In today’s increasingly interconnected world, the trend is geared towards global rather than local. Big names in the tech industry have attempted to consolidate everything people need to know all the time and provide that information at their fingertips. At the same time, the information overload tends to become overwhelming, with recommendations, directions, and locations from across the globe conveniently condensed into something as portable as a smartphone.

CiPPo Corporation is one of the startups going against the current. In an interview with e27, CiPPo president Tetsuya Yokoyama lets us in on what sets his company apart. CiPPo’s smartphone app doesn’t aim to capture the largest possible area in its reach; instead, it focuses on connecting small communities. Beyond business, apps and startups like CiPPo inspire community-building in the digital age. Contrary to what has been said about the nature of technological advancement, there are avenues to form genuine connections through tech, and CiPPo might just be one of those avenues.

Localising connections in a globalised world

According to Yokoyama, CiPPo’s app gives clients more information about the specific place where they live, otherwise known as their “local place.” The regional media & SNS application sends information of stores, hospitals, job openings, and other community-related data to users. This makes acquainting clients with their hometown or city much easier. The app also acts as an all-in-one conduit for job seekers and those looking for information on certain establishments nearby, like hospitals, apartment networks, and schools.

Local businesses are matched with potential customers through an in-app search engine. For example, businesses will be immediately notified of any interested customers nearby and vice versa. The app even has push notifications for disaster and crime prevention, allowing its users to send an SOS when necessary. With permission, the app digitises circulation boards for schools and residents’ associations, allowing any publicly available information to be accessed through the app. This makes looking for local establishments easier and less tedious for users who are running on tight schedules. While it might not apply all the time to all establishments, it’s especially helpful for anyone who’s looking for a nearby hospital or parents deciding on the best school for their child.

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Through these features, CiPPo aims to be a centralised system within a vast network of communities that helps bring people together. Though ideally regionalised, the app organises information within the given area for quick access to anyone in close proximity. CiPPo’s creative innovation works because it’s a highly specialised experience for each of its users, and it’s with this intent that the app delivers its services.

The localisation of opportunities both for businesses and individuals sounds ground-breaking at a time when most resources and labour are exported to major cities. It’s written on CiPPo’s website that this is one of the things the app and the company in general tries to address, alongside streamlining communication between people, places, and companies. This is one solution that tries to spur local economies and improve livelihood for people without looking outside where they currently are.

A regional innovation waiting to happen

True to its thrust towards localisation, CiPPo is currently available in 46 regions in Japan, and now it’s seeking to expand to Southeast Asia. With the help of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), CiPPo is looking to fill a gap in the region. Yokoyama tells e27 that the strategy CiPPo will be applying in the Southeast Asian market will largely be franchising. The startup is looking for partner companies that can implement CiPPo in their respective countries and regions, and hopefully specialise the app’s features and contents specifically for its immediate consumers’ needs. These partners will also own their franchise of CiPPo.

For instance, at present several job search websites dominate in Southeast Asia. At the same time, small businesses in the region have their own contact set-ups for customers, which can be a difficult experience for customers who are just looking for a convenient way to connect with their favourite businesses. While having options is good, it would also be great to have a single go-to application that could collect all the information you need within a specific destination, and see what your options are, which is exactly what CiPPo offers.

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The Southeast Asian region presents itself as a lucrative consumer base for apps like CiPPo precisely because of its vastly diverse population and interests. As a thriving melting pot of cultures, people, and varying degrees of economic development, Southeast Asia would be an interesting market to explore for the startup. In particular, it would be exciting to see how each country, community, and city in the region would implement its own version of a small community app fostering genuine connections between customers, businesses, and public institutions. With the right partnerships, CiPPo could be a tour de force in the Southeast Asian region, changing the way we look at our communities.

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This article is produced by the e27 team, sponsored by JETRO

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