Press release
- TBM
TBM holds “CEO Audition – NEXT Unicorn –” and begins recruiting presidents aiming to become a unicorn company in collaboration with Japan CEO Association
~ Now accepting entries from challengers who want to tackle global issues ~
TBM Co., Ltd., Ltd. (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Nobuyoshi Yamasaki, hereinafter referred to as TBM) will be holding the "CEO Audition - NEXT Unicorn -" in cooperation with the Japan CEO Association (Head office: Kyoto City, CEO: Chiho Tanaka, hereinafter referred to as the Japan CEO Association). This project will be co-hosted with Team Energy Co., Ltd. (Head office: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, CEO: Tadashi Tanaka).
The government has designated 2022 as the "first year of startup creation," with the goal of creating 100 unicorn companies and 100,000 startups, with the aim of making Japan one of the world's leading startup clusters. This project, together with the Japan CEO Association, is looking for CEOs who will tackle global issues and aim to become unicorn companies. Those who pass the audition will be provided with the environment and support necessary for business activities through TBM. This audition-style project is aimed at entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs who have the will and passion to tackle global issues and a vision to become unicorn companies in the future. There are no age, experience, or business plan requirements for participation.
・“CEO Audition – NEXT UNICORN –” Official Website: https://ceo-audition.com/unicorn/
◾️Background
・ The significance of addressing global issues
Addressing global issues such as climate change, environmental destruction, and resource depletion, and transitioning to a carbon-neutral, circular economy is essential to passing on a healthy environment to future generations. A major shift in postwar industrial and energy policies is required. Currently, with the evolution of technology, "GX" (Green Transformation), which transforms the fossil energy-centered industrial and social structures that have existed since the Industrial Revolution to clean energy-centered structures, is attracting attention as a new growth field. The Japanese government has announced a policy to invest more than 150 trillion yen in GX in the next 10 years, both public and private. It is necessary to take advantage of Japan's world-class decarbonization technology strengths to create new markets and demand that contribute to solving global environmental and social issues, put Japan's economy back on a growth track, and lead to future economic growth and expansion of employment and income.
・ The importance of a CEO aiming for a unicorn company
CEOs who aim to become unicorn companies focus on promoting innovative ideas and technologies. Such innovation provides new value to the market and contributes to the progress of the entire economy. However, Japan has few unicorn companies compared to the rest of the world, and the number of unicorn companies created is also lagging behind the rest of the world. The reason for this is that there is a deep-rooted risk-averse culture among Japanese companies and entrepreneurs, which leads to modest investment in innovative ideas and business models, and there are challenges in various areas such as securing startup talent and difficulty in raising large amounts of capital. Each challenge is intertwined, and a virtuous cycle has not been created. In order to overcome these challenges, this project aims to discover challengers who aspire to become unicorn companies through an audition format and create the next unicorn company with the backing of TBM, which became the sixth unicorn company in history in Japan.
◾️Features of this project
・ No business plan required, no experience or age requirement
The CEO Audition's philosophy is to bring out the potential of everyone to become a president. Therefore, a business plan, which is emphasized in conventional business contests, is not required, and experience and age are not an issue. The biggest feature is that the door is open to anyone. The only thing that is asked is the passion to pave your own path as a president and the determination not to give up no matter what.
・ Everyone has a path to becoming a president, and there are many different types of managers.
Whether you have time constraints due to childcare or elderly care, health handicaps, or past failures, everyone has the opportunity to become a company president and a path that suits them. We are collecting many paths to becoming a company president from all over Japan and the world, and contributing to expanding the opportunities and paths to becoming a company president.
・ A place that benefits all participants, not just those who pass
The mission of the CEO Audition is to have those who take the first step take home benefits, not just the outcome of becoming a president, but also the networks built in the project, an understanding of their own characteristics, friends they can make through the participant community, paths to becoming a CFO or COO other than CEO, and regular learning opportunities.
(Examination process)
The CEO Audition is a two-stage screening process that examines the will and passion to become a CEO, the desire to tackle global issues, and whether the person has the personality to be a CEO. Successful candidates will then move on to the Challenge Stage, where they will give a presentation about themselves in front of the judges and receive direct feedback from the judges. There are four opportunities available at the Challenge Stage: 1. Support for starting a business, 2. Consideration of commercialization and partnership within the TBM Group, 3. Other opportunities (mentoring, information exchange, etc.), and the TBM Award, in addition to an opportunity to dine with Representative Director and CEO Yamazaki.
(overview)
<Schedule>
Entry period: January 25, 2024 - March 31, 2024
First round: April 1, 2024 - April 16, 2024
Second round: May 13, 2024 - May 28, 2024
Challenge Stage: June 29, 2024
＜Target＞
・People who want to start a business or are thinking about starting a business
・People who want to become intrapreneurs/entrepreneurs
・New entrepreneurs
・People who have started a business but want to grow and take on bigger challenges
<Conditions>
・Age/experience not required, no business plan required
・We evaluate the applicant's enthusiasm and passion to become a president, and their character.
・Evaluate your passion and awareness of issues regarding starting a business, founding a company, or new venture
■ Judges' comments
Yamazaki Nobuyoshi (TBM Co., Ltd. CEO and Representative Director)
TBM is a deep tech startup specializing in the sustainability field. Since its founding in 2011, TBM has been enhancing the assets of "technology," "human resources," and "partners" required in the sustainability field under the banner of "Sustainability Revolution." The environmental market, including decarbonization and circular economy businesses, will grow explosively in the future. TBM has gathered management and members who are eager to contribute to the world with Japanese technology, but we still need more challengers to realize the "Sustainability Revolution." We are looking for like-minded people who will solve the various social issues facing the world, create solutions to realize a sustainable society, and make a positive impact on the world with overwhelming scale and speed.
Seiji Nakamura (CEO, Team Energy Sustainable Inc. / CEO, Geo Dreams Inc.)
"Stand apart from people who are laissez-faire. Don't leave innovators alone." Facing a lack of innovation in Japan, many companies fear risk and rest on their vested interests. However, true change comes from challenges. As an unlisted company, we have the freedom to pursue new challenges, but shareholder expectations and market pressure can slow us down. I hope that the CEO candidates who resonate with this project and apply will throw a stone at this trend and keep the flames of innovation burning. Let's promote innovation and build a supportive community to once again bloom the potential of Japan. There is great joy and value in moving away from laissez-faire and supporting innovators, who are a minority. Let's create a new future together.
■ A special talk event will be held on Monday, February 12th (National Holiday)
A special talk event will be held between TBM CEO Nobuyoshi Yamasaki and Team Energy Sustainable CEO Nakamura, entitled "The Challenges of Unicorn Companies Facing Global Social Issues."
・Date and time
Monday, February 12, 2024 (National Holiday)
15:30 Reception starts / 16:00 Event starts /
17:30 Event end (planned)
·Venue
Tokyo Innovation Base
3-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005
SusHi Tech Square 2F
For details and to apply, please see below.
https://nextunicorn.peatix.com/