The Tokyo Consortium held the "Smart City Tokyo Startup Pitch" on December 2022, 12, targeting startups and the various supporting players (companies, VCs, universities, local governments, etc.). On the day of the event, managers from five active startup companies based in Tokyo took to the podium and gave presentations on the challenges faced by cities and society and their own specific solutions. It became a place to foster ideas for realizing "Smart Tokyo" through a lively Q&A with everyone who came to the event and those who participated online.
The goal of the Tokyo Consortium is to "establish Tokyo as a global hub city for the startup ecosystem." Tokyo is home to 3% of Japan's top universities and Fortune Global 500 companies (second in the world), and has abundant resources and high potential for nurturing startups.
In order to more effectively link these resources, the Tokyo Consortium is developing and promoting the construction of (1) a "point" x "depth" deep ecosystem and (2) a "plane" ecosystem. ① creates innovation by connecting advanced players (startups, universities, large companies, etc.) who are experts in each field.
The Tokyo Consortium has selected and supported five startups that are expected to grow into unicorns with an eye toward overseas expansion as companies eligible for "Deep Ecosystem" support. At "Smart City Tokyo Startup Pitch," startups that play a key role in the global ecosystem recognized issues and proposed specific solutions. In addition, as for the ② “plane” ecosystem, we support exchanges among Tokyo Consortium members (5 companies, as of the end of September 414), including large companies and startups, and mutual collaboration with the country, cities in the Tokyo area, universities, etc. We have a wide-area platform in place.
The smart city promoted by the Japanese government is an attempt to ``solve the problems faced by cities and create new value economically and sustainably by using new technologies such as AI and IoT and data linkage.'' Through these promotions, we will realize Society 5.0 and, in turn, realize the Well-Being of individuals and people around the world. Society 5.0 is a concept proposed by the Japanese government that refers to a society in which real and virtual spaces come together to solve various social problems and achieve economic development. In reality, information from the real world is accumulated in the virtual space through sensors and IoT devices, and the big data is analyzed using AI and other tools and then returned to the real space.
"Smart Tokyo" promoted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government aims to improve the quality of services and the quality of life of Tokyo residents through the power of digital technology. Representative initiatives include "Connecting Tokyo," "City DX," and "Government DX." This is a ``digital road'' that will envelop the entire Tokyo metropolitan area via the Internet, and will promote the digitalization of public facilities and citizen services, as well as engage in cutting-edge projects such as disaster prevention, healthcare, education, and the social implementation of autonomous driving. is.
Smart city functions can be organized into seven aspects. Specifically, these are: (1) education and research, (2) business creation, (3) transportation and mobility, (4) health and medical care, (5) safety and security, (6) organizational change, and (7) resource circulation and biodiversity.
Some of these functions are common between the EU and Japan, although their approaches are different. The five companies that took the stage are involved in businesses related to logistics (③), tourism (②), disaster prevention/crime prevention (⑤), decarbonization/energy conservation (⑥), and housing/construction (⑥), and each offered their own unique perspectives. We hope to use technology to solve social issues.
Gaussy
Gaussy (Minato-ku, Tokyo) is developing the warehouse robot subscription service "RoboWare" and the warehouse sharing service "WareX" with the aim of flexible logistics. Logistics is subject to large seasonal fluctuations, and the power of IT is used to socially optimize fixed assets and resources owned by individual companies.
アースアイズ
Earth Eyes (Minato-ku, Tokyo) uses AI cameras and unique 3D spatial understanding technology to provide services such as store management, shoplifting prevention, and nursing care monitoring. This is a monitoring solution that uses camera information and spatial understanding technology to enable information processing similar to human senses, detect dangerous events, and proactively issue alarms and notifications.
inQs
inQs (Minato-ku, Tokyo) is a startup that develops "transparent power generation glass" and "low-light power generation devices" using special environmentally friendly power generation materials. Transparent power-generating glass with a transmittance of 70% or more can be installed as internal windows in existing buildings to supply power to the building's common areas and emergency power in the event of a disaster. In addition, low-light power generation devices can generate electricity even with fluorescent lighting, eliminating the need to worry about battery replacement and the hassle of wiring, and can be used to display prices at supermarkets or as a power source for explosion-proof IoT devices (sensors and communications).
matsuri technologies
matsuri technologies (Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo) is developing a new technology-driven real estate model that provides customers with vacant houses as private lodging, housing, and lodging facilities that can be completed online. "StayX" is software that allows general residential real estate (short-term rental properties for about two years) to be rented out in the form of lodging, temporary housing, etc. While demand for short-term inbound accommodation such as private lodging has disappeared due to the coronavirus pandemic, we have been able to grow by 2% annually by converting it to rental needs of one month or more (business trips/training, temporary return, temporary housing).
センシンロボティクス
Senshin Robotics (Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo) is solving social issues such as a declining workforce due to the declining birthrate and aging population and aging infrastructure by skillfully utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as aerial and underwater drones, small robots, and smart sensors. We provide services that efficiently, safely, and speedily inspect vast infrastructure such as photovoltaic power generation facilities, power transmission networks, and oil tanks. Their core lies in a software platform that makes full use of the aforementioned hardware, modularizes functions such as data management, AI analysis, 3D modeling, and real-time video distribution, and develops applications to operate these functions with one click. there is.
If you are interested, please see the details on each company's website.