Accompanying employee support service “The CARE” begins offering to seed VC company Genesia Ventures
*WithMidwife Co., Ltd.*
Press release: September 5, 2024
Accompanying employee support service “The CARE” begins offering to seed VC company Genesia Ventures
*Accompanying startups with their mental health and life event concerns, and supporting the healthy development of investees and industries through VC*
* With Midwife Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka City, hereinafter referred to as “With Midwife”) is a company that provides “The From September 2, 2024, we have started providing “CARE” to Genesia Ventures Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter referred to as Genesia Ventures), which invests in startup companies. Additionally, the company plans to gradually expand its offering to startups in which it has invested through Genesia Ventures*. * *
Through this, we aim to resolve issues related to employee health and life events and harassment issues that startups face, and promote the healthy development of the startup ecosystem. *
* *Provision to investee startups is scheduled for after November 2024* ■Overview of introduction
– *About Genesia Ventures Co., Ltd.*
Genesia Ventures is an independent venture capital firm that invests in and provides management support to startups in their early pre-seed and seed stages. Since its establishment in 2018, it has managed approximately 27 billion yen across three funds. We have invested in approximately 160 startups in Japan, Southeast Asia, and India.
In December 2021, we signed the PRI (Principles for Responsible Investment) and have also formulated an ESG investment policy. We aim to realize a society that brings prosperity and opportunity to all people.
Furthermore, starting from July 2022, as part of our engagement activities based on our ESG investment policy, we will be offering various services such as “ESG Solutions” that will be available to investee startups free of charge in order to support ESG management by early-stage startups with limited organizational resources. We have started offering.
This time, we have decided to introduce “The CARE” to expand the mental health/harassment external consultation function of the ESG solution.
– *About the introduction of “The CARE”, an employee support program for health and life events*
“The CARE” is a service in which medical professionals with skills from a company perspective, such as labor management and career support, support companies and employees through applications. Genesia Ventures’ three dedicated nurses, midwives, public health nurses, and other nationally qualified individuals work closely with Genesia Ventures employees, their families, and investee companies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
In addition to anonymous online consultations via LINE chat and video calls, we will introduce wellness training such as training and workshops, consulting based on statistical data of consultation results, and a childcare leave support program.
Furthermore, in order to respond to harassment issues that have been attracting attention recently in the startup industry, we will conduct trials and optimization, and from November 2024 (scheduled), we plan to expand the service to serve as a consultation center for Genesia Ventures’ portfolio companies. is.
■Introduction background
1.
* Health issues that startup industries tend to face *
The startup industry, by its very nature, focuses on speed and innovation, which can subject employees to tight schedules and high stress levels. As a result, overwork and lack of sleep become commonplace, often leading to mental and physical health problems. To address these health issues, effective health management and support systems are required.
2. *To complete the “ultra marathon” even if life events occur* In the preliminary meeting, we talked about how running a startup is like an “ultra marathon.” In addition, as the number of startups, female business owners, and second-career startups by the younger generation increases, the number of business owners and members facing life events such as childcare and nursing care has also increased. Considering these social backgrounds and the characteristics of startup management, in order for everyone to complete the “ultra marathon”, there is a need for experts in the fields of child rearing and nursing care who can provide support while taking into
consideration the working background.
3. *Harassment issue has become an issue in the industry in recent years* Additionally, while the startup industry encourages flat and open communication, the informal environment can sometimes lead to problems such as sexual harassment and power harassment. An internet survey on the current state of the startup industry, which was reported in July 2024 and conducted by our company’s representative as one of the founders, found that 52% of female entrepreneurs had experienced sexual harassment (*1). In response to such problems, there is an urgent need to introduce appropriate counseling systems and preventive measures.
– * Expected to solve problems not only for employees but also for investee companies *
The background behind Genesia Ventures’ decision to introduce this time is “The By introducing CARE, we hope to extend the benefits not only to our company but also to the startups in which we invest.
By providing not only finance but also health and wellbeing support, the investment company is expected to become a hub for the entire startup ecosystem and foster sustainable growth and innovation. Furthermore, we believe that these efforts will ultimately contribute to improving the productivity and employee satisfaction of investee companies, and will definitely lead to business growth.
“The
At CARE, nationally qualified medical professionals such as nurses, midwives, and public health nurses not only provide health and child-rearing support, but also provide consultation on a variety of issues, including mental health, workplace communication, and harassment issues. I’m doing it.
As an external consultation desk that can be used anonymously, it functions as a place to confess and resolve concerns related to both your private life and work. We support the development of the startup industry by providing detailed advice based on our expertise and appropriate references.
■Representative comment
Senior Portfolio & Partnership Manager Miki Ito
I am very happy to have the opportunity to work with With Midwife. Challenges can sometimes lead to joy, but there are also many times when a big wall stands in front of you and you face a difficult phase. Also, listening to and taking care of your own mental state can often be put off when you get caught up in all the daily tasks. Under such circumstances, “The
We are very encouraged that CARE will be able to serve as a point of contact for us and the startups in which we invest. Please feel free to consult with us more in the future!
With Midwife Co., Ltd. Representative Director Seigetsu Kishihata This time “The
We feel that the introduction of “CARE” to Genesia Ventures represents an innovative approach to well-being issues that is unique to a challenger in the startup industry.
In this industry, which we belong to, it is often necessary for the entire organization to come together and work hard towards social change, and it is not uncommon for this to become the norm. Against this background, health and mental illness and harassment issues have become important issues, and solutions are needed as the number of entrepreneurs continues to increase.
“The
CARE is a service where medical professionals with the skills to support people working in companies (career support, labor relations, industrial health, etc.) support challengers and their families through an application.
We will continue to aim to improve the quality of our professionals and technology and strengthen synergies so that our services can become a “reliance” for everyone working to improve society. In the future, we will also be extending the same message to all of Genesia Ventures’ investees.
CARE” is scheduled to be launched. Although the consultation is anonymous, each person will be assigned a specialist and together we will think about how to balance hard work and wellness. We hope that you will use it as if you had a mentor for your personal life, not your business.
■About “The CARE”
Health and childcare employee support program (EAP service) provided by With Midwife Co., Ltd.
The CARE official website https://thecare-biz.jp/
-Three features of The CARE-
1. * Thorough support from staff with a wide range of expertise*
Staff with national qualifications such as nurses, midwives, public health nurses, etc. acquire skills from a corporate perspective, such as labor management and career support (licensed system), and support working people.
2. *An app that pursues ease and convenience*
Each company has at least three dedicated medical experts. Employees of companies that have adopted the service and their families can use a dedicated application to open up about a variety of concerns in their work and private life, including mental health, physical condition management, pregnancy, child rearing, and nursing care. This is an external consultation desk that accepts consultations 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and can be used anonymously. 3. *Support from both companies and individuals*
Dedicated medical professionals who have acquired a corporate perspective will support employees by understanding the company’s unique systems and corporate culture. On the other hand, after analyzing the data from the voices of those seeking advice, we provide feedback directly to the company, leading to improvements and fostering a corporate culture. We aim to fundamentally resolve the concerns of our employees while working closely with both parties.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OglXxDf4oz0
* ■Company overview*
* Company name: * With Midwife Co., Ltd.
* Establishment date: * November 1, 2019
* Capital: * 3 million yen
* Representative: * Kishihata Seigetsu
* Address: * QUINTBRIDGE303, 4-15-82 Higashinoda-cho, Miyakojima-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
* Philosophy: * Realizing a future in which even a single life that could not have been born will not be left behind.
We not only see life right in front of our eyes, but also invisible life, such as miscarriages and stillbirths, on a daily basis. Through the power of midwives’ “care,” we will realize a society in which no life is left behind.
* Official website: * https://withmidwife.jp/
*1: 52% of female entrepreneurs have experienced sexual harassment – Structural issues in the Japanese startup ecosystem and directions for solving them: Preliminary study, Eirene Co., Ltd.
University,July 19, 2024,
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000008.000041658.html