Measure, report, and reduce carbon emissions with Asuzero cloud solution Asuene
100% organic, fully biodegradable super absorbent polymer solves drought problems for farmers EF Polymer
“Environmental transfer technology” artificially recreates aquatic ecosystems inside tanks Innoqua
Sustainable PCBs manufactured using metal inkjet printing technology Elephantech
Climate change risk analysis platform supporting sustainability information disclosure Gaia Vision
Automatic pay-as-you-go well water collection system for agricultural communities in Africa Sunda Technology Global
Digital globe from space accelerates decision-making of businesses to stay one step ahead Tenchijin
High-performance biochar that cultivates the future of agriculture TOWING
Contributing to the spread of renewable energy by robotizing wind power generation maintenance LEBO ROBOTICS
Silk tech powered by smart sericulture (sericulture version of smart agriculture) United Silk

10 startups selected for Global Sustainability Accelerator 2023!

The Global Sustainability Accelerator enables Japanese startups focused on sustainability to tackle social issues on a global scale. Leveraging the innovative technologies and services provided by these startups, we aim to bring about meaningful change in countries and regions impacted by both local and global problems. This program has been created with the goal of fostering sustainable and prosperous societies in the future.

About Global Sustainability Accelerator

Google for Startups and Creww are working together as partners to help startups innovate with technology and ideas to build a sustainable and prosperous world. With an aim of supporting sustainable development and startup growth in the environment, civil society, health, and economics sectors, we are launching the Global Sustainability Accelerator.

The launch program focuses on “electricity”, “water” and “food conservation”.
We are excited to introduce 10 startups selected to take part!

01.

Asuene
Measure, report, and reduce carbon emissions with Asuzero cloud solution

The world is facing an urgent problem of climate change. To challenge the fight against climate change with a mission “to make a better world for the next generation”, Asuene runs Climate Tech businesses in and out of Japan. Asuzero helps businesses and public organizations easily track and visualize their GHG emissions. The company also offers a decarbonization one-stop solution around sustainability consulting, carbon offsetting, and support on initiatives such as CDP, TCFD, and more. Asuene’s products are chosen by 2,500 organizations and the company is partnered with over 70 businesses. Asuene supports businesses achieving sustainable operations in the race to get the world's emissions to net zero.

Ask:
We would like to introduce our decarbonization one-stop solution to any business firm or government agency interested in accounting for and reducing CO2 emissions in the United States.

Kohei Nishiwada Co-Founder CEO https://earthene.com/corporate/en/about Asuene Inc.
02.

EF Polymer
100% organic, fully biodegradable super absorbent polymer solves drought problems for farmers

EF Polymer started with a strong desire of the founder, who was born and raised in a farming village in a drought-prone region of India. To help families and farmers around the world suffering from drought, EF Polymer manufactures an eco-friendly super absorbent polymer (EFP) that is 100% organic and completely biodegradable. With its patented technology, the company upcycles crop residue such as mandarin orange peel, materials that are traditionally discarded, to produce the product. Today, farmers around the world are facing financial difficulties due to the decrease in yields caused by droughts. With EFPs, EF Polymer aims to help address the water shortage problems and realize a truly sustainable agriculture.

Ask:
We would like to connect with agriculture-related companies, farmland funds, foundations and government agencies to collaborate through POC, to strengthen our business development and branding strategies in drought-stricken countries around the world, especially in the United States.

Narayan Lal Gurjar Founder/CEO https://www.efpolymer.com/ EF Polymer Co., Ltd.
03.

Innoqua
“Environmental transfer technology” artificially recreates aquatic ecosystems inside tanks

In 2019, a visionary aquarist renowned for leading coral breeding techniques in Japan joined forces with a University of Tokyo engineer specializing in AI research to establish the innovative venture business, Innoqua. The company has a vision of “creating a world where people and nature can coexist in harmony”. By combining IoT and AI technology with the craftsmanship of breeders, the company drives research and development of "environmental transfer technology" designed to reproduce chosen living ecosystems inside tanks. With a mission to “visualize the ocean”, Innoqua runs unique businesses including laboratory-based research on biodiversity of marine ecosystems and Coral Reef Lab education program.

Ask:
We would like to work with multinational and local companies that manufacture products distributed in Southeast Asia, to realize demonstration cases in promoting rulemaking on marine biodiversity.

Yota Takakura CEO https://corp.innoqua.jp/index_en.html Innoqua Inc.
04.

Elephantech
Sustainable PCBs manufactured using metal inkjet printing technology

A start-up company with a mission of “making the world sustainable with new manufacturing technologies”, Elephantech became the first-ever company to succeed in the mass production of electronic circuit boards using eco-friendly metal inkjet printing technology. The technology can achieve 75% reduction in CO2 emissions, 70% reduction in copper usage, and 95% reduction in water usage, all at the same quality and price as existing manufacturing methods. Going forward, Elephantech plans to retail the printing equipment to turn its manufacturing technique into the global standard and expand into other areas beyond electronic circuit boards.

Ask:
We would like to connect with consumer electronics companies in Europe/North America, to work together to reduce CO2 emissions.

Shinya Shimizu CEO & CTO https://www.elephantech.co.jp/en/ Elephantech Inc.
05.

Gaia Vision
Climate change risk analysis platform supporting sustainability information disclosure

Gaia Vision is a climate change startup from the University of Tokyo. The company provides a risk analysis platform that utilizes climate science and flood simulation technology. With TCFD/ISSB and other information disclosure requests, businesses are increasingly facing the need to conduct quantitative analysis to determine climate change risks. Gaia Vision’s platform is valued as a tool that enables such analysis with ease. Its global high-resolution analysis, climate scenario analysis, and financial impact assessment are particularly sought after.

Ask:
We would like to work with businesses that own locations exposed to flood risk (e.g. manufacturers) as well as financial institutions and local governments, to reduce disaster damage around the world.

Yuki Kita CEO https://www.gaia-vision.co.jp/en/company-en/ Gaia Vision Inc.
06.

Sunda Technology Global
Automatic pay-as-you-go well water collection system for agricultural communities in Africa

In rural Africa, hand pump wells are still widely used as a means of obtaining safe water. In Africa, there are about 700,000 hand pump wells, but many wells are left unrepaired due to costs required for maintenance which cannot be collected. By installing a SUNDA pay-as-you-go automatic well water collection system to hand pump wells, the company enables the maintenance and management of hand pump wells with fairness and transparency. So far, 150 “Sunda units” have been installed in Uganda, providing continuous access to safe water for over 50,000 villagers.

Ask:
We would like to work with businesses (government, private companies, NGOs) and aid oganizations (foundations, funds) that are involved in projects to install and maintain wells in Uganda, to achieve regional expansion of sustainable water supply services.

Aya Tsuboi CEO https://www.sundaglobal.com/ Sunda Technology Global Co., Ltd.
07.

Tenchijin
Digital globe from space accelerates decision-making of businesses to stay one step ahead

Tenchijin Compass, our land evaluation engine that comprehensively acquires, analyzes, and visualizes various data, including big data from earth observation satellites, finds the optimal land for business from space. It can be customized to meet a variety of needs and we provide solutions mainly for infrastructure, renewable energy, agriculture, and cargon neutral industries. In the infrastructure industry, we visualize water leakage risk on a map to support water utility companies and municipalities to realize effective inspection and maintenance of water pipes that exceeded their legal durability. We aim to solve the global challenges of stable water supply and aging infrastructures with space technology.

Ask:
Our satellite data driven, AI-powered water-leakage risk map enables water utilities to efficiently reduce water leakages and economic losses. We are seeking potential clients and partners to engage in proof-of-concept trials to tailor our product to their requirements especially in Europe and Asia.

Keitaro Asaba Global Business Development https://tenchijin.co.jp/about/?hl=en Tenchijin Inc.
08.

TOWING
High-performance biochar that cultivates the future of agriculture

TOWING aims to achieve both decarbonization in the agricultural field and conversion to organic fertilizers to enable sustainable agriculture based on recycling of resources. The company develops high-performance biochar and trade/sell carbon credit that can be obtained by using the product on farmlands. High-performance biochar is made from local biomass mixed with uniquely selected microorganisms that dramatically increases the decomposition efficiency of organic fertilizers. After just one month of use, the product can increase the yield of agricultural products by 10 times compared to conventional fertilizers. In addition, since greenhouse gasses can be fixed on farmland by inputting biochar into farmland, carbon credit trading can also be monetized.

Ask:
To realize circular cultivation using high-performance biochar, we would like you to introduce companies and owners who have ①biochar plant or able to invest for biochar plant ②ability to produce microorganism combined soil conditioner, sell to farmers and cooperate venture in the US.

Teppei Okamura CDO （ Chief Development Officer ） https://towing.co.jp/pages/company TOWING Inc.
09.

LEBO ROBOTICS
Contributing to the spread of renewable energy by robotizing wind power generation maintenance

LEBO ROBOTICS provides smart maintenance for wind turbines by developing a wind power generation blade maintenance robot and a provision of Robot as a Service. The pain of wind turbine owners is that wind turbines are difficult to maintain because wind turbine blades are inaccessible. That’s where the robot developed by LEBO ROBOTICS comes in to provide safe and inexpensive servicing. The strength of the robot lies in its ability to understand shapes and reproduce smooth curved surfaces, which is the essential technology for autonomous control. The company proposes optimal O&M plans using the data acquired and aims to bring DX to the industry.

Ask:
We would like to introduce our maintenance robots for wind power generation equipment to major companies in the renewable energy industry and major venture capitalists in the U.S. and Europe.

Keitaro Hamamura Representative Director https://www.leborobotics.com/en LEBO ROBOTICS Co., Ltd.
10.

United Silk
Silk tech powered by smart sericulture (sericulture version of smart agriculture)

United Silk’s vision is to “implement local revitalization” and solve global issues with silk, which is a regional resource of Japan. By utilizing the smart sericulture system (a sericulture version of smart agriculture) developed in Japan, efficient mass-production of silk around the world becomes possible. In the future, silk can become a natural fiber supply source to help mitigate the expected shortage of fiber supply resulting from the increase of the world’s population. Use of silk can also reduce food loss and waste by 10% or more (by extending the expiration date) and increase the productivity of the agriculture, livestock, and fisheries industries by 5% (with functional feed), ultimately leading to food conservation for our world.

Ask:
We would like to work with silk-related businesses in the United States, to develop sales channels for Japanese silk material (used for food tech and biopharmaceuticals).

Takashi Kawai President and CEO https://united-silk.co.jp/ UNITED SILK Co., Ltd.