SmartCityX is a global community of best-in-class, stage-agnostic startups from around the world with a common vision of redefining the way we live, learn, and work. Placing an emphasis on six core verticals, SmartCity X connects startups with leading corporations and industry thought-leaders to foster growth opportunities in Japan and around the world while also facilitating lasting relationships that enable cities to become more livable, resilient and sustainable.
Well-BeingX is a global open innovation program dedicated to helping startups co-develop wellness solutions with influential Japanese corporations.
The program brings together entrepreneurs from around the world, Japanese corporations, and leading experts in the wellness industry. In addition to focusing on personalized tools and technologies that help individuals achieve a more balanced lifestyle, the program will place a particular emphasis on establishing meaningful partnerships across a diverse mix of categories within the health and wellness space, including fitness, nutrition, neurilogical, environmental, and social wellness.
Hakuhodo, with its Senior Focus initiative, is partnering with Scrum Studio to launch AgeTechX, a program that will focus on technologies and innovations to address issues that seniors face. The program will bring together partner companies and global startups to create technologies and businesses that enable seniors to live longer and more healthily. This is a 3-year program that will continue until October 2026.
AgeTechX themes are:
(1) Longevity & Health in Aging
This includes understanding the aging process and how technology can keep seniors living in health.
(2) Active Senior Life
This includes supporting independence both socially and physically.
Sponsors: Hakuhodo Inc. and Scrum Studio Inc.
Partners: Rakuten Insurance Group, Rohto Pharmaceuticals, Hakuhodo Inc.
Observers: Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, local governments (to be determined)
Resource Partners: Japan Anti-Aging Association, Ostance Inc.
GreenX is a global business co-creation program focused on energy technology that will help Japan reach its decarbonization goals by 2050. By connecting startups from multiple green and energy-related industries to key Japanese corporations and organizations, the program will support innovation and new business creation.
Partner company: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Partner Municipality: Okuma Town, Fukushima Prefecture; Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture; Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture.
Resource Partners: CIC Japan LLC, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Japan Institute for Carbon Decarbonization (JICN), NEDO Representative Office in Silicon Valley.
Schedule of GreenX 2023:
– Startup applications: October – December 2023
– Startup selection: November 2023 – February 2024
– Mentoring and business development: February 2024 ~
– Demo day event: May 2024
SPORTS INNOVATION STUDIO is focused on building a platform for sports technology and sports organizations to innovate and collaborate. By partnering with Japan’s Sports Agency, the program will bring together athletes, sports tech startups, and key sports organizations such as Japan F-League for futsol and the Japan Automobile Federation which hosts motorsports events across Japan.
The Sports Open Innovation Platform (SOIP) is one of the initiatives of Japan’s Sports Agency, which aims to link resources from the sports industry with the technology and funds of private companies as well as the knowledge of academic and research institutions. The goal is to enhance the value of sports and other industries and to co-create new services. The Sports Agency selected Scrum Studio as the consignee for the secretariat of the SPORTS INNOVATION STUDIO in the FY2023 Sports Open Innovation Promotion Project.
Food Tech Studio – Bites! is Scrum Studio’s newest global program for startups of all stages who share a common vision of solving key challenges plaguing our food supply chain today, such as safety, waste reduction, and health. The program will facilitate lasting relationships between a range of global food tech entrepreneurs, iconic Japanese food corporations, and industry thought leaders seeking to rebuild a resilient food future. The program targets founders who are mission-driven, sustainability-focused, and can benefit from the program’s strong network and global expertise.
Dentsu and Scrum Ventures launched SPORTS TECH TOKYO, a global mentor-driven accelerator program for sports-related startups from around the world. Opening on October 2, 2018, the one-year program takes place in Japan and San Francisco with mentoring, networking and pitching opportunities with industry professionals.
159 startups from 33 countries were selected to participate in the program that led to 12 finalists. In August 2019, World Demo Day was held at San Francisco’s Oracle Park where 8 of the 12 finalists announced partnerships created through the program.
Press Release: Scrum Ventures and Dentsu Launch Global Sports Tech Accelerator Program
2019 Achievements Timeline: ACHIEVEMENTS in the First Year
World Demo Day recap blog post: SPORTS TECH TOKYO World Demo Day
Panasonic and Scrum Ventures created a joint venture in March 2018 called BeeEdge to invest in Japanese startups developing Panasonic technologies.
BeeEdge supports the startups to accelerate bringing technologies to market. Products thus far include a specialized hot chocolate machine, Inifini Mix by Mitsubachi Products and an appliance that softens food for the elderly by Gifmo.
Press Release: Panasonic and Scrum Ventures Announce a Joint Venture to Foster Innovation
Scrum Studio supported the Miles startup expansion into Japan for a year and a half during which their 2021 market-specific app was launched with high-profile partners such as JAL, FamilyMart, and Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance. The app recorded 1 million downloads in 4 weeks and is still being used by many people throughout Japan.
Scrum Studio supported the Japan market entry for Yo-Kai Express, a U.S. startup developing an autonomous restaurant platform for fresh hot ramen, by providing business development and marketing. The platform was showcased at Haneda Airport Terminal 2, Shibaura Parking Area of Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway, and other locations.
Scrum Studio engaged with Arcturus to help accelerate the growth of their HoloSuite platform in the Japanese market. In this capacity, we sourced new and supported existing partners that leveraged Arcturus’ core capabilities, including editing, compressing and streaming of volumetric content.
Over 200 experts from various industries have joined our studio programs as mentors for our partners and startups.
Global Mentors https://scrum.vc/mentor/
Ben Frayman
Associate Director, Best Buy Health
SmartCityX is yet another example of the team’s ingenuity when it comes to finding new vectors of growth for their investors and portfolio companies. By helping startups establish relationships with industry leaders, they’re building a repeatable process which allows their companies to quickly gain momentum from which they can scale.
Thierry Borra
Founder & CEO, Sport Matters Consulting
As success relies a lot on the power of connecting with the right people, Scrum Studios has and continues to demonstrate how VCs can take a more proactive approach to investing. By working collaboratively and supporting numerous audiences, they are redefining the way startups can realize their potential — both in markets like Japan as well as throughout the world.
Steve Tseng
Executive Vice President at Pac-12 Networks
I have enjoyed serving as a mentor with Sports Tech Tokyo (STT). In some ways STT has been ahead of the curve. Many of the 159 cohort startups from a year ago have focused on the remote user experience (i.e. 4DReplay & SportsCastr) which is telling in this Covid impacted time. The intersection of technology and sports will continue to drive massive innovation in the mobile/streaming areas as it relates to the global sports community. And, STT will be one of the leading accelerators driving positive change!
