This case follows the steps taken by Kaichi Yokoyama, Moon Creative Lab’s CEO, to establish the entity as a pioneering venture studio and entrepreneurial talent development entity within the Mitsui Group. As a corporate venture, the story began in 2018 when Kaichi embarked on a mission to reshape Mitsui’s deeply entrenched traditions and pursue a new era of innovation and creativity, a need highlighted by the appointment of a task force entrusted with the role of charting the company’s strategic direction until 2030. Kaichi believed Mitsui needed to evolve from merely “connecting” to “creating” to remain relevant in an ever-evolving world and to avoid being disrupted from the outside, but rather the inside. His vision extended far beyond short-term profits; it was about investing in Mitsui’s most valuable asset: its people. Kaichi aimed to nurture curiosity, broaden employees’ perspectives and create a culture of innovation. Moon was the vehicle to bring the vision to life, a corporate venture studio that would revolutionize Mitsu’s conventional operations and mindsets by celebrating curiosity and innovation in a venture studio set up in Silicon Valley. Despite strong resistance from Mitsui’s middle management, Moon pressed on with its mission. By 2023, it had to take stock of progress and define the objectives for the next five years, as well as the KPIs that would ensure its continued relevance within the Mitsui Group in an era of increasing uncertainty.
In this episode, we dive deep into the world of early-stage venture capital with Michael Kim, founder of Cendana Capital—a San Francisco-based fund of funds managing over $2bn in assets. Since launching in 2010, Cendana has backed some of the most...
Founded in 1994, Portfolio Advisors is an experienced private markets manager with dedicated primary, secondary, co-investment, real estate and direct credit teams. In 2023, Portfolio Advisors combined with FS Investments, a pioneer in the democra...
Explore top books, websites, and podcasts recommended by IMD expert Jim Pulcrano for anyone venturing into or exploring venture capital, from entrepreneurs to investors.
As CIO at VenCap, David Clark leads the Investment Team, developing the firms’ investment strategy, fund identification, selection and monitoring. Founded in 1987, Vencap is one of the longest-established investment management and advisory firms a...
Bold and unproven ideas may struggle to attract early investment, but that doesn't mean they are doomed to fail.
In this episode of Capital Conversations, Sia Houchangnia presents a specific approach to providing effective advice and support to founders.
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Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications