From the First IPO of an Agricultural Startup to a Cross-Industry M&A Decision
Strike Co., Ltd. will host its 'S venture Lab.' open innovation event on May 28, 2026. The 57th installment will feature Mr. Tomomasa Oikawa, Chairman & CEO of Nogyo Sogo Kenkyusho Co., Ltd., the first agricultural startup to go public and a company that garnered significant attention with SOMPO Holdings' tender offer in December 2025. He will discuss the strategic alliance of cross-industry M&A.
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Strike Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Kazuya Kaneda) will host 'S venture Lab.', an open innovation event that accelerates partnerships between startups and established companies, on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
For its 57th installment, we will welcome Mr. Tomomasa Oikawa, Representative Director, Chairman & CEO of Nogyo Sogo Kenkyusho Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Wakayama City), a company that achieved the first IPO as an agricultural startup and generated significant buzz with SOMPO Holdings' tender offer (TOB) in December 2025.
Announcement of the 57th 'S venture Lab.' Event
Nogyo Sogo Kenkyusho connects producers nationwide directly with retailers using IT, operating 'Farmers' Direct Sales Stores'. The company achieved Japan's first IPO as an agricultural startup in 2016 and has continued its independent growth as an industry frontrunner. Why did it decide to join the SOMPO Group, a major financial group, now?
At this event, we will delve into the true intentions behind how these two seemingly disparate entities, 'agriculture x insurance', envision synergy and aim to solve social issues. What is the story behind this 'strategic alliance to accelerate business growth' that goes beyond a mere capital tie-up? Chairman Oikawa himself will speak about the key points for incorporating the resources of a major corporation and achieving further leaps through cross-industry collaboration. This session, which explores the forefront of open innovation, is a must-attend for entrepreneurs, businesses, and investors.
Click here for details and registration
■ Event Overview
[Date] Thursday, May 28, 2026, 18:30-20:30
[Venue] Tokyo Venture Capital Hub (Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza B, 5th Floor, 5-9-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo) / Zoom
[Organizer] S venture Lab. (Strike Co., Ltd.)
[Sponsor] Mori Building Co., Ltd.
[Cooperation] NPO Independents Club
[Contact]
Strike Co., Ltd. Innovation Support Office
Mail: info-slab@strike.co.jp
■ Event Details
■ Introduction
■ Part 1: Talk Session
■ Part 2: Pitches by various startups
■ Part 3: Business Card Exchange Session *The business card exchange session is only for on-site participants.
■ Speakers
■ Part 1: Speaker
Mr. Tomomasa Oikawa, Representative Director, Chairman & CEO, Nogyo Sogo Kenkyusho Co., Ltd.
Mr. Tomomasa Oikawa, Representative Director, Chairman & CEO, Nogyo Sogo Kenkyusho Co., Ltd.
Feeling a sense of crisis regarding agriculture since his student days, he gained 6 years of experience as a company employee before transitioning to the agricultural industry. After 3 years of practicing agriculture himself and 1 year running a greengrocer, he leveraged that experience to establish Nogyo Sogo Kenkyusho in 2007 with 500,000 yen in cash. In 13 years after founding, the company achieved 10 billion yen in transaction volume. He has appeared in numerous media, given lectures, served as a committee member for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and lectured at universities. As a rapidly growing company in the agricultural sector and the first agricultural venture to go public, it has attracted national attention. His hobby is tap dancing.
■ Moderator
Mr. Naoto Matsumoto, Representative Director, ABAKAM Co., Ltd.
Joined Future Venture Capital Co., Ltd. (FVC) in 2002. In 2016, he became the youngest President of FVC as a listed financial company. In 6 and a half years, he established approximately 50 funds totaling 24 billion yen, establishing a business model not dependent on IPOs. He retired as President of FVC at the ordinary general meeting of shareholders in 2022. In the same year, he was appointed Executive Partner at Strike Co., Ltd.
Mr. Naoto Matsumoto, Representative Director, ABAKAM Co., Ltd.
Click here to apply
S venture Lab.
[About S venture Lab.]
S venture Lab. is a service operated as part of Strike's mission to "create partners who change the world." S venture Lab. creates opportunities for interaction between companies by disseminating diverse information to promote collaboration between startup companies and established companies.
Strike Co., Ltd.
Strike Co., Ltd.
Representative: Kazuya Kaneda, President & CEO
Headquarters: 15F Mitsui Bussan Building, 1-2-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Business: M&A brokerage
Representative Phone: 03-6848-0101
URL: https://www.strike.co.jp
Keywords:
For its 57th installment, we will welcome Mr. Tomomasa Oikawa, Representative Director, Chairman & CEO of Nogyo Sogo Kenkyusho Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Wakayama City), a company that achieved the first IPO as an agricultural startup and generated significant buzz with SOMPO Holdings' tender offer (TOB) in December 2025.
Announcement of the 57th 'S venture Lab.' Event
Nogyo Sogo Kenkyusho connects producers nationwide directly with retailers using IT, operating 'Farmers' Direct Sales Stores'. The company achieved Japan's first IPO as an agricultural startup in 2016 and has continued its independent growth as an industry frontrunner. Why did it decide to join the SOMPO Group, a major financial group, now?
At this event, we will delve into the true intentions behind how these two seemingly disparate entities, 'agriculture x insurance', envision synergy and aim to solve social issues. What is the story behind this 'strategic alliance to accelerate business growth' that goes beyond a mere capital tie-up? Chairman Oikawa himself will speak about the key points for incorporating the resources of a major corporation and achieving further leaps through cross-industry collaboration. This session, which explores the forefront of open innovation, is a must-attend for entrepreneurs, businesses, and investors.
Click here for details and registration
■ Event Overview
[Date] Thursday, May 28, 2026, 18:30-20:30
[Venue] Tokyo Venture Capital Hub (Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza B, 5th Floor, 5-9-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo) / Zoom
[Organizer] S venture Lab. (Strike Co., Ltd.)
[Sponsor] Mori Building Co., Ltd.
[Cooperation] NPO Independents Club
[Contact]
Strike Co., Ltd. Innovation Support Office
Mail: info-slab@strike.co.jp
■ Event Details
■ Introduction
■ Part 1: Talk Session
■ Part 2: Pitches by various startups
■ Part 3: Business Card Exchange Session *The business card exchange session is only for on-site participants.
■ Speakers
■ Part 1: Speaker
Mr. Tomomasa Oikawa, Representative Director, Chairman & CEO, Nogyo Sogo Kenkyusho Co., Ltd.
Mr. Tomomasa Oikawa, Representative Director, Chairman & CEO, Nogyo Sogo Kenkyusho Co., Ltd.
Feeling a sense of crisis regarding agriculture since his student days, he gained 6 years of experience as a company employee before transitioning to the agricultural industry. After 3 years of practicing agriculture himself and 1 year running a greengrocer, he leveraged that experience to establish Nogyo Sogo Kenkyusho in 2007 with 500,000 yen in cash. In 13 years after founding, the company achieved 10 billion yen in transaction volume. He has appeared in numerous media, given lectures, served as a committee member for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and lectured at universities. As a rapidly growing company in the agricultural sector and the first agricultural venture to go public, it has attracted national attention. His hobby is tap dancing.
■ Moderator
Mr. Naoto Matsumoto, Representative Director, ABAKAM Co., Ltd.
Joined Future Venture Capital Co., Ltd. (FVC) in 2002. In 2016, he became the youngest President of FVC as a listed financial company. In 6 and a half years, he established approximately 50 funds totaling 24 billion yen, establishing a business model not dependent on IPOs. He retired as President of FVC at the ordinary general meeting of shareholders in 2022. In the same year, he was appointed Executive Partner at Strike Co., Ltd.
Mr. Naoto Matsumoto, Representative Director, ABAKAM Co., Ltd.
Click here to apply
S venture Lab.
[About S venture Lab.]
S venture Lab. is a service operated as part of Strike's mission to "create partners who change the world." S venture Lab. creates opportunities for interaction between companies by disseminating diverse information to promote collaboration between startup companies and established companies.
Strike Co., Ltd.
Strike Co., Ltd.
Representative: Kazuya Kaneda, President & CEO
Headquarters: 15F Mitsui Bussan Building, 1-2-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Business: M&A brokerage
Representative Phone: 03-6848-0101
URL: https://www.strike.co.jp
Keywords: