[15th Anniversary] Startup Class Special Session with CEOs of Listed Companies Lancers and Microwave Chemical on 'Recruitment as a Driving Force'

Startup Class Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Meguro-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Kiyotaka Fujioka; hereinafter 'Stakura') celebrated its 15th anniversary on April 5, 2026 (since the establishment of its predecessor, Amateras Co., Ltd.). To commemorate this milestone, the company hosted a special event inviting leading Japanese startup executives whom Stakura has supported since its early days and who have now achieved IPOs. Approximately 100 VCs and entrepreneurs gathered to engage in essential discussions based on real-world experiences about 'recruitment as a driving force' for startups to achieve significant growth. With the stricter listing maintenance standards of the Tokyo Stock Exchange bringing the '10 billion yen wall' into focus, building a management team that supports sustainable growth, not just IPO as a goal, has become indispensable. At this event, we delved into 'core corporate recruitment' required in the current era, incorporating Stakura's expertise cultivated over 15 years of specialized recruitment support for startups. ## ■ Special Session: What is 'Recruitment as a Driving Force' that Creates Power to Change Society? During the event, a special session was held with two guests whom Stakura had supported in their early stages, 'when they were still nobody.' Iwao Yoshino, President & CEO, Microwave Chemical Co., Ltd. (Listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth in 2022) Yosuke Akihoshi, President & CEO, Lancers Co., Ltd. (Listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers (now Growth) in 2019) Kiyotaka Fujioka, President & CEO, Startup Class Co., Ltd. (Moderator) In this session, 'founding-era encounters' that have now become legendary, such as the recruitment of Lancers' management team and business personnel supporting Microwave Chemical's researchers, were deeply explored. The essence of practical recruitment was revealed, discussed by executives who have overcome challenges and achieved IPOs through organizational building, addressing questions like 'How did they identify talent who could pursue the vision with the same passion as the president?' and 'The pitfalls unique to deep tech recruitment.' - **A comeback story from 'being laughed at for offering too low a salary'** Microwave Chemical's Mr. Yoshino shared a successful recruitment episode from the early days of a deep tech startup, which had technology but limited funds. It was emphasized that in fields where growth takes time, it is crucial to thoroughly assess whether candidates' 'true aspirations' can be realized within the company. - **The ultimate selection criterion in an interview: 'Would I want to go on a hot spring trip with this person?'** Lancers' Mr. Akihoshi shared unique perspectives on identifying 'mindset' beyond skills and discovering high-performing talent. This is how to meet individuals with a startup mindset, which all companies aiming for IPO should refer to. ▼ Click here for the full session report: https://note.com/sutakura_koho1/n/n131a240db72a Keywords: Startup, Lancers, Microwave Chemical, Deep Tech, CxO, IPO, 10 Billion Yen Wall, Listing Maintenance Standards, Startup Job Change, Venture