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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 second session (September 6), Ball Wave shared their trials and errors in overseas expansion, highlighting the possibilities and challenges of deep tech startups in the growing market of Southeast Asia. The key 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. technological superiority of deep tech and sense of market selection
⸻ 2. local partners and professional networks are key to deployment
⸻ 3. "You can't win with technology alone" - the ability to read the local context
For a detailed report, please contactthis way (direction close to the speaker or towards the speaker)
Based on this, the third session (September 26) will feature Ken Matsui, CEO of Ugo K.K., who will speak on "Thinking about building a system to create together with partners.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.
Seminar Outline
2nd: Global Business Seminar
Date: Friday, September 26, 2025, 16:00-17:00
Location: Urbannet Sendai Chuo Building 4F/Conference Room C (4-4-19 Chuo, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)
Title:Thinking about building a system to create together with partners
Organized by: City of Sendai, Operated by: Riverness Inc.
Special Lecture: Mr. Ken Matsui, CEO, Ugo Inc.
Moderator: Takumi Kando, Research and Development Division, Liverness, Inc.
*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
Ugo Corporation
Representative Director, CEO
Ken Matsui he
2004 Graduated from Tokyo University of Technology, Faculty of Media Studies. 2006 Joined Monster Lab Inc. as a founding member, developing smartphone apps and web systems for various new businesses. 2011 Founded Mira, an IoT device development company, with experience developing and mass producing various connected devices. 2018 Founded ugo Co. He became CEO and Representative Director.
LIVERNESS Corporation
Research and Development Division
Takumi Kando
Ph.D. (Engineering), studied abroad at KU Leuven (Belgium) in 2014-15, completed doctoral studies at Yokohama National University Graduate School of Environment and Information Studies in 2016, and was a researcher at Tokyo Institute of Technology School of Materials Science and Engineering and a part-time faculty member (assistant professor) at Yokohama National University Center for Higher Education and Universitywide Education from 2017 to 2019 before assuming his current position. Current position. He is also a Visiting Associate Professor at the Deep Tech Serial Innovation Center, Nagoya University. At LIVERNESS, he has been involved in many projects to solve problems using technologies of Japanese ventures and companies in collaboration with Southeast Asian ventures and local institutions.
Inquiries regarding this matter
(Contact: Mai Inoue, Saito, Ishizawa)
TEL：03-5227-4198 E-mail：[email protected]