Insights from Ready Crew Innovation Night at IVS2025 on New Business Creation

Overview of Ready Crew Innovation Night at IVS2025

On July 3rd, 2025, a significant side event entitled 'Ready Crew Innovation Night 2: Sharing Practical Knowledge for New Business in 2025' took place at 'IVS2025', one of Japan's largest startup conferences. Organized by global venture capital firm Headline Asia, this event has become a notable gathering for the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Frontier Inc. has sponsored this important event for three consecutive years, proudly participating this year as a diamond sponsor. The IVS 2025 conference spanned three days, from July 2nd to 4th, featuring multiple sessions in which Frontier participated and hosted side events. In this report, we will focus on the details of the side event mentioned above.

Insights from Keynote Speakers

During the event, innovators and leaders of new business development congregated in Kyoto. They shared raw and compelling discussions stemming from diverse perspectives of startups, large corporations, and the global market. Attendees engaged in candid conversations about the realities of business creation, the intricacies of decision-making, and even shared struggles that are generally less discussed in public forums.

"What is truly needed to create new businesses?" was a recurring question that set the tone for the night. The discussions were organized into two parts to capture the rich content shared.

Panelists:

- Kei Unno (CEO, IMA Inc. / CEO, Sustainable Food Asia Inc.)
- Ken Doi (CEO, ohpner Inc.)
- Shori Tanaka (Executive Director, CMO, Frontier Inc.)

Moderator:

- Sashimi Fujisawa (Business Producer)

Mindset for New Business Creation

Fujisawa initiated a critical discussion on the mindset required for launching new initiatives.

Fujisawa: "Doi-san, new businesses inherently come with uncertainty, as you mentioned earlier. It's true that what feels like a failure at first can sometimes lead to success. What mindset should we carry at the start?"
Doi: "I believe, like Unno-san, that 'as long as it’s not fatal, anything is permissible.' You must push forward despite potential setbacks—unless there’s a significant risk of failure.
The real difficulty lies in deciding whether to pursue an initiative until the end or cut it off if it seems unlikely to succeed. Experience plays a key role in continually trying and learning from failures."

Tanaka: "It’s like a poker game, isn’t it?"
All: laughter
Doi: "Exactly! Knowing when to cut losses early can be wise. Interestingly, what seems like a wasted effort might serve a purpose years down the line. Nothing is truly useless."

Bridging Different Industries for Innovation

Doi emphasized the importance of traversing varying industry sectors to create new businesses.
Doi: "New ideas often struggle to emerge within confined spheres. It's essential to step outside your circle, whether it's an entrepreneurial community, a corporate landscape, or an advertising realm. Being aware of different industry norms provides fertile ground for innovative business ideas."

Unno: "I wore an IMA shirt today that says, 'Stir things up now.' This mantra resonates with Doi-san's perspective perfectly. Crossing over different sectors reveals unique opportunities that inspire creativity."

The Role of Humanity in Business

Fujisawa pointed out how existing business models are changing in the wake of AI emergence.
Fujisawa: "Tanaka-san, how does your company determine what aspects to change versus what to retain amidst AI integration?"
Tanaka: "For me, it's clear. It comes down to whether it surpasses the emotional experience. Customers express their needs holistically, and sometimes even a minor business loss can diminish valuable human-centric elements."

The evening concluded with a notable belief: as AI advances, focusing on authentic human connections will be paramount. This philosophy reflects the unique strength of Ready Crew, which intertwines emotional understanding with business needs.

The panelists conveyed pivotal lessons learned from their journeys in new business development. The atmosphere in the room echoed with hope and possibility, encouraging attendees to embrace diverse perspectives as they stride into a future filled with innovation.

Conclusion

The 2025 Ready Crew Innovation Night at IVS2025 served as a platform for sharing insights that inspire the next wave of entrepreneurs. The real-world experiences discussed remind us that the path of business creation is often fraught with challenges but equally rich with opportunities for growth and collaborative learning. We look forward to the emergence of new challengers who will continue to push the boundaries of innovation.

For those interested in business matching services, Ready Crew connects companies with a strong network backed by insights from industry veterans. You can learn more about their services and success stories on their official website.