Over the past seven years, Startbahn has supported creators and companies engaging in cross-border e-commerce through blockchain and other emerging technologies.
Beginning in January 2026, we will launch a new seminar series, Startbahn Lecture Series, sharing accumulated insights from rapidly growing case studies as well as practical learnings that participants can apply immediately.

The first session will be held on Wednesday, January 28 at 16:00, welcoming Ken Ishigami, producer of the online marketplace B-OWND, which sells craft works as art.
Under the title “B-OWND’s Approach to Designing Value: Redefining the Relationship Between Objects and People,” Ishigami will speak about the journey of B-OWND and the principles behind its value presentation.

B-OWND launched its service in 2019. At the time, the concept of “selling craft works online to overseas markets” was met with skepticism, with many questioning whether such works could truly sell online or whether their appeal could be conveyed accurately.

Five years later, B-OWND has increased the annual sales of a single artist from ¥6 million to ¥120 million, raised average prices by 15 times, and grown into an e-commerce platform where craft works priced above ¥1,000,000 continue to sell.
The brand has established a path for Japanese artists and craft works to reach audiences beyond Japan.

The year 2025 marked a historic peak for inbound tourism.
From 2026 onward, the challenge lies in how to stay connected with customers after they return home and how to deliver products and value across borders.

This seminar offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from Ishigami, a pioneer and leading figure in this field, particularly for those seeking to expand internationally.

We hope you will join us.

◾️ Event Overview
Event name: Startbahn Lecture Series #01
Date & time: Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 16:00–18:00
(Online participation until 17:10)
Venue: Startbahn Inc. Showroom @ Jingumae
6-31-15-6A Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001
Capacity: On-site participation limited to 20 people
(Online participation is unlimited)
Fee:
On-site: ¥3,500 (includes networking session with light food and drinks)
Online: ¥1,500

For online participation, please log in to FUN FAN NFT using Google or Email.

◾️ Tickets
Tickets are sold via FUN FAN NFT.
Logging in to FUN FAN NFT is required for ticket purchase and check-in on the day of the event.

If you sign up or log in using the same method you normally use for Startrail PORT, the SRR (NFT) attached to your ticket can also be managed and viewed in Startrail PORT.

For online participation, please use Google or Email login when accessing FUN FAN NFT.

◾️ Schedule
15:30 Doors open
16:00 Guest lecture
“B-OWND’s Approach to Designing Value: Redefining the Relationship Between Objects and People”
Speaker: Ken Ishigami
17:00 Introduction to Startbahn
17:10 Networking session (business card exchange and informal discussion)
18:00 Closing

◾️ Guest Speaker
Ken Ishigami
Producer, B-OWND, Tanseisha Co., Ltd.

Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1992. Raised by a painter father and an art dealer mother, he has been involved in artwork sales since his teenage years. While at university, he began promoting artists. In 2019, he launched B-OWND, a platform combining art, craft, and blockchain. As a producer and curator, he has planned and organized more than 150 exhibitions in Japan and abroad. In 2024, he was selected by Forbes Japan as one of the “30 Cultural Entrepreneurs Changing the World.”

Building on the connections formed in 2025, we aim to make 2026 a year of momentum and growth.
Through this seminar series, we hope to provide opportunities that support your next stage of progress.

We look forward to meeting you on the day.

■ About Startbahn Inc.

Startbahn Inc. is a company dedicated to providing the technology required by everyone involved in art and culture, with the goal of enabling a society in which value is properly preserved and passed on.
The company builds and operates Startrail, a blockchain infrastructure that supports authenticity verification and provenance management for artworks.

Official website:
https://startbahn.io/

■ About Startrail

Startrail is a blockchain infrastructure for cultural assets led by Startbahn.
It enables long-term recording and management of authenticity, trust, and provenance information, including exhibition history, transactions, restoration, and other events that contribute to an asset’s value.
Due to the nature of blockchain technology, this information cannot be deleted, altered, or duplicated.

Official website:
https://startbahn.io/startrail

■ Inquiries

Startbahn Inc.
Public Relations
https://startbahn.io/contact