On December 11, 2025, Dr. Kengo Suzuki, Co-founder and Executive Fellow of Euglena Co., Ltd., delivered a lecture at Hitotsubashi University’s Accelerator Program under the theme “Fostering an Entrepreneurial Mindset – Social Implementation through the Case of Euglena Co., Ltd.”.
The session was designed to inspire program participants by illustrating how scientific research can be translated into real-world value through entrepreneurship, while also sharing candid insights into the realities of building and scaling a startup.

From Academic Research to Startup Creation

Dr. Kengo began by introducing his background as a researcher and entrepreneur, describing the founding of Euglena Co., Ltd. in 2005 while he was still a graduate student at the University of Tokyo. He emphasized that Euglena was born from a strong sense of social mission—addressing global challenges such as malnutrition, environmental sustainability, and carbon reduction through microalgae technology.
The lecture highlighted how the alignment of “WILL, CAN, and MUST” served as a guiding framework in identifying a field where personal motivation, social needs, and technical capability overlapped, ultimately leading to company creation.

Early Challenges, Failures, and Decision-Making

A key focus of the lecture was the reality of entrepreneurship. Dr. Suzuki openly discussed difficulties faced in the early stages, including failures in outdoor cultivation, challenges in product commercialization, and initial market rejection.
He explained how logical thinking frameworks and iterative problem-solving were essential in overcoming these obstacles, stressing that failure was not an endpoint but a source of learning that informed subsequent strategic decisions.
Participants were encouraged to understand that entrepreneurship requires continuous hypothesis testing, resilience, and the ability to adapt when original assumptions prove incorrect.

Business Selection, Financing, and Cash Flow Management

Dr. Kengo also addressed how Euglena prioritized business domains among multiple possibilities. He explained why the company initially focused on high-value healthcare and functional food businesses to secure stable cash flow, which in turn enabled reinvestment into longer-term projects such as biofuels and environmental solutions.
The lecture provided concrete insights into balancing visionary storytelling for fundraising with realistic financial planning, highlighting how capital procurement, revenue generation, and long-term mission alignment must coexist for sustainable growth.

Scaling Up and Creating Breakthroughs

Following Euglena’s public listing, the company was able to access broader management resources, accelerate R&D, and expand globally, particularly in ASEAN regions. Dr. Kengo shared examples of breakthroughs that allowed the company to scale, including international partnerships, integrated research-development pipelines, and the strategic use of accumulated scientific data for rapid intellectual property creation.
These examples demonstrated how entrepreneurship can amplify the societal impact of science when supported by appropriate organizational and financial structures.

Message to Aspiring Entrepreneurs

In closing, Dr. Kengo emphasized that entrepreneurship is not limited to business creation alone but is a mindset of taking responsibility for turning ideas into reality. He encouraged participants to view their own research, skills, and passions as potential seeds for future ventures, reminding them that even ambitious visions—such as sustainable food systems or space-related life-support technologies—begin with small, concrete actions taken in the present.
The lecture concluded with a strong message that universities can serve as powerful starting points for social implementation when curiosity, courage, and execution come together.