Relic

Relic Inc., founded in August 2015 by Takaaki Kitajima, operates as a "business co-creation company" dedicated to fostering new business development and innovation within Japanese companies. Kitajima, the CEO, leveraged his prior experience from consulting firms and DeNA, where he managed new business development and open innovation projects, to establish Relic. His background in supporting a wide range of companies, from startups to large corporations, and successfully growing businesses to a significant scale shaped Relic's mission. The company's name is inspired by the book "Kōsei e no Saidaiibutsu" (The Greatest Legacy for Posterity), reflecting the philosophy that challenging oneself to create new businesses is a profound legacy.

The firm's business model is structured around three core pillars: Incubation Tech, Business Produce, and Open Innovation. The Incubation Tech division provides proprietary SaaS platforms designed to solve challenges in new business creation. Key products include "Throttle," an innovation management platform, and "ENjiNE," a crowdfunding site-building platform, both of which hold the top market share in Japan. The Business Produce segment offers end-to-end consulting and hands-on support for new business development, from strategy and product development to growth hacking. Finally, the Open Innovation division engages in more direct partnerships, including joint ventures with large corporations, venture investments, and management support for startups. This integrated approach allows Relic to function as a comprehensive platform for innovation, serving a broad clientele that includes major corporations like NTT Docomo, Panasonic, and Mitsubishi Corporation.

Relic makes money through its SaaS subscriptions, consulting fees, and by taking an equity position in the joint ventures and startups it supports. This multifaceted revenue stream supports its role as a hands-on partner that shares risks with its clients. The company has achieved significant growth, supporting over 4,000 companies and more than 20,000 new business projects. It has expanded its physical presence across Japan, establishing numerous bases from Hokkaido to Okinawa to facilitate regional innovation.

Keywords: new business development, open innovation, incubation tech, business co-creation, corporate innovation, startup support, joint ventures, venture investment, business produce, SaaS platform, innovation management, crowdfunding platform, digital innovation, corporate venture capital, acceleration programs, regional innovation, innovator training, strategy consulting, growth hacking, business-as-a-service