We Are Tomodachi Spring 2017

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11To create businesses based on scientific research, UTEC involves itself from even before the company foundation stage. In addition to providing capital, it supports companies over the medium and long term, helping to build executive teams and providing management consultation suited to each stage.Amount of domestic investment, left-hand scaleNumber of domestic investments, right-hand scaleSource: VEC Year Book 2016 (Venture Enterprise Center, Japan).Business activity as a start-upResearch activity in the universityCreativity and innovation/R&DSupport from UTECInitial public offering/M&AAppropriate team/leadershipSTEP 1Basic researchCompany philosophy/business strategyPrototype development/market selectionSource of funds necessary for start-up, business ownershipEarly stageMiddle stageCompetitive advantage/business plan, funding policySTEP 2Decision to start a businessSTEP 3Proof of conceptSTEP 4Business planningSTEP 5Team buildingSTEP 6Incorporation, nancingSTEP 7STEP 8STEP 9Later stageGap50.549.571.874.087.46505897467279541005001000500020112012201320142015(JPY billion)Tomotaka GojiManaging Partner and President of the University of Tokyo Edge Capital Co., Ltd. (UTEC). Graduated from the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Law in 1996. Joined the then Ministry of International Trade and Industry, where he worked on drafting legislation for venture capital funds. Earned his MBA from the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University in 2003. Co-founded UTEC in 2004.©Digital Grid©MujinNumber and amount of venture-capital investments in start-ups1. Mujin Inc. has developed a next-generation intelligent robot controller with a team of software and robotics engineers from around the world. Its Mujin Controller PickWorker won the Seventh Japan Robot Award in 2016.2. Digital Grid Inc. is conducting a business that generates power from solar panels and operates a power interchange system in areas of Tanzania lacking electric power. About 1 million people are already using the company’s service through this system.21