On September 13, 2024, Spacewasp Inc. spoke on the Open Innovation Stage at the Japan Open Innovation Festival.
Our project has been selected for the Nagoya City Lab, a demonstration project aimed at realizing “Nagoya as a Global Testbed City.” Starting from the 2023 fiscal year, demonstrations will be conducted in Nagoya City.
Demonstration Operator:
Spacewasp Inc. (https://spacewasp.net/)
Headquarters: Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture
Demonstration Implementation Field:
Name: SLOW ART CENTER NAGOYA
Main Operator: Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.
Overview: Opened in March 2024 on the site of the former Nagoya City Education Hall, the center serves as a hub for artists, university researchers, and companies/schools, aiming to enhance the vibrancy of the Sakae area.
Solution Used in the Demonstration:
Product/Service Details:
We will convert plant waste (such as pruning waste from street trees, old timber from traditional houses, and flower stems and leaves) into resin.
This resin will be shaped into interior materials and furniture using large 3D printers and board manufacturing machines, providing interior spaces.
Products created can be reshaped multiple times, allowing us to offer sustainable interiors with zero waste.
Demonstration Content:
We will install conceptual furniture, interiors, and construction materials (like flooring) made from plant waste that would otherwise be incinerated throughout the facility, including in the restaurant (see right image).
By creating noteworthy products and spaces, we aim to verify whether there is demand for purchasing sustainable furniture, as well as the impact of these initiatives on attracting visitors to the facility.
Post-Demonstration Business Development:
Based on the effects observed from the installation of our products during the demonstration, we will explore opportunities to expand to facilities managed by Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. (the operator of SLOW ART CENTER NAGOYA), as well as to other real estate developers and public facilities.
Our representative, Isezaki, will be speaking at the entrepreneur networking event “GIFU IGNITE #12,” which will be held on September 25, 2024.
Our project has been selected for the “Aichi Environmental Innovation Project,” which aims to create and implement environmental innovations originating from Aichi Prefecture.
Our project focuses on a circular economy business model that effectively utilizes local resources.
[Production and Remake of 100% Plant Waste-Derived Interior Materials]
We use only plant waste, such as vegetable scraps, fruit peels, and wood waste, as raw materials.
Utilizing technology for resin conversion and processing, we manufacture and remake interior materials for buildings, including construction materials and furniture.
https://www.pref.aichi.jp/press-release/env-innovation-project2024saitaku.html
On August 5, 2024, the Gifu Startup Conference 2024 was held, and we were certified as a Gifu Prime Startup for the 2024 fiscal year.
Spacewasp Inc. (CEO: Hayato Isesaki), a company providing plant-derived interior spaces from various plants on Earth, has raised a total of 51 million yen in a pre-seed round through the issuance of J-KISS type stock options. The investors include Kashiwa Corporation, NOBUNAGA Capital Village Inc., OKB Corporation and Meinan M&A Corporation, Hibiya Kadan Co., Ltd., Zaisou Mokuzai Co., Ltd., Goto Mokuzai Co., Ltd., Shinnichi Kogyo Co., Ltd., and individual investors.
The modern construction and interior design industry faces its greatest challenges in the past 50 years, including a shortage of skilled workers, rising construction costs, and extended project timelines, necessitating fundamental changes. Additionally, there is a growing global demand for environmental measures and sustainable resource use.
Spacewasp Inc. addresses these issues by developing and manufacturing interior materials from plant waste and providing interior spaces using these materials. By connecting plants and interiors through a circular economy, Spacewasp aims to revolutionize the industry with innovative solutions that could become the new infrastructure of future architecture.
Spacewasp Inc. transforms plant waste generated by various industries such as forestry, agriculture, food processing, and transportation into interior spaces (including interiors, furniture, and building materials). These interior solutions are provided to businesses that require them, such as hotels, offices, and cafes. Our unique service encompasses everything from resinizing plant waste and proposing designs to manufacturing products and developing specialized machinery in-house.
We are already collaborating with numerous companies interested in our business. Additionally, we are expanding into the development of interior spaces for space structures using the same technology.
This fundraising aims to create an interior space for our showroom using plant-derived resin, the first of its kind in Japan. It also aims to strengthen our supply chain by increasing and improving manufacturing equipment and hiring related personnel. We plan to work closely with our investors to achieve the following goals:
・Attract individuals who resonate with our mission and are eager to take on global challenges together.
・Develop new clients for our products and space designs.
・Accelerate the development of automated manufacturing factories and sales platforms.
・Build a supply chain and business model that covers everything from plant waste collection to interior space provision.
In anticipation of future business growth, we are particularly focused on strengthening our recruitment efforts. We are actively seeking talented individuals who resonate with Spacewasp’s vision, are passionate, and can work with a sense of ownership. Interested candidates can contact us at recruit@spacewasp.net.
Koji Yamada, Kashiwabara Corporation (JAPAN CON-TECH FUND)
“Kashiwabara Corporation has overseen many projects in the interior renovation field, and we invested in Spacewasp because of their innovative approach of using 3D printers and plant-based materials for interior spaces. As a construction company focused on contributing to a sustainable future, we are excited to leverage our combined expertise to create new spaces.”
Masaki Ota, Leader of Investment Department, NOBUNAGA Capital Village Inc.
“We are thrilled to join Spacewasp at this pre-seed round. With the rising costs of building materials and the increasing demand for environmentally friendly products, Spacewasp’s technology to create sustainable spaces using upcycled materials offers new value and solutions to societal challenges. We look forward to strengthening our business collaboration as a regional financial institution.”
Takeshi Ohashi, Associate, Venture Investment Team, OKB Capital Co., Ltd.
“In the increasingly important circular economy, the unique combination of plant waste materials and 3D printing technology has immense growth potential. We invested from the OKB4S Circular Fund, operated with Meinan M&A of the Meinan Consulting Network. We are committed to accelerating support for Spacewasp, a promising startup from Gifu.”
Hiroaki Miyajima, President, Hibiya Kadan Co., Ltd.
“The innovative business model of Spacewasp, combining DX and SX with planning, design, and manufacturing of space components using plant waste, aligns closely with our sustainability efforts. We see significant added value and anticipate growing together as business partners.”
Kotaro Suzuki, Executive Director, Zaisou Lumber Co., Ltd.
“As a comprehensive wood company promoting SDGs and providing wood for the housing construction market, we recognize that plant-based materials, like wood, can contribute to a decarbonized society. We invested in Spacewasp, believing their upcycled products will help build a sustainable society.”
Eiichiro Goto, President, Goto Lumber Co., Ltd.
“We invested, seeing the potential of Spacewasp’s business to embody the circular economy by utilizing Japan’s forest resources cascade-wise. We strongly feel the consistency in CEO Isezaki’s passion, energy, and the journey leading to the current business.”
Yusuke Kinoshita, President, Shinnichi Industry Co., Ltd.
“We deeply resonate with Spacewasp’s mission to establish a circular economy through the development and utilization of plant waste-based interior materials. We added our support to their integrated approach of planning, development, and manufacturing. We look forward to exploring wider collaboration possibilities, including using waste materials for office spaces and exhibitions.”
PR TIMES
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000002.000139959.html
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Press Release Contact Information
For inquiries regarding this press release, please contact:
Spacewasp Inc. Contact: pr@spacewasp.net
Spacewasp Co., Ltd. will be exhibiting at the Fujinokuni Cellulose Circular Economy International Exhibition, which will be held on October 24 and 25, 2024.
https://www.fujinokuni-cnf-2024.com/expo/index.html
https://www.pref.shizuoka.jp/sangyoshigoto/kigyoshien/shuseki/1054121.html
We have been selected among the top 250 startups globally in SLINGSHOT, one of Southeast Asia’s largest startup competitions.
SLINGSHOT is a core program of the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH), an innovation conference organized by Enterprise Singapore.
SLINGSHOT HP：https://slingshot.agorize.com/en/challenges/2024-edition
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOFD03C9T0T00C24A6000000/
https://x.com/LBS_localnews/status/1799972649415946417
[From Gifu] Startup Spacewasp is transforming plant waste into furniture and interior materials, creating a resource-cycling business. Collaborators include the flower shop Hibiya Kadan.
Here is the full video (free article).
Sumitomo Realty & Development Co., Ltd. opened a new incubation office, “GROWTH Bunkyo Iidabashi,” within the Sumitomo Realty Iidabashi Building (2-3-21 Koraku, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo) on June 3, 2024, and we have delivered our product to this location.
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https://mainichi.jp/articles/20240603/pr1/00m/020/225000c
