Delaware, US, July 12th, 2023 – Final Aim, Inc. (Delaware, US, CEO Masafumi Asakura, and CDO Yasuhide Yokoi) proudly announced the appointment of Shin’ichiro Matsuo as the company’s Technology Advisor.
As an expert in cryptography, information security, and international standardization, Shin’ichiro Matsuo will oversee the company’s technology.

Biography of Shin’ichiro Matsuo

Summary

– Aspects of specialties: Research scientist in cryptography, its applications, and privacy; Expert in international standardization.

– A research professor of computer science at Georgetown University and Director of Blockchain research at CyberSMART Research Canter, where he leads multi-disciplinary research among technology, economy, law, and regulation.

– Deeply involved in blockchain academic research: Co-founder of “BSafe.network.” building an international neutral academic research test network; Research on security analysis on blockchain technology; Co-chair of Blockchain Governance Initiative Network (BGIN); Committed to ISO TC307 standardization as a committee member and liaison between ISO/IEC JTC1 SC27 and ISO TC307. A member of OECD’s Blockchain Expert Policy Advisory Board (BEPAB).

– Designed cryptographic protocols from fundamental protocols to application protocols: Key management protocols suitable for smartphone and RFID tags; Digital cash schemes; Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology; Digital time-stamping schemes based on PKI and hash-chain; Digital voting schemes; Privacy-enhancing technologies including anonymous digital signature and anonymous entity authentication protocols.

– Expert in international standardization of cryptography and information security: Head of Japanese national body of ISO/IEC SC27/WG2; Editor of ISO/IEC 29128 (Verification of Cryptographic Protocols), ISO/IEC 20009-2 (Anonymous Entity Authentication), ISO/IEC 19592 (Secret Sharing Scheme) and Standing Document 4 (Analysis and status of cryptographic algorithms); Editor of ISO TR23576 (Security of Digital Assets Custodians); Member of Japanese Governmental committees for cryptographic technologies; Founder of an international consortium on security evaluation of cryptographic protocols, “CELLOS.”; Proposer of new evaluation criteria of hash functions suitable for real information system and a common evaluation platform for SHA-3 candidates, conducting an evaluation for 14 finalists.

Work Experience – Highlights

– Blockchain Governance Initiative Network (BGIN), Acting Co-chair
– Virginia Tech, Research Professor
– Georgetown University, Research Professor
– NTT Research Inc., Head of Blockchain Research
– Keio University, Project professor
– MIT Media Lab, Research Affiliate – Director’s Liaison for Financial Cryptography
– University of Tokyo, Research Fellow
– ISO/IEC JTC1 SC27/WG2, Head of Japanese National Committee
– National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Director of Security Architecture Laboratory

About Final Aim
Final Aim has been driving the global adoption of blockchain and smart contracts technologies in industrial design and manufacturing. In November 2021, the company announced the beta version of its blockchain platform, “Final Chain.”
In April 2022, they established a headquarters in the United States. In September of the same year, Final Aim was accepted into “Berkeley SkyDeck,” a world-renowned Silicon Valley startup accelerator. In February 2023, they were chosen as “The Most Likely to Become the Next Unicorn” within the program. In June, the company won the “Japan-US Innovation Awards – Innovation Showcase,” a co-program by the Japan Society of Northern California and the Stanford University US-Asia Technology Management Center.

Company Name: Final Aim, Inc.
Location: Headquarters – Delaware, US / Subsidiary – Tokyo, Japan
Founders: Masafumi Asakura, Chief Executive Officer / Yasuhide Yokoi, Chief Design Officer
Business Description: Drive the adoption of blockchain and smart contracts technologies for design and manufacturing
Website: https://final-aim.com
Contact: contact@final-aim.com

Delaware, US, July 3rd, 2023 – Final Aim, Inc. (Delaware, US, CEO Masafumi Asakura, and CDO Yasuhide Yokoi) proudly announced the appointment of Jeep Kline as the company’s Board of Advisors. Jeep Kline is a seasoned venture capitalist, a senior executive at Intel and pre-IPO technology companies, a World Bank economist, and a faculty at UC Berkeley with more than 20 years of experience in the high-tech industry.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeepkline/

As a venture investor, Ms. Kline co-founded a venture capital fund investing in early-stage technology companies in Latin America, where she invested in notable impact-minded companies. She also served as a partner at a venture fund investing in early-stage high-growth companies across the US and Canada. Recently, she founded
SeaSky Lab an organization that brings knowledge and resources for tech entrepreneurs from Silicon Valley to Asia.

As an operating executive, Ms. Kline was the President of AHEAD Medicine – a life science company using machine learning for cell analysis – holding six global IPs. Prior to AHEAD Medicine, she was a senior executive at Intel Corp., where she pioneered, launched, and scaled the company’s first Android-based tablet device globally.

Ms. Kline was also an economist at The World Bank Group, where she supported Ministries of Finance in emerging markets to implement technology development projects in South America, Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe. Ms. Kline is one of the first Thai women selected to lecture a popular MBA course Impact Venture Capital Investing – Sustainable & Impact Finance Curriculum – at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley. She also serves Berkeley Skydeck, a top accelerator program, as an investor and Global Ambassador to 48 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Her board work includes AHEAD Medicine (biotech), The Circulate Initiative by Circulate Capital (climate tech), Dietz Co. (health tech), and Intel Alumni Network (global tech executives). She is also an advisor to selected founders/CEOs at The Alchemist Accelerator and UCSF Health Hub Incubation in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Her multi-industry career paths are threaded together in one big theme: global impact. With this strong ambition and proven track record worldwide, Final Aim is excited to welcome Jeep to the Board of Advisors and to benefit from her experience and accomplishment.

“It’s rare to find a company that deploys technologies to create a large-scale impact on manufacturing and design. It’s even rarer to find two successful serial entrepreneurs from Japan who understand VC and impact entrepreneurship at a global scale. The combination of technology, business execution, and the founding team makes Final Aim a once-in-a-generation company from Asia.” said Jeep.

Masafumi Asakura, Co-Founder and CEO of Final Aim commented on the appointment that, “I am convinced that Jeep’s experience with the World Bank, Intel, venture capital, and her network in USA and Asia will help Final Aim grow to the next stage of its development. She is also a Professional Faculty of UC Berkeley Haas and I have learned a lot from her. I am honored to have this great opportunity to work with her.”

Also, Yasuhide Yokoi, Co-Founder and CDO of Final Aim stated, “Jeep has been fully supportive since our acceptance into Berkeley SkyDeck, and I am excited that she will be joining our moonshot as a Board of Advisors. Jeep’s incredible experience, especially in the US, Asia, and worldwide will be vital as we continue our ambitious plans to grow and develop blockchain solutions for our industry clients.”

About Final Aim
Final Aim has been driving the global adoption of blockchain and smart contracts technologies in industrial design and manufacturing. In November 2021, the company announced the beta version of its blockchain platform, “Final Chain.”
In April 2022, they established a headquarters in the United States. In September of the same year, Final Aim was accepted into “Berkeley SkyDeck,” a world-renowned Silicon Valley startup accelerator. In February 2023, they were chosen as “The Most Likely to Become the Next Unicorn” within the program. In June, the company won the “Japan-US Innovation Awards – Innovation Showcase,” a co-program by the Japan Society of Northern California and the Stanford University US-Asia Technology Management Center.

Company Name: Final Aim, Inc.
Location: Headquarters – Delaware, US / Subsidiary – Tokyo, Japan
Founders: Masafumi Asakura, Chief Executive Officer / Yasuhide Yokoi, Chief Design Officer
Business Description: Drive the adoption of blockchain and smart contracts technologies for design and manufacturing
Website: https://final-aim.com
Contact: contact@final-aim.com

Delaware, US, June 22nd, 2023 – Final Aim, Inc. (Delaware, US, CEO Masafumi Asakura, and CDO Yasuhide Yokoi) is proud to announce the company has raised an angel investment from Craig Tegel, a former President, Representative, and Managing Director of Adobe in Japan, APAC, and Northern Europe. The company has also announced the appointment of Craig Tegel as Final Aim’s Business Advisor.

With over 30+ years of international professional experience, Craig Tegel has a strong track record in business, marketing and corporate development. His reputation as a strong leader saw him playing key roles in leading and scaling Adobe in Japan, APAC, and Northern Europe as a President, Representative, and Managing Director.

Now the Director of People Make the Difference, Craig uses his wealth of experience to offer executive coaching, team performance management, and leadership coaching to help others establish and build upon their own leadership skills to create high-performing teams.

Final Aim is excited to welcome Craig to the team and to benefit from his experience and leadership.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to be an angel investor in Final Aim. I was impressed with the leadership of the company and the vision that Masa and Yasu have for the solution and the way in which it can streamline complex contract workflows and leverages the latest blockchain technology.” said Craig.

Masafumi Asakura, Co-Founder and CEO of Final Aim, expressed his excitement about the angel investment and the advisor appointment, stating that, “Craig’s global perspective on the design industry and his business advice based on his experience as an executive at Adobe are very encouraging for Final Aim’s future growth in the world. I am confident that his joining Final Aim is a big step forward for the success of Final Aim.”

Also, Yasuhide Yokoi, Co-Founder and CDO of Final Aim, said, “Craig is a dynamic and accomplished leader with a track record of expanding creative tools and software like Adobe to industrial enterprises for many years and regions. With his experience, I believe he will be instrumental in helping Final Aim deliver the world’s leading smart contracts platform to our customers.”

With this angel investment and advisor appointment, Final Aim will further accelerate its business development and blockchain technology adoption in the design and manufacturing industries worldwide.

About Final Aim
Final Aim has been driving the global adoption of blockchain and smart contracts technologies in industrial design and manufacturing. In November 2021, the company announced the beta version of its blockchain platform, “Final Chain.”
In April 2022, they established a headquarters in the United States. In September of the same year, Final Aim was accepted into “Berkeley SkyDeck,” a world-renowned Silicon Valley startup accelerator. In February 2023, they were chosen as “The Most Likely to Become the Next Unicorn” within the program. In June, the company won the “Japan-US Innovation Awards – Innovation Showcase,” a co-program by the Japan Society of Northern California and the Stanford University US-Asia Technology Management Center.

Company Name: Final Aim, Inc.
Location: Headquarters – Delaware, US / Subsidiary – Tokyo, Japan
Founders: Masafumi Asakura, Chief Executive Officer / Yasuhide Yokoi, Chief Design Officer
Business Description: Drive the adoption of blockchain and smart contracts technologies for design and manufacturing
Website: https://final-aim.com
Contact: contact@final-aim.com

A co-program by the Japan Society of Northern California and the Stanford University US-Asia Technology Management Center has selected the company.

San Francisco, US, June 19th, 2023 – Final Aim, Inc. (Delaware, US, CEO Masafumi Asakura, and CDO Yasuhide Yokoi) is proud to announce the company has been selected as the “Innovation Showcase” company in the “Japan – US Innovation Awards,” co-hosted by the Japan Society of Northern California and the Stanford University US-Asia Technology Management Center.
Final Aim will exhibit in correspondence with the award, and the Co-Founder & CEO, Masafumi Asakura, will speak at the symposium on July 20th, 2023, at Stanford University.

Program URL: https://www.usjinnovate.org

The jointly organized program “Japan – US Innovation Awards” by the Northern California Japan Society and the US-Asia Technology Management Center at Stanford University selects and honors companies that have made an impact and excelled in both the United States and Japanese markets. Each year, one “Emerging Leader” from the United States, one from Japan, and five “Innovation Showcase” companies are recognized and awarded. Past awardees include startups such as Dropbox, Tesla, Mercari, ABEJA, and Preferred Networks. Last year, GITAI and Kyoto Fusion Engineering were among the recipients, and the awards are widely recognized as a platform for achieving global success.

Specifically, the “Innovation Showcase” recognizes up to five Japanese startup companies built around exciting new technologies and innovative business ideas with the potential for major worldwide impact. The startups are selected from a pool of over 100 nominees through stringent review, discussion, and voting by the Innovation Advisory Council of the Awards Program, a distinguished 45-person committee of venture investors, successful entrepreneurs, company executives, and academic experts in the US and Japan.

As the reasons for our selection, the following factors were taken into account:

– Despite being an early-stage startup, Final Aim achieved collaborations with major design and manufacturing enterprises such as Sony and Panasonic, leveraging blockchain technology.

– Significant business development in the United States, such as the establishment of a US headquarters in April 2022; accepted into Berkeley SkyDeck, a world-renowned Silicon Valley startup accelerator, and being awarded “The most likely to become the next unicorn”; collaboration with Autodesk, the leading 3D CAD software company based in San Francisco; partnership with Design Panasonic in New York.

– Uniqueness and potential scalability of the company’s cutting-edge technologies, such as blockchain and smart contracts to address challenges in the design and manufacturing industry, such as design contracts and intellectual property rights.

In correspondence with the award, the co-program will organize the annual “Japan – U.S. Innovation Awards Symposium” on July 20th, 2023, at Stanford University. Final Aim has been invited to exhibit, and the Co-Founder & CEO, Masafumi Asakura, will speak at the symposium.

About 2023 Japan – US Innovation Awards Symposium
The Innovation Showcase will take place at the Innovation Awards Symposium on July 20th, 2023. Registration for the Symposium is open and includes admission to the program, a buffet lunch, and access to networking.

Date: Thursday, July 20th, 2023, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center, Stanford University (326 Galvez Street, Stanford, CA 94305-6105)
Event URL: https://www.usjinnovate.org/agenda-2023/
Event registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2023-japan-us-innovation-awards-symposium-tickets-600756848907

About Japan Society of Northern California
Since its founding in 1905, the Japan Society of Northern California (JSNC) has advanced U.S. – Japan mutual understanding in a global context. The Society offers an array of programs and networking opportunities for people and organizations in the Bay Area with a strong interest in Japan. It is the go-to place for U.S. – Japan insights, opportunities, collaboration, and networking. The Society is a dynamic link connecting the world-renowned innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem of San Francisco/Silicon Valley to a resurgent Japan.
URL: https://www.usajapan.org/

About Stanford University US-Asia Technology Management Center
The US-Asia Technology Management Center (US-ATMC) is industry-funded at Stanford University under the Stanford Global Studies initiative. Established in 1992, the US-ATMC conducts education and research into innovation and emerging business trends in technology-intensive industries. Its courses and public programs provide Stanford students and the Silicon Valley community with knowledge and analytical capabilities important to global success in high-tech fields in the 21st century.
URL: https://asia.stanford.edu/

About Final Aim
Final Aim has been driving the global adoption of blockchain and smart contracts technologies in industrial design and manufacturing. In November 2021, the company announced the beta version of its blockchain platform, “Final Chain.”
In April 2022, they established a headquarters in the United States. In September of the same year, Final Aim was accepted into “Berkeley SkyDeck,” a world-renowned Silicon Valley startup accelerator. In February 2023, they were chosen as “The Most Likely to Become the Next Unicorn” within the program.

Company Name: Final Aim, Inc.
Location: Headquarters – Delaware, US / Subsidiary – Tokyo, Japan
Founders: Masafumi Asakura, Chief Executive Officer / Yasuhide Yokoi, Chief Design Officer
Business Description: Drive the adoption of blockchain and smart contracts technologies for design and manufacturing
Website: https://final-aim.com
Contact: contact@final-aim.com

Tokyo, Japan, February 24th, 2023 – Final Aim, Inc. (Delaware, US, CEO Masafumi Asakura, and CDO Yasuhide Yokoi) is proud to announce that the company has collaborated with FUTURE LIFE FACTORY, Panasonic Design Center of Panasonic Corporation to launch the “Removing Microaggression Products (RMP) Project.”

The project aims to create the future of purchasing experience born from an original concept of product traceability, focusing on “empathy” through personal information that conveys humanity rather than the conventional information of nationality, material, etc.

Panasonic utilized Final Aim’s blockchain technology and the platform “Final Chain” to realize the concept of tracing and connecting the information between manufacturers and users, creating product value and purchasing experience never before.

As a launch campaign, the project team will set up a pop-up store, “MADE IN > MADE BY – RMP Project POP-UP STORE,” for a limited time from March 3rd to 5th at Reload Shimokitazawa. A limited number of 100 original shirts will be sold on-site. Customers can get in touch with the new purchasing experience trace and connect with the manufacturers using Final Aim’s blockchain platform.

Pop-up Store Details

Future of Purchasing Experience Through Empathy, “MADE IN > MADE BY – RMP Project POP-UP STORE”
URL: https://panasonic.co.jp/design/flf/events/rmpproject_madeby/
Date/Time: March 3rd to 5th, 2023 / 10 am – 7 pm
Location: Reload Shimokitazawa (https://reload-shimokita.com/), Entrance Hall (3-19-20 Kitazawa, Setagaya City, Tokyo 155-0031)
Fee: Free

Project Concept

Concept Movie YouTube URL：https://youtu.be/I7NK0a7O5hE

Today, the world calls for the importance of “traceability,” in which companies disclose information such as the place of production, production methods, and quantitative data to measure environmental impact. Soon, the nationality, gender, age, etc., of manufacturers may also be disclosed, and it may become a common custom for consumers to make purchasing decisions based on such transparency.

In this context, Panasonic and the team propose the future of purchasing experience realized from unique traceability concept. It is a purchasing experience that begins with “empathy.” It is an experience that fosters emotion through information utterly different from the place of production and environmental impact figures, but through “the life, tastes, and emotions of the creators and makers.”

What if my favorite musicians are the same as the material manufacturer?
What if I can find a common way of spending holidays with the production manager?
What if I know the salesperson’s dream and want to support them?

Usually, we unconsciously purchase products based on biases such as the country of production. Through the project, the team aims to free consumers from prejudices by connecting the products’ backgrounds, such as emotions and humanity like above.

About “Removing Microaggression Products (RMP) Project”

The project aims to remove microaggressions (prejudices born subconsciously) that underlie products of various genres through the empathy gained by receiving personal and emotional information from the creators and makers.

For the first theme, the project selected “Fashion.” The team collaborated with an all-inclusive fashion brand, “SOLIT!” and developed an original shirt, “SOLIT Broad Shirts – RMP Project model –” that users can easily trace the personal and emotional information of the creators and makers.

Additionally, the technology that connects manufacturers and users has been developed in collaboration with Final Aim. The team utilized the platform “Final Chain,” which uses blockchain and smart contracts, also known as Web3 technology.

Project URL: https://panasonic.co.jp/design/flf/works/rmpproject/

About The Original Shirt “SOLIT Broad Shirts – RMP Project model –”

The shirt (¥10,000/Tax excluded) can be purchased at the pop-up store from March 3rd to 5th, 2023, or through SOLIT! website (https://solit-japan.com/).

The Technology that Connects Manufacturers and Users

From the input through an original website answered by buyers of the original shirts, the manufacturers and buyers will be connected through the blockchain platform “Final Chain.” The team expects users to enjoy the personal and emotional information of the producers and find out with whom each empathizes.

Project Teams

This project is led by FUTURE LIFE FACTORY in Panasonic Design Center of Panasonic Corporation, with Final Aim providing the blockchain platform and technical advisory, and McCann Alpha, SOLIT, and Paragon participating as collaborators.

About FUTURE LIFE FACTORY, Panasonic Design Center, Panasonic Corporation
https://panasonic.co.jp/design/flf

A design studio that takes a creative approach based on human values and social issues and applies insights to mold a future vision. The studio explores the future of new types of businesses and ponders how we’ll live in the world of tomorrow, drawing on ideas not simply derived from conventional concepts.

About McCann Alpha, McCann Erickson Japan Inc.
https://www.mccannwg.co.jp/

McCann Erickson is the flagship agency of the McCann Worldgroup, the only genuinely international advertising agency capable of independent media planning and buying. Since its establishment in 1960, McCann Erickson Inc. has been working with major corporations, both Japanese and foreign-affiliated. McCann Alpha, established in 2021, is a creative partner organization focused on business co-creation. The partner currently works with Panasonic and many other companies on projects ranging from 0 to 1 to 10, including services, products, and brands.

SOLIT, Inc.
https://solit-japan.com/

Solit is a company that develops using inclusive design to realize an “all-inclusive economy” where everyone can accept differences and coexist healthily. As a first step, the company has developed a semi-personalized fashion brand, “SOLIT!” that is easy to put on and take off and allows customers to choose their favorite size and length for each body part, regardless of disability, sexuality, body shape, etc. The brand won the GOLD Award at the iF DESIGN AWARD 2022, one of the world’s top three design awards.

PARAGON DIGITAL DESIGN
https://www.paragon.co.jp/

PARAGON DIGITAL DESIGN is the digital solutions team of Paragon Inc. It is a digital solutions team of PARAGON Corporation, which has been in business for 51 years and is committed to creating unique products in the digital domain under the spirit of “paragon,” which means “gem” and “model.”

About the blockchain platform, “Final Chain”

Final Aim has been driving the adoption of Web3 technologies, such as blockchain and smart contracts, globally in the industrial design and manufacturing industries.
Since its blockchain platform release, the company has collaborated with industry leaders: Panasonic USA, a design division in New York; AUTODESK, a global leader in 3D design, engineering, and entertainment software; Ultimaker, a Netherland-based global leader in the professional 3D printing industry. In August 2022, Final Aim announced a partnership with Sony Design Consulting and Sony Computer Science Laboratories for its blockchain technology application. Alongside the development and collaboration, the company applied for three patents internationally.
Furthermore, Final Aim was accepted into Berkeley SkyDeck, a world-renowned Silicon Valley startup accelerator. It has been elected and awarded “The Most Likely to Become The Next Unicorn” at its program “Global Innovation Showcase.” Final Aim has also been accepted into Plug and Play Japan, the world’s leading accelerator/venture capital.

About Final Aim

Company Name: Final Aim, Inc.
Location: Headquarters, US / Subsidiary, Japan
Founders: Masafumi Asakura, Chief Executive Officer / Yasuhide Yokoi, Chief Design Officer
Business Description: Drive the adoption of Web3 technologies for design and manufacturing
Website: https://final-aim.com
Contact: contact@final-aim.com

Contract management and execution are complex and risky.
Specifically for designers and manufacturers, in addition to difficult and sensitive terms in the contract, it becomes more complicated as intellectual property, subcontractors, and payment management play a critical role.
For example, whose and which intellectual property in work and when it was transferred is impossible to search and trace via the current contract format and existing solution. These become further complicated when layers of players, administrators, stakeholders, and subcontractors interact with separate agreements and payment terms.
This administrative complexity is universal to the design and manufacturing industry. However, if not managed and executed well, not only is it inefficient and costly, there is a risk of accusation and lawsuit at worst – unfortunately, not uncommon in the industry.

Current problems of design & manufacturing contract management

With this background, Final Aim builds a blockchain platform to answer one question:

“How can we make the contract management and execution frictionless so that designers and manufacturers can focus on their true value creation?”

Delaware, US, February 1st, 2023 – Final Aim, Inc. (CEO Masafumi Asakura and CDO Yasuhide Yokoi) today announced that the company utilized its blockchain platform in a furniture design project by the creative agency CIRCULAR DESIGN STUDIO./Shinto Tsushin Co., Ltd. (Kikuro Tani, Chairman & Representative Director) and the forestry tech startup iforest, Inc. (Koumei Maruyama, Co-Founder & CEO).

The project aims to rediscover and enhance the value of local forest resources by developing product designs that tell the local story. The team selected Hakuba Village as an initial area for launch. It released an original furniture design – also designed by Final Aim – in which the wood is cut from and manufactured locally in the village.

Modular design that integrates aesthetics, functionality, and scalable usage

Flexible design that could be generated as chairs and tables with various size

Patented design that could instantly be assembled and customized

Like general design and manufacturing projects, the team and the designer created and agreed on a design contract. Specifically, the contract states which designs in the design proposal documents the client can manufacture and commercialize. The agreement was also tailored as a license contract defining the starting date and limiting the time available for commercial use. Furthermore, the contract represents the intellectual property – also legally design patented – remains to the original designer and restricts the client to edit, resell or sub-license to other subcontractors.

Though the contract generation and agreement proceeded smoothly, properly managing and accurately executing the contract is challenging for the team, with limited administrative resources and various stakeholders, including the manufacturers.

Design and manufacturing with numerous stakeholders and subcontractors

“Traceable, transparent, and automatic” – Contract management and execution by blockchain, smart contracts, and token.

The project utilized Final Aim’s blockchain platform as a POC study to overcome the challenges. Firstly, upon public blockchain and distributed storage, the team implemented the platform for ample file storage for all critical evidence. The project manager, designer, and manufacturers used the platform for sharing on a remote daily basis.
Then, the platform generated an NFT as a utility token that bundles all the essential files (approved proposals, design renderings, final 2d drawings, final 3d files, etc.) and ownership evidence (owner, date, time, patent filings, etc.) stated in the contract. Furthermore, the smart contracts originally built behind the token resembles the essential elements of the contract terms, such as the token transfer limit and automatic expiration. The platform supported the token transfer to the client’s digital wallet upon agreement and fee transaction.

The blockchain platform utilization made complicated and messy management traceable, opaque subcontracting/sublicensing transparent, forgetful and risky payment and license expiration automatic. As a result, the platform unlocked significant benefits and derisked the team and the project with limited time and administrative resources.

Actual project screenshots of the blockchain platform used in the project

About the blockchain platform, “Final Chain”
Final Aim has been driving the adoption of Web3 technologies, such as blockchain and smart contracts, globally in the industrial design and manufacturing industries.
Since its blockchain platform release, the company has collaborated with industry leaders: Panasonic USA, a design division in New York; AUTODESK, a global leader in 3D design, engineering, and entertainment software; Ultimaker, a Netherland-based global leader in the professional 3D printing industry. In August 2022, Final Aim announced a partnership with Sony Design Consulting and Sony Computer Science Laboratories for its blockchain technology application. Alongside the development and collaboration, the company applied for three patents internationally.
Furthermore, Final Aim was accepted into Berkeley SkyDeck, a world-renowned Silicon Valley startup accelerator, and Plug and Play Japan, the world’s leading accelerator/venture capital.

About Final Aim
Company Name: Final Aim, Inc.
Location: Headquarters, US / Subsidiary, Japan
Founders: Masafumi Asakura, Chief Executive Officer / Yasuhide Yokoi, Chief Design Officer
Business Description: Drive the adoption of Web3 technologies for design and manufacturing
Website: https://final-aim.com
Contact: contact@final-aim.com

Joint project with the Tourism Commission of Hakuba Village and Shinto Tsushin

Nagano, Japan, January 20th, 2023 – Final Aim, Inc. (Delaware, US, CEO Masafumi Asakura, and CDO Yasuhide Yokoi) is proud to announce the start of proof-of-concept (POC) with the Tourism Commission of Hakuba Village (Kita-Azumi, Nagano, Representative Director, Hideki Ito) and Shinto Tsushin Co., Ltd. (Nagoya, Aichi, Chairman & Representative Director, Kikuro Tani).
Hakuba Village, located at the foot of the Northern Alps in northern Nagano Prefecture and surrounded by magnificent mountains, is a one-of-a-kind “mountain resort.”
Significant numbers of people from all over the world visit the village to enjoy the Northern Alps’ extraordinary nature during the winter when you can ski and snowboard in all seasons.
The village’s history as one of Japan’s major international mountain resorts dates back more than 100 years. Ever since the British mountaineer Walter Weston first visited Hakuba in 1894, it became a must-go for any mountain and ski lover.

The joint project aims to apply Web3 technologies such as blockchain, smart contract, and tokens to explore best practices to maximize its rich heritage, assets, and communities.

POC Overview – “Non-Fungible HAKUBA”

The goal of the POC is to collect photos of Hakuba Village during this winter season, record the photo shooting information (time, location, etc.) associated with the images to the blockchain, and publish them on a special website. Non-fungible tokens (NFT) will be issued as certificates to photo contributors.

POC Title: “Non-Fungible HAKUBA”
POC Schedule: Until mid-February 2023 (Invitation only)
Campaign site: March 2023 (URL TBA)

Photo archive and campaign site supported by our blockchain technologies

As a technology partner, Final Aim will conduct a technical verification on its blockchain platform “Final Chain” private beta. The technology area covers comprehensively from protocol selection, smart contract, token usability, original API development, and UI/UX design.

The POC is positioned as a first step to consider using Web3 technologies in Hakuba Village. Based on the knowledge gained through this POC, the team plans to visualize various actions in Hakuba Village, such as sightseeing and lodging experiences with low environmental impact. In the long term, the village aims to offer incentives to enjoy nature more through the level of contribution, thereby reducing the ecological impact of Hakuba Village, especially in the tourism industry.

About the Tourism Commission of Hakuba Village
The Commission aims to pool the wisdom of Hakuba Village and tourism businesses such as Hakuba mountain range lodge operators, inn operators, cableway operators, transportation companies, commerce and industry, guide associations, hot springs, finance companies, and agricultural cooperatives. It also aims to promote tourism-related initiatives and revitalize the local economy by attracting tourists and promoting international tourism while using Hakuba Village’s rich natural environment.
Website: www.vill.hakuba.nagano.jp

About Shinto Tsushin and CIRCULAR DESIGN STUDIO.
CIRCULAR DESIGN STUDIO. is an in-house project team of an advertising company, Shinto Tsushin. The studio has been working to solve social issues by connecting local communities and companies under the theme of “Brightly Changing the World with the Circular Economy. Specifically, in Hakuba Village, the studio has held “GREEN WORK HAKUBA” four times and has been in charge of the project’s start-up, overall production, and creative work.
Company Name: Shinto Tsushin Co., Ltd. / CIRCULAR DESIGN STUDIO.
Business Description: Support for regional revitalization and new business creation based on the circular economy
Website: https://cdstudio.jp/

About Final Aim
Company Name: Final Aim, Inc.
Location: US, Japan
Founders: Masafumi Asakura, Chief Executive Officer / Yasuhide Yokoi, Chief Design Officer
Business Description: Drive the adoption of Web3 technologies for industrial design
Website: https://final-aim.com
Contact: contact@final-aim.com

Tokyo, Japan, January 6th, 2022 – Final Aim, Inc. (Delaware, US, CEO Masafumi Asakura, and CDO Yasuhide Yokoi) is proud to announce that the company has been accepted into the Winter/Spring 2023 Batch Mobility accelerator program in Plug and Play Japan KK (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative: Phillip Vincent). Through the program, the company will leverage the opportunity to collaborate with various major corporations.

Final Aim has been driving the adoption of Web3 technologies, such as blockchain and smart contract, globally in the industrial design and manufacturing industries. In November 2021, the company released its Web3 platform “Final Chain” private beta, the industry-first solution with decentralized and distributed technologies such as blockchain, smart contract, digital tokens, and IPFS. And in April 2022, the company established a corporation as its headquarters in the United States. Furthermore, in September 2022, the company was accepted into Berkeley SkyDeck, a world-renowned Silicon Valley startup accelerator.

About “Plug and Play Japan” and The Accelerator Program

Plug and Play Japan is the world’s leading accelerator/venture capital. It is a global innovation platform headquartered in Silicon Valley; 45+ leading companies of each sector participate in the programs as official corporate partners. Its major expertise is “supporting corporate partners creating innovation,” “cross-industrial accelerator programs,” and “startup investment,” making the best use of our extensive global network. Plug and Play Japan supports the co-creation and collaboration between Japanese/international startups with innovative technology/ideas and industry-leading corporations, enabling them to generate innovation.
The accelerator programs provided by Plug and Play Japan accelerate innovation by connecting its corporate partners with Japanese and international startups. Through these programs, corporate partners can connect with participating startups with technologies and services that could accelerate their innovation activities. Startups have the opportunity to collaborate with a wide range of major corporations. Summit (so-called Demo Day) is the final step of the accelerator program, where startups give pitches outlining their results from the program. It’s an excellent opportunity to get the latest updates on innovative technologies, meets cutting-edge startups, and develop new business partnerships.

Through the accelerator program by Plug and Play Japan, Final Aim will further expand its business and technology to the industrial design and manufacturing industries by gaining know-how and networking opportunities with target enterprises.

Plug and Play Japan Overview
Company Name: Plug and Play Japan KK
Founded: 2017/7/14
Address: Shibuya Center Place 3F 1-16-3, Dogenzaka, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
Representative: Phillip Vicent
Website: http://japan.plugandplaytechcenter.com/

About Final Aim
Company Name: Final Aim, Inc.
Location: US, Japan
Founders: Masafumi Asakura, Chief Executive Officer / Yasuhide Yokoi, Chief Design Officer
Business Description: Drive the adoption of Web3 technologies for industrial design
Website: https://final-aim.com
Contact: contact@final-aim.com

The company gets selected for Startup City Acceleration Program by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)

Berkeley, US, September 15th, 2022 – Final Aim, Inc. (Delaware, US, CEO Masafumi Asakura, and CDO Yasuhide Yokoi) is proud to announce that the company has been accepted into Berkeley SkyDeck Batch 15 IPP, one of the world-renowned Silicon Valley startup accelerators.
In this program, the company has been selected as a deep tech cohort in the Startup City Acceleration Program run by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), together with the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan.

Final Aim has been driving the adoption of Web3 technologies globally in the design and digital manufacturing industries. In November 2021, the company released its Web3 platform “Final Chain” private beta, the industry-first solution with decentralized and distributed technologies such as blockchain, smart contracts, digital tokens, and IPFS, bringing full ownership and authenticity to designers and manufacturers in design planning, development, and production,
And in April 2022, the company established a corporation as a headquarter in the United States.

Since then, with its Web3 platform, the company has collaborated with industry leaders: Panasonic, including the USA and Japan design division; Autodesk, a global leader in 3D design, engineering, and entertainment software; Ultimaker, a Netherland-based global leader in the professional 3D printing industry; EYEMETRICS JAPAN, the world’s first eyewear brand originated in Switzerland that personalizes the design by 3D scanning each user’s face.
And in August 2022, Final Aim announced a partnership with Sony Design Consulting for the IC card-type hardware wallet, which the Sony Computer Science Laboratories has been developing for all kinds of use cases. The technology includes support by mutual authentication/encrypted communication cultivated over many years by applying Sony’s expertise in contactless IC cards.

About Berkeley SkyDeck

Berkeley SkyDeck is one of the world-renowned startup accelerators at the University of California, Berkeley.
The university ranks among the world’s top universities, including 4th in the “US News & World Report.” Berkeley has often been cited as one of the universities that have produced most entrepreneurs, such as Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and founder of Softbank Masayoshi Son.

Named in Forbes as a top-five US university accelerator, SkyDeck combines hands-on mentorship with the vast resources of its research university. SkyDeck is the only accelerator that provides funding for its startups via a public-private partnership, providing returns directly back to UC Berkeley from the Berkeley SkyDeck Fund, a dedicated investment fund supported by top institutional VCs like Sequoia and Mayfield.
SkyDeck startups have raised more than $1.47 billion in aggregate. Participating startups have access to SkyDeck’s 360 advisors, 70 industry partners, and a network of more than 510,000 UC Berkeley alumni.
https://skydeck.berkeley.edu/

Furthermore, in the field of blockchain, which Final Aim defines as our core technologies, by industrial leading media “CoinDesk,” the university has ranked 3rd in the world and the top in the US.

“The Top Universities for Blockchain by CoinDesk 2021”
https://www.coindesk.com/learn/2021/10/04/the-top-universities-for-blockchain-by-coindesk-2021/

This accelerator will hold the program online and offline for four months and host UC Berkeley students as internships. At the end of the program, the startups will present at SkyDeck’s Demo Day, where over 100 investors and venture capitalists will attend.

UC Berkeley campus

About JETRO Startup City Acceleration Program

JETRO, or the Japan External Trade Organization, is a government-related organization that works with the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan to develop a startup ecosystem and promote global business development.
The organization cooperates with top global accelerators to support each startup’s needs, maximizing possibilities and opportunities such as international level of top mentor networks and matching global venture capitals and business partners.

JETRO has selected Final Aim in the deep tech cohort to push the startup’s financing, business expansion, and partner alliances to the global level.
Through this opportunity, Final Aim will further strengthen its Web3 business and technologies in the design and digital manufacturing domain by acquiring know-how, networks, and industrial knowledge.

UPDATE (March 1st, 2023) : Final Aim receives “Most Likely to Become the Next Unicorn” at Berkeley SkyDeck Batch 15 IPP Global Innovation Showcase!

After months of the intensive program, the accepted startups participated in the “Global Innovation Showcase” and pitched in front of 140 people, including prominent SkyDeck advisors, mentors, and investors. At the end of the showcase voting, Final Aim was elected as the startup that could become the next “Unicorn.”

About Final Aim
Company Name: Final Aim, Inc.
Location: US, Japan
Founders: Masafumi Asakura, Chief Executive Officer / Yasuhide Yokoi, Chief Design Officer
Business Description: Drive the adoption of Web3 technologies for industrial design
Website: https://final-aim.com
Contact: contact@final-aim.com

Tokyo, Japan, August 17th, 2022 – Final Aim, Inc. (Delaware, US, CEO Masafumi Asakura, and CDO Yasuhide Yokoi) and Sony Design Consulting Inc. (Minato-ku, Tokyo, CEO Yutaka Hasegawa) today announced that they had started proof-of-concept for Sony’s contactless IC card-type hardware wallet in the Web3 field.

In recent years, Web3 technology has emerged globally, referred to as the next generation of the decentralized Internet. This megatrend created new industries and use cases such as DeFi and GameFi, and the application has even expanded to the Metaverse.
On the other hand, application to traditional industries has yet to be seen, and we consider there are unexplored areas like design and manufacturing.

Since its foundation in 2019, Final Aim, Inc. has been conducting research and development on blockchain technology with the mission to drive the adoption of Web3 technologies to not just people in finance with high IT literacy but also to the mass, regardless of their nationality, race, gender, and generation.
Furthermore, the company has launched a Web3 beta platform, “Final Chain,” and applied for three patents internationally.

Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc. has been developing hardware wallet technology not just for payment but for all kinds of use cases which the technology includes mutual authentication/encrypted communication by applying Sony’s expertise in contactless IC card technology cultivated over many years.
In addition, this hardware wallet can securely generate and store a private key with a highly reliable tamper-proof module within the IC card. (Press release in 2018, patent application in 2019)

Since November 2020, Final Aim and Sony Design Consulting have formed joint research to explore design methodology and practices that ensure the rapid growth of startups’ business and equity financing.
To further expand our partnership scope and strengthen our joint forces, we have started the proof-of-concept in the Web3 field for the IC card-type hardware wallet with tokens issued by Final Aim.

Overview of the Partnership
In this proof-of-concept partnership, we will research and analyze the application of tokens by the IC card-type hardware wallet and the potential development of tokens and protocols in the design field.

1. Test token issuance by Final Aim and the application of the hardware wallet by Web3 technology.
2. Verify potential development of protocols by Web3 technology that utilizes the IC card-type hardware wallet in industrial design and digital manufacturing domains.
3. Explore blockchain technology with the hardware wallet application in other areas such as the Metaverse.

Role of Sony Design Consulting
Sony Design Consulting will provide the IC card-type hardware wallet, supporting design, and blockchain technology to conduct the proof of concept with the perspective of applications in a secure environment.

Role of Final Aim
Final Aim will provide its Web3 platform “Final Chain” that utilizes blockchain and token issuance, pushing forward its protocol development for design and digital manufacturing domains.

Screenshots of Web3 beta platform “Final Chain”

About Sony Design Consulting
Company Name: Sony Design Consulting Inc.
Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Director: Representative Chief Executive Officer, Yutaka Hasegawa
Business Description: Design consulting / Design management / Design service / Other related services
Website: https://www.sonydesignconsulting.com/

Since its foundation in 2020, Sony Design Consulting has provided consulting and design services such as visioning, branding, product design, UI design, and solution to various entities like corporates, startups, and government offices. Under the mission statement, “Discovering the potential, Leading to the possibility,” the company will serve all kinds of projects, not just design and joint research but also PoCs, to uplift design quality, support business management by design, and strengthen and organizing design role in industrial property rights.

About Final Aim
Company Name: Final Aim, Inc.
Location: US, Japan
Founders: Masafumi Asakura, Chief Executive Officer / Yasuhide Yokoi, Chief Design Officer
Business Description: Drive the adoption of Web3 technologies for industrial design
Website: https://final-aim.com
Contact: contact@final-aim.com

Since its foundation in 2019, the company has launched a beta platform, “Final Chain,” the industry-first solution with decentralized and distributed technologies such as blockchain, smart contracts, digital tokens, and IPFS, bringing full ownership and authenticity to designers and manufacturers in design planning, development, and production. With its Web3 platform, the company has collaborated with industry leaders such as Autodesk, Inc., a global leader in 3D design, engineering, and entertainment software, Ultimaker, a Netherland-based global leader in the professional 3D printing industry, and EYEMETRICS JAPAN, the world’s first eyewear brand originated in Switzerland that personalizes the design by 3D scanning each user’s face.
In April 2022, the company established a corporation in the US to expand its business, finance, legal, accounting, and strengthen its Web3 technology, including protocols and fungible/non-fungible tokens.