Introducing Comprehensive AI and JV Programs for Business Succession in Japan

Launch of AI × JV Co-Creation Program by Media Incubate

In an innovative move to address Japan's business succession crisis, Media Incubate has today announced the launch of a comprehensive program that harnesses AI and joint ventures (JVs) to support businesses facing leadership transition challenges. This initiative brings together three distinct services: JV Impact Partners, AIBizImpact, and M&A Buy-Side Partners, designed specifically for firms looking to ensure continuity and encourage growth despite the looming threat of closures due to a lack of successors.

The Need for Change

As Japan grapples with an aging workforce and a severe shortage of business successors, companies that are profitable yet lacking leadership are increasingly faced with the harsh reality of shutting down. This trend, known as 'profitable closures,' poses significant risks to the economy. Furthermore, many firms are experiencing stagnation in growth and are being urged to explore new business ventures or 'second startups' to remain competitive.

Amidst this turbulent landscape, the urgency for companies to forge robust collaborations through joint ventures has intensified. While large corporations seek innovation and market expansion through JVs with firms from different industries, challenges remain in successfully forming connections with startups and other external ecosystems. Thus, a new platform that fosters collaboration across industries emerges as a critical necessity.

Overview of AI × JV Co-Creation Program

The newly introduced AI × JV Co-Creation Program aims to comprehensively address the issues related to business succession through a synergistic approach that integrates our existing services with a newly offered service, JV Asset Mapping.

1. JV Asset Mapping - A New Service for Visualizing Assets

As the first step toward creating joint ventures, the JV Asset Mapping service works to identify and visualize the critical management resources that businesses hold. This includes:

- Evaluation of managerial policies and business visions alongside existing resources.
- Thorough auditing and categorization of technology, intellectual property, human resources, networks, and organizational culture.
- Designing specific utilization models to align with JV collaborations or new business endeavors.
- Sharing outputs such as asset maps and proposal materials to illustrate findings.

2. AIBizImpact - Implementation of AI in Business

AIBizImpact offers support for visualizing managerial assets and improving operational efficiencies linking AI technology from its inception to its organizational integration. By enhancing corporate value, businesses can make themselves more attractive as partners in potential joint ventures.

3. JV Impact Partners - Support for Joint Ventures

This service aids in designing and implementing cooperation schemes among companies. By promoting cross-industry collaboration and technological partnerships, the creation of novel solutions and the establishment of new ventures can be accelerated.

4. M&A Buy-Side Partners - M&A Support from the Buyer’s Perspective

This service facilitates the resolution of challenges relating to business succession and mergers by advising on growth strategies via acquisitions and offering comprehensive proposals that include options beyond joint ventures.

Collaboration with JV Impact Lab

The AI × JV Co-Creation Program will leverage resources from the JV Impact Lab, a virtual collaboration lab operated by Media Incubate. Key features include:

- Access to a network of over 100 experts across various industries through forums such as the Future Project and the MIE executive community.
- Support for idea generation through virtual collaboration, enabling advancements from conceptual proof of value to commercialization.
- Utilizing media expertise for improved information dissemination and market visibility.

Holistic Suport Approach

The program offers a unified support strategy, integrating asset visualization, AI utilization, JV creation, and M&A assistance to ensure seamless business succession solutions. By prioritizing gradual transitions that protect corporate culture and employment, we aim to achieve sustainable growth.

Our extensive experience, having supported over 60 companies and holding more than 100 workshops, forms the foundation for our practical and strategic assistance. Additionally, our operational insights equip us to generate impactful concepts that resonate with current social trends, ensuring we effectively communicate our message to the outside world.

Who Should Participate?

This program is open to a wide range of businesses, including:

- Small and medium enterprises facing succession issues despite their ample internal reserves.
- Large corporations seeking to develop new markets through joint ventures with businesses from diverse industries or startups.
- Startups looking to scale their technologies or services by partnering with larger corporations.
- Companies with a clear agenda regarding business succession, second startups, or new business development.

Pricing Structure

The AI × JV Co-Creation Program is offered as a specialized consulting service, with costs tailored according to company size and support levels. The structure includes:

- Complimentary initial consultation (current situation analysis and proposed support).
- Program fees are subject to individual estimates based on the company’s size, scope of support, and duration.
- Options for success fees based on the establishment of joint ventures are also available for consideration.

Closing Remarks from CEO Masaki Hamasaki

Masaki Hamasaki, the CEO of Media Incubate, stated: "Our journey begins with the question: ‘What can we do for the future of our children?’ JV Impact Partners provides a transformative answer to this issue. By choosing joint ventures over mergers and acquisitions, like-minded businesses can minimize risks while producing a larger societal impact. The initiation of our JV Asset Mapping enables companies to thoroughly inventory what they value and possess, subsequently creating new succession options through the integration of AI technology and joint venture support. With this three-tiered support model, a community of experts under MIE, and cutting-edge AI technologies, we aim to cultivate a world of co-creation rather than competition, marking a new wave of innovation."

About Media Incubate

- Company Name: Media Incubate Inc.
- Founded: March 30, 2016 (established on the 10,000th day since the birth of its founder, Masaki Hamasaki)
- CEO: Masaki Hamasaki
- Location: 3-4-1 Ichigaya Sunadobuchi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 601 Idzumi Heights Ichigaya
- Services: Joint venture support (JV Impact Partners), AI consulting (AIBizImpact), M&A assistance (M&A Buy-Side Partners), investment media (PARTNER), executive community (MIE), etc.
- Website: https://media-incubate.com