Press release
August 5, 2021

Announcement of the Launch of “Career Academy”
Medium- to Long-term HR Support Program Aimed atExpanding Japanese Start-up Market
JAFCO Group Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Shinichi Fuki, hereinafter“JAFCO Group”) is launching the “Career Academy,” an HR support program aimed at increasing
the number of start-up challengers and expanding the Japanese start-up market.
This program has been selected as a model project of the “Program for Supporting HR Innovation For
Tech-startups & (x),” or “SHIFT(x),” implemented by The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry(“METI”). With METI’s support, we will contribute to the expansion of startup challenge by people
with extensive work experience in large companies, etc.

What is Career Academy?
We, at JAFCO Group, have been offering HR support for our portfolio companies, mainly the searchfor executive level candidates. While there have been successful cases that led to growth of portfolio
companies, we have also experienced not a few cases of mismatch between the candidate and theemployer, because it is difficult to determine “if the candidate is really capable of contributing to thecompany growth” through limited interview opportunities. Mismatches have sometimes caused
unfortunate consequences for both the portfolio company and the candidate who made a courageous
career change.
To address this issue, we have decided to launch the “Career Academy” as an educational institute todevelop human resources over the medium to long term, not for short-term career changes. With theaim of increasing the number of start-up challengers, the Academy will: (i) raise awareness of working
for start-up companies, (ii) promote understanding of own aptitude, and (iii) continue to provide
training support after employment. For the launch of the Academy, morich, inc., WARK co., ltd.,
FOUNDED=TODAY, and Refcome, Inc. have provided cooperation.

For more information, please contact
pr@jafco.co.jp, JAFCO Group Co., Ltd.

Press release
August 5, 2021

Career Event Information
General career events will be held regularly about every two weeks. The first event titled “Which isyour ‘better career,’ a large company or a start-up?” will be held on August 6 (Fri.).
Changing jobs to a start-up is not necessarily the right answer. This event is aimed at providing anopportunity for attendees to face their career path and deliver tips to deepen their understanding of“what is a better career?” for themselves with leading career development experts.
Date

August 6, 2021 (Fri.) 18:30-20:00 (Door opens at 18:20)

Venue

Zoom Webinar

Entry feeFree

Application website

https://www.jafco-seminar.info/careeracademy1

For more information, please contact
pr@jafco.co.jp, JAFCO Group Co., Ltd.

Press release
August 5, 2021

About JAFCO Group Co., Ltd.
Since its founding in 1973, JAFCO Group has always worked with leading entrepreneurs. The totalcommitments of its investment funds in Japan and overseas exceed ¥1 trillion and the cumulative
number of portfolio IPOs to date reached over 1,000. In addition to venture investment, we also carryout buyout investment and commit to the creation of innovative technologies and services worldwide.
As entrepreneurs’ closest partner in bringing their visions to life, we provide support in areas of HR,
marketing/ sales, and back- office operations, in addition to providing financing.
Company name:

JAFCO Group Co., Ltd.

President & CEO:Shinichi Fuki

Location:

24F Toranomon Hills Mori Tower, 1-23-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Established:

April 5, 1973

Stock exchange:

TSE First Section

No. of employees:

135 (consolidated; as of June 30, 2021)

For more information, please contact
pr@jafco.co.jp, JAFCO Group Co., Ltd.