Press Release

Tokyo, JAPAN - Japan Airlines (JAL) has been awarded as a “Top 100 Global Company” in Corporate Startup Stars 2024, alongside a “Special Award” for its in-house venture arm W-PIT.

[Left] Candace Johnson/ICC Executive Board Member
[Middle] Shiro Matsuzaki/Japan Airlines, Strategic Investment Director at JAPAN AIRLINES VENTURES
[Right] Alberto Onetti/Chairman, Mind the Bridge

Corporate Startup Stars Awards, organized by International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Mind the Bridge, recognize trailblazing international companies in the area of corporate-startup collaboration. These awards highlight a spectrum of strategic innovative approaches ranging from venture client to corporate venture capital (CVC), from intrapreneurship and accelerators to corporate venture builders.

For this year’s CSS, JAL's commitment through a variety of open innovation approaches, especially through its CVC known as JAPAN AIRLINES VENTURES (JALV) was highly evaluated.

The recent investments through JALV include:
●PowerX (Tokyo, JAPAN) - a developer of EV charger to drive the world's transition to a decarbonized future through renewable energy
●REGENT Craft (North Kingstown, RI, USA) - a manufacturer of all-electric seagliders for sustainable maritime mobility
●Captura (Los Angeles, CA, USA) - a developer of Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) technology which removes CO2 from the ocean water

Alberto Onetti, Chairman, Mind the Bridge said: “JAL has demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering corporate-startup collaborations at global level. Specifically, through its CVC arm ‘JAPAN AIRLINES VENTURES (JALV)’, JAL has made impactful investments in areas like mobility, digital, and sustainability. These investments, including in startups like PowerX, REGENT, and Captura, underscore JAL's role in driving decarbonization and innovation in the aviation sector, also through the integration of technologies into its operations, such as Direct Ocean Capture.”

Takao Suzuki, Executive Officer, Innovation, Japan Airlines said: “It is a great honor to receive this prestigious award. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all of you who have continued to support us. We believe that this award is the result of the collaborative efforts of our teams in Silicon Valley in the United States and our headquarters in Tokyo, working as JAPAN AIRLINES VENTURES. Encouraged by this award, we will continue to promote innovation based on co-creation with startup companies around the world and take on the challenge of creating new value that will contribute to the global society of the future.”

In addition, JAL’s in-house venture arm “W-PIT”, the intrapreneurship platform, also received a special award for its unique and powerful model for transforming a traditional legacy organization into a more innovative entity.

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International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is the institutional representative of more than 45 million companies in over 170 countries. ICC’s core mission is to make business work for everyone, every day, everywhere. Through a unique mix of advocacy, solutions and standard setting, we promote international trade, responsible business conduct and a global approach to regulation, in addition to providing market-leading dispute resolution services. Our members include many of the world’s leading companies, SMEs, business associations and local chambers of commerce.
For more info: https://iccwbo.org

Mind the Bridge
Mind the Bridge is a global open innovation platform, providing services and products to corporates and local startup ecosystems. Headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices in Barcelona, Seoul, Tel Aviv, New York and Milan, it has been working as an international bridge at the intersection between startups and corporates since 2007. Mind the Bridge scouts, filters, and works with 10,000+ startups a year supporting global corporations with open innovation initiatives that translate into curated deals with startups (POCs. procurement, investments, and/or
acquisitions). It also provides corporates with advisory services and benchmarking on innovation strategies and structures. Mind the Bridge developed MTB Ecosystem, an AI-powered open innovation matching platform for innovation ecosystem hubs and corporates.
For more info: http://mindthebridge.com

Japan Airlines
Japan Airlines (JAL), Japan’s first private aviation company, was established in 1951 and is a member of the oneworld® Alliance. The airline operates a fleet of 227 aircraft (as of March 2024) and began renewing its international long-haul aircraft with the Airbus A350-1000 starting 2023 Winter Schedule. Together with other JAL Group and partner airlines, JAL offers an extensive domestic and international network that serves 384 airports across 66 countries/regions. The airline has received numerous accolades for its exceptional service, including being recognized as a certified 5-Star Airline by Skytrax and being awarded the prestigious "World Class" Airline title by APEX, the Airline Passenger Experience Association. The airline is dedicated to ensuring the highest standards of flight safety and overall service quality, striving to be the most preferred airline by customers worldwide.
For details and to learn more, visit JAL's official website at https://www.jal.com/en/

JAPAN AIRLINES VENTURES and Japan Airlines Innovation Fund
JAPAN AIRLINES VENTURES (JALV) serves as the Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) arm of Japan Airlines, dedicated to driving innovation at the forefront of the airline industry. Established in 2019, the Japan Airlines Innovation Fund is a strategic initiative focused on advancing mobility, digital transformation, and sustainability. With an investment team based in San Francisco, CA, and business development teams primarily located at the Tokyo headquarters in Japan, JALV bridges global innovation ecosystems to shape the future of aviation.
For more information, visit: https://japanairlinesventures.com/

W-PIT
Wakuwaku-Platform Innovation Team (W-PIT), established in 2017, serves as an in-house venture arm and a dynamic platform for open innovation and intrapreneurship, driving corporate innovation. Comprising over 230 employees fueled by entrepreneurial passion, W-PIT collaborates with cross-industry partners to bring visionary ideas to life. Notable achievements include pioneering the development of a sauna tourism ecosystem and crafting immersive experiences that celebrate Japan’s rich rural landscapes and cultural heritage.