Liberace, Inc,As part of the "Sendai Global Startup Hub Operations"We will be holding the "Global Business Seminar 2026." This seminar is a 7-part series aimed at startups challenging overseas expansion and companies considering entering overseas markets. Participants will learn practical knowledge of global business from entrepreneurs and support organizations that have actually expanded their businesses overseas.
International expansion is not just about "which country to go to," but rather "who you meet and what hypotheses you test" greatly influences the subsequent growth of your business. At Leave a Nest, we view overseas markets not merely as a means of expanding sales channels, but through co-creation with local companies and startups.A place to create new businessesWe will present the mindset and practical case studies for running businesses overseas through this seminar series.
The first installment will be held with the theme "Why Southeast Asia, Now?".
Southeast Asia is a market with continued population and economic growth, while at the same time facing diverse social challenges in areas such as food, environment, energy, infrastructure, and healthcare. These challenges hold the potential for Japanese startups to leverage their technologies and ideas, and indeed, cases of joint research, proof of concept (PoC), and business partnerships originating from Southeast Asia are increasing.
Our honored guests for this inaugural event will be Mr. Taguchi of the currently trending Helical Fusion Inc. and Mr. Takenoshita of ARK Inc.
Helical Fusion Inc. aims to realize practical power generation using fusion energy (stable 24/7 energy supply) in the 2030s as a company responsible for the final stage towards the practical application of helical fusion technology, and is promoting the "Helix Project."
ARK Co., Ltd. is developing its business both domestically and internationally through the development of aquaculture systems, and in recent years has been actively promoting business development in overseas markets, particularly in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
On the day, the speaker will share their personal experiences, including the background that led them to aim for overseas expansion, insights gained locally, and how collaboration with overseas companies began.
Seminar Outline
Global Business Seminar 2026 - Part 1
Date:2026年8月3日（月） 15:00〜16:30（14:45開場）
会場：ホテルメトロポリタン仙台 藤（3階）（会場変更になりました。）
Theme:Why Southeast Asia now?
~Why Sendai/Tohoku Startups are Challenging the Next Growth Markets~
Subject:Startups, companies, researchers, support organizations, etc., interested in overseas expansion
Participation Fee:free
This program is a series of seminars conducted as part of the "Sendai Global Startup Hub Operations."
[Click here for last year's implementation report]
Session 1 Lecturer: Mr. Kengo Suzuki, Co-founder and Executive Fellow
Session 2 Lecturer: Mr. Shingo Akao, President, Ball Wave Corporation
Lecturer: Mr. Ken Matsui, CEO and Representative Director, ugo Co.
Lecturer: Mr. Hong-Kyung Min, President of Liberaware, Inc.
Lecturer: Mr. Hideaki Itami, Director, Asia Region, Platinum Bio Co.
Lecturer: Mr. Yota Takakura, CEO, Inoka Co.
7th Session: Speaker: Mr. Yukihiro Ishida, Representative Director and CEO of Second Heart Co., Ltd.
Speakers and Moderators
Helical Fusion, Inc.
Co-founder and CEO
Takaya Taguchi
京都大学大学院文学研究科（倫理学）修了。みずほ銀行、国際協力銀行（JBIC）、PwCアドバイザリー（M&A）、第一生命、スタートアップCOOなどを経て株式会社Helical Fusionを共同創業。
ARK Co., Ltd.
Director, Chief Technology Officer
Takeoshita Kōyō
Born in Kanoya City, Kagoshima Prefecture. Majored in Robotics and Biomedical Engineering, holding a Master's degree in Engineering. Has consistently worked in hardware startups, responsible for product planning, development, and production technology. Holds numerous books and patents related to IoT. Joined Uhuru, Inc. in 2016, serving as an evangelist and CTO, among other roles. Co-founded ARK in 2020 and assumed the position of CEO. Favorite fish is horse mackerel. Currently training to compete in an aquathlon event.
LIVERNESS Corporation
Representative Director, Group CEO
Yukihiro Maru
D. in Agriculture, founded LIVERNESS Co., Ltd. in 2002 while still in graduate school. Ltd. in 2002. He has developed Japan's first "delivery laboratory class of cutting-edge science" into a business. He operates a "knowledge manufacturing business" that creates new knowledge by combining management resources and technologies that lie dormant in universities and local communities, and has facilitated more than 200 projects through his "knowledge platform. As the instigator of one of Asia's largest venture ecosystems in collaboration with local factories and major companies, etc., he works to solve global-scale social issues by discovering deep tech from around the world. He has also been involved in the launch of numerous venture companies, including Euglena Co.
Regarding the "Sendai/Tohoku Expansion Program (STEP)"
This program supports startups in the Sendai and Tohoku regions in their overseas expansion.
Leveraging the network of companies, universities, research institutions, and government agencies that Leave a Nest has built primarily in Southeast Asia, we provide support tailored to each client, leading to business negotiations, joint research, proof-of-concept (PoC), and business partnerships in local markets.
Rather than making going overseas the goal itself, we aim to get your business off the ground in overseas markets, and provide comprehensive support from strategy design to connecting with local partners, hypothesis testing, and ultimately business development.
