Open Innovation Program Announcement of "Our Purpose through Innovation

AEON Financial Service Co. (President and Representative Director: Kenji Fujita, hereafter referred to as "AEON FINANCIAL SERVICE"), in cooperation with TECHFUND Corporation (Co-founders: Yuta Matsuyama and Piisuke Kawahara), which operates an innovation program, will begin accepting applications on March 21, 2024 for a new open innovation program called "Our Purpose through Innovation" to develop new business ideas in collaboration with start-ups. (co-founders: Yuta Matsuyama and Pisuke Kawahara), which operates the TECHFUND program, we will begin accepting applications for "Our Purpose through Innovation," a new open innovation program for the joint development of new business ideas with start-ups.

In response to accelerating changes in the business environment in recent years, such as the entry of different industries into the financial industry, the progress of digitization through technological innovation, and the diversification of customer values, as well as to the growing sense of crisis in the global agenda, such as climate change and human rights issues, we have launched a new program, "Our Purpose through Innovation," which all employees of our group can always return to as a basis for decision-making. Our Purpose," which was established as the essential raison d'etre and aspiration to which all employees of the Group can always turn as the basis for their decisions, aims to enrich the daily lives of our customers.

Our Purpose

Since the fall of 2023, we have been considering new businesses by inviting employees who have a desire to solve social issues to participate in our Idea-thon program. The theme of this year's program is "Realization of new products and services that lead to Our Purpose," and the two new business ideas generated at the Company will be combined with the innovative thinking and technology of startups in an effort to commercialize them.

The ideas that win the Excellence Award will be eligible to be linked with a wide range of financial services (banking, insurance, loans, etc.) provided by the AEON Group, including AEON Card, which has approximately 30 million members in Japan, on the premise that they will be commercialized and services introduced (including the possibility of investment) at AEON Financial Service (*).

Through this program, AEON Financial Service will work to solve social issues and achieve sustainable growth through open innovation with startups.

*This is not a guarantee of investment, commercialization, or introduction of services.

Outline of the Program

Name: "Our Purpose through Innovation

Objective: To realize new products and services that lead to "Our Purpose

Location: AEON Financial Service Co.

　　　　　　　(Terrace Square, 3-22 Kanda Nishiki-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)

How to Apply ：Please enter from the following special website.

　　　　　　　Also, please check here for the details of the open call for applications.

　　　　　　　(URL: https://techfund.jp/startup-studio/aeon-financial-service/2024 )

Qualifications: Applicants must share the "Our Purpose" of our group.

　　　　　　　(URL: https://www.aeonfinancial.co.jp/purpose/ )

　　　　　　　Companies with technologies and services related to any of our new business ideas under hypothesis testing

　　　　　　　　Companies with technologies and services related to any of our new business ideas under hypothesis testing

　　　　　　　Companies that can propose collaboration up to and including the actual launch of services

Schedule: (1) Application period: March 21 (Thursday) to April 10 (Wednesday), 2024

　　　　　　　(2) Interviews and selection April 11, 2024 (Thursday) - April 24, 2024 (Wednesday)

　　　　　　　(3) Notification of results Friday, April 26, 2024

　　　　　　　(4) Kick-off Tuesday, April 30, 2024

　　　　　　　(5) Open Innovation May to end of June 2024

　　　　　　　(6) Presentation Early July 2024

Award ：Excellence Award Commercialization and service introduction (*)

Sponsor: AEON Financial Service Co.

Cooperation : TECHFUND Co.