2024 programme – ENECHANGE Insight

ENECHANGE Insight Ventures 2024 programme

What is ENECHANGE Insight Ventures?

ENECHANGE Insight Ventures (EIV) invites promising energy sector and sustainability ventures to present their solutions to our network of subscribers from the Japanese energy industry. The goal is to build relationships that result in collaborations, sales, investment, and other forms of support to help grow the invited companies in Japan.

This programme is unique in that all invited ventures (finalists) will have at least one Subscriber interested in meeting them specifically. The EIV team works with the finalists in the months leading up to the event to fully understand their business and products, making the actual meetings very meaningful for exploring future relationships. The programme has led to significant investment for numerous participants (including from our affiliated Japan Energy Fund), as well as pilot projects and sales agreements between our Subscribers and ventures.

Since 2020, the programme has adopted a remote-first approach. All preparation and webinars are conducted remotely, while our Summits are expected to be held in person from 2023.

How does it work?

The programme is divided into three stages: Scouting, Finalist selection & Webinar, and the Summit. We currently host two cohorts per year, with the first running between April and September, and the second between October and March.

Scouting

During the application period, ventures can indicate their interest in participating via the application form. The EIV team and our network of channel partners will also be scouting and reaching out to companies of interest directly, who will be invited to apply via the fast-track.

Finalist selection & Webinar

The EIV team will review all applications and select 10-20 finalists. These companies will be notified and will sign a programme participation agreement, which encompasses the terms & conditions of the programme and allows for sharing of confidential information with the Subscribers and EIV team.

The EIV team will invite each finalist to present their products and relevant case studies at our monthly webinar for our Subscribers. Before the webinar, the EIV team will conduct a virtual interview with each finalist to review the materials provided in the application and prepare a deep-dive analysis report, which will also be presented during the webinar. Based on the webinar, our Subscribers will share feedback on interest and vote for the ventures they are most interested in.

Summit

While every finalist will have the opportunity to win a commercial engagement, the EIV team will name at least two Honourees based on the highest levels of Subscriber interest. After all finalists have presented at the webinars, the EIV team will make formal invitations to the Honourees to our Summit, which is expected to be held in person from 2023.

Where there is sufficient interest from the Subscribers in a venture, the finalists will be offered: 1) access to supporting services to facilitate the development of pilot projects; 2) ongoing support to promote the product offerings; 3) media coverage for international audiences.

Who can apply?

Incorporated energy or sustainability sector company or a company with a product relevant to the sectors (please note that our team’s scouting and outreach will primarily focus on those based in the EU and North American regions)
Generally commercialised and set to expand, typically evidenced by holding annual revenues in excess of $1M (can vary based on specifics of product)
No absolute funding size requirement, but cohort average is typically Series B ($10M USD or greater equity funding raised) or later
No absolute company size requirement, but cohort average is typically 25+ employed full-time team members
Must be available to attend EIV summit (Details TBC; held virtually in times of travel restrictions)

Outcomes for participants

We want to do everything we can to help all participants succeed in the Japanese energy sector and aim to have all participants producing a viable plan for pilot projects, sales agreements, coordinated development, or other forms of collaboration.

We are very fortunate to have had several successful outcomes from participation in our programmes past and present. Please click on the photos to learn more, or read more of our success stories here.

Additionally, to learn more about the participants who have received investment from our affiliated Japan Energy Fund, you can read more here.

Who we are

The team, participants and subscribers behind ENECHANGE Insight Ventures are a consortium of forward-thinking Japanese and European partners in the energy sector. We count suppliers and generators providing energy to millions of customers, Japan’s leading energy-switching and technology provider, academics from leading universities, industry experts and some of the world’s largest multinational engineering & technology companies.

We started in 2018 as the Japan Energy Challenge (JEC), a yearly competition which morphed into our revamped ENECHANGE Insight Ventures programme in 2021. Over 100 startups have been mentored under these umbrellas thus far, with more joining each year.

All of us are invested in finding the best ideas from outside Japan to implement and leverage to lead in the energy transition. Read more about the management team here.

Subscribers

ENECHANGE LTD. is Japan’s most popular energy switching website, having 3 million monthly unique visitors and working with over 100 energy suppliers. ENECHANGE is also recognised as one of the most innovative energy ventures in Japan, providing vertically integrated tech solutions – such as data-driven CRM solutions, smart-meter data management (SMAP), AI-driven load curve simulation etc. – for energy suppliers.

Astomos is one of the largest LPG companies in the world. It was established by Idemistu Kosan and Mitsubishi Corporation in 2006. We supply and distribute LPG to consumers in Japan and overseas from sources in the Middle East, North America, and Australia via 21 LPG vessels (VLGC), one of which uses LPG as bunker fuel, reducing CO2 emissions. We are the first company in the world supplying carbon-neutral LPG to expand decarbonisation beyond conventional LPG value chain.

UDENNA Corporation, based in the Philippines, operates as a holding company that distributes and retails petroleum products and lubricants under the Phoenix brand. It also engages in shipping and logistics through its wholly owned subsidiary, Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. In recent years, the group has expanded significantly, allowing UDENNA to diversify its business portfolio to include real estate and property development, education, leisure, gaming, tourism, and infrastructure.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries is one of Japan’s largest heavy industrial manufacturers, serving industries across mobility, energy, and industrial equipment. Kawasaki has been developing and manufacturing products and solutions for the renewable energy sector, such as wind turbine generators, biomass power generation, geothermal energy, solar panels, and energy storage systems. They also provide services for energy efficiency improvement, such as energy audits and consultations. Kawasaki is also involved in the development of the hydrogen supply chain and related power generation systems and transportation equipment.

BIPROGY Inc. provides IT solutions for their clients in sectors ranging from financial services, manufacturing and distribution to energy and government. In recent years, the Group has been working on projects that lead to innovation in the areas of environment, health and customer touchpoints, based on their R&D in data analytics and management, coupling real and digital worlds and AI.

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank is Japan’s largest trust bank, managing over $800 billion USD in assets under management. It offers a range of services including commercial banking, securities brokerage, leasing, credit cards, and correspondent banking services. The bank operates globally.

Osaka Gas is a utility company that primarily provides gas and electricity service to consumers and businesses in the Kansai area. The group is consolidated under the Daigas Group brand. One of their long-term focuses is stronger investment abroad by 2030, with current ownership stakes in projects including natural gas, LNG, thermal, wind, and solar across the US, Asia, Australia, and Europe.

Rakuten Energy is a subsidiary of Rakuten Mobile, Inc., and provides a low-cost, simpler energy service to households and businesses under the Rakuten Denki, Rakuten Gas, and Rakuten Denki Business brands. Another business stream is their Rakuten Energy Trading System, one of the first platforms for trading renewable energy and energy conservation using blockchain technology in Japan.

Shimizu Corporation was founded in 1804. It is an architectural, civil engineering and general contracting firm that has been widely recognized as one of the largest contractors in Japan, and has annual sales of approximately 15 billion USD. Today, Shimizu continually delves deeply into knowledge and technology to meet the needs of its clients and, by extension, society.

The SCSK Group has been providing the full line-up of IT services necessary for business for fifty years, resolving client issues at over 8,000 companies. Now, toward their next leap forward, they are engaging in new challenges to solve issues in various business categories and industries, and for society through co-creation with clients and society based on IT.

Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation covers the energy sector within Toshiba Group and is a leading supplier of integrated energy solutions, with nearly 5 billion USD in revenue. They focus on making a key contribution to achieving carbon neutrality through their expertise in power generating/transmitting systems and next-generation energy service, including decarbonization hardware (hydrogen systems, CCUS etc.) and platforms (VPP, EMS, IoT/AI etc.). They are active as a corporate VC as Toshiba Energy Ventures.

FAQ

✓ What criteria will you use to select finalists?
In order of importance, we will assess:

1. Partner interest in buying, selling, or implementing your solution
2. Traction achieved to date, measured from investment size, sales volume, and number of employees
3. The quality of your technology demonstration

✓ Do we have to move to Japan?
Not unless you want to! For Honourees, attendance at our Summit (which we expect to hold in person from 2023) is mandatory, while all other meetings scheduled for finalists will be held virtually unless explicitly specified. If you successfully win a project, our team can help with the logistics of deploying it in Japan to minimise disruption to your team.

✓ Does it cost anything to participate?
EIV is entirely free for the invited participants. Unlike other programmes, we won’t ask for equity or commission as the event costs are supported by our sponsors. Our primary interest is always in making sure that deals happen.

The main investment is the time required to participate, but we seek to minimise the impact by leveraging the support of the EIV team.

✓ What if we are already working in Japan?
Having started to work in Japan does not disqualify you from applying. In many cases, this can actually be a benefit because it provides a clear answer for your growth plan and goals. Participating in EIV would be a very effective path to getting your offer in front of decision-makers at new clients – or give a boost to the speed of your existing pipeline – and help you rapidly expand your growth. We have had several participants that were already present in Japan and have found great success, including ESG Book, Moovit, and Persefoni.

✓ How do the deadlines work?
The main deadline for applications is listed at the top of this page when the application form is open, and any company that submits an application before this date is guaranteed full consideration. Companies who are eligible to apply via fast-track can do so before the deadline and will receive priority consideration.

After this date, our team will be making and confirming invitations for 10-20 companies. This process takes some time and involves our team liaising between the sponsors and interviewing the applicants to confirm a fit in the programme.

To accommodate any latecomers or new developments that may affect consideration, we may leave the application open after our deadline to consider applications on a rolling basis.

✓ We have just put together a team and have a great idea that would be applicable to Japan – can we apply?
EIV is focused on well-established companies that are ready to scale internationally. Unfortunately, we cannot consider companies that are not incorporated and do not have strong evidence of commercial traction.

✓ We have been acquired – can we apply?
Generally, acquisition does not mean that you cannot apply to EIV. In many cases, acquisition can be an asset – especially if it is by a major energy company – as it demonstrates the strategic value of your solution.

However, it will be important throughout the programme to demonstrate that you are still able to be flexible. While compliance is essential, too many corporate requirements set by the parent company can be perceived as burdensome hurdles to overcome.

✓ How likely are we to be selected and/or win a project?
We generally can’t comment on the likelihood of a successful application, though we do our best to be honest with you regarding your likelihood of success as the program proceeds. We understand how valuable your time is and we do everything we can to respect it – that’s why each stage of the programme is meant to ensure that progression is driven by the interest of the sponsors in working further with you.

✓ What is the Fast Track?
Applications submitted by companies affiliated with our partners or scouted by our team will be given priority consideration through our Fast-Track programme. Check if your application is eligible for our Fast Track programme here.

✓ What is the impact of COVID-19 on the programme?
EIV has made remote scouting and preparation a core component of the programme since its beginning, so for the immediate term we see very little impact on participation. We will continue to scout and communicate via remote means. For the past editions, we have successfully opted for an online Summit, rather than an in-person event in Tokyo. We anticipate the return of in-person events from 2023.