1. Bottlenecks for IoT Startups
and
How To Overcome Them
IISC Forum, Taipei 11 October 2018
Yasuo Kawabata
aKtivevision Ltd.
0(C) 2018 aKtivevision Ltd. All Rights Reserved

2. This session’s Main Focus
IoT
Devices
Server / Cloud
AI
Big Data Analysis
Connection
3/4/5G
LPWA
…
AIoT
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3. Brief Background
• A member of startup Investment team of KDDI, Japan’s
2nd largest telco. (2012-2015)
• A mentor of startups nominated as members of “KDDI
∞ Labo”, KDDI’s incubation program, including IoT
startups (2015-2016)
• Former COO of an UK’s taxi startup’s Japan subsidiary
(2013)
• Supporting startups’ growth (2017- )
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4. Three Case Studies
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5. Case Study 1
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Major manufacturing company’s support was inevitable to meet safety regulations.

6. Case Study 2
• Liferobotics/CoRo (Robot) acquired by Fanac
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https://www.msn.com/zh-tw/money/topstories/ fanuc-15 coro /ar-BBJ0Swi

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FANUC recalled all COROs already in use and worked properly,
because “ CORO does not meet FANUC’s quality standard”.

8. Case Study 3
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Medical IoT startup “imedix” struggled to have business partners in Germany,
the centre of medical manufacturing industry, and came to France instead.

9. Bottlenecks
• IoT startups need support from major companies,
but failed easily.
• Manufacturing know-how, clearing the regulations,
selling the device(s) in conjunction with or as a part of the
major companies’ product(s)
• Major companies have different culture and ways
of thinking about product policy.
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10. What makes these
bottlenecks happen?
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11. Features of VCs, Major Companies by region/country
10
US
EU FR
ASIA JP
DE
Position of
Major
Companies
Target of
Disruption
Negative/
Inactive
Presence
Weak
Partner of
Open
Innovation
Aggressive/
Nature
Strong
Example of
Startup
Event
Techcrunch
Disrupt
VIVA
Technology
TOA
InnoVEX
Morning
Pitch
VC
Ø Fairly
resourced
Ø Unable to
support
startups
by VCs
only
Ø Cash-rich
Ø Prestageous
VC
Manufacturing companies’
Attitude for
Open Innovation
Region/
Country
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TW
Ecosystem
Ecosystem

12. In Germany and nearby countries,
IoT is mainly lead by major companies.
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IFA 2018 (Berlin)
InnoTrans 2018 (Berlin)

13. For overcoming
bottlenecks
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14. •IoT startups should find
proper place to build
relationships with major
manufacturing companies.
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15. IoT Startups
Major Manufacturing
Companies
Major
Client
Companies
e.g.
Hotel chains
Fashion brands
Retail chains
Banks
Governments …
In General (except US)
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A Way to Success

16. IoT Startups
Major Manufacturing
Companies
Major
Client
Companies
To all over the world
With Taiwan
ASUS Acer Foxxcon
From all over the
world,
especially Asia
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English speaking business environment
Manufacturing industry ecosystem
Open (Innovation) minded
Worldwide sales network
A Way to Success
e.g.
A hub for IoT business

17. Ways of Japanese companies to
be a part of the ecosystem
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Startups
startups
Rather small
but ”go-ahead”
companies
Major global
companies
Place: In mid-/small-sized cities,
NOT (only) in major cities like Tokyo.
Place: In Taiwan,
NOT (only) in Shexxxxx.

18. Conclusion
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19. Taiwan has a big potential
as
a hub for IoT business
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20. Making Use of International
Tradeshows Held in Taiwan.
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21. 20(C) 2018 aKtivevision Ltd. All Rights Reserved
Taiwan and Japan should
have chances to know more
ways to be partners.

22. Thank you!
21
Yasuo Kawabata
, ,
(C) 2018 aKtivevision Ltd. All Rights Reserved