As part of the "Sendai Global Startup Hub Business,""Global Business Seminar 2026"It is being held by

This seminar is a series of seven sessions that welcomes regional companies, startups, researchers, and others interested in expanding their business overseas, and shares their experiences and know-how with them.

The fifth time,"The Struggle of Southeast Asia Business Expansion Part 1"Yes. It was selected for the Sendai-Tohoku Expansion Program (STEP) in fiscal 2025.Storyline Inc.We will introduce initiatives aimed at expanding our business in Southeast Asia.

When considering international expansion, market research and meetings with local companies are important first steps. However, when you actually start the business, you will encounter various challenges such as differences in customer needs from what you had expected, the division of roles between local partners, and how to proceed after the negotiation.

In this article, we will discuss the hypotheses that Tohoku-based startups develop during their efforts to enter overseas markets, what they try to verify on the ground, and how they plan to utilize this experience for their next business development. We will also focus on not only the achievements but also the challenges and trial-and-error experiences, seeking tips for companies considering entering overseas markets in the future.

Global Business Seminar 2026, Part 5

Date:Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 17:00 – 18:30
Theme: Struggle to Expand Business in Southeast Asia Part 1
Introducing case studies of overseas expansion by companies selected for 2025
Venue:online
Subject:Regional companies, start-ups, researchers, and support organizations interested in expanding overseas
Participation Fee:free

Speakers:
Storyline Inc.
Representative Director CEO/CDO Ms. Iwai Shunko

This program is a series of seminars conducted as part of the "Sendai Global Startup Hub Operations."

[Report on implementation in FY2026 is here]
The 1st Why Southeast Asia now?
How can the second phase of overseas expansion be used to drive business growth?

[Report on implementation in fiscal 2025 is here]
Session 1 Lecturer: Mr. Kengo Suzuki, Co-founder and Executive Fellow
Second session Lecturer: Mr. Shinji Akai, Representative Director and President of Ballwave Co., Ltd.
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.

✓ Companies and startups considering expanding their business to Southeast Asia
✓ Those interested in expanding their business overseas and collaborating with local companies
✓ Those who want to learn about the practical experience of startups working in international expansion
✓ Those who want to learn about the challenges and ways to proceed for business expansion overseas
✓ Financial institutions, local governments, and support organizations involved in supporting the overseas expansion of regional companies

Storyline Inc.
CEO/CDO
Ms. Junko Iwai

After graduating from Aichi Prefectural University of Art, he worked at Brother Industries developing and designing information devices. After becoming independent, he worked on developing new products and branding, and supported new business development for companies through business design and service design at US strategy design firm Ziba and Spain’s Mormedi. In 2018, he founded Storyline Co., Ltd., and in 2020 became its representative director. Currently, he combines design and technology to lead business development aimed at solving challenges in the coffee industry.

This program is a program that supports the overseas expansion of companies and startups in the Sendai and Tohoku region.

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.

We support the organization of overseas expansion policies, meetings with local partners, hypothesis verification, and the subsequent commercialization of the business.

At Global Business Seminar 2026, we will cover topics related to overseas expansion and hold a total of seven seminars.

*The schedule, theme, and speakers may change.