SHIBUYA QWS
SHIBUYA QWS operates a 2,600 sqm membership-based co-creation facility on the 15th floor of Shibuya Scramble Square, serving individual innovators, project teams, corporations, and government bodies through workspace access, a proprietary "Question" methodology, and programs including the quarterly QWS Stage and the Linn Project Co-Creation Program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersShibuya, Japan
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What SHIBUYA QWS does
SHIBUYA QWS is a 2,600 square-meter membership-based co-creation facility located on the 15th floor of Shibuya Scramble Square East Building, directly above Shibuya Station in Tokyo, Japan. The facility, opened on November 1, 2019 and operated by Shibuya Scramble Square Co., Ltd. (渋谷スクランブルスクエア株式会社), provides physical workspace, structured programs, and a community platform for project-based social innovation work. Its core offering is a proprietary "Question → Encounter → Polish → Release" methodology applied across quarterly cohorts and a public QWS Challenge program that grants free project base access to accepted teams. The facility is governed in part by the SHIBUYA QWS Innovation Council (SQI Protocol), a separate membership body that organizes the quarterly QWS Stage presentation event series and runs the Linn Project Co-Creation Program.
The business operates a multi-tier membership model: QWS Project Member (team-based, 3+ people), QWS Corporate/Public Member (enterprises and government bodies), QWS Commons (expert supporters), and QWS Member (individuals), all billed monthly via the hacomono member portal. Additional revenue comes from event ticketing (QWS Stage, QWS CROSSTAGE via Peatix/credit card), SQI Protocol corporate dues (¥2M/year per corporate member, plus working-group tiers at ¥1M and ¥0.5M), and Linn Project participation fees (¥100K–¥200K per organization). The customer base spans individual innovators, project teams, and a documented roster of corporate partners and sponsors including Tokyu Corporation, Seven & i Holdings, NTT Data, Ajinomoto, Nissan, ADDReC, Ritsumeikan University, Keio KMD, University of Tokyo's i.school, and Yamanashi Prefecture.
The go-to-market motion is community-led: members are acquired primarily through referrals, the QWS Challenge public call (held approximately every three months), and corporate channels via the SQI Protocol. The facility is not a technology company — no proprietary software products, AI models, patents, or technology platforms were identified. The offering is fundamentally a physical co-working and community infrastructure with a programmatic innovation-services layer, distinguished by its prime Shibuya location, question-driven methodology, and an unusually dense cross-sector sponsorship ecosystem anchored by major Japanese corporations and a prefectural government.
SHIBUYA QWS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SHIBUYA QWS
- Legal name
- 渋谷スクランブル_square株式会社
- Website
- https://shibuya-qws.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- SHIBUYA QWS operates a 2,600 sqm membership-based co-creation facility on the 15th floor of Shibuya Scramble Square, serving individual innovators, project teams, corporations, and government bodies through workspace access, a proprietary "Question" methodology, and programs including the quarterly QWS Stage and the Linn Project Co-Creation Program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where SHIBUYA QWS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shibuya
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
SHIBUYA QWS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: SHIBUYA QWS generates primary revenue from multi-tiered membership fees including QWS Project Member (team-based), QWS Corporate/Public Member (enterprise/government), QWS Commons (expert supporters), and QWS Member (individual). Annual and monthly billing options available.
- Event Participation Fees: Revenue from events such as QWS Stage and QWS CROSSTAGE, where participants pay to attend or present. Events are ticketed via credit card or Peatix.
- Co-Creation Program Fees: The Linn Project Co-Creation Program charges participation fees: free for SQI members/university/government/QWS project members, 100,000 yen for QWS Corporate Members, and 200,000 yen for general organizations (per organization, up to 3 participants per team).
- SQI Protocol Membership Dues: The SHIBUYA QWS Innovation Council (SQI) charges annual dues: 2 million yen for corporate members, 1 million yen for WG Member A, and 500,000 yen for WG Member B (special members and supporting members are free). These fund SQI's operational activities and programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | QWS Project Member — for teams of 3 or more working on 'unknown value' projects |
| Subscription | Monthly | QWS Corporate/Public Member — for corporations and government organizations |
| Subscription | Monthly | QWS Commons — for expert supporters who resonate with QWS values |
| Subscription | Monthly | QWS Member — individual membership for creators, researchers, and corporate professionals |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Linn Project Co-Creation Program participation |
| Subscription | Annual | SQI Protocol Corporate Member annual dues |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
SHIBUYA QWS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SHIBUYA QWS operates a 2,600 sqm co-creation facility on the 15th floor of Shibuya Scramble Square in Tokyo, providing physical workspace, a multi-tiered membership system (QWS Project Member, QWS Corporate/Public Member, QWS Commons, and QWS Member), structured programs (QWS Challenge, QWS Stage, QWS CROSSTAGE, Linn Project Co-Creation Program), and the SHIBUYA QWS Innovation Council (SQI) Protocol that connects individual innovators, project teams, corporations, government bodies, and expert supporters through a question-driven innovation methodology.
Product overview
SHIBUYA QWS is a co-creation facility and community space located on the 15th floor of Shibuya Scramble Square, operated by Shibuya Scramble Square Co., Ltd. It is not a software or SaaS product company. Its offering consists of physical co-working infrastructure, community membership programs, and innovation acceleration programs — including the QWS Challenge public program for project-based members, QWS Corporate/Public Members for organizations, and QWS Commons for expert supporters. The SHIBUYA QWS Innovation Council (SQI Council) is a separate governance body that organizes the QWS Stage event series (a quarterly project presentation/pitch event) and runs collaborative programs such as the Linn Project Co-Creation Program. No named software products, platforms, or digital service modules were identified in the source data.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- QWSプロジェクトメンバー: Membership plan for teams of 3+ people working on projects challenging unknown value
- QWSコーポレート/パブリックメンバー
- QWSコモンズ
- QWSメンバー
- QWSチャレンジ
- QWSステージ
- QWS CROSSTAGE
- SHIBUYA QWS Innovation 協議会
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple projects have grown from QWS into established companies (e.g., mairu tech — a mobility startup selected for Toyota Mobility Fund's 'Mobility for ALL' program and recognized in 'Super Venture 100 2024', and Oh! My Family — a company operating the 'Childdish' online parenting support service)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use SHIBUYA QWS
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SHIBUYA QWS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
SHIBUYA QWS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.
- 株式会社NTTデータ (NTT DATA Corporation)majorNTT DATA Corporation sponsors the NTTデータ賞 at QWS Stage events, providing recognition for technology-driven projects. NTT DATA has been a consistent corporate sponsor of QWS Stage since at least 2022, using the platform to engage with innovative startups and technology projects.
- 山梨県 (Yamanashi Prefecture)majorYamanashi Prefecture participates in QWS by sponsoring a dedicated award (山梨県賞) at QWS Stage events, recognizing outstanding projects. This reflects the prefecture's interest in leveraging QWS's innovation ecosystem for regional development.
- 東急株式会社 (Tokyu Corporation)majorTokyu Corporation sponsors the 東急賞 at QWS Stage events, recognizing innovative projects. As a major Tokyo-based railway and real estate conglomerate, Tokyu leverages QWS for access to emerging startups and social innovation projects relevant to urban development and mobility.
- 株式会社セブン＆アイ・ホールディングス (Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd.)majorSeven & i Holdings sponsors an award at QWS Stage events (セブン＆アイ・ホールディングス賞), using the platform to identify innovative projects in retail, lifestyle, and community domains that align with its broader innovation strategy.
- ADDReC株式会社 (ADDReC Inc.)majorADDReC Inc. serves as the secretariat for the Linn Project Co-Creation Program, providing innovation design expertise in partnership with SQI. The company offers company awards at QWS Stage events and has been a consistent supporter since the program's launch.
- 立命館大学 (Ritsumeikan University)majorRitsumeikan University is represented in the Linn Project Co-Creation Program by 中山 郁英 (Associate Professor, College of Business Administration / Faculty of Design, Art and Design Studies) as a Theme Owner for the program's first cohort focused on 'Living and Housing.' University researchers participate for free in the program.
- 慶應義塾대학교 미디어디자인 연구과 (Keio University Graduate School of Media Design / KMD)majorKeio University's Graduate School of Media Design (KMD) is represented by 南澤 孝太 (Professor) as a Theme Owner in the Linn Project Co-Creation Program. KMD is a leading Japanese academic institution in design and technology innovation.
- 日产自動車株式会社 (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)majorNissan Motor Co., Ltd. is represented by 安東 慶人 (Senior Manager, Corporate Business Development Division, Corporate Strategy Headquarters) as a Theme Owner in the Linn Project Co-Creation Program. The company contributes automotive and mobility industry perspectives to the co-creation ecosystem.
- i.school / 東京大学 i.schoolmajori.school (University of Tokyo's interdisciplinary innovation program) is represented by 横田 幸信 (Executive Fellow, i.school / Adjunct Lecturer, Waseda Business School / ADDReC Innovation Director) as Program Facilitator for the Linn Project. i.school has a long-standing relationship with the QWS ecosystem.
- FabCafe TokyominorFabCafe Tokyo partnered with the march on / Counterpoint project on the 'FABRICATE' co-created event series, connecting makers, designers, and factory owners for collaborative innovation in manufacturing.
- 渋谷区 (Shibuya City Government)majorShibuya City Government is referenced as a key stakeholder in multiple QWS projects, including the SHIBUYA Circular Advertising Project which aims to use Shibuya's urban advertising materials for upcycling. The city provides policy support and access to public spaces for QWS community initiatives.
- 味の素株式会社 (Ajinomoto Co., Inc.)majorAjinomoto Co., Inc. has sponsored the 味の素賞 at QWS Stage events as part of its open innovation strategy, seeking接触到食品・健康・ conmemity domains through QWS's innovation community. Ajinomoto has supported multiple QWS Stage events.
- KOCA (大田区製造業創造petition / Ota Manufacturing Incubation Facility)minorKOCA is a manufacturing incubation facility in Ota Ward, Tokyo, that collaborated with the march on / Counterpoint project (a QWS Challenge alumni initiative) to connect small-scale factory owners with designers and creatives for collaborative product development.
- Shibuya Scramble Square Co., Ltd. (渋谷スクランブル Square株式会社)coreShibuya Scramble Square Co., Ltd. is the operating company of SHIBUYA QWS, managing the facility at Shibuya Scramble Square East Building 15th floor. It is also the parent company whose President (和田 卓哉) serves as the operating company's representative. The company is headquartered at 31-2 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.
- 株式会社ロフトワーク (Loftwork Inc.)majorLoftwork Inc. is one of the key partners referenced in QWS's operational ecosystem. The company is also cited in various project leader comments as a mentor organization. Loftwork's Representative Director (林 千晶) has served as a keynote speaker at QWS Stage and provides strategic mentorship to the QWS community.
- 株式会社シアターワークショップ (Theatre Workshop Co., Ltd.)minorReferenced as one of the operational partners (提携先) that may receive personal information from QWS for facility management purposes, alongside Loftwork and Transit General Office. The Scramble Hall venue is managed by Theatre Workshop.
- 株式会社トランジットジェネラルオフィス (Transit General Office Inc.)minorReferenced as one of the operational partners (提携先) in QWS's privacy policy, along with Loftwork and Theatre Workshop.
- SHIBUYA QWS Innovation Council / SQI Protocol (SHIBUYA QWS Innovation 協議会)coreThe SQI Protocol is a formal organization established on September 30, 2019 (amended March 27, 2020 and January 29, 2021) to support QWS member activities and community. It organizes QWS Stage quarterly events, manages working groups, and runs the Linn Project Co-Creation Program. Corporate members pay 2M yen/year. Officers include a Chairman and Board members. Operating company: Shibuya Scramble Square Co., Ltd.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SHIBUYA QWS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Techstars: Techstars is a global accelerator network running innovation programs in partnership with corporates and governments. Comparable to QWS as an internationally recognized innovation community, though QWS is more focused on Japan-specific community building and curated co-creation than traditional accelerator cohorts.
- Mori Building Co., Ltd. Mori Building operates premium Tokyo real estate including Roppongi Hills and Toranomon Hills, with associated innovation and startup ecosystem initiatives. Comparable as a Tokyo real-estate-led innovation platform, though broader in scale and portfolio than QWS.
- Recruit Holdings (Innovator's Kitchen / Staffstart): Recruit Holdings operates multiple innovation and startup-matching initiatives in Japan. Relevant as a broad incumbent running corporate-startup co-creation programs at scale, though its primary business spans HR, marketing, and matching platforms rather than physical co-creation facilities.
Direct peers
- Loftwork Inc. Loftwork is a Japanese co-creation company operating community-driven creative platforms and physical spaces (e.g., FabCafe, MTRL). It is both a QWS partner and a structural peer, running question-driven, community-led innovation programs for corporates and creators in Japan.
- Open Network Lab: Open Network Lab is a Japan-based startup accelerator and innovation platform operated by Digital Garage. Comparable to QWS as a Tokyo-based innovation hub running cohort programs and connecting startups with corporate partners.
- CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center) Tokyo: CIC is a global innovation campus operator with a Tokyo presence, providing co-creation space, venture clienting, and corporate-startup matching programs. Comparable to QWS in combining physical innovation infrastructure with structured corporate open-innovation services.
- Plug and Play Japan: Plug and Play Japan operates a Silicon Valley-origin accelerator and innovation hub in Tokyo, running corporate innovation programs and startup batch cohorts. Directly comparable to QWS as a curated corporate-startup co-creation platform targeting Japanese enterprise open-innovation budgets.
- Impact Hub Tokyo: Impact Hub Tokyo is part of the global Impact Hub network of innovation communities supporting social entrepreneurs and impact-driven startups. Directly comparable to QWS as a membership-based community hub running programs for changemakers and connecting them to corporate partners.
- KDDI Mugenlabo: KDDI Mugenlabo is the corporate-led open-innovation program of KDDI, running startup partnerships and innovation communities in Tokyo. Comparable as a corporate-backed innovation hub focused on cross-industry co-creation with startups, similar to QWS's SQI corporate model.
Regional players
- WeWork Japan: WeWork Japan operates shared workspace and coworking facilities across Japan. While not focused exclusively on innovation or co-creation, it competes for the same Tokyo-based corporate membership and event budgets that QWS targets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SHIBUYA QWS social profiles
Digital presenceSHIBUYA QWS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SHIBUYA QWS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
SHIBUYA QWS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SHIBUYA QWS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SHIBUYA QWS
What does SHIBUYA QWS do?
SHIBUYA QWS operates a 2,600 sqm co-creation facility on the 15th floor of Shibuya Scramble Square in Tokyo, providing physical workspace, a multi-tiered membership system (QWS Project Member, QWS Corporate/Public Member, QWS Commons, and QWS Member), structured programs (QWS Challenge, QWS Stage, QWS CROSSTAGE, Linn Project Co-Creation Program), and the SHIBUYA QWS Innovation Council (SQI) Protocol that connects individual innovators, project teams, corporations, government bodies, and expert supporters through a question-driven innovation methodology.
Is SHIBUYA QWS a public or private company?
SHIBUYA QWS is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was SHIBUYA QWS founded?
SHIBUYA QWS was founded in 2019.
Where is SHIBUYA QWS based?
SHIBUYA QWS is headquartered in Shibuya, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does SHIBUYA QWS make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are event Participation Fees, co-Creation Program Fees and SQI Protocol Membership Dues.
Who are SHIBUYA QWS's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Techstars, Mori Building Co., Ltd. and Recruit Holdings (Innovator's Kitchen / Staffstart). Direct peers are Loftwork Inc., Open Network Lab, CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center) Tokyo, Plug and Play Japan, Impact Hub Tokyo and KDDI Mugenlabo. WeWork Japan is listed as a regional player.
Does SHIBUYA QWS have an API?
No public API is recorded for SHIBUYA QWS.