Exploring the Future of Entrepreneurship at IVS2025: Insights from Leaders in Business Creativity

Report on the IVS2025 Panel Session

On July 3, 2025, the IVS2025 conference in Japan hosted a panel discussion titled "The Power of Initiative: Between Excitement and Profitability=". This event is considered one of the largest startup conferences in Japan and is managed by Headline Asia, a global VC. Frontier Inc., the company I represent, attended as a diamond sponsor for the third consecutive year.

The conference ran from July 2 to 4, covering three days filled with sessions. During this period, our team participated in three main sessions and hosted two side events. In this report, we will delve into the details of one notable panel session that captured the audience's attention.

Featured Speakers

The panel highlighted the experiences of successful entrepreneurs such as Hiroshi Irie, CEO of Samurai Partners, and Kohei Fujimaki, CEO of cadre. Both have honed their abilities to market and narrate compelling stories within their businesses. The discussion revolved around the mechanics of excitement and profit, revealing the underlying designs that lead to success.

Who are the Panelists?

- Hiroshi Irie: Known for establishing unique business models spanning various domains, including D2C, hotel development, YouTube production, and event management. Also a creative as the artist 'DJ I-RIE', he continues to break boundaries both in business and the creative world. He is also the showrunner for the entrepreneur reality show "Nontitle".
- Kohei Fujimaki: A serial entrepreneur who started multiple businesses while in university and successfully sold several ventures. He managed to achieve 100 million yen in sales on the first day of launching a hairdryer project that stemmed from "Nontitle". Following a stock sale, he transitioned his business to a subsidiary of a public company.
- Moderator: Sho Tanaka, CMO of Frontier Inc., who has been with the company since 2020, has led the execution of a business matching service with an impressive annual budget exceeding 100 billion yen.

Highlights of the Panel Discussion

Opening Remarks: Moderator Tanaka engaged the audience by asking who knew about the reality show "Nontitle", eliciting a strong positive response from the attendees. Following Irie's and Fujimaki's introductions, the discussion began.

Designing the First Hit: Tanaka initiated by asking Irie about the creation of ReZARD. Irie mentioned that in the beginning, well-known influencer Hikaru was relying on YouTube ad revenue, which wasn't sustainable. Thus, they decided to create their own brand to enable stable, stock-based income and avoided brand deals for the first year to rebuild their influence.

Irie proposed the idea of developing an apparel line based on Hikaru's fashion choices, which unexpectedly garnered 170 million yen in sales for just a hoodie. Tanaka asked about their profit margins, to which Irie humorously hesitated, leading to laughter in the room.

Finding Partners: Tanaka questioned how Irie sourced partners. Irie shared that he often reached out via phone or direct messaging on platforms like Facebook, emphasizing the importance of personal relationships in business dealings. They preferred direct communication to bypass the complexities of introductions.

Preparing for a Billion Yen Launch: Tanaka shifted to discuss Fujimaki's successful hairdryer launch that grossed 100 million yen on the first day. Fujimaki credited the success to the emotional commitment poured into product development during the "Nontitle" series, which resonated with viewers and created a trusting customer base.

Fujimaki focused on creating a design that stood out in the competitive hair dryer market, prioritizing functionality while ensuring aesthetic appeal, which proved to be well-received, especially among mothers.

Value of Offline Events: Tanaka raised the topic of the differentiation between "buzz-driven" marketing and effective sales strategies. Irie described the balance between online and offline content as crucial, arguing that offline connections foster a sense of pride among participants, enhancing team dynamics and sales effectiveness.

Evolving Stories into Business Ventures: Tanaka asked Fujimaki how he transitioned the popularity from "Nontitle" into business success. Fujimaki noted that leveraging personal branding and creating a visible online presence facilitated this transition, providing a psychological reassurance to consumers.

Future Initiatives: Both entrepreneurs shared future visions for their businesses. Irie expressed a goal of acquiring marquee brands like Cirque du Soleil to expand their global footprint, while Fujimaki highlighted potential innovations in fusion energy and quantum computing, in addition to continued pursuit of creative endeavors in entertainment.

Conclusion

The IVS2025 session was an engaging exploration of the intricate dance between excitement, creativity, and profitability in the entrepreneurial world. As both Irie and Fujimaki articulated their visions and strategies, the audience left with heightened anticipation of what the future holds for their innovative enterprises. As we move forward, their journeys will undoubtedly inspire future generations of entrepreneurs seeking to make their mark.

About Ready Crew

Ready Crew serves as a business matching agent connecting corporations, boasting a diverse portfolio of over 2,800 clients. Utilizing attentive communication and thoughtful solutions, Ready Crew listens to business challenges and connects clients with suitable partners. Notably, there's no charge to the initiating companies, creating a beneficial ecosystem for all parties involved.