The DNA of Entrepreneurial Mindset: Graphene Builds a World Beyond Our Imagination / Masataka Hasegawa, AirMembrane Corporation

Written by the Universe Editorial Team

In “The DNA of Entrepreneurial Mindset,” we pick a startup entrepreneur who is in the limelight to find out their current values and mindset from various angles.

This time, we welcomed Masataka Hasegawa, CEO of AirMembrane Corporation (AirMembrane).

Masataka Hasegawa
After pursuing research and development of carbon materials (diamond and graphene) at the Electrotechnical Laboratory of the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, and Technology Research Association for Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes, he founded AirMembrane with the vision to commercialize graphene, the dream industrial material, which currently faces mass production and handling challenges.

──What made you start a company?

When I was thinking about starting a business, graphene (*) was not yet ready to be used as an industrial material, which made it difficult for large corporations to start using it. On the other hand, as startups can take action with agility and make quick decisions, they can gain an advantage by enhancing graphene’s maturity level. So, I thought that this was a huge business opportunity and started the business.

(* Graphene, a monolayer carbon allotrope with carbon atoms arranged in a planar pattern, is in the center of attention due to its strength, lightness, flexibility, high electrical conductivity, etc.)

──What are your company’s technological strengths?

Graphene is expected to be applied to next-generation devices for its remarkable conductivity and responsiveness. However, its difficulty in production is preventing it from being used as an industrial material.

Our company boasts the technology for highly efficient production of high-quality atomic layer graphene, and also the handling technology (transfer technology) of atomic-layer graphene for various substrates**.

──What is your mindset when you take on challenges?

My duty at the national research institute was to achieve what had not been achieved and develop technologies that contributes to Japan’s industrial competitiveness.

Therefore, developing the technology for mass producing high-quality graphene was just the right challenge. Although it was a tough one, I was lucky to have come across such a meaningful topic.

──How do you face failures and setbacks?

When something does not work out as expected, we generally call it a failure. But, we cannot achieve success without going through trials and errors.

So, I have never cared about making mistakes, instead I consider it a valuable asset. I encourage my team to make mistakes as soon as possible.

──What are your non-negotiables?

“Just give it a try.” This is my motto.

I had an experience where I was outpaced by others while I spent too much time on thinking a lot of things. Oftentimes, you cannot predict the outcome even if you deliberate over it. Just give it a try, and results will follow afterward.

──Can you briefly explain your team?

“A diverse group of people.” We are a company with just a few members, but each of us has a variety of different personalities.

I like to watch people, so I surreptitiously enjoy observing our team members from different angles.

Someone who is laid-back, someone who is good at making plans, someone who is attentive, someone who is good with their hands, someone who is good at listening to others, someone who is good at keeping things tidy, someone who likes to think things through, someone who is calm, someone who has good concentration, etc.

Each characteristic is vital to the company, but not a single person has all of them. The interesting part of managing a company is bringing different individuals together to work things out.

──How do you recharge yourself when you feel tired mentally and physically?

I just relax and do nothing, or I go for a walk to refresh myself.

──What drives you forward?

The thrill of being at the forefront of innovation. It is fun to be at the forefront because when I discover something, no matter how small that discovery is, I can immerse myself in the feeling that I am the only one who knows this.

However, as this is work, I must let that feeling go and ask the general public for evaluation. Developing leading-edge technology is a process of repeating this.

──What does it take to become a CEO?

The ability to find a way to survive.

Graphene was a completely new material, and we have strived to continue the research and development as long as possible by integrating various projects. We have focused on achieving unique results compared to other graphene projects in other countries, which has resulted in obtaining funds for development activities with the help of many people.

We have strived to develop cutting-edge technology, in an attempt not be overtaken by Japanese and overseas competitors. That is why I strongly believe that it is vital to find a way to survive.

──Lastly, please share your aspirations.

Good materials tend to be “thin and small” from the perspective of energy efficiency and speed. In that sense, graphene is the ultimate material. We are aiming to introduce this material to society in the form of a highly sensitive, fast, and low power-consuming sensor.

When we think about iron, there are various theories about when humans first found it, but who could have imagined back then that iron would become the foundation of civilization as it is today? Graphene is in a similar state right now, and I feel truly fortunate to be able to witness this. Just as with iron, developing the technology for thousands of years to come will create a world that is built on graphene—a world beyond imagination of us living today.

Graphene is such a cutting-edge material, so we aspire to be a “cutting-edge company” that develops it.

AirMembrane Corporation

A startup with the technology for highly efficient mass production of high-quality graphene. It also provides transistors, transparent electrode films, and heat dissipation films, etc., leveraging graphene’s rare electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and thermal conductivity. Although graphene is a one-atom-thick fine material, the company has mass-production technology that ensures high cleanliness and high-quality handling technology that prevents wrinkles and tears.