Launching a New Business Through an In-House Venture

SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation is implementing a Startup Support Program (hereinafter, “SUP”).

For new business ideas that have passed internal screening, SUP provides support in the form of human resources, funds, and know-how necessary to prepare for commercialization. Any employee of SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation can apply for SUP. The aim of SUP is to develop new markets, strengthen competitiveness, and create corporate value by allowing employees to plan new businesses with free ideas, without being bound by their existing work.

SUP is looking for projects that provide new value to society in line with “Space for your Smile,” which is our Group Mission and Sustainability Policy, convey the appeal of the Group and foster new connections, and create competitiveness unmatched by other companies by leveraging the Group’s business assets, customers, etc. Once the submitted business plan undergoes an internal review and has been approved, the applicant will become the project leader and will carry out activities aimed at launching the business.

After applying, the first steps are a document screening and presentation screening. The business plans that pass the screenings are then subject to a feasibility study (verification for commercialization). With a focus on commercialization in a short cycle, we verify feasibility and commercialization based on three points: verifying hypotheses regarding solving customer issues (existence of customers), verifying hypotheses regarding marketability, and verifying hypotheses regarding business feasibility. The company provides all the necessary funds, personnel, and other resource to enable employees to flexibly work on the feasibility study (hereinafter , “FS”). The company also conducts a detailed examination of the FS plan, executes FS verification items, and provides mentoring in a way that is tailored to the applicant. Finally, if the FS determines that there are no problems with the business plan in terms of solving customer issues, marketability, and business feasibility, we will proceed with development as a business.

Additionally, to support new business proposals by employees, we provide learning tools, mentoring, and collaborative creation with internal and external parties. For example, employees can use News Picks Learning (e-learning) as a learning tool for freely taking courses such as “Methods for Developing New Businesses” and “Design Thinking.” They can also easily share their ideas within the company. We have also established a place for interaction in the in-house portal named “Idea Seeds,” where employees can gather colleagues, introduce external partners, and gather knowledge.

Since SUP started in 2018, the program has received many applications from employees and 13 of those applications have been selected. We would like to introduce two of the proposals that have been launched as projects.

Space SDGs: Aiming to maintain a sustainable space environment

The first is the JSAT debris removal project. As a company whose business field is space, the space environment is one of the environmental issues which requires action by the Group. We have identified “initiatives to remove space debris” as a materiality and are proceeding with initiatives. Currently, business development and technology development are being carried out in the Space Systems Engineering Division of the Space Business Unit. The division is designing and developing the world’s first satellite which uses lasers to remove space debris.

Solving regional issues and creating added value for sports business

The second is a business project for arenas and stadiums. Currently, the business is being developed as Sol Levante Sports Co., Ltd., which was established by a total of six companies including SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation.

Moving forward, we aim to provide solution services for solving various problems and creating value. For example, we will provide comprehensive support for attracting non-sports events to stadiums and other facility management companies throughout Japan and monetizing those events through video broadcasts, etc. We will also provide consulting for local governments to open new facilities. As a company that promotes initiatives to address issues faced by the sports and entertainment industry, Sol Levante Sports is expected to continue growing in the future.

In addition to the two projects introduced above, we have received many applications and business plans. Currently, employees are volunteering to refine business plans and work toward applications. Please expect great things from the future challenges of our employees. As part of efforts to create value for the Group, we will continue to operate SUP, which allows employees of any position to proactively propose and commercialize business ideas.

(as of September 29, 2023)