For Japanese deep-tech ventures, the rapidly growing economies of the ASEAN countries are an area that cannot be ignored from the perspective of business development. In the third part of the "Global Bridge Conference" held on December 10, 2024, three of the 17 companies selected and supported by LIVERNESS Corporation through the "Promotion of Collaboration between Japanese Startups and ASEAN Companies," a project commissioned by the ASEAN-Japan Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee (AMEICC), will introduce their activities and achievements, sharing the knowledge gained from their actual trips to the region. The panelists shared their knowledge gained from the actual trip and discussed key points that Japanese deep-tech ventures looking to expand overseas should keep in mind.

The key points that should be kept in mind, as revealed by the case studies of each company
- Importance of building strong relationships with local partners
- Need for business strategies tailored to each country's market characteristics
- Flexible thinking to expand the applicability of technology
- Ensure a continuous support system

ICOMA Corporation
Executive Officer / Design Facilitator
Hiroyuki Tabuchi

ICOMA develops and manufactures folding electric bikes. Our main product is an electric bike that folds up to the size of a suitcase, and we have also sold 100,000 of the messenger version of the toy. Through this venture, we have expanded into Thailand and entered into a strategic partnership with PC Motor Co. In Thailand, we are able to procure high-quality, low-cost parts and have found significant cost advantages, especially in sewn products such as seats. In the future, we would like to consider an approach that also takes advantage of the strengths of Japanese pop culture."

- Focusing on the Thai market, the company entered into a strategic partnership with PC Motor Co.
- Improve product competitiveness by leveraging local high-quality, low-cost parts procurement networks
- Develop marketing strategies that leverage Japanese pop culture

LabBase Corporation
Head of LabBase Asia
Mr. Koichi Miyazaki

LabBase, established in 2016, operates a platform that connects university research with industry. We are developing an employment support service for researchers that is used by approximately 20% of graduate students in Japan. Through this project, the company has begun to expand into Malaysia and has entered into a partnership with the National University of Malaysia. We have released a new service for the local market, LabBase co UTM, which has attracted significant media attention."

- Partnership with National University of Malaysia
- New "LabBase co UTM" service for local use released
- Promote international development of AI-based researcher matching system

Thinker Inc.
Sales & Marketing Department
Takeshi Fujimoto

Thinker is a startup from Osaka University developing proximity sensors and flexible actuators. We have been working on three hypotheses for our expansion in Singapore and have achieved success, especially in the area of new solution development. Initially, our focus was on the manufacturing industry, but we are looking to expand into other areas in the future."

- Aiming to expand in Asia with Singapore as a base
- Signed MOU with Unistop Tech to develop new solutions
- Plans to expand with a view to applying the technology to fields other than manufacturing

Through the project, Thinker Inc. and Unistop Tech Pte Ltd, a Singaporean startup, have signed an MOU, and a written exchange ceremony was held within this event.

[Comment from Hiromichi Fujimoto, CEO and Representative Director of Thinker Inc.