What Sundred does

SUNDRED株式会社 is a Tokyo-headquartered private "new industry ecosystem builder" (新産業エコシステムビルダー) founded in March 2017, with the company's current strategic direction set from July 2019 when Masanobu Todome (former President of Lenovo Japan and NEC Personal Computers) joined as Representative Director, CEO & GM. The company convenes cross-sector stakeholders — large corporations, government (national and local), startups, academia, healthcare, education, and civil society — to co-create entirely new industries rather than incremental product innovation, targeting the stated goal of 100 new industries.

SUNDRED's core technology is a proprietary "New Industry Co-creation Process" (新産業共創プロセス) developed through academic-practical integration with Japan Innovation Network (JIN), operationalized across four integrated service pillars: Industry-Up Studio (新産業共創スタジオ) for ecosystem design and trigger-business acceleration, Living Labs (リビングラボ) for prototyping and social implementation across five Japanese regions (Nasu Valley in Tochigi, Nagano, Shiga via co.shiga, Akita, and Awaji Island), the Interpreneur (インタープレナー) talent platform (community of 2,800+ cross-border innovators plus the proprietary Interpreneur Competency Model), and Future Board (フューチャーボード) for dialogue-based purpose and hypothesis co-creation. Twelve or more industry co-creation projects are active, including Fish Farm (aquaculture), Flying Robotics (drones), Ubiquitous Healthcare, Happiness Capital, Personal Data, Self-Development, Beauty Integration, Forest Revitalize, Preconception Care, Nature Governance, and Regenerative Urban Farming, with named trigger businesses including Sakana Farm Inc., VFR Inc. (a VAIO subsidiary), and MoriGene Inc.

The business model combines professional services revenue (consulting and project fees from corporate and government clients including Itochu Techno-Solutions, NTT West, Canon, Shiseido, JT, Mitsui Fudosan, Fujitsu, and Fujifilm, plus commissions from Kawasaki City, Nagano City, Shiga Prefecture and others for smart city/living lab operations), enterprise training program fees (Beyond Boundaries IDP at 300,000 JPY per participant for a 5-day workshop), and a subscription e-learning product (Interpreneur for Everyone at 100,000 JPY per company per month for up to 100 users, annual contract). Government-side monetization is documented through contracts such as Nagano Smart City Commission secretariat support and Osaka Prefecture Deep Tech Startup support. Three wholly-owned operating subsidiaries were established in 2024 (MIRACLE SCIENCE INNOVATION, co.shiga, and the Interpreneur Association), and a strategic capital and business partnership with Relic Inc. was announced in January 2024.

Name

Sundred

Legal name

SUNDRED株式会社

Website

https://sundred.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SUNDRED is a Tokyo-based private new industry ecosystem builder that convenes Japanese corporations, government, startups, and academia through a proprietary co-creation methodology and four service pillars (Industry-Up Studio, Living Labs, Interpreneur community, Future Board) to design entirely new industries across Japan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. New Industry Co-creation Studio Services: Consulting and project fees for facilitating new industry co-creation with corporate and government clients, including living lab development and ecosystem building.
2. Beyond Boundaries - IDP Training Program: Enterprise training program for interpreneur development, priced at 300,000 JPY per participant (excluding tax) for a 5-day workshop program.
3. Interpreneur for Everyone e-Learning: Corporate e-learning platform subscription at 100,000 JPY per month per company (up to 100 users), with annual contract terms.
4. Living Lab Operations Support: Contracts with local governments (e.g., Kawasaki City, Nagano City, Shiga Prefecture) for smart city commission and living lab operational support services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SUNDRED provides a New Industry Ecosystem Builder service that co-creates entirely new industries for Japanese corporations, government bodies, and partners, using a proprietary six-phase co-creation process. Its offering integrates four pillars: an Industry-Up Studio that designs and accelerates industry co-creation projects, regional Living Labs that prototype and socially implement new concepts, an Interpreneur program that recruits and develops cross-border innovators, and a Future Board dialogue service that co-creates purpose and hypotheses. Beyond engagement services, SUNDRED also sells a corporate interpreneur training workshop and a corporate e-learning subscription.

Product overview

SUNDRED operates as a '新産業エコシステムビルダー' (new industry ecosystem builder) pursuing the co-creation of 100 new industries. Its core product architecture is built on four integrated service pillars: (1) 新産業共創スタジオ (Industry-Up Studio) — the central co-creation platform for new industry ecosystem design and acceleration; (2) リビングラボ — real-world living lab spaces for prototyping and social implementation across locations including Nasu Valley (ナスコンバレー), Nagano, Shiga, and Awaji Island; (3) インタープレナー — talent development and community platform for cross-border innovators; and (4) フューチャーボード — dialogue-based purpose and hypothesis co-creation tool. These four services are unified under Industry-Up as a Service for comprehensive end-to-end delivery. Supporting programs include the Beyond Boundaries – IDP training program, the Interpreneur for Everyone e-learning platform, the Nature Governance Startup Program (NGSP) under TOKYO SUTEAM, and the Akita Youth Challenge regional support program. SUNDRED also leads approximately 12 thematic industry co-creation projects across areas such as フィッシュファーム (aquaculture), フライングロボティクス (drone), ユビキタスヘルスケア (healthcare), ハピネスキャピタル (well-being), and ネイチャーガバナンス (nature governance).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 新産業共創スタジオ (Industry-Up Studio): SUNDRED's core platform for co-creating new industries, operated jointly with 一般社団法人Japan Innovation Network.
• インタープレナー (Interpreneur)
• フューチャーボード (Future Board)
• MIRACLE
• Beyond Boundaries – IDP (Interpreneur Development Program)
• Interpreneur for Everyone
• Nature Governance Startup Program (NGSP)

Products and services

• Industry-Up as a Service (新産業共創サービス) End-to-end new industry co-creation service for corporations and government. Covers social-issue-origin industry creation and the development of new growth axes. Integrates Industry-Up Studio, Living Lab, Interpreneur talent development, and Future Board dialogue into a single engagement.
• Industry-Up Studio (新産業共創スタジオ) The central co-creation platform for launching and accelerating new industry ecosystems. Operated jointly with Japan Innovation Network (JIN), it convenes cross-sector partners to co-create purpose, design ecosystems, and grow trigger businesses, targeting 100 new industries.
• Living Lab (リビングラボ) A demonstration and social implementation platform providing physical sites for prototyping new industry co-creation concepts through real-world experimentation. SUNDRED operates Living Labs in Nasu Valley, Nagano, Shiga, and Awaji Island.
• Interpreneur Program (インタープレナー) Talent development and community platform that identifies, trains, and organizes interpreneurs—cross-border professionals who drive socially-oriented value creation beyond organizational boundaries. Includes the 2,800+ member interpreneur community.
• Future Board (フューチャーボード) A dialogue-based solution for co-creating purpose and hypotheses through structured conversation. Designed to accelerate purpose-agenda co-creation and knowledge creation through facilitated dialogue and thinking programs.
• Beyond Boundaries – IDP (Interpreneur Development Program) A 5-day workshop-based practitioner program (7 hours per day) that trains cross-border innovators ('interpreneurs') to envision future-oriented societies and create industries beyond organizational boundaries. Priced at 300,000 JPY per participant (tax excluded).
• Interpreneur for Everyone (e-learning program) A two-course corporate e-learning subscription that enables employees to learn at their own pace about the interpreneur mindset and the new industry co-creation process. Covers beyond-boundaries thinking and purpose-driven thinking. Priced at 100,000 JPY per company per month (110,000 JPY incl. tax), up to 100 users per subscription, annual contract.
• Nature Governance Startup Program (NGSP) Startup support and talent development program operated under TOKYO SUTEAM, focused on nature-positive economy. Categorizes participating startups into VISUALIZATION, REGENERATIVE, OPTIMIZATION, and ALTERNATIVE, providing mentorship, field validation, and up to ¥500,000 in subsidies.
• Nasu Valley Living Lab (ナスコンバレー) A living lab established in the Nasu area of Tochigi Prefecture, operating as one of Japan's largest living lab-type co-creation communities. Provides a demonstration and social implementation field for co-creating desired future societies through cross-sector collaboration.
• Akita Youth Challenge Support Project (あきた若者チャレンジ応援事業) Regional support program operated jointly with Akita Northern Happinets to back young people's bold ideas for regional revitalization in Akita Prefecture. Provides up to ¥4 million in subsidies over 2 years plus expert mentorship and field support.
• co.shiga (Shiga Living Lab) A general incorporated association operating SUNDRED's Shiga prefecture living lab. Promotes open innovation through events such as co.shiga.5, connecting companies, academia, government, and citizens for future-society co-creation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12+ new industry co-creation projects initiated since 2019, including Fish Farm, Ubiquitous Healthcare, Happiness Capital, Flying Robotics, and Nature Governance
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• VFR株式会社coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2020Drone industry company established with VAIO as trigger business for Flying Robotics industry. Focuses on social infrastructure innovation through drone technology.
• 株式会社さかなファームcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2020Aquaculture industry platform company established as trigger business for Fish Farm industry. Operates CRAFT FISH e-commerce platform for land-based aquaculture products.
• 株式会社シェアニックcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2019Trigger business in the Ubiquitous Healthcare industry, developing digital stethoscope 'NextState' and telehealth solutions. Central role in healthcare digital transformation ecosystem.
• 一般社团法人Japan Innovation Network (JIN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint operation of the New Industry Co-creation Studio (Industry-up Studio). JIN is the co-founder organization for new industry co-creation methodology development and academic-practical integration.
• 株式会社ハピネスプラネットcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrigger business for Happiness Capital industry, developing happiness measurement and optimization solutions. Partner in ecosystem construction for well-being industry.
• 秋田ノーザンハピネッツ株式会社majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint operation of Akita Youth Challenge Support Project (Akita Living Lab). Partnership for regional youth innovation support and ecosystem development.
• Miracles Science Innovation株式会社coreStrategic or Co-development Partner100% subsidiary established March 2024 for science-based open well-being innovation. Focuses on human resource development, incubation, and PHR (Personal Health Record) businesses in medical/healthcare sector.
• 株式会社リリックmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCapital and business partnership established January 2024 for new industry co-creation acceleration. Business co-creation company supporting startup ecosystem.
• 公益社団法人経済同友会majorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in SusHi Tech Tokyo 2025 initiative for sustainable high-city tech innovation ecosystem development.
• 大阪大学名誉教授 澤芳樹先生coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive advisor to Miracles Science Innovation and founder of MIRACLE (Medical & Healthcare Innovation ReAlizing CircLE) initiative for future medical innovation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Relic Inc. Japanese business co-creation company that entered a capital and business alliance with SUNDRED in January 2024. Relic shares the same 'business creation' DNA and serves large Japanese enterprises looking to launch new ventures—an identical target customer and methodology positioning as SUNDRED.
• Innosight: Global innovation strategy consulting firm (founded by Clayton Christensen) focused on helping enterprises build new growth engines and transform industries. Directly comparable to SUNDRED's New Industry Co-Creation Process from a methodology and customer-base perspective.
• IDEO: Iconic global design and innovation consultancy that pioneered human-centered, cross-sector co-creation methodologies. Both firms monetize proprietary co-creation frameworks with enterprise clients seeking new business creation.
• Plug and Play Japan: Global innovation platform with major Japan operations running startup acceleration, corporate open innovation programs, and ecosystem partnerships. Operates with a similar community+enterprise+living-lab model aimed at building new industry ecosystems.

Broad incumbents

• ABeam Consulting: One of Japan's largest homegrown management and technology consulting firms with a sizable strategy and innovation practice. Competes for the same enterprise transformation budgets as SUNDRED, though from a broader portfolio rather than industry co-creation specialization.
• Accenture Japan (Strategy & Consulting): Global giant with a deep Japan presence and dedicated innovation/ecosystem services competing for the same enterprise new-business-creation engagements; broader portfolio but overlapping buyer.
• Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting: Big Four Japan consulting arm with significant innovation and ecosystem design practices. Competes for enterprise transformation work and offers similar industry-co-creation style engagements at much larger scale.
• DENTSU Inc. (Innovation/Transformation): Japan's largest advertising and marketing services group, which has expanded aggressively into business design, experience, and societal innovation consulting adjacent to SUNDRED's territory.

Emerging players

• Filament Inc. Japan-focused digital and innovation agency supporting new business creation for regional and enterprise clients. Listed as one of SUNDRED's own strategic partners, indicating closely adjacent scope and customer set.

Others

• NEC X (NEC's corporate venture/innovation arm): NEC's Silicon Valley-rooted innovation accelerator building new ventures from large enterprise assets. Comparable to SUNDRED's trigger-business model of spinning out new entities from corporate parents for emerging industry categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Sundred_Co
• Facebookfacebook.com/SUNDREDcorporation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sundred%E6%A0%AA%E5%BC%8F%E4%BC%9A%E7%A4%BE

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sundred