The collaboration was announced in August last year, but what specific areas and businesses will it take place in?
Shunpei Tatebayashi (hereinafter, Tatebayashi): There are two main reasons. DEA has originally focused on the development of blockchain games (BCG). BCG plays an important role in the spread of Web 3.0. We would like to support the spread of this BCG to the general public.
KDDI has already developed a market and wallet, so I think it is possible to collaborate with our "αU market". The other point, which is also what got me interested in DEA, is support for activities that explore the possibility of solving social issues using blockchain.
DEA has already started working in this field, and I am attracted to this innovative approach. I have been thinking about whether we could work together, so I would like to cooperate in terms of building a partnership and aiming to scale up together, such as dealing in NFTs born from this project on αU market.
Kozo Yamada (hereinafter Yamada): We get very high-resolution responses from Tatebayashi.
For example, many people are surprised when we talk about solving problems through games, such as our utility pole photography game with TEPCO Power Grid and GGG, but Tatebayashi is actively involved in these projects himself, analyzing our activities in depth and providing us with valuable feedback.
His understanding and support have helped our efforts to become more widely recognized, which is very encouraging.
Mature startups that are actually developing businesses in the Web 3.0 field and addressing social issues have a solid landing point and are expanding the potential of blockchain.
Tatebayashi: My first impression of DEA was that they were a mature startup that had already developed BCG and issued tokens, and was actually developing business in the Web 3.0 field and addressing social issues. However, through my conversations with Yamada, I learned that this "mature startup" has a good sense of playfulness that truly believes in the infinite possibilities of blockchain, and I found it very interesting.
We meet almost every week, and what's fascinating about these conversations is that they generate a variety of ideas and lead to solutions. I think this balance of maturing while also shining eyes at new possibilities is wonderful.
DEA, which has this solid landing point and expands the possibilities of blockchain, is a great partner that can approach new business opportunities from multiple angles. We have invested in over 150 companies, and I think DEA embodies the importance of always keeping a fresh perspective as a manager.
Yamada: When I talk to Tatebayashi-san, he often suggests new ideas to me.
For example, he had an idea that it would be fun to develop a game in which you push a robot vacuum cleaner slightly to rescue it when it gets stuck on a step. I think he is a person with a flexible way of thinking that doesn't restrict things like this.
Tatebayashi: Regarding new business development at KDDI, I take the stance of being a collaborator and supporter rather than planning it myself. Rather than starting a business related to Web 3.0 on my own initiative, I want to respect the deep thinking of business managers who are fully committed to a specific field and help them scale together.
The thoughts and knowledge of full-time startup managers are much deeper than those of part-time salaried workers. Therefore, I think we should nurture the ideas of such people together. This will be a new business opportunity for us, and we will provide them with the necessary support.
The ideas that I come up with may already be months old for Yamada. I would like to walk together with business managers who are familiar with the market.
Yamada: Many people respond to our remote trash sorting game by saying, "Technology will improve in the future," but the truth is, that's not the case.
This initiative aims to make it possible to remotely handle not only trash but a variety of other items in the future, and to smoothly return rewards through Web 3.0. We are very grateful that KDDI has a deep understanding of this true purpose and is spreading its significance to other companies.
