From its start in July 2006, MyNet had been providing social news service Newsing (to be terminated in March), as well as customer relationship management solutions to restaurants and retailers. However, they sold their CRM solutions to Yahoo Japan and changed their focus to social games development in 2012.
In May 2014, MyNet launched outsourced growth services for mobile games to help app developers boost user numbers and revenue. They plan to use the funds to hire new people for this growth business and acquire new game titles from other developers.
This is the abridged version from our original article in Japanese. Tokyo-based Wizpra, the company that provides customer experience management (CEM) platform under the same name, announced last week that it has fundraised 230 million yen ($2 million) from Gree Ventures, Mobile Internet Capital, SMBC Venture Capital, and Mizuho Capital. Coinciding with this, Gree Ventures’ partner Tatsuki Tsutsumi and Waseda University’s business school professor Hironori Higashide has joined the board of management. Founded in March 2013, Wizpra has been providing a user experience management platform called Wizpra NPS and an employee experience management (EEM) platform called Wizpra Card. Since its launch in August 2014, Wizpra NPS has been adopted by more than 1,000 retailers in Japan, such as restaurants and fitness gyms. While the monthly fee for Wizpra NPS varies by number of users ranging from 100,000 yen ($850) to 350,000 yen ($3000), Wizpra Card will charge 400 yen per user to subscribing companies. Net Promotor Score, NPS for short [1], is one of the indicators to measure customer loyalty by asking customers one simple question — How likely is it that you would recommend [your company] to a friend or colleague? They respond on a 0 to 10 rating…
This is the abridged version from our original article in Japanese.
Founded in March 2013, Wizpra has been providing a user experience management platform called Wizpra NPS and an employee experience management (EEM) platform called Wizpra Card. Since its launch in August 2014, Wizpra NPS has been adopted by more than 1,000 retailers in Japan, such as restaurants and fitness gyms.
While the monthly fee for Wizpra NPS varies by number of users ranging from 100,000 yen ($850) to 350,000 yen ($3000), Wizpra Card will charge 400 yen per user to subscribing companies.
Net Promotor Score, NPS for short [1], is one of the indicators to measure customer loyalty by asking customers one simple question — How likely is it that you would recommend [your company] to a friend or colleague? They respond on a 0 to 10 rating scale and are categorized as follows:
Promoters (score 9-10) are loyal enthusiasts who will keep buying and refer others, fueling growth.
Passives (score 7-8) are satisfied but unenthusiastic customers who are vulnerable to competitive offerings.
Detractors (score 0-6) are unhappy customers who can damage your brand and impede growth through negative word-of-mouth.
It is reportedly easier for both sides of businesses and their customers to conduct and answer questionnaires thanks to the simple scoring system.
Based on this scoring system, Wizpra NPS provides an easy-to-answer questionnaire form optimized for smartphone users, as well as a dashboard for businesses showing them a real-time analysis of collected answers. Answers will be classified into three categories of promoters, passives, and detractors, improving the visibility of the analysis leveraging keywords extracted from collected responses.
Wizpra’s dashboard
Wizpra CEO Yoshimitsu Imanishi explained:
As we’ve seen that Apple has adopted Medallia, many companies are using NPS as the most important KPI (key performance index) in the US.
Imanishi has experience as in employee management and customer management in his career, starting as an account executive at Hitachi, followed by a stint as a Uniqlo store manager.
Imanishi continued:
What’s good about NPS is that it’s directly linked with a sales performance. We have received feedback of retailers using our service, noting that it can visualize their customer’s voice and help them consider how they should deal with customers upon their next visit to storefronts according to how high or low their loyalty is.
In this way, their user base has quickly grown to 1,000 retailers in just six months since the launch. They said that business categories of their users are also being diversified.
Translated by Taijiro Takeda Edited by Masaru Ikeda and Kurt Hanson Proofread by “Tex” Pomeroy
Net Promoter, Net Promoter Score, and NPS are trademarks of Satmetrix Systems, Inc., Bain & Company, Inc., and Fred Reichheld. ↩
See the original story in Japanese. The Asahi Shimbun, one of Japan’s leading newspapers, announced today that it will launch a crowdfunding platform called A-port in March. Tokyo-based Motion Gallery, a startup that has been operating crowdfunding sites focused on campaigns around movie productions and art projects, will support the publisher to launch and operate the platform. A-port is a business project born out of the publisher’s new business creation competition “Start Up!” in 2013. The award-winning team personnel was transferred to Asahi Media Lab, the news publisher’s incubation department, where their members have been preparing for the launch of the crowdfunding platform. Prior to the launch in March, they are receiving applications for crowdfunding campaigns. Because the platform is operated by leading news media such as Asahi Shimbun, which typically has a high information transmission capacity, crowdfunding project owners can expect to better draw people’s attention to their campaigns. These campaigns are meant to have a promotional aspect as well as providing means of raising money from backers, so the platform is expected to give a huge advantage to campaign owners. Translated by Masaru Ikeda Edited by Kurt Hanson Proofread by “Tex” Pomeroy
The Asahi Shimbun, one of Japan’s leading newspapers, announced today that it will launch a crowdfunding platform called A-port in March. Tokyo-based Motion Gallery, a startup that has been operating crowdfunding sites focused on campaigns around movie productions and art projects, will support the publisher to launch and operate the platform.
A-port is a business project born out of the publisher’s new business creation competition “Start Up!” in 2013. The award-winning team personnel was transferred to Asahi Media Lab, the news publisher’s incubation department, where their members have been preparing for the launch of the crowdfunding platform. Prior to the launch in March, they are receiving applications for crowdfunding campaigns.
Because the platform is operated by leading news media such as Asahi Shimbun, which typically has a high information transmission capacity, crowdfunding project owners can expect to better draw people’s attention to their campaigns. These campaigns are meant to have a promotional aspect as well as providing means of raising money from backers, so the platform is expected to give a huge advantage to campaign owners.
Translated by Masaru Ikeda Edited by Kurt Hanson Proofread by “Tex” Pomeroy
This is the abridged version from our original article in Japanese. Tokyo-based Chintai Joho Co., the startup behind apartment search portal Cashback Chintai, announced today that it has fundraised 100 million yen (about $849,000) from Dentsu Digital Holdings, the stock holding company of the Japan’s largest ad agency, and SMBC Venture Capital. See also: Japanese apartment search portal raises $1M Launched in November 2013 in beta, the platform listed more than 1.2 million properties as of last March. It now has over 1.8 million properties. Chintai Joho managing director Shoji Endo said it will hit the 2 million mark shortly thanks to additional features. The company will start working with aforementioned two investors in promoting business and alliance with other companies around rental property information. They will use the funds raised at this time to strengthen promotional efforts and other activities. Their portal allows property agents to list apartments on a pay-per-performance basis, which doesn’t require them to pay any adverting fee until a contract is made with a tenant. After a contract for an apartment via the website is concluded, some ‘housewarming’ reward money will be provided. At this time, the property company can be notified that a deal was been made via the website, because they are billed at this time….
This is the abridged version from our original article in Japanese.
Tokyo-based Chintai Joho Co., the startup behind apartment search portal Cashback Chintai, announced today that it has fundraised 100 million yen (about $849,000) from Dentsu Digital Holdings, the stock holding company of the Japan’s largest ad agency, and SMBC Venture Capital.
Launched in November 2013 in beta, the platform listed more than 1.2 million properties as of last March. It now has over 1.8 million properties. Chintai Joho managing director Shoji Endo said it will hit the 2 million mark shortly thanks to additional features.
The company will start working with aforementioned two investors in promoting business and alliance with other companies around rental property information. They will use the funds raised at this time to strengthen promotional efforts and other activities.
Their portal allows property agents to list apartments on a pay-per-performance basis, which doesn’t require them to pay any adverting fee until a contract is made with a tenant. After a contract for an apartment via the website is concluded, some ‘housewarming’ reward money will be provided. At this time, the property company can be notified that a deal was been made via the website, because they are billed at this time.
They launched a web magazine focused on lifestyle called Single Hack in December, exploring some additional ways to better reach potential users including content marketing and search engine optimization.
Chintai Joho was recently qualified to take part in T-Venture Program, the incubation program by Japan’s largest entertainment business conglomerate Culture Convenience Club (CCC). Leveraging this opportunity, they are planning to reach CCC’s membership base of about 50 million people.
From the left: Chintai Joho CEO Isshin Kaneuji and managing director Shoji Endo
Translated by Masaru Ikeda Edited by “Tex” Pomeroy
Tokyo-based “Tex” Pomeroy and Kyoto-based Taijiro Takeda contributed to this story. See the original story in Japanese. Osaka University Photonics Center, which conducts advanced R&D on advanced photonics including laser and nano-optics, held it’s seventh “Photonics Day” on 2nd February at the university’s Suita Campus. This project commenced as a startup/product development project in 2011. Beginning with 4 projects selected in the initial year, followed in 2012 by 3 projects and in 2013 by 2 projects, a total of 9 projects out of 44 applications are being carried out under approval; to date all projects have had some input from the university, whether at faculty or student level. Of the many project results for this year’s Photonics Day, one of the most noteworthy was “the eco-light bulb adopting a thermal radiation spectrum”. This new type of incandescent light bulb, by opening 100nm-order holes on the filament surface, enables control of hear emission. By cutting down the infrared emission level, the temperature is kept down while realizing a light-emission ratio of nearly 90% which is better than that offered by the light-emitting diode (LED converts 50% of the electric power it uses to light, while the conventional incandescent light bulb offers…
Tokyo-based “Tex” Pomeroy and Kyoto-based Taijiro Takeda contributed to this story.
Osaka University Photonics Center Executive Director Satoshi Kawata speaks at a press briefing. (Photo by Taijiro Takeda)
Osaka University Photonics Center, which conducts advanced R&D on advanced photonics including laser and nano-optics, held it’s seventh “Photonics Day” on 2nd February at the university’s Suita Campus. This project commenced as a startup/product development project in 2011. Beginning with 4 projects selected in the initial year, followed in 2012 by 3 projects and in 2013 by 2 projects, a total of 9 projects out of 44 applications are being carried out under approval; to date all projects have had some input from the university, whether at faculty or student level.
Of the many project results for this year’s Photonics Day, one of the most noteworthy was “the eco-light bulb adopting a thermal radiation spectrum”. This new type of incandescent light bulb, by opening 100nm-order holes on the filament surface, enables control of hear emission. By cutting down the infrared emission level, the temperature is kept down while realizing a light-emission ratio of nearly 90% which is better than that offered by the light-emitting diode (LED converts 50% of the electric power it uses to light, while the conventional incandescent light bulb offers a conversion ratio of only 10%).
The eco-light bulb adopting a thermal radiation spectrum (Photo by Taijiro Takeda)
White LED lighting has limitations as to wavelengths and thus seem “cold” to the human eye, while incandescent bulbs can realize full wavelengths – some restaurants still retain the old lighting system in the foods section due to this. However, large manufacturers like Panasonic and Hitachi are now dropping production of the old light bulbs so the product can gain this niche market when it becomes available widely.
Other topics such as multilateral collaboration and fund procurement were also discussed at the event. Photonics Center Executive Director Satoshi Kawata noted that he hopes to realize as is Schumpeter’s idea that “innovation is not technological revolution but the building of a new paradigm” and urged participants to actually produce results with their own hands.
Regarding other items unveiled by the Photonics Center, the website links are as below:
See the original story in Japanese.Earlier this month, T-media Holdings, the internet business-focused intermediate stock holding company of Japan’s largest bookstore chain operator Culture Convenience Club (CCC for short, TSE:4756), held its final public screening event for the first batch of its startup incubation program called T-Venture Program, in cooperation with its subsidiaries IMJ and IMJ Investment Partners. CCC is the operator of Japan’s largest bookstore chain Tsutaya. See also: Japanese entertainment retail conglomerate launches startup incubation program This program attracted 110 teams from all over the country. 41 teams made it through the first selection by the judging committee and 12 of them chosen as finalists after the second selection. CCC CEO Muneaki Masuda, serving the event as chief juror, noted that the judges have graded five factors such as value creation, potential, and branding to award 7 finalists out of the dozen. Masuda stressed that they paid close attention to each candidate as to integrity as a platform, proposal for lifestyles, natural aspects, and friendliness rather than a mere membership system. Awarded startups listed below will proceed to the second phase (Incubation 2) of the program, including an integration test with T-site, the versatile information portal site of CCC. Top Award Winner: Agrimedia Supplementary prizes: participating in the program’s…
Earlier this month, T-media Holdings, the internet business-focused intermediate stock holding company of Japan’s largest bookstore chain operator Culture Convenience Club (CCC for short, TSE:4756), held its final public screening event for the first batch of its startup incubation program called T-Venture Program, in cooperation with its subsidiaries IMJ and IMJ Investment Partners. CCC is the operator of Japan’s largest bookstore chain Tsutaya.
This program attracted 110 teams from all over the country. 41 teams made it through the first selection by the judging committee and 12 of them chosen as finalists after the second selection. CCC CEO Muneaki Masuda, serving the event as chief juror, noted that the judges have graded five factors such as value creation, potential, and branding to award 7 finalists out of the dozen.
Masuda stressed that they paid close attention to each candidate as to integrity as a platform, proposal for lifestyles, natural aspects, and friendliness rather than a mere membership system.
Awarded startups listed below will proceed to the second phase (Incubation 2) of the program, including an integration test with T-site, the versatile information portal site of CCC.
Top Award Winner: Agrimedia
Supplementary prizes: participating in the program’s Incubation 2 phase, 300,000 T-points (rewards available at Tsutaya bookstores and affiliated retailers), complimentary one-year subscription to Tsutaya Discas (mail-delivered DVD rental service).
Agrimedia CEO Takashi Morofuji
Tokyo-based startup Agrimedia provides vegetable gardens for rental in suburbs, called Share Batake. What makes them stand out from other providers is that it offers courses on vegetable farming by professional farmers and gardening advisers. Urban gardeners can participate in growing vegetables without bringing their own tools to these garden. One could grow around 20 different kinds of vegetables throughout a year and take the harvests home. The company also offers the premium option of hiring a “garden manager” for those who have no time to take care of the vegetables.
Agrimedia plans to set up a trial garden space at a T-site real store premise in the Tokyo suburb of Shonan, looking for more opportunity to reach potential customers.
Outstanding Startups Award winner: Onemore
Supplementary prizes: participating in the program’s Incubation 2 phase, 100,000 T-points (rewards available at Tsutaya bookstores and affiliated retailers)
Tokyo-based Onemore, the company behind crowdfunding platform called Green Funding, introduced its successful use case having raised for producing novel-based film “The Light Shines Only There” starring the superb Japanese actor Go Ayano. The company proposed a film production-focused crowdfunding site integrated with T-site, leveraging user attribute information associated with T-site user id to present relevant recommendations to potential crowdfunding backers. The company says, other possible merit may include allowing backers to participate in crowdfunding campaigns using T-point reward points, as well as allowing film project owners to invite backers to exclusive events promoting their films.
When a mother keeps recording a 30-second movie clip shooting her child every day for 20 days, Coto Coto’s original movie-editing engine produces a movie consisting of them. The service allows her to ask for a DVD to be sent to the grandparents who typically live apart from their grandchildren.
Coto Coto proposed setting up a booth near the kid’s space in the T-site real store, accepting movie production orders from families and giving them opportunities to enjoy the growth of their children by playing back their memories at a café nearby.
(‘Seicho Cinema’ is a trademark of Coto Coto.)
Speiclal Jury Award winner: Smaoku (Smart Auction) by Zawatt
Smaoku (Smart Auction) is a mobile app inspired by the flash sale concept, aiming to bringing a sense like being at the real auction site. The company wants to buy unwanted items from users at real T-site stores.
Speiclal Jury Award winner: Saka No Tochu (On the Slope)
Kyoto-based Saka No Tochu (On the Slope) provides a subscription-based organic vegetable delivery service, promoting low environmental-load agriculture and new agricultural workers. Japanese farmers are usually small-scaled and their yield is easily affected by natural factors. But the company aims to optimize the cultivation management and farming plans by deploying financial engineering techniques to agriculture, looking to secure valuation of the agricultural industry.
While a conversion rate from trial users to subscribed users are around 10% on typical food delivery e-commerce services, the company targets 25-30% and sees 250,000 yen (about $2,100) in a user’s lifetime value despite a per-user acquisition cost of 5,000 yen (about $42).
T-Point Award winner: Cashback Chintai
Supplementary prize: 50,000 T-points
Cashback Chintai is a platform for rental homes and apartments, charging ad costs to property owners or agents on a total-performance basis so that they have to pay nothing until tenants are found.
The platform gives cashback rewards to tenants who have signed an agreement with a property owner, so these tenants are pleased to inform the platform that the deal is conducted using it. In this way, the platform can catch up with all transactions and charge all property owners or agents whose deals are handled via the platform regardless of whether receiving any report from the latter parties.
Cashback Chintai has listed over 1.8 million properties to date, and is ranked at the top 3 in the industry. The company proposed that they would give users cashback rewards using T-points in partnership with the T-site portal.
Tsutaya Award winner: Filmarks by Tsumiki
Filmarks is a social review site focused on films. Since its launch back in June of 2013, it has acquired more than 4.5 million reviews to date. For instance, brand new film Big Hero 6 acquired 3,904 reviews comparing to Yahoo Movies with 1,451 reviews (as of this writing). It is, at least considered from the movie reviews standpoint, seen being in an invincible position.
The platform will find synergy in collaboration with Tsutaya which provides a huge variety of movie titles both online and offline.
Translated by Sumi Yo via Mother First Edited by Masaru Ikeda
Proofread by “Tex” Pomeroy
Masaru Ikeda
Takeshi Hirano
Junya Mori
The Bridge
