Creww

What Creww does

Creww is a Japanese open innovation platform company founded in August 2012 and headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo. The company operates a cloud-based SaaS platform, Creww Growth, that enables corporations, SMEs, and local governments to design, launch, and manage open innovation programs for collaboration with startups. The platform supports the full program lifecycle — application intake, startup matching, selection, collaboration tracking, and business development reporting — and is complemented by PORT by Creww (an open innovation media platform), the 47Crewws regional program covering all 47 Japanese prefectures, Creww Capital (CVC management support), and the docks coworking space in Tokyo.

The business model is primarily enterprise SaaS subscription (Creww Growth) combined with professional services for program design, consulting, and operational support. Creww monetizes through quote-based enterprise contracts on an annual cadence, with pricing customized by company size and program requirements. The company publicly claims 650+ open innovation programs executed, 1,700+ startup collaborations, 9,000+ registered startups, and 100+ corporate clients including Tokyo Metro, Seino Group, Seibu Group, Marubeni, Nippon Life, Sompo Japan, and Ando Hazama, alongside local governments such as Hiroshima and Hyogo prefectures.

Creww has expanded internationally through wholly-owned subsidiaries in South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand, and operates a distribution network of 100+ regional banks and chambers of commerce across Japan. The company is privately held, with capital stock of ¥1,084,550,000 (including capital surplus) and no disclosed institutional funding rounds. Revenue, headcount, and investor details are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Creww

Legal name

Creww株式会社

Website

https://creww.me

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Creww, founded in 2012 in Tokyo, operates Japan's leading cloud-based open innovation platform (Creww Growth) connecting 100+ corporations and local governments with 9,000+ startups for accelerator programs, supported by regional, media, and CVC subsidiaries across Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Platform Subscription (Creww Growth): Creww generates revenue primarily through subscription fees charged to corporations and organizations that use the Creww Growth platform to host open innovation programs. The platform supports the entire program lifecycle including application management, selection processes, and collaboration tracking.
2. Program Management Services: Professional services for companies running accelerator programs, including consulting, program design, and operational support. The company also offers paid content and resources through its download materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Creww operates Creww Growth, a cloud-based open innovation support platform that enables corporations and local governments to design, run, and manage accelerator programs with startups — covering application intake, startup discovery/matching, selection, collaboration tracking, and post-program business development. The company also operates PORT by Creww (an open-innovation media platform), the 47Crewws regional program covering all 47 Japanese prefectures, Creww Capital (CVC management support), and the docks coworking space. Revenue is generated primarily through platform subscriptions and program-management/professional services.

Product overview

Creww operates a multi-product portfolio centered around open innovation support. The core offering is Creww Growth, a cloud-based SaaS platform that enables companies to launch and manage accelerator programs, match with startups, and drive co-creation projects. This platform is complemented by PORT by Creww, an open innovation media platform providing news, case studies, and insights. The 47Crewws program extends open innovation support to regional enterprises across all 47 Japanese prefectures. Creww Capital provides CVC management support for companies engaged in startup investment through co-creation. Additionally, the docks coworking space in Kamiyacho offers physical workspace for startups. Together, these products form an end-to-end ecosystem supporting the full lifecycle of open innovation—from program management and startup matching to media, regional expansion, investment, and workspace needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Creww Growth: Cloud-based open innovation support service platform for running accelerator programs between corporations/local governments and startups.
• PORT by Creww
• 47 Cruise Project (47クルーズプロジェクト)
• Creww Capital

Products and services

• Creww Growth Cloud-based open innovation support platform that enables corporations and local governments to run accelerator programs, match with startups, and manage co-creation projects from entry through to business development. Supports continuous programs for new business creation, existing business updates, and DX promotion.
• PORT by Creww Open innovation media platform that delivers news on open innovation, accelerator programs, startup information, events, and case studies. Serves as a content hub connecting startups, entrepreneurs, and companies working on social-issue themes.
• 47Crewws (47クルーズプロジェクト) Regional open innovation initiative supporting local companies and regional banks in accelerating innovation with startups. Covers all 47 prefectures of Japan, connecting regional enterprises with startup partners.
• Creww Capital Startup co-creation type CVC (Corporate Venture Capital) management support service that helps companies manage and operate their corporate venture capital activities in connection with open innovation programs.
• docks Co-working space located in Kamiyacho, Tokyo, that provides startups with workspace and supports their growth activities. Reservations can be made through Peatix.

Quantifiable outcome

• 650+ open innovation programs executed
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• SOMPO Japan (損保ジャパン)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026SOMPO Japan, SOMPO Risk Management, and cosmobloom signed a collaboration agreement for space debris reduction and sustainable space initiatives. SOMPO Risk will expand its space business support services by promoting cosmobloom's de-orbit devices to reduce orbital risks.
• Niigata Nippo (新潟日報社)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Niigata Nippo Open Innovation Program 2026 - Niigata's largest newspaper company collaborating with startups using their media reach (320,000 circulation) and regional network.
• Pacific Consultants (パシフィックコンサルタンツ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Pacific Consultants Co-Creation Program 2025 - Selected 6 startups for collaboration in disaster resilience, GX (green transformation), and data utilization.
• Hyogo PrefecturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025HYOGO Visionary Days and Hyogo Open Innovation Challenge - Hyogo prefecture's ongoing open innovation program operated by Creww, promoting regional startup ecosystem development.
• Real MadridflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Creww × Real Madrid Next Accelerator for Asia - a global co-creation program selecting Asian startups for collaboration with Real Madrid. This is Creww's flagship global open innovation initiative.
• Hiroshima PrefectureflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023The Meet Hiroshima Open Accelerator - Hiroshima prefecture's flagship program matching 16 municipalities with startups to solve regional challenges. 3-year cumulative: 926 proposals, 93 selections.
• Regional Banks & Chambers of CommercecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 13 August 2012100+ regional banks and chambers of commerce partner with Creww to promote local innovation and connect regional enterprises with startup ecosystem.
• Creww KoreacoreOthersSubsidiary operations in South Korea for regional open innovation expansion.
• Creww TaiwancoreOthersSubsidiary operations in Taiwan for regional open innovation expansion.
• Creww ThailandcoreOthersOperations in Thailand for regional open innovation expansion.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Techstars: Global accelerator network running mentorship-driven programs with corporate partners. Comparable to Creww's accelerator program model and corporate-startup collaboration focus, though Techstars emphasizes equity-based accelerators vs. Creww's program-as-a-service.
• Startupbootcamp: Global network of industry-focused startup accelerators with corporate sponsors. Comparable as a corporate-partnered accelerator platform, though more equity-driven than Creww's program-services model.
• Plug and Play Tech Center: Global startup accelerator and corporate innovation platform operating programs for major enterprises across multiple verticals. Directly comparable to Creww as a corporate-startup matching and accelerator platform, though operating globally versus Creww's Asia-centric focus.
• Agorize: Paris-based open innovation SaaS platform enabling corporations to run innovation challenges, hackathons, and accelerator programs with startups. Closest functional analog to Creww Growth with similar enterprise-startup matching workflow and corporate buyer base.
• KDDI ∞ Labo: Japanese corporate-led accelerator run by KDDI focused on startup collaboration across multiple verticals. Comparable to Creww's corporate accelerator model though tied to a single telecom sponsor versus Creww's multi-corporate platform.
• Leave a Nest: Japanese deep-tech startup support and corporate innovation company running accelerator programs and research collaborations. Direct Japan-market peer with overlapping customer base (corporates, regional governments) and similar open-innovation support services.
• 500 Global (500 Startups): Global venture firm and accelerator with strong presence in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Comparable as an accelerator-and-startup-matching platform with similar geographic expansion trajectory (multiple regional hubs).

Others

• Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO): Government-affiliated trade and investment promotion organization running startup support programs in Japan and Asia. Comparable as an enabler of corporate-startup cross-border collaboration and regional ecosystem development, but as a public-sector entity rather than a commercial platform.

Peers

• MassChallenge: Global zero-equity accelerator operating industry-specific programs in partnership with corporations and governments. Comparable to Creww's large-scale accelerator programs and corporate/government partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• Deloitte Tohmatsu Innovation Consulting: Large consulting firm offering corporate innovation, open innovation, and venture client advisory services to Japanese enterprises. Adjacent competitor for enterprise open innovation budgets, though as part of a much broader consulting portfolio rather than a focused SaaS platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/creww_me
• Facebookfacebook.com/creww.me
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/creww

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 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 Creww