Startups will be selected based on business ideas that align with themes related to operating malls in China, such as digital transformation or environmental, social and corporate governance.
Aeon Mall will provide funding to the selected startups, along with the use of the company’s facilities and staff, between January and April. Its Chinese subsidiary partnered with Regacy Innovation Group, a Tokyo-based consultant specialising in new businesses, to launch the Aeon Mall (China) Accelerator Programme.
The programme began taking proposals Wednesday, with the deadline set for Nov 30. The results of the initiative will be announced at the end of April. Aeon Mall operates shopping centres in over 20 locations across China including Beijing, Wuhan and Guangzhou.
Tatsuya Hashimoto, Aeon Mall’s China business manager, discussed the accelerator programme Wednesday at the Beyond Expo, a virtual tech expo backed by the government of Macao.
“With the environment changing due to the coronavirus and other problems, we’re eager to think of new businesses with Chinese startups,” Hashimoto said.
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