#Japan #Tokyo #Waseda University #Value Elicitation #VETA Corporation

The Launch of VETA Corporation and its Impact

Recently, the establishment of VETA Corporation (also known as VETA) has marked a significant development in the Japanese startup landscape. Headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo, VETA is founded on the research outcomes from Waseda University, particularly from its Faculty of Political Science and Economics. Its mission focuses on alleviating frictions arising from value discrepancies. With a scheduled establishment date of April 30, 2025, VETA aims to bring innovative solutions to social issues through advanced research in the field of social sciences.

A crucial milestone in VETA's journey is the substantial investment of approximately 200 million yen from Waseda University Ventures (WUV), which is a venture capital firm linked to the university. WUV is dedicated to promoting university-derived startups that align with Waseda's core educational ethos. This investment is part of WUV's new initiative managed through the WUV No. 1 Investment Business Limited Partnership, signaling WUV's commitment to fostering ventures that engage with social science innovations.

Waseda University, celebrating its upcoming 150th anniversary in 2032, has an ambitious vision to contribute to global society through comprehensive research and education. As part of its 150th-anniversary initiatives, the university aims to evolve into an institution that significantly impacts Japanese society by harnessing its academic knowledge. Previously, Waseda has supported the establishment of startups originating from technological research within its Science and Engineering faculties; however, the inception of VETA represents a shift towards innovation emerging specifically from human and social sciences.

VETA's founding team comprises three notables: CEO Taketo Hara, Chief Science Officer Teppei Yamamoto, and Chief Knowledge Officer Airo Hino. Their combined backgrounds reflect a rich tapestry of political science expertise, where Professor Yamamoto's prominence in causal inference and political statistics plays a pivotal role in VETA's analytical framework. This includes redefining traditional survey methodologies, particularly the conjoint analysis, to provide a new tool for user feedback on personal preferences and values.

Innovative Approach: Value Elicitation Method

At the heart of VETA's offerings lies the innovative Value Elicitation method, a refinement of conventional conjoint analysis tailored for complex decision-making environments. This technique is expected to have wide-ranging applications across various fields requiring nuanced analytical insights, particularly in political science, market research, and policy-making processes. For instance, VETA is currently collaborating with Nikkei Inc. to develop a boat-match system intended for the upcoming Japanese Upper House elections scheduled for July 20, 2025.

This sophisticated approach utilizes a unique algorithm that offers users personalized feedback regarding their choices based on their latent preferences and values. Furthermore, it aspires to enhance decision-making precision in real estate and recruitment services while developing user-friendly applications that enable individuals to conduct their own analyses.

The Path Ahead

The substantial investment by WUV will play a vital role in fortifying VETA’s organizational structure as it scales its research efforts towards the Value Elicitation technique and its practical applications. By addressing the frictions stemming from differing values, VETA strives to foster societal harmony and contribute to humanity's collective progress and sustainability. This endeavor aligns with Waseda University's mission to amplify and apply academic knowledge to create real-world impact.

As VETA Corporation embarks on this promising journey, it represents not only a response to contemporaneous societal challenges but also an embodiment of Waseda University's values—where academic inquiry and societal benefit intersect, paving the way for an empowered and informed citizenry.

About the Founders

• - Taketo Hara (CEO): With a master's degree from Waseda University’s graduate school, Hara has a background as a data scientist at IBM, specializing in AI applications and business intelligence tools aimed at empowering decision-making.
• - Teppei Yamamoto (CSO): A former professor at MIT, Yamamoto's scholarly contributions lie in creating superior analytical protocols utilizing causal inference. His academic journey culminated in a Ph.D. from Princeton.
• - Airo Hino (CKO): Renowned for his expertise in political science and boat-match research, Hino has held significant academic positions, including professorship at Waseda University, solidifying his impact on social scientific discourse.

VETA Corporation Overview

• - Established: April 30, 2025
• - Location: 1-22-3 Nishi-Waseda, Shinjuku, Tokyo
• - Co-founders: Taketo Hara (CEO), Teppei Yamamoto (CSO), Airo Hino (CKO)
• - Contact: info@veta.co.jp
• - Website: VETA Corporation

Waseda University Ventures Overview

Waseda University Ventures (WUV) is dedicated to fostering startup enterprises that embody the spirit of academia. With the goal of implementing scholarly insights into society, WUV was established on April 5, 2022, and aims to contribute to societal evolution and sustainability through deep-tech investments.

• - Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo
• - Co-founders: Teppei Yamamoto, Hiroshi Ota
• - Contact: info@waseda.vc
• - Website: Waseda University Ventures

For inquiries, contact VETA Corporation via email at info@veta.co.jp.