SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP Inc. (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Etsuko Tsugihara; hereinafter referred to as “the Company”) is pleased to announce that it has made an LP (Limited Partnership) investment in NEXTBLUE No. 2 Investment Limited Partnership (Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Managing Partners: Kanako Inoue, Yuichi Kori, Vincent Tan; hereinafter referred to as “NEXTBLUE No. 2 Fund”), which was newly established for the purpose of investing in startups providing services in the field of women’s well-being and female entrepreneurs.

NEXTBLUE No. 2 Fund will make global investments in the untapped area of women’s well-being, where pain and needs are becoming more serious as women play an increasingly active role. In addition to pursuing returns, the fund aims to create a social impact to improve the well-being of women throughout Japan through the realization of DEIB (Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging) with the cooperation of the fund’s investors.

Our group has been actively implementing various initiatives aimed at improving women’s well-being through the introduction of welfare programs that support diverse lifestyles and the “W society” project, a women’s empowerment project run by our group company Good and Company. In order to address the situation in which Japan is lagging behind other countries in promoting “diversity” and to solve more fundamental issues, we have decided to participate in NEXTBLUE No. 2 Fund. Through investments in a wide range of fields, including education and technology, we will spread as many options as possible to Japanese society to liberate women from the diverse stresses they have faced, and support the realization of a society where all women can shine in their own way.

■NEXTBLUE2 Fund Overview and Background of Establishment

NEXTBLUE aims to play a part in creating a society where all people can find their place and thrive, and as a first step towards achieving this goal, it has positioned the improvement of women’s “well-being.” “Well-being” refers to a state of physical, mental, and social well-being, and in modern Japan, where women are increasingly entering the workforce, healthcare issues specific to women are said to be a social problem. According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the economic loss due to poor physical condition specific to women is estimated at approximately 490 billion yen per year (*1).

In Europe, the concept of DEIB (Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging) has recently been advocated, and “Belonging,” which is born from fostering the self-esteem of each individual, has been attracting attention as a step further than DEI. According to research (*2) by Harvard University in the United States, when an organization commits to the concept of Belonging, business performance improves by 56%, turnover decreases by 50%, and absenteeism also decreases by 75%. Among the measures taken by organizations, the initiative that made them feel the most “Belonging” was the introduction of healthcare services for minorities. Most of the current healthcare services are based on men, and only 2% of the total funds are allocated to women’s healthcare. However, this 2% is an indispensable piece in realizing DEIB, and as more organizations aim to improve corporate value from an ESG perspective, the market for women’s healthcare/well-being is expected to grow significantly in the future.

SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP has positioned “sustainable tech investment” as part of its long-term growth strategy. Starting with this investment in the women’s well-being market, we will discover technologies that can create social innovation and aim to realize the sustainability of society as a whole from a medium- to long-term perspective.

*1 Source: About Women’s Health Initiatives in Health Management (March 31, 2019, Healthcare Industries Division, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
*2 Source: Harvard Business Review “The Value of Belonging at Work “

■ Comment from Etsuko Tsugihara, President and CEO of SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP Inc.

We’re all the same, because We’re all different.

The word “diversity” has become a common concept overseas. Unfortunately, Japan is lagging behind other countries. In order to improve the “well-being” of Japanese women, eliminate bias against all people, and liberate women from the diverse stresses they have faced, SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP will take this participation in NEXTBLUE as an opportunity to support the realization of a society where individuals can shine in their own way through all means, including education and technology.

■ NEXTBLUE2 Limited Liability Partnership

Company name: NEXTBLUE No. 2 Limited Liability Partnership
Members: Yuichi Kori, Kanako Inoue
Date of establishment: May 11, 2023
Head office location: Win Aoyama 1214, 2-2-15 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Business description: Entrepreneur support, operation and management of investment limited liability partnerships, attracting European companies to Japan, attracting Japanese companies to Europe
Official website: https://nextblue.com/