UNIDGE Supports Keio Electric Railway's Open Innovation Program 'My Turn' with Selected Projects and Collaborating Partners

UNIDGE's Role in Keio Electric Railway's Open Innovation Program

UNIDGE, a subsidiary of AlphaDrive, is facilitating the 'My turn' open innovation program by Keio Electric Railway. This initiative aims to foster collaboration between Keio employees and external startups, bringing innovative business ideas to life. Recently, six projects have been selected, along with their respective collaborative partners, to begin implementation and practical experimentation.

The 'My turn' program is rooted in the aspirations of Keio Electric Railway staff, encouraging them to work alongside external businesses to create new opportunities. Over 250 proposals were submitted by various departments, through which 15 ideas advanced following a rigorous document review process. These shortlisted candidates participated in hypothesis validation via customer interviews, culminating in a first review meeting in February 2025, where 11 business concepts were selected for further development.

Following the initial evaluations, the 11 approved projects called for collaborative partners starting in March 2025. These partners were selected based on matching interviews and prototyping verifications, and six specific business ideas have moved forward with dedicated collaborative partners for real-world experimentation.

UNIDGE is committed to supporting these partners throughout the entire process, from idea conception to the execution of actionable plans. The aim is to refine these projects and present findings at the final review meeting in January 2026, ultimately seeking to commercialize the innovative solutions.

Overview of Selected Projects

The following innovative projects have been recognized under the 'My turn' program:

1. Store Rescue Initiative to solve problems faced by restaurants - Proposed by Kenichi Akagawa (Restaurant Keio)
Collaborative Partner: OptiMind Inc.
Website: OptiMind
Summary: Offers logistics optimization solutions including 'Loogia' for distribution and 'ScaLe' for field service scheduling.

2. Stable Supply of High-Value Ingredients to support restaurants - Proposed by Ryosuke Tanaka (Corporate Planning)
Collaborative Partner: Aquaponics Inc.
Website: Aquaponics
Summary: Focuses on advancing aquaponics through education, farm design and construction, and operational management.

3. Doubling Happiness for those seeking love - Proposed by Natsumi Sano (Corporate Planning)
Collaborative Partner: KoiSupport Inc.
Website: KoiSupport
Summary: Engages in internet matchmaking, certification, and web development for relationship-building services.

4. CLEAN YULAND - Support services for bathing facilities to preserve local culture and community - Proposed by Jun Kimoto (Vehicle Electric Department)
Collaborative Partner: ONEBLOW Inc.
Website: ONEBLOW
Summary: Aims to create and manage sauna facilities and offer cleaning and operational support.

5. Support for Indie Artists - Proposed by Satoru Yabuchi (Digital Strategy Promotion Department)
Collaborative Partner: AnyStyle Inc.
Website: AnyStyle
Summary: Develops VTuber applications and marketing solutions to promote independent artists.

6. Cosplay Photography Event - Unique opportunities curated by Keio - Proposed by Haruka Nakamura (Railway Business Department)
Collaborative Partner: WCS Inc.
Website: WCS
Summary: Organizes events, plans content, and engages in CSR activities in collaboration with local municipalities.

Program Timeline

- 2024 July: Launch of proposal submissions from Keio Electric Railway employees
- 2024 October: Document review leading to 15 ideas that undergo hypothesis testing
- 2025 February: First round review resulting in 11 selected ideas
- 2025 March: Call for collaborative partners begins
- 2025 April-May: Matching meetings and design of test scenarios
- 2025 June: Second round review to finalize experimental projects
- 2025 July onward: Start of sequential trials
- 2026 January: Final review and confirmation of commercialized projects

For more details on the program, check the My turn Special Page or the Press Release.

About UNIDGE

UNIDGE is a strategic subsidiary of AlphaDrive, focusing on supporting new business development. They aim to facilitate not just partnerships but also substantial collaboration leading to concrete business outcomes. With a team of experienced business developers, UNIDGE has established a mechanism to ensure reproducible results in collaborative business development. In just three years, they have supported around 80 companies, demonstrating their commitment to effective and innovative partnerships.