urgent the need, the more likely a solution will succeed.<h4>4. What You Can Be Paid For (Vocation)</h4>Lastly, if no one is willing to pay for your solution, it’s a hobby, not a business. You need a clear path to monetization..What you can do: Look into the market—are customers willing to pay for a solution? Is there a growing need? Whether through subscriptions, one-time purchases, or services, it needs to make money. Focus on problems that not only resonate with your skills and passion but also have a clear path to revenue.&nbsp;<h3>Conclusion: Using Ikigai to Find the Right Problem</h3>The ikigai framework isn’t just a tool for personal fulfillment; it can be a strategic method for finding meaningful, solvable problems that have real market demand. As you embark on this journey, remember that aligning your work with your purpose will sustain you through the ups and downs, helping you stay grounded in what truly matters.So, what are you waiting for? The world—and your next great business idea—are waiting for your ikigai to emerge.<hr> Moon Creative Lab offers several programs to support startups. If you are interested in transforming your own business idea and growth, please check out the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=CTA241023&amp;utm_id=storytelling+by+javier">top page</a>.

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<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blog_anna_2_837cd2adad.jpg" alt="blog anna (2).jpg">Moon Creative Lab, in collaboration with Mitsui &amp; Co., HR &amp; General Affairs division, proudly participated in Mitsui’s 2024 Mission, Vision, Values + Diversity &amp; Inclusion (MVV + D&amp;I) Month initiatives. This is our second time collaborating with Mitsui &amp; Co., to promote D&amp;I at the company on a wide scale. Our mission was to enhance inclusion for Mitsui’s global workforce, culminating in a highly successful MVV + D&amp;I workshop conducted in both English and Japanese.With over 400 participants joining from around the globe, the workshop focused on the theme of "surprising commonalities" to build relationships and foster unity within our diverse teams.&nbsp;<h3>The Power of Commonality in Diversity and Inclusion</h3>While recognizing and embracing our differences is essential in any discussion about diversity and inclusion, we decided to highlight the often-overlooked power of commonalities. By discovering unexpected similarities, we aimed to break down psychological barriers and enhance empathy among colleagues, ultimately encouraging collaboration.For example, finding out in conversation that they have a dog of the same breed can bring them closer together. It reminds people that there are many more commonalities than people think. This ultimately contributes to building psychological safety that allows people to actively express their opinions and share ideas, leading to better team performance.&nbsp;<h3>Engaging and Inclusive Workshop Design</h3>In our interactive exercise, participants were randomly divided into groups of four and tasked with uncovering surprising commonalities for 15 minutes. To spark conversations, we encouraged everyone to share unique experiences, hobbies, and aspects of their lives. Some talked about their hidden talents, introduced unusual hobbies, or said they are actually afraid of something! This approach worked very well with participants who were meeting each other for the first time and led to many different discoveries.&nbsp;<h3>Discovering Unique Connections</h3><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image2_0d5a3c4f0e.jpg" alt="image2.jpg">The results were remarkable. Participants uncovered a wide range of surprising commonalities, such as:&nbsp;- A shared fear of heights. - Having all four wisdom teeth removed. - Growing up with three siblings. - Experiencing bee stings. - Losing baggage at airports.<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>Positive Feedback and Future Applications</h3>Feedback from the survey was overwhelmingly positive, with comments like:&nbsp;- “I enjoyed connecting with colleagues across the world.” - “Language does not matter when finding commonalities.” - “Discovering commonalities helped me connect with people quickly.”&nbsp;The enthusiasm didn’t stop there. We received numerous requests for workshop materials from participants eager to replicate the activity within their own teams. Recognizing the value of this exercise, we created a toolkit that is now available exclusively for all Mitsui &amp; Co., employees to ensure everyone has access to this powerful method of fostering inclusion.&nbsp;I tested this activity with my core team and co-facilitator before the workshop. When my co-facilitator and I discovered we both had accidentally stapled our fingers before, and members of my team and I had all eaten crocodile, the process of finding a surprising commonality was a fascinating experience. It made me realize that even with our diverse backgrounds, we still share unexpected similarities. Finding these unique things in common helped me feel more connected to my team and built empathy within the group.&nbsp;<h3>Conclusion</h3>Our MVV + D&amp;I workshop demonstrated that finding common ground, even in the most surprising ways, can be a simple yet powerful tool for promoting inclusion and unity. By continuing to explore and embrace our shared experiences, we can build stronger, more empathetic teams across our global organization.&nbsp;Moon Creative Lab has been striving to be the leading company that thrives on D&amp;I, and we hope that we can continue to make positive contributions to Mitsui &amp; Co., and beyond. Moon’s studio in Omotesando, Tokyo also hosts various events, so please&nbsp;<a href="https://share.hsforms.com/1OHQANbcgR9q4ky5Q4M6wMQcxaid">subscribe to our newsletter</a> and check our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/moon-creative-lab">LinkedIn</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/stories/page/1">Moon Stories Blog</a> and for updates.&nbsp;Author: Anna Hiraoka - Senior Learning and Development Specialist

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<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Design_x_AI_featured_image_f9a7ab1683.jpg" alt="Design x AI featured image.jpg">In August, Moon held its very first series of Design x AI Workshops at both our Tokyo and Palo Alto studios. These workshops are designed to help understand and utilize emerging AI technologies to build stronger, more creative business ideas.&nbsp;&nbsp;For these first two workshops, participants gathered in person at Moon’s studio in Tokyo or Palo Alto. The day started with our Design x AI team covering the fundamentals of LLMs, including its strengths and weaknesses, and discussing the ethics surrounding the use of generative AI. Participants then learned how to use AI beyond the back-and-forth prompting of chatbots, building their own complex LLM systems that they can use in their work.&nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Design_x_AI_Nic_3145b233a8.jpg" alt="Design x AI Nic.jpg">Some of the participants were completely new to learning about and working with AI, while others seemed to be more familiar with it. But regardless of their AI knowledge, everyone was eager to learn and build. Lots of conversations even continued after the workshop was over, filling our studios with lively discussions and insightful perspectives.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I liked that there were so many opportunities to ask questions and develop a really good understanding of the content. The presented content was very clear and simple, and at the same time, it became clear through the answers that Nic and Daniel [facilitators] were really knowledgeable far beyond what they presented,” said one participant in the Palo Alto workshop.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Design_x_AI_Rika_a47694e804.jpg" alt="Design x AI Rika.jpg">Some participants were very focused on taking what they learned about LLMs and applying that to the specific needs of their company’s department. “In each workshop, the group experienced an ‘aha’ moment: a moment where they understood that LLMs are statistical models, trained on the Internet, that predict the next word in a sequence of words. For many participants, understanding this technical fact and considering how it impacted the utility of LLMs as tools was a huge unlock,” said&nbsp;<a href="mailto:nic@mooncreativelab.com">Nic Schumann</a>, Moon engineer and workshop facilitator.&nbsp;“Our premise for the workshops was that understanding – even in broad terms – how LLM’s work, helps designers and business-builders make much better informed decisions about where to apply the technology and where not to,” Nic added.&nbsp;Of course, the AI landscape is rapidly evolving with new tools and technologies being introduced constantly. With Moon’s Design x AI Workshops, we can learn and explore these new resources together and apply them to better, more innovative business creation.&nbsp;<a href="https://share.hsforms.com/1viPhBVoDSl6EqouYB4Ckhwcxaid">Stay connected</a> to receive updates on more workshops and events to come.&nbsp;

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News and Insights - Page 3

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