airweave Founder, Motokuni Takaoka, Finalist For The 2017 EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™
Takaoka is recognized for his innovative work to develop the unique mattress brand
Airweave President & CEO, Motokuni Takaoka, a finalist of the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™, will be attending the finals in Monaco, June 7-11. Having been selected as the Japan national winner, Takaoka is one of 50 global business leaders selected for the prestigious award. As the Founder of Airweave, Mr. Takaoka has been recognized by the EY panel of judges for his innovation.
"Business as usual" was the last thing on the mind of Stanford-educated engineer Motokuni Takaoka when he took over his uncle's struggling fishing line factory in Japan in 2004. After intensive experimentation, Takaoka discovered that the resin fiber of fishing lines could be repurposed for mattresses. Takaoka re-engineered the machinery to create the unique three-dimensional weave now known as airfiber® — providing a higher-quality sleep thanks to their ergonomic, breathable design. The first mattress shipped in 2007. Focusing on professional athletes, these elite early adopters helped to promote that a good night's sleep is paramount to peak performance throughout the day or, as Takaoka puts it, that "Tomorrow Starts Tonight." The result quickly drove airweave's revenue in Japan to the US $100M mark.
About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs. The program makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global awards program of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries.
About airweave
Airweave is the Japanese bedding manufacturer known for their unique airfiber® technology and the belief that "Tomorrow Starts Tonight." Having expanded to a range mattress models, lifestyle and technology products in Japan, airweave introduced the line of mattresses to the United States through https://www.airweave.com and select retailers in 2014. Airweave aims to be recognized as a global sleep solution brand, designing innovative products for use at home, traveling and everywhere in between.
