In March 2013, while a student at Kyoto University, Shono took part in a Silicon Valley workshop organized by OIH. Shono already had a job lined up from April at an IT consulting firm listed on the First Section, but five days in Silicon Valley changed Shono’s outlook on life.
Shono had long had the idea at the core of today’s business: “Couldn’t warranty cards be managed with IT?” But there was no burning desire to “start a business no matter what!”
Even going to Silicon Valley was just a matter of “since I’m joining an IT company, I want to see the holy land of IT.” But a mentor met there encouraged Shono, saying, “That idea is interesting, so why not start a business?” and Shono quickly turned positive. “If I proposed a new business at the company I was joining, there was a good chance it would be dismissed as impossible. Then let’s take the challenge now.” Once the decision was made, Shono moved fast.
In the six months until registering the company that October, Shono researched needs and thoroughly prepared the challenges and solutions for managing warranty cards with IT. Shono looks back on meeting investors as “lucky,” but it was undoubtedly the result of thorough preparation. The month after registering the company, an investment was made, the first for Nippon Venture Capital as well, and the company raised 10 million yen. It had crossed the “Devil River” and the “Valley of Death” in one go.
Now in its fourth year, the company has seven employees, and Shono’s main job is putting together business partnerships based in Tokyo. But the head office remains in Osaka. The reason: “Support in Osaka is incredibly passionate”.
“Funding is more plentiful in Tokyo, and business partnerships are in Tokyo too, after all. But because there are also more ventures there, the media is more likely to pay attention if you call yourself a ‘regional venture.’ And you can’t get something like the OIH Startup Acceleration Program (OSAP) in Tokyo. Valuing connections between people is a warm culture unique to Osaka.”
As Shono experiences how “a president is busy and lonely,” the relationships with peers and mentors met through OSAP may be what recharges Shono’s energy.
Finally, we asked about the next vision. “Our goal is for people all over Japan to use Warrantee. I’d be happier to hear ‘I use it too! It’s handy!’ than to go public.” Aiming for the day when the idea that got a push in Silicon Valley spreads throughout Japan, Shono’s efforts continue.
Interview year: 2017