2021 started on a high note for ERA Global. We wrapped our first edition of the Ibaraki Prefecture US Market Entry Bootcamp with Ibaraki Prefecture Government and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) New York and Ibaraki offices. 

ERA Global in New York, Ibaraki Prefecture Government and JETRO New York/Ibaraki launched the virtual Bootcamp program to help 5 Japanese startups gain traction in the US market while learning some of the key differences between the US and Japanese business environments. 

The four-week program combined live workshops with the ERA Global team and expert one-on-one mentoring covering a variety of topics.

The five participants were:

• AXION Research, an AI platform to predict the likelihood of type 2 diabetes 
• LIGHTz, a knowledge transfer platform to train new employees at large corporations
• NextEDGE Tech, a touchless interface for doctors and surgeons to perform operations remotely
• Onikle, an scientific paper search engine and recommendation tool for AI researchers 
• SiteSensing, an indoor tracking system for the manufacturing industry, based on Dead Reckoning to measure workers’ social distancing practices and machines’ productivity
  

The companies attended a variety of sessions covering topics including: “Building Compelling US Investor Decks”, “Scaling in the US Market” or “Navigating the Complexities of the US Immigration System”. As with all of our ERA Global programs, the startups also actively worked on their pitches during our weekly pitch practice sessions.  

In addition to these workshops, the founders were matched with dedicated lead mentors to address specific needs. Our team conducted the matches based on each startup’s industry focus and challenges and each lead mentor’s functional expertise. The discussions ranged from identifying ideal customer profiles, to testing new marketing strategies. 

At the end of the program, the startups got the opportunity to pitch at the final event to a virtual audience of 70+ investors, partners, and corporate executives from the US and globally. 

The program gained a lot of traction as it received coverage from Asahi News and Nikkei News, 2 of Japan’s largest newspapers. This Bootcamp Program represents a great opportunity for both Japanese startups to get exposure to a global audience and for US/foreign investors to learn about opportunities in the country. 

Our co-founder and Managing Partner, Murat Aktihanoglu shared his thoughts here. 

If you are interested in learning more about and/or working with ERA Global, please reach out: partners@eranycglobal.com.