THE SEED Unveils Session 2 for 'Startup Kansai 2026' on June 21: HR Experts from CyberAgent and newmo to Discuss Recruitment in the AI Era

THE SEED, a pre-seed and seed stage VC (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative: Taiki Hirozawa), announced today the second wave of information for 'Startup Kansai 2026 (11th) - The Forefront of Business and Careers in the AI Era', to be held on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at 'Blooming Camp', JAM BASE 3F, Grand Green Osaka North Building. The announcement details the theme and speakers for SESSION 2: 'Recruitment Theory in the AI Era - Required Talent and Organizational Transformation'.

The first press release unveiled the opening SESSION 1: 'Entrepreneurs' AI Utilization Techniques - Inside the Minds of AI-Native Entrepreneurs'. This second release reveals the full scope of a panel discussion focusing on 'recruitment' in the age of AI. Information regarding SESSION 3 will be released at a later date.

## Background of SESSION 2: Why Discuss 'Recruitment Theory' Now?

Over the past year or two, as the full-scale integration of generative AI into business operations has begun, corporate recruitment has been undergoing a quiet yet definitive transformation. While portions of document creation, coding, and research tasks are being replaced by AI, the demand for talent capable of utilizing AI to achieve results and implementing AI within organizations is rising rapidly.

Conversely, despite the daily influx of AI news, students frequently voice concerns such as, 'I can't imagine how AI will change job hunting or my career,' and 'I don't feel the need to use AI at such a high level in my academic life.' SESSION 2 is designed to address these concerns by providing a platform where practitioners directly involved in hiring decisions at mega-ventures and notable startups can answer with real-world insights from the field.

## SESSION 2 | Recruitment Theory in the AI Era - Required Talent and Organizational Transformation

A panel discussion by entrepreneurs who routinely utilize AI to launch and grow businesses. They will realistically discuss 'how to master AI and apply it to business' from an entrepreneurial perspective.

**Expected Discussion Topics**

- Specifics on skills that have decreased in importance, newly required skills, and skills that remain unchanged due to AI.
- How hiring standards have evolved at major mega-ventures versus fast-growing startups.
- The introduction of AI into the hiring process: changes in resume screening, interviews, and evaluation points.
- The value of internship experiences and extracurricular activities from the recruiter's perspective, and how it's changing.
- Q&A answering students' direct questions on 'What should I improve?'

**Speaker Information**

- **Kenta Takahashi** (HR Strategy Office, AI Business Division, CyberAgent, Inc.)
After joining Recruit as a new graduate, he handled a wide range of HR functions at startups and other companies. He joined CyberAgent in 2022 and was in charge of engineer recruitment in the AI Business Division. Since 2024, he has also been responsible for organizational HR in the AI Operations Office, which promotes the use of generative AI. He concurrently manages new graduate engineer recruitment.

- **Moe Natsume** (HR Manager, Corporate Team, newmo, Inc.)
Graduated from the Faculty of Commerce at Hitotsubashi University. Joined Recruit as a new graduate in 2012, gaining HR experience. Since 2016, she handled overseas business development and management assistance at the AI startup ABEJA. In 2021, she joined the healthcare startup Linkage as COO. She assumed her current position in August 2024.

- **THE SEED Community Manager / Former Head of Recruitment for JUNGLIA Opening**
After graduating from Kyoto University's Faculty of Law, he joined Mitsubishi Corporation, managing business in a department handling overseas auto sales. After launching an HR venture, he joined Cluster, which operates the metaverse platform 'cluster', as COO. He later took charge of IPO preparation, fundraising, and HR as Director and CFO. From 2023, he participated in the opening project for the Northern Okinawa theme park 'JUNGLIA', overseeing the hiring of over 1,500 people. He is currently engaged in activities to enliven startup communities in Kansai and other regional areas, including acting as the lead planner for this event at THE SEED.

## Call for Student Staff

We are now accepting applications for student staff to help co-manage the event. If you are interested in startups or event operations, please apply.

Student staff will have the opportunity to participate in networking sessions attended by speakers, entrepreneurs, executives, sponsor companies, and VCs. Let's liven up Startup Kansai together.

## Event Overview

- **Date**: Sunday, June 21, 2026, 13:00 - 18:30 (Doors open at 12:30)
- **Location**: Blooming Camp (JAM BASE 3F, Grand Green Osaka North Building)
- **Capacity**: 150 people
- **Target Audience**: Primarily students graduating between 2027 and 2029, students interested in AI, startups, and entrepreneurship, and working professionals under 25 considering entrepreneurship.