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Is "Lifework" the Key? The Realities of Utilizing Professional Talent and Launching a Business — 5th Startup League Academy Digest Report —
The 5th "Startup League Academy" was held on November 5, 2025.
This event featured a special session by Mr. Shoji Okamoto, President and CEO of Mirai Works, Inc. and a member of the steering committee. In the value-up session, Fish Pass Inc. and Transtep Inc. took the stage, engaging in lively discussions with experts to further accelerate their businesses.
■ Special Session: "The Forefront of Talent Utilization in Startups"
The session's theme was "The Forefront of Talent Utilization in Startups." Mr. Okamoto (pictured), drawing on his experience from founding his company through its IPO to its current business diversification, spoke about how startups should leverage professional talent.
He particularly emphasized the concepts of "lifework" and "ricework." Many talented professionals are seeking not just work for living (ricework), but also work for self-fulfillment and social contribution (lifework). By creating resonance with their vision and the social significance of their business, startups can attract top talent to join projects as their "lifework," even for nominal compensation (sometimes as low as 30,000 JPY). Mr. Okamoto shared examples from his own company where utilizing such professional talent (like external CFOs and PR specialists) was key to business growth, from the early startup days to around the time of the IPO.
Regarding business launches, he also shared how a freelance business, started not from meticulous ROI calculations but from a pure desire to "help a friend in need," later connected with regional revitalization and reskilling projects. His message that "new value is born as businesses connect through continued trial and error without giving up on the vision" greatly encouraged the participating startups.
■ Value-Up Session by Fish Pass Inc.
Fish Pass Inc. has captured an overwhelming market share with "FISH PASS," an app that digitizes recreational fishing licenses for fisheries cooperatives nationwide. Leveraging this foundation, they aim to expand into a biodiversity business (including corporate ESG support) using "environmental DNA" technology (a technique that can identify an ecosystem from a single cup of water).
In the session, challenges were presented regarding the growth strategy for this new business, the areas to focus on, and the pros and cons of an IPO.
In response, experts proposed a concrete strategy: by linking environmental DNA technology with the timely social issue of "bear sightings," they could market a specific solution—such as "understanding bear habitats from river water"—to rapidly capture social attention and corporate demand.
■ Value-Up Session by Transtep Inc.
Transtep Inc. develops and provides "Toretel," an AI solution that addresses the information gap for subsidies and grants, which 94% of Japanese companies reportedly cannot access.
During the session, they shared a challenge: while currently offering a beta version, they want to increase interviews with "companies that actively use subsidies" to further verify and improve the product's value, but they are struggling to find these contacts.
Experts engaged in an in-depth discussion about the business model. They pointed out that a paid SaaS model for large corporations might be difficult due to the nature of subsidies (often a one-time use with low continuity). Instead, suggestions were made that a model offering the service "completely free" to individuals and SMEs to rapidly gather users (data), and then partnering with "support institutions" like financial institutions, VCs, and accountants, or an advertising model, might be more scalable.
■ Get the Full Report and Feel the Event's Energy on Social Media!
More details from the heated sessions will be shared in a full report to be released at a later date.
We will announce the latest information on our official X (formerly Twitter) account, so please follow us and stay tuned for updates.
Official X Account:https://x.com/startupleaguejp
You can also search the hashtag to feel the real-time excitement of the day!
Recommended Hashtag:#StartupLeagueAcademy
■ ICT Startup League
This is a support program launched in FY2023, initiated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' "Project for Supporting R&D for Startup-driven Prototyping."
The ICT Startup League supports startups through four pillars:
① R&D Funding / Hands-on Support
Up to 20 million JPY in R&D expenses is provided as a subsidy. Additionally, for hands-on support, the selection committee members involved in choosing the league members continue to stay involved post-selection to promote growth. A "booster-like" support system is in place where committee members who strongly advocated for a company's selection provide ongoing support themselves, offering advice on business plans and providing growth opportunities.
② Discovery & Nurturing
We provide opportunities for learning and networking to promote the business growth of league members.
We also focus on discovering individuals aiming to start businesses, working to expand the base of entrepreneurship.
③ Competition & Co-creation
It serves as a place for positive competition, much like a sports league, with a system where startups learn together, challenge each other, and win the funding they truly need (up to 20 million JPY). We also provide a venue for co-creation, where league members can collaborate and expand their businesses through various opportunities, including sessions with selection committee members.
④ Promotion
We promote the initiatives of league members in collaboration with the media! By helping more people learn about their businesses, we aim to expand opportunities for new matching and chances.
■ Related Websites
ICT Startup League
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Fish Pass Inc.
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Fish Pass Inc. (Official Website)
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Transtep Inc.
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Transtep Inc. (Official Website)
