"I want to realize the vision of surprising the world with these people"

- Please tell me the reason you decided to make Zeals your first company as a working adult.

"Because I want to realize a visionary worldview with the friends at Zeals"

I strongly empathized with Zeals' vision of "lifting Japan to the world" and Mr. Masa's (CEO Shimizu) dream of "creating Doraemon." I believe there are few companies with the spirit to represent Japan and energize the world among the many startups out there. I was convinced that, with passionate members, we could lead globally and quickly incorporate AI technology at Zeals to create products that would astonish many, which was the key factor in my decision to join.

Deciding on "a thrilling world line that I cannot imagine" in the fourth grade

- May I quickly ask about your upbringing, Mr. Ohtake?

I was born in Saitama and attended a boys' school in Tokyo for middle and high school. At Kyoto University, I challenged myself as a beginner in the ice hockey club. I am currently majoring in materials engineering at Kyoto University Graduate School. Additionally, I served as the branch representative for a student organization supporting career development and interned at a company related to HR and marketing.

- Why did you move from Tokyo to study at Kyoto University?

I have always liked studying. When I was in fourth grade, I was searching for a tutoring school at a level that suited me, and I accidentally chose a school specializing in junior high school entrance exams. I remember feeling excited as I solved problems at a level not taught in elementary school. In my first nationwide mock exam, I scored within the top 10 and advanced to the highest class, where I studied rigorously.

While attending a school that offered a combined middle and high school education, it felt normal for my peers to aim for prestigious universities like the University of Tokyo or medical schools. However, I sought a path that others did not choose. With a desire to become independent from my parents, I decided to pursue my studies at Kyoto University, far from home, and ultimately continued my research in graduate school.

- What motivates your desire to choose a "path that others do not choose"?

I believe the foundation of this decision comes from my experience with junior high school entrance exams. Very few students from elementary school took the junior high entrance exam. This was my first experience of taking a different path from those around me in life.

I tend to think that the paths most people choose are somewhat predictable and therefore uninteresting. (Laughs) This is true for my decision to move to Kyoto University, as well as my choice to join Zeals, a startup company in a field slightly different from my research area of communication x AI. It is essential that it leads to a "thrilling world line that I cannot imagine."

Thorough corporate analysis was not necessary. The one "commitment" I ultimately discarded

- How did you approach your job search?

I started my job search in June of my first year in the master's program. The trigger was being introduced to Encourage by a friend. At that time, I was applying to companies indiscriminately, but I was particularly interested in AI companies. However, there were few companies hiring new graduates. Therefore, I applied to companies related to IT without narrowing down my options significantly.

- How did you encounter Zeals?

My encounter with Zeals was at a face-to-face event organized by Encourage. A friend invited me to this event where company representatives came to speak directly.

At that event, I met Mr. En, Mr. Daisuke (Executive Officer Watanabe), and Ms. Kya (HR Manager Koga). I immediately became interested in Mr. En, as we shared a common background in our alma mater and as he had been the Kyoto representative for Encourage during his student days.

- What was the reason you ultimately decided to join Zeals?

I think it was the "people."

Actually, at the time of my job search, I had said, "I can’t believe that the reason someone would accept an offer is the people.” (Laughs)

I felt that I needed a concrete reason, and I summarized and evaluated the companies I interviewed with in a document. Among them, Zeals suddenly emerged as a new force in my list of top choices. At that time, I disliked transparent career plans, and I felt that Zeals offered an infinite and exciting career path after joining. However, when I received job offers from several companies in December, I struggled to make a final decision, spending over a month comparing and detailing what I could do at each company.

The reason I ultimately chose Zeals was the "people of Zeals." The management team leading the company and the members working together to achieve high goals were incredibly passionate and interesting.

As I mentioned at the beginning, when I make a decision, I prioritize "how interesting the world line I can see will be." I was convinced that by joining Zeals, I would be inspired by passionate members and that my view of the world would expand. I believe this motivation will also serve as a driving force in my leap into the unknown.

To achieve something significant in the world. I want to build an uncharted career faster than anyone else.

- Many companies are utilizing AI in recent years, and Zeals has also pivoted towards communication AI, but how do you perceive this trend, Mr. Ohtake?

I had been searching for AI companies since the early stages of my job search.

Hearing terms like the era of large generative AI and the AI revolution excites me. Companies incorporating cutting-edge technologies like AI exist in rapidly changing environments, which seems fascinating. I tend to prefer to be in a chaotic environment. (Laughs)

Above all, it is undeniable that AI will be key in achieving significant things in the world.

- In this great era of large generative AI, what kind of personnel do you want to become?

I want to be both a top player and a top promoter.

I want to become someone who actively participates in creating a startup that elevates the world while thriving in the forefront of Zeals. I want to increase the number of people who think, "Zeals seems interesting" and "I want to follow Zeals." At the same time, I consider it essential to show my achievements through action and uplift those around me.

I believe that at Zeals, there is a career path that will allow me to quickly take on positions where I can view things from a managerial perspective, such as a business manager. To achieve that, I want to volunteer for new projects and contribute results to penetrate the management level.

- That's a passionate goal typical of a Zeals member! What do you want to realize with Zeals' products?

Creating a world with Doraemon

As I mentioned earlier, from the moment I learned about Zeals, I strongly empathized with Mr. Masa's dream of "creating Doraemon." Since childhood, I have loved Doraemon, who shows me unimaginable worlds, to the point that I used to record the episodes every week even as a university student. (Laughs)

My core desire is simply to "see unknown world lines." That's why I have chosen not to go the popular route; instead, I chose Kyoto University over the University of Tokyo, and a startup over a large company. I firmly believe that at Zeals, we can realize these world lines with Doraemon.

To make it happen, I want to start by working together to create a company that surprises the world through communication x AI!