NTT Docomo’s Innovation Fund 4: Shaping Connections for the Future

NTT Docomo has officially announced the launch of its fourth Innovation Fund, referred to as the "Docomo Innovation Fund No. 4" (DI4 Fund). Spearheaded by NTT Docomo, NTT Finance, and NTT Docomo Ventures (NDV), this fund is set to play a crucial role in the company’s vision for growth in the 2030s through open innovation. With a total operational budget of 15 billion yen, the DI4 Fund aims to foster new connections at the intersection of technology, society, and culture.

The thematic essence of DI4 Fund is captured in the phrase, "Connect. Create. Cultivate Culture." It strives to redefine the relationships between technology, humanity, and societal values, particularly in a rapidly evolving world. The objective is to generate transformative changes in culture and industries by leveraging innovative connections among individuals, society, and technology. This vision resonates with the broader goal of the NTT Group: to harness technology and human ingenuity to create new connections that enrich our lives and society as a whole.

To achieve these ambitious goals, the DI4 Fund will focus on five key investment areas, which are integral to creating new value and industries through interconnected ramifications:

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI): This sector emphasizes harnessing AI's capabilities to bridge the gap between technology and society. The fund aims to spotlight tech and services that implement the benefits of AI while supporting initiatives that adapt our lifestyles and industries to an AI-rich environment.

2. Communication & Community: This domain seeks to explore innovative forms of communication and community building. By supporting diverse platforms and mechanisms, the initiative aims to enhance connections among individuals, particularly focusing on generations that prioritize authenticity and empathy.

3. Entertainment: Given the dynamic shifts in lifestyles and values, this area will focus on creating new experiential value in entertainment. The fund will explore ventures that promote cross-border cultural exchange and business expansion in entertainment, especially leveraging popular intellectual properties.

4. Resilience: Positioned to tackle both disaster response and geopolitical risks, this sector emphasizes the development of autonomous supply chains and systems promoting resource recycling. By leveraging telecommunications and digital technologies, it aims to establish sustainable societal infrastructures.

5. Social Impact: Addressing pressing societal challenges such as aging, loneliness, and labor shortages, this investment area will support startups tackling these issues. Projects advocating sustainability and redefining societal structures will also be highlighted.

Through the strategic focus of the DI4 Fund on these pivotal areas, NTT Docomo Ventures aims to not only accelerate new business ventures through investments in promising startups but to also respond to social challenges and create novel values for society. As NTT Docomo Ventures moves forward, it will continue to collaborate with various entities within the NTT Group to forge new pathways that will benefit both local and global communities.

In summary, the DI4 Fund is a bold initiative that seeks to redefine not just the connection between technology and society but also induce cultural evolution through thoughtful investments and innovation. As we step into a new era shaped by technology and human connections, the DI4 Fund stands as a pillar for future growth and sustainability.

Conclusion

The launch of the Docomo Innovation Fund No. 4 signifies an important step toward a future where technology and human connections thrive. It will be exciting to see how this initiative unfolds and the innovative solutions it will foster to address both present and future challenges in society.