Rebines Co., Ltd. has been commissioned by the City of Sendai to promote the “Sendai Global Startup Hub,” which supports the effective global business development and market entry of startups and regional companies in the Sendai and Tohoku region.
As part of this project, the second Global Business Seminar 2026 was held on September 7, 2026. This time, under the theme of “How to leverage overseas expansion for business growth?”, three companies—Seven Seventeen Bank, UntroD Capital Asia Pte. Ltd., and Liberance—discussed how to identify customers facing challenges in overseas expansion, how to collaborate with local partners, and how to increase sales, structure, and fund recovery after PoC.
Seminar Outline
Global Business Seminar 2026, 2nd Session Summary
Date and time: September 7, 2026 (Mon) 15:00-16:30
Theme: How can overseas expansion lead to business growth?
~Next steps for overseas expansion from the perspective of regional financial institutions and investors~
Organized by: Sendai City
Operated by: LIVERNESS Co.
Speakers:
Mr. Tono Nomura, Executive Officer, International Marketing Department, Seven Bank Co., Ltd.
UntroD Capital Asia Pte. Ltd.Director Kumamoto Daiki
Mr. Kohei Maru (Moderator) Representative Director and Group CEO of Liberance Co., Ltd.
How can overseas expansion lead to business growth?
To leverage overseas expansion for business growth, it is essential to approach it not as a goal in itself, but as a way to link small-scale verification in the local market with customers, partners, certification, and sales. In this discussion, concrete methods were discussed for not only completing a business in Japan and then expanding overseas, but also for establishing connections with local partners early and accumulating tangible results.
Mr. Maru presented overseas expansion not as a means to proceed after completing domestic operations, but as a way to chart a path for business growth based on global issues and customers. Mr. Nomura spoke about the role of regional financial institutions in providing local support to local companies to grow their sales in regions with declining populations. Mr. Kumamoto presented the perspective that investors would see the expansion of technology in the local market and the expansion of networks as evidence of the improvement in corporate value. Through the discussions between the three, the perspective that overseas expansion should be viewed as a process of building up customers, funds, and business structures locally was demonstrated.
⸻ 1. Start with the global challenges and then build the way your business operates
The importance of building connections with overseas markets and companies from an early stage was discussed without being confined to the order of “completing a business in Japan and then expanding abroad.” In his presentation, Maru explained the empirical evidence from the early stages of Grana’s founding and the case study of the SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) joint venture with PETRONAS in Malaysia, citing the example of the Malaysian company Petronas and Grana’s own experience in developing the business through collaboration with leading local companies. Mr. Nomura spoke about the efforts of regional financial institutions to maintain connections with overseas markets to grow corporate sales in regions with a declining population, while regional deep tech companies in Southeast Asia can leverage their own overseas networks to support the overseas expansion of their business partners. Mr. Nomura also introduced the practice of investing in connecting Japanese regional industries with deep tech in Southeast Asia, showing a path to growth that does not just wait for recognition and funding in Japan.
⸻ 2. What should be confirmed through on-site inspections is the "true customer"
Instead of deciding on a single overseas partner, we will examine multiple countries with different regulations and industrial structures, and we will identify the markets where our own technology and products can thrive. Furthermore, it is important to connect with customers and decision-makers who can provide consultation and collaboration based on contact points such as local accelerators, research institutions, and companies. Discussions were held that the networks of regional financial institutions introduced by Mr. Nomura and the connection between Japanese companies and ASEAN startups that Mr. Kumamoto is working on are also important in meeting reliable local partners to move the business forward. Gathering technology professionals and media at a POC venue alone does not necessarily lead to commercialization. Instead, a discussion on the ground was held that whether or not we can involve customers and decision-makers who will actually make a purchase will be the deciding factor in whether the business will be successful.
⸻ 3. “Being useful, connecting, and selling” creates corporate value
As a regional financial institution, we are committed to:
① Proof that the patent or technology actually works in that country,
② Network effects resulting from obtaining Halal certification,
③ Reliable sales based on the business plan
Through discussions, it was shown that expanding the network from the local demonstration of the technology and linking it to sales and a sustainable business structure would pave the way for attracting further funding and collaboration.
Overseas expansion doesn’t always involve taking a big step once a business is established. Instead, it involves listening to the local situation, testing the technology on a small scale, and determining who the customers are and what certifications and partners are needed. By transforming each of these steps into sales and business processes, interacting with overseas markets becomes the next step in business growth. We hope that the practical discussions shared during this seminar will empower companies in Sendai and Tohoku to build connections with the world and take the next step.
Further information to come
The next Global Business Seminar 2026 will be held online on Friday, September 25, 2026.
At the Global Business Seminar, we welcome the participation of researchers, start-ups, regional companies, financial institutions, and government officials, among others, who are interested in expanding their business overseas.
