Leading Startup Square (LSS) to Fully Revamp Community and Membership System Starting September 1, 2026

Leading Startup Square Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: 10th Floor, Toyosu Forisia, 3-2-24 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director Yuuki Mihata; hereinafter "LSS") announces the full revamp of its community and membership system effective September 1, 2026.

Background of the Revamp

Since launching with a monthly dinner meeting in May 2023, LSS established its corporation in December 2023, launched its full membership program in May 2024, and introduced the LSS Innovation Hub (April 2025) and LSS Startup Hub (October 2025).

This revamp leverages LSS's accumulated network and operational expertise, combined with first-hand data and insights gathered from member dialogues, to systematically restructure its membership program, matching system, events, and subcommittees.

LSS aims to further enhance its functionality by designing tailored touchpoints based on each member's business challenges and needs, transforming serendipitous encounters into concrete collaborations and business opportunities.

Key Changes

- Membership System Overhaul (Transition to a Multi-Tier Structure)

In addition to the existing full membership, LSS introduces a regional plan for local enterprises and a free membership tier, restructuring into a three-tier membership model.

- LSS-Core Member (Annual Fee: ¥600,000 / Admission Fee: ¥100,000, both excluding tax)

Full access to exclusive 1-on-1 matching (once per quarter), 1-on-1 executive interviews (quarterly, four times annually), participation and leadership in all subcommittees, receipt of business challenge diagnostic reports, inclusion in LSS-All Hands (regular meetings) four times per year, overseas business practice tours, and company name and logo display on the website.

※ Eligibility: High-growth companies with ARR of ¥300 million or more (CEO or executive-level; for large or listed companies, department head or above).

- LSS-Core Regional (Annual Fee: ¥360,000 / Admission Fee: ¥100,000, both excluding tax)

A new eligibility-based plan targeting companies with headquarters registered outside the capital region and are non-listed. Benefits are equivalent to Core (1-on-1 executive interviews, exclusive matching, business challenge diagnostic reports, participation and leadership in all subcommittees, Stage program). However, on-site attendance at LSS-All Hands is charged per event.

- LSS-Friend Member (Free)

A new independent, free, official membership introduced via application and review. Members can receive information and network via a dedicated Slack channel, attend LSS-All Hands as observers (one-time, paid), and participate in LSS-Night, LSS-Table, and LSS-Launch events. By registering a business profile, free members become potential candidates for outreach from Core members.

※ Eligibility: Same level as Core (CEO or executive-level; for large or listed companies, department head or above).

※ All amounts are exclusive of tax.

- Introduction of a Matching Infrastructure Based on "First-Hand Information × Data × CS" — Quarterly "Matching Report"

A core service of the revamp is the introduction of a quarterly Matching Report, which structures first-hand information gathered by the CS team through 1-on-1 executive interviews to recommend to each member "who they should meet now."

Rather than leaving connections to chance as in traditional networking, LSS designs a seamless process from identifying business challenges to planning touchpoints.

Overview of the Matching Engine

- STEP 1 | Collection of First-Hand Information — Structured Interviews with 10 Sections and Over 45 Items

The CS team collects visible and latent challenges, available resources, and the CEO's passion—information not visible in public disclosures. By deep-diving into each challenge with details such as "background, expected outcomes, ideal counterpart profile, budget availability, past initiatives," the system covers quantitative data including employee count, procurement history, shareholder structure, runway, and key KPIs.

Sample Executive Interview Sheet

- STEP 2 | Continuously Updated via 9 Information Sources

Five sources from members (interview sheets, 1-on-1s, monthly surveys, matching responses, event participation) and four sources integrated by LSS (company websites, PR, SNS, EDINET disclosures, 1-on-1 analysis, past matching history) are continuously updated. The system is designed to improve in accuracy with use.

Mechanism for Maintaining Accuracy (9 Information Sources)

- STEP 3 | Scoring via Dual Judgment: Proprietary Engine + CS Team

Tags are structured across axes such as challenge, phase, resources, action type, temperature, industry, region, and touchpoint. Compatibility is calculated based on "mutual challenges ↔ resource availability × temperature."

By combining engine recommendations with final CS team judgment, LSS achieves a decision-making foundation that avoids dependency on individuals.

- STEP 4 | Quarterly Delivery as Member-Specific Reports

Each report features 20 prioritized companies: 5 top candidates, 10 secondary candidates, and 5 expansion candidates, ranked by compatibility.

- Top 5 Candidates: Detailed rationale provided. These are the companies to meet immediately.

- Secondary 10 Candidates: Next best matches, the companies to meet after the top 5.

- Expansion 5 Candidates: Non-member companies identified from public information.

- Reason to Meet: Structured bidirectionally as "our challenge ↔ their resources."

- First Meeting Agenda Proposal: Suggested discussion topics, including expected KPI changes.

- Touchpoint Design: The CS team designs the optimal touchpoint from LSS-All Hands, LSS-Chapter, 1-on-1, or LSS-Table.

- Data Sources: The information sources behind each recommendation are clearly stated.

※ Candidates below a certain compatibility threshold are not listed.

Matching Report

- STEP 5 | CS Team Accompanies Through Deal Closure and Feeds Results Back to Improve Accuracy

The CS team attends initial meetings, supports goal setting, execution, and outcome reporting, and feeds the results of commercial negotiations back into the system to continuously adjust scoring weights.

※ Companies specified by members or their competitors are automatically excluded.

4-Step Matching Based on 1-on-1 First-Hand Information

- Target Areas

Covers 13 areas: procurement, business partnerships, capital alliances, M&A, new ventures, recruitment, overseas expansion, fundraising, subsidies, intellectual property, legal and tax, ESG, and IT/DX.

Information collected through interviews is strictly managed under NDA and not disclosed to third parties.

- Event Branding Systematization

Key events are organized into the following brands, creating a system that allows members to choose touchpoints based on purpose.

- LSS-All Hands (4 times/year): Regular meetings for sharing challenges and announcing matching recommendations.

- LSS-Bridge (as needed): Invitation-only roundtables for small-group discussions with decision-makers from large corporations and local governments.

- LSS-Launch (bi-monthly): Startup pitch events to present fundraising and co-creation proposals to investors and corporations.

- LSS-Table (multiple times/month): Small-group dining events, limited to 10 people at Tokyo Bay Court Club.

- LSS-Night (quarterly): Networking events with standing receptions, open to members and Friends.

- Overseas Business Practice Tours (as needed): Direct engagement with local large enterprises, government agencies, and VCs in Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, etc.

- LSS-Chapter (monthly to bi-monthly): Subcommittees led by certified partners hosting theme-based sessions.