Beyond Limits. Unlock Our Potential.
The World-Class Startup Ecosystem
Building Plan

Hyogo Kobe Startup Ecosystem ConsortiumSummary of the Ecosystem Building Plan
１．Target and KPI
Expand Hyogo/Kobe ecosystem by building the environment that is easy to start new
businesses and increase the diversity of the ecosystem by actively attracting universitylaunched start-ups and overseas entrepreneurs.

KPI
Number of start-ups
established in Hyogo
Number of universitylaunched start-ups in Hyogo
Number of start-up VISA
granted in Hyogo
Number of Unicorns with avaluation of over 100 blnyen in Hyogo
Number of NEXT unicornswith a valuation of over 10
bln yen in Hyogo

Target（2020～2024）
7618※Annual average: 3.615※estimate 3✕5year

Current statusx2

2015～201938 Companies

x2

FY 2015～2018
7 Companies※Annual average：1.8

Visascheme

0 Granted※Started from April 2019

1・Unicorn startup 0Nurturing ・NEXT Unicorn startup
2010～2019 12・Start-ups fundraised
Nurturingover 1bln yen
2010～2019 2

Summary of the Ecosystem Building Plan
２．Organizations and Roles of each organizations
Resource mobilization through members of Hyogo Kobe Startup Ecosystem Consortium
and 360-degree support to create an ecosystem that can compete in the world

LocalGovernment

The Kobe Chamber ofCommerce and Industry
Kobe Association of Corporate
Executives
Hyogo Chamber of Commerceand Industry Association

Advanced andcomprehensive
startup support

Economicgroup

Knowledge and resources oflarge companies

University produce
entrepreneurs/foundersof ventures
Kobe University
University of Hyogo
Kwansei Gakuin University
Konan University
Kobe Institute of Computing

Kobe City
Hyogo Prefecture

Supportorganization

Nippon Venture Capital (“NVCC”)
500 STARTUPS
Credit Guarantee Corporation of
Hyogo KenJapan External Trade Organization
Hyogo Economic Development Center
Kobe Entrepreneurial Training Center
Foundation for Biomedical Researchand Innovation at Kobe

Growth support and funding

Hyogo Kobe Startup
Ecosystem Consortium
Observer: Kansai Bureau ofEconomy, Trade and Industry

University

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking
Corporation
Development Bank of Japan
Japan Finance Corporation
Minato Bank
Hankyu Hanshin Properties
Corp.
Mitsubishi Estate

Financial support
Improvement ofenvironment

Bank/DeveloperExpert advice andinformation dissemination

Key person

Haruyuki Seki
Zafer Younis
Shunichi Takahashi
Hiromi Okuda
Eiji Odagaki

I. Summary of the Ecosystem Building Plan
3. Leaders of the Ecosystem Building

Toshiyuki
YamamotoFounderChatwork Co., Ltd.

EijiOdagaki
Chairman & CEONOVITA Inc.

In 2000, while studying at the Faculty of Commerce of Chuo University, Mr. Yamamoto went to study abroad in Los
Angeles, where he founded EC Studio Co., Ltd. (renamed “Chatwork” in 2012). He has published two books so far andboth became bestsellers in Amazon general book ranking.
In 2012, US subsidiary of Chatwork was established in the Silicon Valley. He himself led the company and lived in theSilicon Valley for 5 years. In 2018, he handed over the CEO position to his brother and co-founder, and the company waslisted with Mothers – Market of the High-Growth and Emerging Stocks of the Tokyo Stock Exchange with a valuation of over55bln yen in 2019. The same year, he started a new service called “MyCSO” and a YouTube channel for business called“Strategy Channel” through which he shares his experience and expertise.
Started several IT-related businesses, including Novita Inc. (est. 2006).
Mr. Odagaki strongly believes that if both parties have a common understanding of the problem, it is possible toresolve the issue and ensure the sustainability and success of the business. He started collaborating with major
advertisement agencies at the very beginning of the online advertising era, and now provides recruitment and training
support services. He also has diverse experience in finding and securing skilled personnel in various fields.
Mr. Odagaki engages in various activities spanning a wide range of fields. For instance, he operates a French bakery in
the Denenchofu district in Tokyo, runs entrepreneur and IT personnel development programs together with numerous
colleges and high schools, and offers career development support for working mothers.
In 2018, he was also selected as the leader in charge of bringing IT companies to the Toyooka City in Hyogo Prefecture.

Takayuki
Sakai, PhD
Deputy Director & Professor
Industry-Government-Academia
Collaboration Division
Kobe University

Shigenori
TanabePublic Relations Officer
Kobe City Government

Joined Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in 1993. After working at Tokushima, Cornell andRitsumeikan Universities, he assumed his current position as a professor at Kobe University. He also
serves as the President of Kobe University Innovation Corporation. During the course of his career, healso worked for various Technology Licensing Organizations, namely as the Director of Kansai TLO Co.
Ltd. (now TLO Kyoto) and the President of Techno Network Shikoku Co. Ltd.
Mr. Sakai established a method of operation known as the Collaborative TLO Model for Universities,
which is well-suited to meet the corporate needs. He played a leading role in industry-academia
collaboration and discovery of more than 2,700 university inventions, licensing 147 patents tocompanies, and launching 18 products.

In 2015, launched the Kobe City startup development support and ecosystem building project. The same year, hevisited San Francisco with Mr. Kizo Hisamoto, Mayor of Kobe, which led to a partnership agreement with a worldrenowned seed investment and venture capital firm 500Startups. In 2016, the city has started a joint startup
acceleration program with this company.
In 2017, Mr. Tanabe launched Urban Innovation KOBE – the first project in Japan to promote joint development
between startup companies and a local government. In November 2019, he oversaw the negotiations with UNOPS,
which led to the establishment of a Global Innovation Center in Kobe.
He became the Public Relations Officer of the Kobe City Government in April 2020, and he would like to use his
experience to further spread the information about Kobe throughout Japan and across the globe.