LEVANES Corporation, on behalf of the City of Sendai, is promoting the Sendai-Tohoku Expansion Program (STEP), which supports startups from Sendai and the Tohoku region in their efforts to solve global problems. As a part of this program, we will offer a program for startups aiming to expand their business overseas from Sendai/Tohoku and for local companies seeking new business opportunities,Global business seminars ("Learn from the Pioneers of Global Expansion!" series) will be held seven times from August to December. series) will be held approximately seven times from August to December.The following is a list of the most common problems with the

In the first session (August 7), Euglena's trials and errors in overseas expansion were shared to highlight the possibilities and challenges of deep tech startups in the growing market of Southeast Asia. What is important is a "problem-solving" attitude and the ability to think in the local context. We learned that the key to success is to approach overseas expansion with an awareness of the three axes of primary information, trust, and cross-cultural understanding.

How to make the first step in overseas expansion
⸻ 1. the potential of Southeast Asia and the affinity of deep tech
Southeast Asia is a growing market, and social issues provide opportunities for deep tech.

 ⸻ 2. gathering primary information and building trust
It is important to build trust and realistic market understanding through dialogue with and visits to local institutions. 

⸻ 3. cross-cultural understanding and local adaptation strategies
Flexibility is required to take into account cultural backgrounds and design locally appropriate dissemination and business designs.

In light of this, the second session (September 4) will feature Mr. Shingo Akao, President and CEO of Ball Wave Corporation.Learn how to approach the first person you should meet.The lecture will be titled "The World's First MOU with the United States". For more practical content, we plan to conclude MOUs in Southeast Asia and travel to the region. RIVERNESS will provide full support for the startups to face the real issues in the region and to grow through the process of integrating business and research. We look forward to welcoming all deep tech startups who want to join the challenge of "changing the world with the power of deep tech.

2nd: Global Business Seminar
Date: Thursday, September 4, 2025, 16:00-17:00 (from 17:15)Kick-off meeting for Tohoku Tech Planters(There are two types of products: "A" and "B.")
Location: Urbannet Sendai Chuo Building 4F/Conference Room C (4-4-19 Chuo, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)
Title:Learn how to approach the first person you should meet.
Organized by: City of Sendai, Operated by: Riverness Inc.

Special Presentation: Mr. Shingo Akao, President, Ball Wave Corporation
Moderator: Sosei Saito, General Manager, Education Development Division, Liverness Co.

*Non-startup companies entering this program are also welcome to participate. If you wish to participate, please register by clicking on the application button or on the linked page.
https://id.lne.st/project/sendai_gbp/regist/basic_info/1

Speakers and Moderators

 

Ball Wave Corporation
President and Representative Director
Shingo Akao he
Graduated from the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Toho University in 1997, and completed the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Tsukuba in 1999. In October of the same year, he joined Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. and was assigned to the Toppan Printing Research Laboratory, where he has been engaged in research and development related to ball SAW since 2003. In 2014, he retired from Toppan Printing and participated in the MEXT START Project "Development of Ball SAW Trace Moisture Meter" as a specially-appointed associate professor at Tohoku University's Joint Research Center for Future Science.

LIVERNESS Corporation
General Manager, Educational Development Division
Sosei Saito

Master's degree (Pharmaceutical Sciences), Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University. Engaged in a survey of the actual situation of town factories in Sumida-ku, Tokyo during his first year with the company. Utilizing researchers in diverse fields and the town factory network, he launched Techplanter, a project to discover and nurture research and development ventures. Currently, he is using these findings to develop an entrepreneurship education program for junior high and high school students.

Inquiries regarding this matter
(Contact: Mai Inoue, Saito, Ishizawa)
TEL：03-5227-4198 E-mail：[email protected]