#Japan #Tokyo #Tobu Top Tours #Sony Acceleration Platform #FX_Base

Innovating for Tomorrow: Tobu Top Tours' New Business Contest

In an era characterized by rapid changes and evolving market demands, Tobu Top Tours Co., Ltd., headquartered in Sumida, Tokyo, has taken a significant step towards business sustainability and innovation. On January 1, the company established the Future Co-Creation Lab aimed at creating new business opportunities in anticipation of future trends. As part of this initiative, they have recently announced the launch of an internal business contest, known as the Top Idea Stage.

Purpose of the Contest

The primary goal of this contest is to cultivate a culture of challenge within the company and nurture intrapreneurial talent. Through collaboration with the Sony Acceleration Platform, which brings a wealth of experience in facilitating business innovation, the contest will not only spark creativity among employees but also provide them with valuable insights and guidance.

To kick off the announcement, an event was held featuring lectures from Sony’s internal entrepreneurs, garnering significant participation from employees. The contest is designed to encourage the generation of concrete ideas, guided by the insights from the 2030 Future Scenario. The company plans to conduct an Ideathon to discover needs that are just one step ahead, setting the stage for the development of actionable proposals.

Aiming for Business Growth

With aspirations to achieve a business scale of 1 billion yen within three years, Tobu Top Tours intends to deepen these efforts through sustainable business practices. By continuing such contests, the company aims to foster an environment conducive to challenges and embed design thinking into their corporate culture. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance the viability of innovative ideas, making corporate innovation an integral part of their identity.

Other Initiatives: FX_Base

In parallel, the Future Co-Creation Lab is also running another platform called FX_Base, which has already initiated six projects, some of which are entering proof-of-concept stages. This unique platform is designed to leverage established networks with external organizations and startups, promoting open innovation to tackle societal challenges and generate new business ventures. Once fully prepared, the initiative aims to recruit external collaborators to deepen these co-creation efforts.

Platforms Overview

The Future Co-Creation Lab consists of two core platforms: FX_Base (Future Transformation Base), which aggregates societal issues for open innovation, and TOBU_FT_Hub (The Five T’s Hub), focused on internal talent and their solutions. These platforms enable multiple projects to thrive and explore novel business opportunities systematically. Tobu Top Tours is dedicated to incorporating external expertise and validating new concepts through Proof of Concept (PoC) initiatives. Upon confirming the business viability, they aim to establish new business divisions or subsidiaries, and consider avenues such as Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) or M&A to foster societal co-creation.

The Role of Sony Acceleration Platform

The Sony Acceleration Platform, established by Sony Group Corporation in 2014, has reached its twelfth year of operation. It supports numerous new business initiatives by applying lessons learned from past successes and failures, ensuring sustainable and replicable frameworks for business development. By providing expertise and methodologies derived from hands-on experience, the platform collaborates closely with Tobu Top Tours to design systems tailored for achieving their business objectives.

In conclusion, as Tobu Top Tours embarks on this exciting journey towards innovative business development through both internal and external collaboration, the commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and proactive challenge remains at the core of their strategic vision for the future.