As generative AI evolves and significantly reshapes industrial structures, the limits of business creation by a single company are becoming apparent. DeNA believes that "Vertical AI"—combining AI technological innovation with deep domain expertise—is what will create the next major industry. Let us fuse DeNA's "social implementation capabilities for internet services" and "development capabilities" with your company's assets to jointly create a major business that brings irreversible change to society.


Challenges we want to solve through co-creation：
Updating industrial structures with Vertical AI

The pace of AI technology evolution is extremely rapid, and while general-purpose models are becoming widespread, significant room for entry remains in building products deeply embedded in the operational challenges of specific industries (manufacturing, healthcare, construction, primary industries, etc.). However, even with excellent technology, there is often a lack of "know-how to scale it as a business," or conversely, while a business foundation exists, cutting-edge technology capable of driving industrial transformation may be lacking. There are limits to what a single company can achieve alone. We aim to resolve this resource mismatch and create significant ventures that bring irreversible change to society within this highly uncertain world.

 

The Technology We Seek in Startups
・Deep expertise in specific industries (Vertical) × AI and digital technologies
(Technical seeds or concrete ideas that leverage AI and technology to drive structural transformation, based on a deep understanding of industry-specific challenges)

Examples of Co-Creation Ideas

・AI services specialized for specific industries/domains
(e.g., Manufacturing/Construction × AI: Digitizing the tacit knowledge of skilled workers on-site, automating inspections and safety management with image analysis AI; Entertainment × AI: Creating next-generation IP and content)

Available resources

・Investment in and ongoing support for startups
・Business development capabilities focused on consumer-facing services
(Know-how in user acquisition and service retention cultivated through gaming and entertainment ventures)
・Expertise and proof-of-concept validation in existing businesses (sports, smart cities, healthcare)
(Real-world touchpoints and testing grounds including the Yokohama Former City Hall District Project, Yokohama Stadium, and various sports teams)