New ventures with global reach from "engawa KYOTO"

"0⇒1" is innovation. Creating the seed of a business from nothing.
"1⇒10" is business acceleration. Nurturing the seed to sprout.
"10⇒100" is business/industry cultivation. Growing the sprouted seed into a large tree.

"Co-creation" and "Competition." To put it bluntly, it's perfectly acceptable to team up with a competing company for co-creation. We nurture products and services to launch into the world, continuing to co-create in the third stage, "10⇒100," while competing to scale up and expand the market. I believe that unless we reach this stage, we cannot create an era that changes society or the world.

Shaping the power of extraordinary partners

engawa KYOTO is supported by the strength of diverse, purpose-driven partners.

One such partner is Plug and Play Japan, our Engagement Partner. Plug and Play is a world-class business accelerator originating from Silicon Valley. They have launched numerous consortium-based accelerations (venture projects involving multiple companies). As a gateway to the world, they connect engawa KYOTO with the global stage, serving as a business co-creation partner that helps many ventures spread their wings globally.

Plug and Play Kyoto Presentation by Saeed Amidi, CEO of Plug and Play

The other is our program co-creation partners, who join us on a case-by-case basis to bring various projects to life.

Bringing together these numerous co-creation partners is how we generate ideas from zero to one hundred. That is the "space" and "stage" that is engawa KYOTO.

The Appeal of the Program Seen in Concrete Examples

On September 5 and 6, 2019, as the inaugural program for engawa KYOTO, we held the innovation workshop "Executive Education" for the first time in Japan as the "Innovation Masterclass in Kyoto."

This program invited the Royal College of Art (RCA), the world's top graduate art and design university, ranked number one in the QS World University Rankings for Art & Design for five consecutive years since 2015. It is also a popular course where corporate executives from around the world travel to the UK to attend.

From left: Professor Jeremy Myerson, Royal College of Art; Lecturer Bahbak Hashemi-Nezhad

This two-day workshop centered on the theme "The Ideal Society for Happiness in the 100-Year Life Era." Using a globally recognized ideation framework, approximately 60 participants from diverse industries and companies collaborated to envision future business ventures. We will continue to provide ongoing support for the commercialization of these ideas.

Creating people, things, and experiences to build a company the world can be proud of

engawa KYOTO is not an exposition but a "business" that should be pursued "continuously." Its slogan, "This is the frontier of the unknown," succinctly captures this assertion: true growth is forged through friction with the outside world.

To achieve this, we must first create "places for encounters." Aspiring entrepreneurs and startups possess "passion" and "energy," but often lack "funding" and "networks." So, what should be done? There's a famous quote by Konosuke Matsushita: "Before creating things, create people." By focusing on "creating people," we advance "creating things" and "creating experiences." Through this process, I strive daily to nurture as many "world-class companies" as possible.

Think while running. That sense of speed is crucial.

The key is "thinking while running." From conception to concrete action took less than six months. By December 2018, we advanced the project to a tangible stage, and opened engawa KYOTO about seven months later.

When talking with companies in Shenzhen or Silicon Valley, they mention "T+1." This means "Today + 1 day" – a decision on whether to "do it or not" is made the very next day for anything proposed today. That sense of speed is what matters; it's not "Time is money," but rather "Speed is money."

Of course, our true purpose isn't just to make money; it's fundamentally about "Opportunity Design." We sincerely hope companies will participate in co-creation, starting from the very creation of various programs.

A space as relaxing as a kyōma room is also a source of ideas.

Photo: Shinichi Yasuda

This office is a new workspace created by entrusting its design and construction to the Sekisui House Group. In this era of 100-year lifespans, living and working are increasingly converging. Unlike traditional workplaces, Sekisui House, a leading homebuilder, has realized a space design rooted in living and life itself. We hope that in this comfortable space, incorporating residential design principles, people will bring their ideas together and shape them into innovations that become unprecedented sources of social vitality.

The ceiling height is 2400mm, the standard for Japanese homes.
The distance between each "nagashi" (plank) is 1969 mm, the same as the traditional Kyoto measurement.

Passing through a barrier-free corridor reminiscent of a back alley, you reach a "tsuboniwa" courtyard paved with gravel from the upper reaches of the Kamo River, where a Japanese camellia tree is planted.

The height of the long desk is the same as that of the dining table.
The walls feature engravings inspired by traditional veranda designs, creating a structure that can accommodate many people during program events.

On the second floor, there are five rental offices. Opposite them is a coworking space (9:00 AM - 9:00 PM) featuring a meeting room with a kitchen.

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