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Moon Creative Lab

Join Moon’s one week, in-person, business-building Make-a-Thon in Tokyo.

Explore Moon’s Tokyo-based foundation-building program, Learning Labs.

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Explore Moon’s Tokyo–based incubation program, Boost.

Explore Moon’s Palo Alto–based incubation program, In–Residence.

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About

<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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<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/DSCF_5011_1_d8360298c0.jpg" alt="DSCF5011 1.jpg">On September 3, 2024, the Moon Creative Lab Tokyo Studio in Omotesando buzzed with energy as the 5-day Spark program culminated in the exhilarating “Make-a-thon” event. 46 innovators from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Germany, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Malaysia came together to bring 36 groundbreaking business ideas to life, working both individually and in teams. They captivated visitors as they pitched their ventures, each presentation showcasing a unique innovative vision for a new business idea.  Spark isn't just a program—it's a melting pot of challenges and ideas from all over Japan and the world, consistently producing a rich tapestry of innovative solutions every time it's held. When we asked a representative from a renowned company—who continually encourages their employees to participate—what keeps them coming back, they shared, “Because the ideas here are always beyond the ordinary.”  This is the magic of Spark: it brings together a mosaic of perspectives to push boundaries and reimagine what's possible. Facilitators at each table witnessed participants stepping boldly out of their comfort zones, embracing invaluable feedback from peers, and refining their business models with newfound insight. The diversity here didn't just ignite innovation; it forged meaningful connections and collaborations that promise to extend far beyond the program itself.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Group_2215_cec0819bc6.jpg" alt="Group 2215.jpg">What groundbreaking ideas and startups will emerge next from the up-and-coming entrepreneurs nurtured here? Stay tuned! And of course, we warmly invite you to participate in the program yourself.&nbsp;<h3>Join the Next Spark</h3>Spark is Moon's practical 1-week intensive program for 0 to 1 business creation. Participants from various regions, industries, companies, and departments come together to participate in a dynamic program to develop their business ideas. Participants are divided into several groups to quickly shape their ideas through a mix of self-driven work, lectures, and advice from facilitators. In the end they pitch their ideas using a landing page created with no-code tools. The next Spark will be held May 14-20. Please check the registration page for details.&nbsp;<a href="https://share.hsforms.com/1npsWnu58T1a_EJzXt4AAvQcxaid?utm_source=Intranet_0925&amp;utm_medium=post0925&amp;utm_id=spark_report_0925">&gt;&gt; Apply to Next Spark</a><a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/spark?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=post0925en&amp;utm_id=spark_report_0925">&gt;&gt; Visit Spark Page</a><a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/stories/spark-202405?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=post0925en&amp;utm_id=spark_report_0925">&gt;&gt; Report of Spark Spring 2024</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/SPARK_GRAPHICS_GRADIENT_1_03240b9c37.png" alt="SPARK_GRAPHICS_GRADIENT (1).png">

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<figure class="media"><oembed url="https://vimeo.com/950982923?share=copy"></oembed></figure>28 ventures have been selected to participate in the second cohort of Boost, a business support program offered by Moon Creative Lab.Boost is an intensive 3 month program that provides early-stage startups with support for business expansion from Moon's experts in a variety of fields. After participating in the program, businesses will also have the opportunity to pitch to Moon's investment committee for funding. In the first cohort of the program, a total of 16 startups from 10 countries participated. This year's program similarly attracted a variety of startups from Japan and abroad who underwent a rigorous screening and interview process.&nbsp;<h3>From Individual Entrepreneurs</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.babiew.com/">Babiew</a></li></ul>Baby products review &amp; ranking website with purchase option. Founder is Lina Kaneki.<ul><li><a href="https://www.baskit.app/">Baskit</a></li></ul>Help distribution businesses grow with financing &amp; technology. Founder is Yann Schuermans.<ul><li><a href="https://lightroads.co.jp/campusreach.html">Campus Reach</a></li></ul>Internship and career orientation app for university students across Japan. Founder is Ken Taniuchi.<ul><li><a href="https://cofilm.id/">Cofilm</a></li></ul>Health-conscious vegan snacks, gummy vitamins as first product. Founder is Royyan Wafi Pujiyanto.<ul><li><a href="https://drivejapan.co.jp/">Drive Japan Inc.</a></li></ul>Simplifies road trips planning in rural Japan for tourists. Founder is Takujiro Oto.<ul><li><a href="https://educourse.id/">Educourse.id</a></li></ul>Help teachers simplify STEM courses, track and manage them. Founder is Mutiara Hikma Mahendradatta.<ul><li>FitVit</li></ul>Health-conscious vegan snacks, gummy vitamins as first product. Founder is Siward Ludin.<ul><li>Furious Green</li></ul>Advanced AI technology training and consulting services. Founder is Francisco Dalla Rosa Soares.<ul><li>LESS &amp; CO</li></ul>Beers made from surplus bread and sodas made from fruit &amp; vegetables loss. Founder is Travinder Singh.<ul><li><a href="https://www.loovic.co.jp/">LOOVIC</a></li></ul>Guide/navigate visitors in local environments, voice-based. Founder is Toru Yamanaka.<ul><li><a href="https://www.mallsampah.com/">Mallsampah</a></li></ul>Circular economy tech provider, digitizing the traditional collection system. Founder is Adi Saifullah Putra.<ul><li><a href="https://mechlynx.com/">Mechlynx</a></li></ul>Small bicycle shop management platform with logistics capabilities. Founder is Jordan Scott.<ul><li><a href="https://www.menopeer.com/">Menopeer</a></li></ul>Menstrual &amp; symptom tracker app and at home hormone test kit. Founder is Kotoko Kimura.<ul><li><a href="https://www.moovby.com/jp/en/">Moovby</a></li></ul>Car-sharing marketplace where drivers can book cars from owners. Founder is Nik Muhammad Amin.<ul><li><a href="https://mycl.bio/">MYCL</a></li></ul>Eco-friendly and high-performance mycelium leather. Founder is Adi Reza Nugroho.<ul><li><a href="https://www.neufast.com/">Neufast</a></li></ul>AI video interview for screeners and mock interviews. Founder is Agnes Wun.<ul><li><a href="https://qocolor.jp/">Qocolor</a></li></ul>Project management tool for freelancers juggling multiple projects. Founder is Reina Stott.<ul><li><a href="https://www.qolaba.ai/">Qolaba</a></li></ul>Multimodal gen-AI ecosystem with content management and monetization. Founder is Prakhar Aggarwal.<ul><li><a href="https://medical-literacy.com/runners-dock/">Runners Dock</a></li></ul>Running assistant with risk factor alerts and feedback. Founder is Shuhei Kobayashi.<ul><li><a href="https://sellou.com/">Sellou</a></li></ul>Short-form video-based marketplace for local products. Founder is Salman Aljimeely.<ul><li><a href="Lokasoka.com">SnapTap</a></li></ul>Custom gift marketplace via smartphone keyboard extension app. Founder is Tito Guntur Safirda.<ul><li><a href="https://tekeya.io/">Tekeya Global</a></li></ul>Marketplace for food products close to expiration date, at discounted prices. Founder is Maxim Haartsen.&nbsp;<h3>Entrepreneurs From Mitsui</h3><ul><li>VitalGrit</li></ul>Personalized fitness content platform with qualified trainers. Founder is Serene Li.&nbsp;<ul><li>V-bay</li></ul>Online auction platform focused on imported used car from Japan. Founder is Noreen Nawaz.<ul><li>Buddy</li></ul>Supports expats new to Japan with onboarding and professional networking. Founder is Maryam Fallah.&nbsp;<h3>Ideas and Startups From Mitsui Business Units (BUs)</h3><ul><li>Robot As A Service</li></ul>Fully automated robotics hands for food manufacturing and processing. Founder is Kurata Miyashita.&nbsp;<ul><li>Agritech</li></ul>Agritech is a sensor tech for improving their productivity toward sustainable farming. Team includes Alberto Takayama and Yoshihiro Katsuyama from the Mobility I &amp; II &amp; Food BU.<ul><li><a href="https://www.marimari.eco/en/about">Marimari</a></li></ul>Waste recycling service for residents and brands in Greater Jakarta. Founder is Aris Munandar who was a previous Spark participant and encouraged to apply to our Boost program. Munandar joins us from the Mitsui Indonesia BU.<hr>*These were the idea/business descriptions at the time of writing this article. Entrepreneurship and new ventures, by nature, are constantly evolving, so these descriptions may change along the journey. For more info, Please refer <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/boost">"Boost"</a> Page.

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<figure class="media"><oembed url="https://vimeo.com/959892266?share=copy"></oembed></figure>Moon Creative Lab's Spark Spring 2024 program just wrapped up its third iteration with tremendous success. The event brought together 42 diverse participants from 11 countries and expatriates in Japan from Canada, the US, and the UK. The cohort included entrepreneurs, individuals, and corporate participants from Mazda, Kanazawa University, Modec, Mitsui, and Toyo Engineering.Over five days, participants explored problem spaces and ended by publishing business websites using no-code tools. The innovations ranged from vehicle lifecycle improvements and disruptive donation platforms to rejuvenation practices in agriculture and engaging millennials in farming. The next "Spark Summer 2024" is scheduled to Kick off on Wednesday, August 28. If you are interested in transforming your own business idea and growth, <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/spark?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=CTA&amp;utm_id=sparkLP">please join us!</a><h3>About Spark</h3><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/2_MB_DSCF_7329_1_2351ee2384.jpg" alt="2MB_DSCF7329-1.jpg">Spark is Moon's practical 1-week intensive program for 0 to 1 business creation. Participants from various regions, industries, companies, and departments come together to participate in a dynamic program to develop their business ideas.Participants are divided into several groups to quickly shape their ideas through a mix of self-driven work, lectures, and advice from facilitators. In the end they pitch their ideas using a landing page created with no-code tools.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1115/2780;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/B_Group_2138_7edb04d494.jpg" alt="B_Group-2138.jpg" width="1115" height="2780"></figure><h3>Hear from Participant's</h3><blockquote>“The experience of thinking through a design thinking, human-centered approach alone while getting feedback. Knowing and experiencing were two different things.”</blockquote><blockquote>“I was impressed by the fact that it forced the participants to have the experience of creating and pitching an landing page within a short period of one week.”</blockquote><blockquote>“Participants came from a diverse group of companies and generated a wide variety of ideas. Not only was there diversity, but also candid feedback.”</blockquote>&nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Group_2137_18d729792d.jpg" alt="Group 2137.jpg">”Javier, looking back on Spark Spring 2024, what was the highlight for you?”<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1300/2300;" src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/DSCF_6407_2_0163242854.jpg" alt="DSCF6407 2.jpg" width="1300" height="2300"></figure>“This Spark marked our first fully in-person, five-day intensive program. Transitioning from a hybrid model to all in-person posed new challenges but offered significant benefits. Enhanced networking among participants was a standout feature. Constant interaction through problem-space exploration, design research, solution ideation, business modeling, and final pitching transformed their ability to communicate ideas.This led to some of the best early-stage idea pitching we've seen, reflecting a significant psychological shift. The impressive business ideas wowed visitors from Moon and Mitsui, as well as invited external guests. The passion and energy were palpable, showcasing the transformative power of the Spark experience.”&nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Group_2121_34ee4cbddd.jpg" alt="Group 2121.jpg">One idea transformed from a generic travel app to focus on the safety and needs of solo female travelers, driven by real user feedback.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Group_2122_fdf0bc3b6a.jpg" alt="Group 2122.jpg">One team shifted from addressing vehicle recycling costs to exploring three new solutions after AI feedback showed user indifference. This led them to split up and tackle multiple approaches instead of working as a single unit.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Group_2121_1_5f0066a274.jpg" alt="Group 2121 (1).jpg">One person pivoted from developing a Mars rover energy generator to designing a unique GPS collar for dogs, showcasing their innovative spirit.<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>“Passion and persistence promise transformative impact, driving meaningful change in their respective spaces.”</h3>Javier: Spark ignited with a profound problem-exploration phase. Participants arrived with dreams of solving societal issues through business innovation. As they dived deeper, many had to pivot, embracing new directions. They repeatedly asked, "Why?" to uncover root causes, leading to profound insights. Some discovered they hadn't pinpointed the right stakeholders, while others realized their initial problems were just the tip of the iceberg. Their passion and persistence promise transformative impact, driving meaningful change in their respective spaces.<hr>Transform your business idea at "Spark Summer 2024," starting Wednesday, August 28. Spaces are limited, so apply now to secure your spot. Learn more on the <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/spark?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=CTA&amp;utm_id=sparkLP">"Spark"</a> page at Moon Creative Lab.&nbsp;Don’t miss this opportunity to ignite your creativity and growth!

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After a successful launch of Moon Media’s first feature film, "<a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/stories/moon-media-launch">Kamiyama: The Little Town With Big Ideas</a>", comes its second story, "<a href="https://www.kinmi.mooncreativelab.com/">KINMI: Brewing the Future of Sake</a>." Different from "Kamiyama," which focused on the revitalization of an aging town, "KINMI" puts the traditional Japanese industry of sake brewing in the limelight and highlights how the brand is bringing new brewing methods to an industry that hasn’t changed much over the years. Stories like these are often tucked within Japan, but Moon Media knows that these stories could both inform and inspire people on a global scale. &nbsp;The Kamiyama and KINMI films both aspire to tell compelling stories of people and places that meet at the intersection of creativity and entrepreneurship within Japan. There’s no better person to tell us more about Moon Media’s second film than the executive producer and Moon’s Chief Creative Officer, Mike Peng.&nbsp;<hr><figure class="image"><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/kinmi_sake_3_ce607b8ae6.jpg" alt="kinmi_sake_3.jpg"></figure>How did you identify the story of KINMI sake? What made you decide that this story, in particular, should be shared on a global scale?&nbsp;Mike Peng: I met Nao Kohara when I first moved to Tokyo in 2011. He was still working at a venture capital firm then and I remember talking to him about his love for sake. It was only a few years later when I learned that he had left his job to start a new sake brand! In fact, I remember I used to go to the Farmer’s Market over the weekend to visit his booth.I knew that one day, I wanted to tell the story of Nao and KINMI. First of all, for someone like Nao — an incredibly successful Japanese business person who graduated from Tokyo University and Stanford Business School — to quit his job and pursue his passion was incredibly rare, especially in Japan. Not to mention, creating a new sake brand in an industry that’s steeped in traditions must have been really tough.How did he do it? Why did he do it? How was KINMI going to be different? What was he trying to achieve?I felt that trying to uncover the answer to these questions could inspire many people around the world looking to start something new.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/kinmi_sake_1_d597ccdf1c.jpg" alt="kinmi_sake_1.jpg"></figure>What did you learn while making this film?&nbsp;While filming "KINMI," I was really struck by how deep the relationships were between Nao, the sake breweries, the brew masters, the rice farmers, the local fisheries, the restaurants, and everyone else within the ecosystem. There was a sense of shared purpose and camaraderie — we all care so much about what we do and we want to create the best product or experience that we can. That pride in the craft is something that I feel is harder and harder to find these days in business, and it was so palpable while making this film.&nbsp;&nbsp;Is there a particular moment or idea that resonated with you when filming "KINMI"? I’m sure you have great behind-the-scenes stories too!&nbsp;I don’t know if it’s one singular moment, but throughout the filming, I kept thinking to myself, “Wow, everything needs to be so precise!” To make unpasteurized or unfiltered sake is no small task. Everything needs to be done at the right “fill in the blank” — the right temperature, the right humidity, the right timing, etc. And if it’s not, the sake will not live up to its full potential. As with many behind-the-scenes videos, your appreciation and understanding for the craft definitely elevates all aspects of the final product.<figure class="image"><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/kinmi_sake_copy_05e93730c9.jpg" alt="kinmi_sake_copy.jpg"></figure>If you could have a conversation with someone who watches the film for the very first time, what would you want to discuss with them?Even though Moon Media has only created two films so far, I’m already starting to see some common themes that really excite and interest me. In both the Kamiyama and KINMI films, I feel that there’s another way to do business — it doesn’t have to be just for money and it doesn’t have to just be “do good” charity work. There exists a “third way” where there’s harmony in profit and purpose, leadership and community, business and creativity, humanity and nature. Although I’m sure this exists all around the world, I find that there’s a higher percentage of this happening in Japan. I’m hoping that these stories can not only inspire the rest of the world, but also spark a conversation on how we might do this in our own parts of the world.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/kinmi_sake_f1ad038571.jpg" alt="kinmi_sake.jpg"></figure>What action do you want the audience to take after watching "KINMI"?&nbsp;From an organizational perspective, I hope that people and businesses will really think deeply about what their purpose is in the world (beyond making money) and how they can collaborate more with other parties who share that same purpose.From a personal perspective, I know that entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone, but I hope that everyone spends at least some time in their life thinking about what new value they can create in the world that is purposeful and brings joy to their life.&nbsp;<blockquote>"I hope that everyone spends at least some time in their life thinking about what new value they can create in the world that is purposeful and brings joy to their life."</blockquote>What’s next for Moon Media? Do you have any updates about "Kamiyama"? Is there another film in the works?&nbsp;I’m excited to share that we submitted "<a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/stories/moon-media-launch">Kamiyama</a>" to several film festivals and it was the Official Selection to many of them including: <a href="https://hollywoodshortsfest.com/">The Hollywood Shortsfest</a>, the <a href="the San Jose International Film Festival">San Jose International Film Festival</a>, <a href="https://docswithoutbordersfilmfest.com/">Documentary Without Borders</a>, and the <a href="http://sfshorts.com/">San Francisco Short Film Festival</a>!We have several ideas for future films and are beginning the planning process for them. As of now, we’ve focused a lot on the intersection of business x creativity x Japan, but we also want to add “sustainability” to that intersection and have a few stories that we think will be incredibly inspiring!&nbsp;---We hope that our second Moon Media film, "KINMI: Brewing the Future of Sake," inspires you as much as it did the Moon team. Continue to share the gift of storytelling and inspiration within Japan with your friends and family, too. We hope you all enjoy it! <a href="https://www.kinmi.mooncreativelab.com/">Watch "KINMI: Brewing the Future of Sake" here.&nbsp;</a> &nbsp; *Editor’s note:&nbsp; One of the regions featured in "KINMI" is Noto, a small coastal town located on a peninsula projecting north into the Sea of Japan. At the heart of Noto lies its well-known fisheries and fishing villages, which are so significant that Nao partnered with the region’s oldest fish market to create a box set including KINMI’s Noto sake. The film credits Japan’s unique regions for “creating” its own sake, with food and environment contributing to the sake’s flavor. Noto is a perfect example of that as the community’s livelihood, culture, and most integral product is weaved into its distinctive sake.Sadly, the Noto Peninsula has been heavily impacted by the multiple earthquakes that occurred in early January. It is one of the worst affected areas and much of it has been destroyed. To show your support for the Noto communities, please consider donating to the <a href="https://www.jrc.or.jp/english/donate/">Japanese Red Cross Society</a> or <a href="https://www-pref-ishikawa-lg-jp.translate.goog/suitou/gienkinr0601.html?_x_tr_sl=ja&amp;_x_tr_tl=en&amp;_x_tr_hl=ja">Ishikawa Prefecture’s official website</a> to help with relief efforts. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<hr>Moon Media is a division of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/">Moon Creative Lab Inc</a>., a venture studio that powers the creation of new businesses for Mitsui &amp; Co., Ltd. and beyond. Moon Media was created to help showcase inspiring stories of people and places that fall at the intersection of creativity x entrepreneurship within Japan. We know that many of these inspiring stories exist throughout Japan, but they are often difficult to find and hard to access. Our goal is to uncover these hidden gems so that we all can nourish our creative souls and begin turning inspiration into innovation.

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<h3>Meet the 16 global startups that joined our incubation program in Fall 2023.</h3><hr><figure class="image"><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Boost_group_89f5006e5a.png" alt="Boost group.png"></figure>&nbsp;In July 2023, Moon Creative Lab launched three new programs: <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/spark">Spark</a>, <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/boost">Boost</a>, and <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/orbit">Orbit</a> to help organizations and individuals unlock their creative potential to start new businesses. For the first time, we opened our doors to entrepreneurs around the world, inviting participants to join our in-person 3-6 month intensive early-stage incubation program, Boost.We received applications from a range of industries and spanning more than 10 different countries. After a rigorous review and interview process with Moon leadership, we selected 16 startups to leverage Moon’s talent, and each other, to help build for traction, receive real feedback from customers as quickly as possible, and potentially earn funding at Moon’s Demo Day in April 2024.<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>Moon Welcomes Boost’s Fall 2023 Participants&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>Since October, Boost participants have worked together with Moon Mates to build on their ventures and develop their skills as founders. We’ve seen product pivots, company rebrands, customer discovery, and countless other experiments to find market traction and build products that customers love.&nbsp;As we prepare for the end of this Boost cycle, Moon will be offering select teams the option to extend their incubation period with us for another 3 months as a prerequisite for Demo Day in April.&nbsp;We want to extend a sincere congratulations to all of the entrepreneurs, ideas, and startups that have been a part of the first Boost cohort:&nbsp;<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>From Individual Entrepreneurs</h3><a href="https://delight.fit/">Delight</a> is a call center automation and personalization service with a multilingual phone bot. Delight launched in October 2022 by its founder Hiroyuki Anno.DEW is an eco-friendly cleaning supplies subscription service. Founder Yuka Usami launched its first product, aq, in September 2023.&nbsp;<a href="https://dotsfor.com/">Dots for Inc.</a> offers information access to rural Africa. Dots for Inc. was established in October 2021 by its founder Carlos Oba.Fankey/ Xylocopa is a fan activity data management system. Founded in September 2022 by Yamaguchi Kiminori.&nbsp;<a href=" https://www.hyouka-ai.com/en/top">Hyouka</a> is an AI and camera based survey using hand gestures. Founder Aki Kutvonen launched Hyouka in 2021 and moved to working on this project fulltime in 2023.Loyal (formerly known as MCM) is blockchain based music copyright management. MCM is founded by Yusuke Sunakane.&nbsp;<a href="https://matchhat.com/landing">MatchHa</a>t is a platform to help filmmakers find talent and collaborators . The idea for MatchHat began in 2017 and development began a few years later together with teammates in 2020. MatchHat is founded by Soraya Umewaka, CEO, together with co-founder Sheenan Tenepre, Tech Lead.<a href="https://www.menux.jp/">MenuX</a> is a digital platform for sports and entertainment merchandise. Founder Eri Koyano has been working on MenuX together with her cofounder since 2022.&nbsp;Minute Style is a marketplace that curates daily outfits suggested by personal stylists using their existing wardrobes. Founder Eri Kobayashi has been working on Minute Style since December 2019 and launched the beta in 2020.<a href="https://voice-ping.com/">VoicePing</a> is a virtual office with real time translation. VoicePing is founded by CEO Nakajima Akinori, CEO, and Jack Nguyen, COO. VoicePing has been in production over the past 18 months and has gained over 2,000+ daily active users.WhyMe/Insaight is an AI based consulting platform. Founder Takayuki Suzuki has been working on WhyMe/Insaight since early 2022.&nbsp;<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>Entrepreneurs From Mitsui</h3>Carbon Mileage is an awards program for energy efficient airline travel. Founder Junya Fukui joins us from the Americas Energy BU.Eureka is an educational program focused on space. Founder Naoya Shiraishi was a previous Spark participant and encouraged to apply to our Boost program. Shiraishi joins us from the Educational Tech BU. &nbsp;<a href="https://yukiobata.wixsite.com/my-site">ISSHO</a> is a software platform for employee engagement. Founder Yuki Obata has been working closely with Moon in the months leading up to the Boost application after successfully pitching the idea during Moon’s Design Challenge for Mitsui x Moon.&nbsp;<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>Ideas and Startups From Mitsui Business Units (BUs)</h3>Agritech is a sensor tech to help sustainable farming. Agritech’s team includes Alberto Takayama and Yoshihiro Katsuyama deriving from the Mobility I &amp; II &amp; Food BU.UpWaste is a digitized waste management platform. Founder Aris Munandar was a previous Spark participant and encouraged to apply to our Boost program. Munandar joins us from the Mitsui Indonesia BU. &nbsp;<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>From Boost to our Orbit</h3>No matter how far founders travel with Moon, they will always be a part of our Orbit! We believe that building a thriving startup takes ongoing support from a network of supportive individuals, and that’s why we built our entrepreneur community, Orbit. All Boost alumni will be invited to develop their skills at our networking events and encouraged to participate in Orbit, even if they are not selected to continue their incubation period at Moon.Be sure to check out <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/en/orbit">www.mooncreativelab.com/orbit</a> for the most up to date events! &nbsp;&nbsp;*These were the idea/business descriptions at the time of writing this article. Entrepreneurship and new ventures, by nature, are constantly evolving, so these descriptions may change along the journey.* &nbsp;

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In recent years, with the strengthening of international efforts to address global warming and achieve carbon neutrality, green transformation (GX) startups have emerged to the point where there are an estimated 3,000 climate-focused companies today.In a recent episode of Moon Creative Lab's regular online event, "Moon Talk!,” we asked Toma Yamasaki of <a href="https://e-dash.io/">e-dash Corporation</a> and Yusuke Toyoda of <a href="https://www.digitalgrid.com/">Digital Grid Corporation</a> about the secrets to building successful GX-focused products and organizations.<h3>Key Learnings</h3><ul><li>Focusing on the decarbonization domain</li><li>Overcoming challenges in product development</li><li>How to realize a big vision and involve stakeholders</li><li>Funding and hiring</li></ul><hr><figure class="image"><img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image6_8c7e31356f.jpg" alt="image6.jpg"><figcaption>President of e-dash Corporation, Toma Yamasaki (left) and president of Digital Grid Corporation, Yusuke Toyoda (right).</figcaption></figure>Yusuke Toyoda joined Digital Grid in 2018 as a founding member and has served as president since 2019. He previously worked at a securities company after graduating from university, where he was involved in financial product structuring and mega solar development and investment.Toma Yamasaki was stationed in Silicon Valley after working for Mitsui &amp; Co., on the development and mergers &amp; acquisitions of electric power and other infrastructure businesses. After spending about five years in Silicon Valley, Yamasaki was in charge of venture investment and business development in the clean tech field there.Facilitated by Masahiro Kunieda, Business Lead for sustainability at Moon, this Moon Talk! provides unique perspectives from both Toyoda and Yamasaki as entrepreneurs and in-house entrepreneurs, or “intrapreneurs.”&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>Focusing on decarbonization as an entrepreneur and intrapreneur</h3>Kunieda: You both are working in the decarbonization area as an entrepreneur and an internal entrepreneur. Why did you decide to focus on this field?Toyoda: I had been focusing on the field of renewable energy since I was in a university research lab, and I had been conducting research with the idea that it would be interesting if, in the future, electricity could be colored (for the purpose of identifying the electricity to be used) and exchanged freely.I wondered if the same kind of rapid evolution that occurred in the field of telecommunications would also occur in the energy field. I was focused on the enormous potential of renewable energy, which is said to be 200,000 times the amount of electricity generated on Earth, and was conducting research with the goal of creating a world where people do not have to worry about energy.My mentor Dr. Abe started the company with me. When he was a student, he enthusiastically promoted research on digital grids as a specially-appointed professor in the Social Cooperation Course. Currently, he is engaged in hardware development, etc. while serving as Representative Director and CEO at DG Capital Group Inc. I deeply sympathized with the vision of "supporting renewable energy to create the future 30 years from now," which President Toyoda had been talking about for years with a twinkle in his eye. So, it was a natural progression for me to get involved in GX.<blockquote>"I want to enjoy new things and work towards winning because it is an immature industry.” -Yusuke Toyoda&nbsp;</blockquote>Yamasaki: Since joining Mitsui, I have been involved in power-related business development within the Project Division, where I have the opportunity to notice major trend changes.I was stationed in Silicon Valley for five years starting in 2015, where I invested in and developed joint ventures with startups in the green tech and climate-related fields. This was a major catalyst for starting a business within the GX field. &nbsp;<h3>Overcoming challenges in product development</h3>Kunieda: Although we are in the same field, our starting points for product development are slightly different, one from the deep-tech side and the other from the software side. Can you tell us about the challenges you faced in product development and how you overcame them?Toyoda: Currently, we are developing software that will deliver weather-sensitive renewable energy to various companies, but at the beginning of product development, we were making hardware to control electricity in order to freely exchange power. We have developed hardware that can use electricity from storage batteries, and have also worked on demonstration projects for the Ministry of the Environment.Around 2016, blockchain became a hot topic, and we expanded our efforts, believing that if we could combine blockchain technology with hardware to track and control it, we could realize our ideal vision.Later on, we experienced a situation where our resources were dispersed among products that included all the functions of hardware, blockchain, and AI, but we did not have enough resources to push through each of these areas. Based on this process, we are now focusing on AI and software development.Yamasaki: Since the initial conception of the product, we have developed the product without changing much from the theme of "energy consumption data management" as the main framework.President Toyoda might say that we are following the textbook (laughs), but we are proceeding with development by receiving <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/ja/boost">support from Moon</a>, creating prototypes, listening to user feedback, and continuously developing the product while facing the pain points of customers. <img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image4_567d28b84a.jpg" alt="image4.jpg"> &nbsp;Kunieda: In one word, what is the secret to overcoming barriers in product development? We asked you to write it down on the flipboard. President Toyoda, please begin.&nbsp;<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image5_ca94fc9900.jpg" alt="image5.jpg"> Toyoda: I wrote “calmness and passion.” We are proceeding with our business with a strong passion to realize a world in which people can freely exchange electricity. To create innovation, we certainly need to push the accelerator to the limit with such passion.On the other hand, it is also necessary to judge logically whether or not it is feasible as a business, separating it from our passion, and we feel that the level of difficulty is extremely high. In fact, there was a time several years ago when I could not find the right balance. Even now, I am trying to figure out how to create innovations that become businesses while maintaining the conflicting attitudes of passion and practicality.One thing I try to do to keep my composure is to listen to the opinions of trusted colleagues. I try to listen to objective opinions while keeping my own vision unwavering.Kunieda: Thank you very much. President Yamasaki, your turn.<img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image2_c9dca46cf5.jpg" alt="image2.jpg"> Yamasaki: I wrote “confirmation bias,” a perfect match for President Toyoda (laughs)!When starting a new business from scratch, I think there is a lot that can be driven by the strong belief that there must be a need.On the other hand, once I start running vigorously, I try to calmly look at the situation and verify it, even though I have my own conflicts. It is challenging, but it is something I still cherish.&nbsp;Whatever it is, I want to do it! I feel that it is difficult because it starts with "I want to do it!” &nbsp;<h3>How to realize a big vision… and involve stakeholders</h3>Kunieda: President Yamasaki, as an operating company under Mitsui, and President Toyoda, as a corporate organization receiving numerous investments, how do you involve stakeholders in order to realize your big vision?Yamasaki: We operate as a subsidiary wholly owned by Mitsui &amp; Co and are working with various partners through internal connections to develop our clientele.We have the support of an established company as Mitsui &amp; Co., and are receiving back-office support in the areas of personnel systems, accounting, and settlement of accounts.On the other hand, as a trading company, we did not have personnel specializing in product development, so we are hiring people who can write code. Also, due to the nature of SaaS, we are managing our organization by gathering people who can handle customer success, field sales, and other tasks.<blockquote>"This is the most interesting industry and I want to make it exciting together.” -Toma Yamasaki</blockquote>Toyoda: In the case of Digital Grit, we have a total of 60 shareholders, of which only one is a venture capital company and the majority are large corporations. We have a very large number of stakeholders, and sometimes nearly 100 people gather at shareholder meetings!With regard to the diversity of our stakeholders, to become the one and only platform of its kind in Japan, we have a policy of having multiple companies participate rather than just one company within one industry.In addition, we gave those who invested in the project access to our code, logic, and other information at the time, and adopted an open innovation approach in which we received opinions as we proceeded.Kunieda: Now, what do you feel are the advantages of both startups and in-house startups from each other's point of view? We asked you to write on the same flipboard. President Yamasaki, please begin. <img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image3_92e0f87458.jpg" alt="image3.jpg"> Yamasaki: "Partners.” Seeing the way President Toyoda is proceeding, I feel that it is a great advantage that large corporations, as shareholders, can be both customers and partners in building businesses.As written in Practical Theory of New Business by Yoichi Aso, the founder of Alpha Drive, the difficulty in spinning out from a large corporation to create a business is fundraising. From this point of view, I feel that having the support of many partners is a very big advantage for us.Kunieda: Thank you very much. Now, President Toyoda, please begin. <img src="https://moon-website-prod-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/image1_83d4330a7c.jpg" alt="image1.jpg">Toyoda: "Strong and new game.” In talking with President Yamasaki, I think that starting a new business from a company with a long history is like a game where you can start the battle with a high-level weapon from the beginning.For example, we can develop products with Moon's support and deploy back-office know-how. I feel that the ability to utilize and customize such assets is a great strength.For people who create something from zero to one in a startup, there are some inefficiencies, and even a single HR system needs to be built over time. If we can take the know-how we have developed over our long history and turn it into something optimal, it would be a great weapon.<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>On fundraising and hiring</h3>Below are questions from the audience that the panel answered.What is the best way to hire reliable engineers? Yamasaki: It is important to hire the first excellent product manager. From there, it will be easier to hire all the way through.Do you have any advice on fundraising for each stage? Toyoda: It is important to fulfill the promises and milestones at each stage, one by one, and even if stage advancement is not always possible, it is important to explain the causes and next steps to be taken and proceed. &nbsp;&nbsp;Moon Talk! will continue to deliver information on innovation in companies, stories of startup founders, and deep-dives into design and technology, all of which will be useful for future business strategies and new business creation. Check out upcoming events from Moon at <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/orbit">https://www.mooncreativelab.com/orbit</a>.&nbsp;

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At Moon Creative Lab, we’ve always been focused on unlocking people’s creative potential to create new businesses, and we are always looking for ways to support as many entrepreneurs and startups as we can. And now, with our <a href="https://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/501861/moon-creative-lab-expands-venture-programming-to-turn-brilliant-ideas-into-rockstar-businesses">recently announced three new program offerings</a>, we are broadening our reach more than ever!Our new program, <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/boost">Boost</a>, is an incubation program to help startup teams and corporations gain traction for new businesses.&nbsp;Since we were founded in 2018, Moon Creative Lab has been a venture studio for powering the creation of new businesses globally for individuals, teams, and business units within Mitsui &amp; Co. Our new programs will expand our support for Mitsui &amp; Co as well as outside corporations and startup teams that want to incubate their early stage business.&nbsp;&nbsp;Boost Your Early-Stage New Business&nbsp; Our Boost program is an intensive 3-6 month incubation program that will help new businesses build traction and potentially earn $300,000 USD in funding.* Boost focuses on a human-centered approach to new business creation with expertise in user research and testing and prototype creation. By joining our Boost program, participants will receive:<ul><li>Hands-on support and mentorship from our diverse and creative team of global experts in design, engineering, product, marketing, and more.</li><li>Help finding co-founders, team members, or strategic partners.</li><li>Working space at Moon’s Silicon Valley or Tokyo studio.&nbsp;</li><li>Potential collaboration with Mitsui &amp; Co. and its global network.</li><li>Helpful SaaS tools to build your business.&nbsp;</li></ul>&nbsp;Earn Funding After completing the Boost program, participants may compete in Moon’s Demo Day where they can pitch their business to Moon’s Investment Committee to earn $300,000 USD* of seed funding from Moon.&nbsp;The Many Ways We Can Work Together If you, your team, or your company have started working on a new business idea and are looking for additional support in building and testing prototypes with real customers, we’d love to help bring your innovative ideas to life! <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/boost">Head here to learn more and apply for Boost.</a>Haven’t yet started working on that “crazy” idea but want to learn more about new business creation? Check out our hands-on learning program, <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/spark">Spark</a>. And if you’d like to connect with others and become part of our diverse, creative, and fun community, check out <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/orbit">Orbit</a>, our series of in-person events.&nbsp; *Participating startups will be able to pitch for an investment of $300,000 USD on a post-money KISS/J-KISS at a $3M valuation cap – 10% of your company prior to dilution. <a href="https://www.mooncreativelab.com/boost">Click here for details.</a>

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