The Declaration of Startup Friendly Kansai

関西ベンチャーフレンドリー宣言

Under the Kansai Startup Backing Initiative, we aim to make the Kansai region a highly innovative area full of creativity and fully open to the world. To this end, now that a startup ecosystem is emerging in the Kansai region, we hereby announce that all supporting companies are quite positive in: inheriting a dynamic corporate culture typified by a unique way of thinking as well as a “Just try it” culture, both of which we have long fostered; and staying close beside next-generation entrepreneurs striving hard to launch new businesses, thereby providing them with necessary support. August 6, 2018

[Our Overview] (Dear startups) Given that the Kansai region has historically produced many entrepreneurs, we believe that the region has the potential ability to produce and raise entrepreneurs in modern society. In recent years especially, business enterprises, local governments, universities, etc. have taken a growing interest in nurturing startup companies, thereby intensifying support activities for startup companies. However, these efforts have only led to the region being dotted with startup companies that are not integrated into a single combined system of startup companies and start-up corporations. Among others, increased efforts for open innovation would be required from large companies and startup companies. To enable the Kansai region to achieve further growth, it is vital to break the status quo to revitalize Kansai’s startup ecosystem. This has prompted us to announce the Kansai Startup Backing Initiative, aimed at deepening cooperation between existing companies and new startups. Asked about big hurdles faced in opening up a business, many startup companies cited their being turned away at the door due to lack of past trade performance when they approached existing companies, as well as business-building and development of marketing networks, technical support, management of funds, etc. To solve these problems, we have called upon business enterprises and other organizations willing to provide consultation on these matters. Their category of business covers a broad range, including financing, trading houses, manufacturing, IT firms, and infrastructure-building. You are encouraged to actively use the opportunities offered under the bolstered system.

[Supporting Companies as of July 21, 2021](in alphabetical order)（90companies in total） Industry Company / organization name Construction DAIWA HOUSE INDUSTRY CO., LTD ／ SHIMIZU CORPORATION Manufacturing AIR WATER INC. ／ BANDO CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD. ／ DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD., ／ Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. ／ KOKUYO Co., Ltd ／ KONAN ELECTRIC CO., LTD. ／ KUBOTA Corporation ／ MARUICHI STEEL TUBE LTD. ／ MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC Corporation ／ Mitsuboshi Belting Ltd. ／ Nakanishi Metal Works Co., Ltd ／ Sanoyas Holdings Corporation ／ Suitousha Co., Ltd. ／ Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Electricity, Gas OSAKA GAS CO., LTD ／ The Kansai Electric Power Company, Incorporated Information and Asahi Broadcasting Group Holdings Corporation ／ Global Cyber Group, Inc. ／ ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation ／ KANSAI TELEVISION CO. LTD．／ communications Micware Co., Ltd. ／ NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE WEST CORPORATION ／ NTT DATA Corporation ／ Proassist, Ltd. ／ SOPPRA Corporation ／ The Asahi Shimbun Company ／ THE KOBE SHIMBUN ／ TIS Inc. Transport and postal ART CORPORATION ／ Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. ／ JR West INNOVATIONS CO., LTD. ／ Kintetsu Group Holdings Co., Ltd ／ MAGUCHI HOLDINGS CO., activities LTD. ／ Nankai Electric Railway Co., Ltd. Wholesale and Retail trade DIGITAL ALLIANCE HOLDINGS CO., LTD ／FELISSIMO CORPORATION ／ ITOCHU Corporation ／ Iwatani Corporation ／ MANIX Co., LTD. ／ Mayatec Co., Ltd. ／ Mitsubishi Corporation ／ Rock Field Co., Ltd. ／ SEIBUNSHA Co., Ltd. ／ Sewing Takeuchi Co., Ltd ／ SHINYEI KAISHA ／ Sumitomo Corporation Finance and Insurance Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Co., Ltd. ／ Japan Bank for International Cooperation ／ JAPAN FINANCE CORPORATION／ Mercuria Investment Co., Ltd. ／ Mizuho Bank, Ltd. ／ MUFG Bank, Ltd. ／ NANTO BANK, LTD ／ Nippon Life Insurance Company ／ ORIX Corporation／ Resona Bank，Ltd．／ SUMITOMO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY／ Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation ／The Bank of Kyoto，Ltd．／ The Minato Bank, Ltd. ／ The Senshu Ikeda Bank, Ltd. Real estate Hankyu Hanshin Properties Corp. ／ SHIOYA TOCHI CO., LTD. ／ XYMAX KANSAI Corporation Scientific research, Daiko Advertising Inc. ／HAKUHODO Inc. ／ Healthy City Design Institute Inc. professional and technical services Accommodations, eating Hotel New Awaji Co., Ltd ／ Hotel Okura Kobe Co., Ltd ／ KOBE PORTOPIA HOTEL Co., Ltd. and drinking services Medical, health care and Fukunishi Dental &Oral Surgery Clinic welfare Services, N.E.C Anderson Mori & Tomotsune ／ ARCO PATENT & TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS ／ Hirakawa Shoji Co., Ltd. ／ KAWAMURA & FUJIOKA LAW OFFICE／ LIKE, Inc. ／ Nakatsukasa Certified Public Accountants Office ／ Peach Corporation Co., Ltd. ／ USJ LCC GOVERNMENT Japan Israel Chamber of Commerce Kansai (JICC Kansai) ／ JETRO（Japan External Trade Organization） ／ National Center for Industrial Property Information SERVICES and Training (INPIT) ／ Nippon Export and Investment Insurance Academia, Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) ／ Kansai University. ／ Osaka Prefecture University ／ The Consortium of Universities in Research Institute Osaka ／ The OSAKA UNIVERSITY Research Association of Industry and Science

[Method for utilization and explanatory notes] • If you wish to receive advice from a supporting company, you are requested to contact us with the content described. It should be noted that depending on the content, your requirements may not be met. • If you have scheduled an interview, you may be requested to be accompanied by an interpreter (Japanese).

[Contact info for inquiries] 【Kansai Association of Corporate Executives】KIZU Mitsuaki／KAGAWA Akihiko, Planning and Research Department [email protected] 【Kobe Association of Corporate Executives】 DOHMOTO Kunimitsu ／YAMAMOTO Chizuru [email protected] [Contact Persons at Respective Companies] (Note) If you wish to contact any of the persons indicated with an asterisk(※), you may contact the Secretariat of the Kansai Keizai Doyukai to reach that person. 【Research Institute】 NAKAJIMA Junsaku, Business Development Office 【Sogoshosha (General Trading Company)】 YOSHIYAMA Satoko, ATR（Advanced Telecommunications [email protected] ITOCHU Corporation Kansai Research & Business Development Department Research Institute International ） [email protected] 【Insurance (Non-life insurance)】 【Osaka】TAKEGUCHI Masafumi, 【Systems Integrator】 FUJIE naohiro, General Manager Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Co.,Ltd. Deputy General Manager, Kansai 1 st Corporate Production ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation [email protected] Dept, Business Development Division 【Trading】 UEDA Naomasa, Future Co-Creation Lab [email protected] Iwatani Corporation [email protected] 【Kobe】NUNOTANI Hiroyasu, 【Airlines】 (※)KAGAWA Akihiko /KIZU Mitsuaki Kobe Branch Regional Strategy Office Manager Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. Kansai Association of Corporate Executives [email protected] [email protected] 【Materials/Processed Materials】 KUSABA SHUN, Senior Manager, Corporate Technology 【Bank】 TAKAO Sumie, AIR WATER INC. Strategy Center,Business Strategy Department Japan Bank for International Cooperation General Manager, Business Innovation Department [email protected] [email protected] 【Law firm】 NISHIMURA Tsunaki, Representative of Osaka Office 【Policy-based financial institution】 New and Venture Business Support Promotion Division Anderson Mori & Tomotsune [email protected] JAPAN FINANCE CORPORATION [email protected] 【PATENT & TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS】 【Kobe】NAKAO Masaru, Presiding Partner 【Other】 Director and Secretary General ARCO PATENT & TRADEMARK [email protected] Japan Israel Chamber of Commerce Kansai [email protected] ATTORNEYS ➢ Support / advice on intellectual property management 【Government Related Organization (Trade and Industry Alliances and Investment Promotion Division (technical and product know-how management and rights Investment Promotion)】 JETRO Osaka acquisition), not on behalf of rights applications JETRO（Japan External Trade Organization） [email protected] 【Moving Business】 TANAKA Shigenori, 【Railway business, regional activation】 Research Group ART CORPORATION Manager of Corporate Planning Department JR West INNOVATIONS Co.,LTD [email protected] [email protected] 【TV Broadcasting Company】 SAKAGUCHI Takaharu, 【Certified broadcasting holding company】 (※)KAGAWA Akihiko /KIZU Mitsuaki KANSAI TELEVISION CO. LTD． Managing Director, Business Strategy Division Asahi Broadcasting Group Holdings Kansai Association of Corporate Executives [email protected] Corporation [email protected] 【University】 KITATANI Mari, 【Manufacturing】 OIKAWA Masahiro, New Business Promotion Center, Kansai University. Division of Community and Business Partnerships BANDO CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES,LTD. Innovation Promotion Department [email protected] [email protected] 【law office】 (※)KAGAWA Akihiko /KIZU Mitsuaki 【Manufacturing(air conditioning equipment)】 (※)KAGAWA Akihiko /KIZU Mitsuaki KAWAMURA & FUJIOKA LAW OFFICE Kansai Association of Corporate Executives DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD., Kansai Association of Corporate Executives [email protected] [email protected] 【Manufacturing (transportation equipment and Innovation Department,Corporate Planning Division 【Advertising】 MORISHITA Shigeo, industrial goods)】 OHDATE Hideaki [email protected] Daiko Advertising Inc. Department Manager,Business Incubation Team Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. YOSHIZAWA Kodai [email protected] [email protected] 【Transportation】 (※)KAGAWA Akihiko /KIZU Mitsuaki 【Rea Estate，Housing，Construction，Development】 FUJII Masaaki, Manager, Corporate Strategy Planning Department Kintetsu Group Holdings Co., Ltd Kansai Association of Corporate Executives DAIWA HOUSE INDUSTRY CO.,LTD [email protected] [email protected] 【Services】 UEDA Yoshihide, Business Management Office General manager 【Hotel】 YABUTA Makoto, Director, General Affairs Division DIGITAL ALLIANCE HOLDINGS CO.,LTD [email protected] KOBE PORTOPIA HOTEL Co.,ltd [email protected] 【Community-based direct】 MIURA Takuya, 【Manufacturing(Stationery, Office furniture)】 Chairman Office FELISSIMO CORPORATION NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Div Operating Officer KOKUYO Co.,Ltd. [email protected] [email protected] 【Manufacture and sale of hydraulic and OTOMO Eiichi, Director, Planning Department 【Dental Care】 FUKUNISHI Keihachi, Executive Director, Ph. D. pneumatic equipment】 [email protected] Fukunishi Dental &Oral Surgery Clinic [email protected] KONAN ELECTRIC CO., LTD. 【SoftwareBusiness】 Startup Friendly desk 【Industrial machinery(Agricultural machinery, etc.)】 SHUTTA Katsuyuki ,ASANO Tetsuya, President’s Office Global Cyber Group, Inc. [email protected] KUBOTA Coporation [email protected] 【Advertising agency】 FUKUDA Kyoya, Business Design Consultant 【Services】 OKAMOTO Hirotaka, HAKUHODO Inc. [email protected] LIKE, Inc. Executive Officer, Directer of Business Strategy Department 【Real Estate】 TSUDA Chikako /NIKAWA Kengo, Community manager [email protected] Hankyu Hanshin Properties Corp. [email protected] 【Logistics, Forwarding, Warehousing, Automotive】 YAMASAKI Yoshiya, Startup Division 【Architect office】 IGAKI Takako, Chief Executive Officer MAGUCHI HOLDINGS CO.,LTD. [email protected] Healthy City Design Institute Inc. [email protected] 【Wholesale Trade】 MATSUDA Koji, President 【Real Estate/ Amusement】 TODA Tatsuki, Financial Executive Officer MANIX Co., LTD. [email protected] Hirakawa Shoji Co., Ltd. [email protected] 【Manufacturing(Steel pipe)】 (※)KAGAWA Akihiko /KIZU Mitsuaki 【Hotel】 INABA Sayuri, Corporate planning office MARUICHI STEEL TUBE LTD. Kansai Association of Corporate Executives Hotel New Awaji Co., Ltd [email protected] [email protected] 【Hotel】 NAKAMURA Masakazu, Management Planning 【Ship equipment wholesales】 TANABE Hiroyasu, General Manager Hotel Okura Kobe Co., Ltd [email protected] Mayatec Co., Ltd. [email protected]

【Investment Advisory, Investment NAKANO Shimpei, Business Investment Department 【Manufacture and sales of delicatessen （sozai）】 AMANO Masaru, Manager, Public Relations Section Management, Type II Financial Instruments [email protected] Rock Field Co., Ltd. [email protected] Business】Mercuria Investment Co., Ltd. 【Shipbuilding & Engineering】 NAKAJIMA Masaki, Director (Corporate Planning Dept.) 【Software Vendor】 TOKUHARA Hideaki, Sanoyas Holdings Corporation [email protected] Micware Co., Ltd. Executive Officer, Operation Unit 【PAPER PRODUCT TRADING】 TANAKA Satoshi, SALES DIRECTOR [email protected] SEIBUNSHA Co., Ltd. [email protected] 【General Trading Company】 MITSUI Michitaka, 【Textile product manufacturing and wholesale business】 TAKEUCHI Yuta, Director Sales Pepresentative Mitsubishi Corporation Deputy General Manager, Business Planning ＆ Sewing Takeuchi Co.,Ltd [email protected] Development Dept., Kansai Branch 【General contractor】 SAIKA Motoi, KANSAI Branch Staff Project Development Dept. [email protected] SHIMIZU CORPORATION [email protected] 【Manufacture and sales of electrical and Kansai Branch office Marketing Research & Business 【Trading Company】 NAKANISHI Tetsu, Executive Officer, General Manager, electronic products and systems】 development Dep. SHINYEI KAISHA Corporate Strategy Division MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC Corporation [email protected] [email protected] 【Manufacturing Industry】 INOUE Koki, General Manager, Corporate Planning Division, 【Property Management and Development】 MINAMI Kaoru, Sales Manager Mitsuboshi Belting Ltd. [email protected] SHIOYA TOCHI CO.,LTD. [email protected] 【Banks】 (※)KAGAWA Akihiko /KIZU Mitsuaki 【Software Industry】 Kenji Kugimiya, Mizuho Bank, Ltd. Kansai Association of Corporate Executives SOPPRA Corporation General Manager IT Solution Promotion Dept. [email protected] [email protected] 【Banks】 NAGAYAMA Katsuhiko, Vice President 【Manufacturing】 MAKINO Yuuka,Planning＆General Executive Section MUFG Bank, Ltd. [email protected] Suitousha Co., Ltd. [email protected] 【A manufacturer of bearing retainers】 WADA Tohru, 【Sogoshosha (General Trading Company)】 Okamoto Takeshi, Nakanishi Metal Works Co., Ltd [email protected] Sumitomo Corporation General Manager for External Affiars in Kansai Area Japan, 【Chartered accountant/Certified tax accountant】 NAKATSUKASA Hiroyuki, President Planning & Coordination Dept for Japan Region Nakatsukasa Certified Public Accountants Office [email protected] [email protected] 【Transportation Business,Real Estate Business,Distribution New Business Department,Innovation Creation Division/ 【Non-Ferrous Metal】 MIYAMOTO Kojiro, Secretarial /Planning & Research Office Business,Leisure Services Business,Construction Business】 Planning Department, Community Development and Creation Division Sumitomo Electric Industries,Ltd. [email protected] Nankai Electric Railway Co.,Ltd. [email protected] 【Insurance】 WATANABE Sho, Assistant Manager,Next Business Planning Dept. 【Banks】 TABANA Teruhisa, Regional Business Creation Division SUMITOMO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY [email protected] NANTO BANK,LTD [email protected] 【Banks】 OJIMA Daisuke, Growth Business Development Dept. OHIGASHI Nobuyuki, Nanto Capital Partners Co.,Ltd Capitalist Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation [email protected] [email protected] 【Newspaper, digital media, events】 YAMAHIRA Shinichiro, 【Government Related Organization】 OHKAWA Takuro, Kansai Office Deputy Director, The Asahi Shimbun Company Office of the Representative, Osaka Head Office National Center for Industrial Property Department of Enterprise Services [email protected] Information and Training(INPIT) [email protected] 【Banks】 MAMIYA Nozomu, Corporate Planning Division, Corporate 【Insurance】 Underwriting Group, Osaka Branch Office, The Bank of Kyoto，Ltd． Consulting Division, Assistant Manager Nippon Export and Investment Insurance [email protected] [email protected] 【Insurance】 Deputy General Manager (of Innovation Office) 【Non profit organization】 NISHIMOTO Satoko, Director Nippon Life Insurance Company [email protected] The Consortium of Universities in Osaka [email protected] 【Telecommunications business】 Business Design Department 【Utility】 IWAMOTO Yosuke, Manager, Innovation Development NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE OZAKI Hiroshi [email protected] The Kansai Electric Power Group, Office of Corporate Planning WEST CORPORATION MATSUURA Katsuta [email protected] Company,Incorporated [email protected] 【Software】 MORIGUCHI Shunji, Manager, Corporate Planning Division 【Newspaper】 ONO Hideaki NTT DATA Corporation YAMADA Mitsuhiro, Deputy Manager, Corporate Planning Division THE KOBE SHIMBUN [email protected] [email protected] 【Regional banks】 KURAMOTO Yoshihisa 【Financial services】 Corporate Communications Department The Minato Bank, Ltd. [email protected] ORIX Corporation HAYASHI Hideto [email protected] 【General Foundation】 TAKAMORI Akira, OKU Yoshitomo [email protected] The OSAKA UNIVERSITY Research Executive director 【Gas utilities】 Corporate Research Office Association of Industry and Science [email protected] OSAKA GAS CO.,LTD [email protected] 【Regional banks】 AOTA Tsuyoshi, Vice President,Relationship Promotion Division 【University】 HIDAKA Tomonori, Officer The Senshu Ikeda Bank, Ltd. [email protected] Osaka Prefecture University [email protected] 【Comprehensive IT service】 MIWA Akisato, Section Manager of Western Japan 【Human resource development, Event planning】 SAKAI Mari, President TIS Inc. Technology & Innovation Office Peach Corporation Co.,Ltd. [email protected] [email protected] 【Design and development of control equipment HASHIMOTO Hideki, 【Entertainment】 External Affairs Dep. / Sensing and control technology development】 R&D Planning Dept, Manager USJ LCC FUKUSHIMA Hidenori [email protected] Proassist, Ltd. [email protected] MAEDA Naomi [email protected] 【Banks】 KAWABE Atsushi, Group leader 【Corporate Real Estate】 GOKURAKUJI Kenji,Kobe reagional office, General manager Resona Bank,Ltd. [email protected] XYMAX KANSAI Corporation [email protected]