About
About StARTs UPs
StARTs UPs is a business contest focused on the creative economy * , with the aim of developing the culture, arts and leisure industry that can solve cross-sectional social issues.
We will explore new business approaches in the cultural, artistic and leisure industries, maximize the appeal of Japan's culture and the arts, and contribute to realizing sustainable development.
*Creative economy: art, design, music, fashion, games, advertising, tourism, urban development, architecture, manga, animation, entertainment, food, etc.
[Online Information Session]
February 23 (Sun) 18:00-19:00
For details and to apply, click here
February 25th (Tue) 19:00-20:00
For details and to apply, click here
Purpose
Purpose of the project
1
Through supporting target companies, the aim is to develop and expand the market for culture, arts and entertainment, and to create jobs.
2
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By increasing awareness and understanding of the art, culture, and entertainment market, we aim to increase the number of people involved and create momentum.
Award
About the Awards
Grand Prize
ARTLOGUE Award
Sponsor Award
Details of each prize will be announced at a later date.
Outline
Recruitment and Schedule
01
Recruiting participants Thursday, February 13, 2025 - Monday, March 31, 23:59
We are accepting applications from across the country via the Internet. Regardless of the series, this is open to companies that aim to create and expand the creative economy market. Please read the application guidelines and apply through the application form.
02
Finalists selected: Early April 2025
Applications will be judged based on the documents and videos submitted.
Based on the judging criteria, the management team and judges will select six finalist teams (tentative). Successful candidates will be notified by email.
03
Art Accelerator Program Late April to early July 2025
This program is open to finalist teams and provides mentoring with experts in the creative economy.
04
Final Pitch Contest Wednesday, July 23, 2025
The pitch event will be held at the Osaka International Convention Center (Grand Cube Osaka) in Nakanoshima, Osaka. Each team will give a 5-minute presentation. After a Q&A session with the judges, the final judging will take place and the winners will be announced.
Judging
About the screening
Judging Criteria
1 Creativity and originality
The business will be judged on its creativity and originality.
2 Scalability and sustainability
The business model will be evaluated for scalability and sustainability.
3.Contribution to culture and the arts
Ideas and works will be evaluated on their contribution to the cultural, artistic and leisure industries.
4. Impact on local communities
Your ideas and work will be evaluated on the impact they have on the local community.
5. Project Feasibility
Your project will be evaluated to see if there is a realistic plan to secure the necessary technology, resources and manpower.
6. Presentation skills
Your proposal will be evaluated on whether it is communicated clearly and in an appealing way.
Judges
ASO Yoichi
Entrepreneur, Artist, Painter
Representative Director of the General Incorporated Association Entrepreneur Art Association
Founder, President and CEO of AlphaDrive Inc.
HIROSE Fuminori
Director and COO, ZOZO, Inc.
Masamichi Toyama
Smiles Co., Ltd. Representative
CEO of The Chain Museum Co., Ltd.
Takeaki Dohda
Head of Business Development at Google Venture Capital
and more!
We will inform you as soon as it is decided.
Mentor
Introducing our mentors
CREATIVE ECONOMY MENTORS
We have formed the "CREATIVE ECONOMY MENTORS," consisting of VCs, large corporations, entrepreneurs, experts, artists, communities, media, and others who will create the next generation of art, entertainment, and culture and lead the creative economy. Companies selected as finalists will be able to receive mentoring from experts in a variety of fields.
Takahiro Oka
Representative Director of Japan Startup Support Association
After experiencing many business transformations since his student days, he launched his current online mail order business in 2005. In 2013, the company was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers. Afterwards, in 2015, he formed a capital and business alliance with Rizap and joined the group. In 2016, with the cooperation of fellow IPO managers, he established the Japan Startup Support Association, a general incorporated association, to provide venture support specializing in startups with the goal of IPOs and M&A so that entrepreneurs can exit as quickly as possible. In October 2020, he was appointed visiting professor at Osaka University, where he also devotes his efforts to nurturing university-based ventures.
Kojiro Seto
Representative of bTANK LLC
Former Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan Representative for Television
Using his experience turning zero into one in a wide range of industries including entertainment, technology, and finance, he runs bTANK LLC, a company that provides strategy and tactical advisory services specializing in sales and marketing to startups.
Masahiko Haga
Visiting Professor, iU Information, Management and Innovation University
At an advertising agency, he was involved in branding for CEOs, implementing J-League concepts, developing products and businesses, and revitalizing companies' businesses. Currently, he is the organizer of the Japan Gen Z tournament for the XPRIZE Foundation, which works to solve human problems, and is also involved in the commercialization of traditional crafts and anime using the power of Japanese otaku.
Ryosuke Shiki
Creww Inc. Western Japan Area Manager
NAGOYA INNOVATOR'S GARAGE Mentor
TIB Students Entrepreneurship Development Program Supporter
Since 2020, he has been working at the Osaka Innovation Hub, supporting startups and venture businesses and working in industry-academia collaboration, where he has been deeply influenced by the passion that startups generate. Resonating with the company's vision of "creating an era of great challenges," he joined Creww Inc. in 2022. He currently serves as the Western Japan Area Manager, and is a project manager for open innovation and incubation projects in Hyogo Prefecture, Okayama City, Miyake Town in Nara Prefecture, and Toyota City.
Yukiko Inohara
Representative Director of Yamayama Co., Ltd.
She has developed multiple social businesses based on her experience of suffering from postpartum depression. "Additive-free Children's Gummy" has sold over 120,000 bags on social media, creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities from discarded fruit in Wakayama. "Kutsurogi Taino Mo Yamana" is a place that has been regenerated from abandoned farmland, and is in a depopulated area, but is inundated with families with children from all over the country. Using her experience, she is the founder of "SBC", a community for female social entrepreneurs. She has appeared in over 300 media outlets, given numerous entrepreneurial lectures, and won the Japan Entrepreneur Award. She is a mother of three siblings, aged 5th, 4th, and 1st grade.
Ryo Yamashita
Principal, ITOCHU Technology Ventures Inc.
Joined Itochu Corporation in 2017. Worked in the Finance and Insurance division, where he was responsible for the management and support of domestic and overseas group companies, M&A of domestic business companies, creation of intra-group synergies, and investment and sales support for startups. In 2022, he moved to JAFCO Group Co., Ltd. After working in investment activities mainly in startups in the Western Japan area, he joined ITOCHU Technology Ventures Co., Ltd. in 2023 and is currently in his current position.
Takanori Daicho
THE CREATIVE FUND General Partner
After joining Dentsu in 2007, he joined The Breakthrough Company GO. While providing support that leads to business growth for companies, he also implements creativity in the areas of government agencies and political parties. He is also a member of THE CREATIVE FUND, and invests in startups as a VC. I provide creative support and strive to increase value. I enjoy seeing the business grow. The contribution that this makes to society and nature is what we place the most importance on.
Ryoya Hironaka
iFund Partners
Born in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture. At independent venture capital firm iFund, he has invested in over 10 companies, mainly in consumer-oriented businesses such as entertainment, tourism, and food. He also runs the acceleration program "iFarm," which provides support from business launch to fundraising in two months.
Jun Imai
Representative Director, IMAJUN Co., Ltd.
After graduating from university, he worked at the founding of 17LIVE before joining a new business venture at Amuse Inc. In 2021, he founded IMAJUN Inc. as an emcee, and in 2023, he joined Headline Asia and was in charge of managing IVS and other projects. He also serves as an advisor for SusHi Tech Tokyo's "ITAMAE" and a judge for TIB PITCH.
Jun Kitada
ABC Dream Ventures Inc. Investment Department
Asahi Broadcasting Group Holdings Corporation Business Development Department Leader
He studied architecture and design at Kyoto Institute of Technology, and after graduating, he joined Asahi Broadcasting Television Co., Ltd. in 2007. After working as a news camera and a radio station sales department, he was transferred to the news station again in 2012, where he interviewed startups and other companies as a reporter and broadcasted on news programs. Since 2019, he has been engaged in startup investment operations at ABC Dream Ventures, the CVC of Asahi Broadcasting Group.
and more!
We will inform you as soon as it is decided.
Application Guideline
Application details
Creative Business Contest
StARTs UPs
Target companies
- Companies that aim to develop and expand the creative economy market, including culture, arts, and entertainment, and to create jobs.
- Applicants must be start-up companies (regardless of series) or new businesses of companies.
*Creative economy refers to areas such as art, design, music, fashion, games, advertising, tourism, urban development, architecture, manga, anime, entertainment, and food.
How to Apply
Please prepare the necessary documents listed on the application form and submit your application.
Schedule
Participant recruitment period: Thursday, February 13, 2025 - Monday, March 31, 23:59
Finalists selected: Early April 2025
Art Accelerator Program: Late April to early July 2025
Final Pitch Contest: Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Final pitch contest venue
Osaka International Convention Center (Grand Cube Osaka)
Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, Kita Ward, Nakanoshima 5-3-51
Venue information here >
［Organizer］
ARTLOGUE Inc.
[cooperation]
Clay Co., Ltd.
Culturepreneur Collectives
[alignment]
Japan startup support Association
As a social enterprise, we aim to solve social problems using art, and we receive social impact investment. Our vision is "Arts for Human and Planet," and we have a mission to protect and utilize cultural arts and create a world where art can be enjoyed. As an arts tech company, ARTLOGUE not only brings innovation to the art industry with the power of technology, but is also a social art media that provides dialogue and enrichment to society through art. Art has the power to bring light to people and show them the world through special and wonderful stories. We also believe that art brings people compassion, imagination, and creativity, and helps solve social issues. ARTLOGUE aims to realize a better society by utilizing the power of art.
Contact
Inquiry
[Inquiries regarding applications]
"StARTs UPs" Secretariat
E-mail: startsups@artlogue.org
[Inquiries regarding coverage of this event]
ARTLOGUE Inc.
Study: Osaka Kansai International Art Festival Office
Email: pr@artlogue.org
Phone number: 06-6467-8656