#Japan #Tokyo #Sports Tech #Creww

THE DOJO - TOKYO SPORTS TECH STUDIO: A New Era for Sports Innovation in Tokyo

In an exciting development for sports entrepreneurship, Creww Inc. has collaborated with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to launch 'THE DOJO - TOKYO SPORTS TECH STUDIO'. This specialized startup studio aims to create a vibrant ecosystem for sports tech innovation by providing support for budding entrepreneurs focusing on the sports sector. The official implementation of this program will commence in December 2025, and five promising startups have already been selected to participate in this groundbreaking initiative.

The Vision Behind THE DOJO

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government recognizes that the capital city is home to numerous professional sports teams and sports-related companies, creating a unique resource base that facilitates innovation in this industry. However, one of the main challenges is the lack of a sustainable ecosystem that fosters the continuous growth of sports tech startups.

To address this issue and establish Tokyo as a leading center for sports technology, the program offers comprehensive support, guiding entrepreneurs from generating ideas to testing hypotheses, validating concepts, and ultimately implementing solutions in the community. The collaboration will harness expertise from professionals within Japan's sports industry to maximize the potential of participants, creating a platform that drives innovation.

Selected Startups and Their Initiatives

A total of five startups have been selected from a pool of numerous applicants to partake in THE DOJO. Each participant brings a unique project that intends to reshape aspects of the sports industry:

1. SHIBAHU Lab.

Founder: Naoki Hara
Project: SHIBAHU, an urban IoT natural grass platform.
Hara aims to redefine golf training in Tokyo, a city with a significantly high golfing population yet limited by artificial turf and concrete environments. His vision is to utilize technology and local resources to create a sustainable and enjoyable golf training atmosphere in the city through the deployment of a prototype known as 'THE HELIX' during the program.

2. AllClip

Founder: Ikuma Uchida
Project: A camera system that automates the filming, editing, and sharing of sports videos for coaching and analysis.
Uchida expressed gratitude for the opportunity, emphasizing his determination to harness this chance as a growth platform for their business.

3. Nagoya University

Associate Professor: Keisuke Fujii
Project: A no-code analysis tool for amateur and professional athletes that translates match footage and data into a common language.
Fujii plans to develop an analytical framework based on real-world needs, ensuring usefulness and longevity in application.

4. Ioria Inc.

Founder: Genki Matsubara
Project: Utilizing the regional AI agent 'SpotsNinja' for information visualization for sports teams and their sponsors.
Matsubara aims to integrate community-focused strategies that foster engagement among local teams, sponsors, and residents, paving the way for collaborative initiatives through data-driven insights.

5. Taguru Inc.

Founder: Hiroshi Endo
Project: Injury prevention services for athletes through robotic palpation.
Endo aims to address the complete journey from hypothesis testing to social implementation, enhancing practical applications in the field with industry experts' support.

Call for Engagement

The prospective participants and organizations interested in the sports domain are invited to contact the program office at [email protected] for further information.

About Creww Inc.

Creww, founded in 2012 by Sora Ijichi, has established itself as a leader in fostering open innovation. With a track record of hosting over 550 collaborative programs and supporting around 9,000 startups, Creww pursues the vision of a world where individuals and companies can fearlessly chase their ambitions. The organization continues to build bridges for entrepreneurs not just in Japan but across Asia, reinforcing a thriving startup ecosystem.

As the program progresses, THE DOJO - TOKYO SPORTS TECH STUDIO is poised to make a significant impact, ultimately positioning Tokyo at the forefront of the global sports tech landscape.