Supporting Founders in Their Business Expansion in Silicon Valley
We partnered with NEDO Silicon Valley office to support Japanese founders’ efforts in expanding their business in Silicon Valley. NEDO is a Japanese largest public R&D funding agency under the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. We developed a program that is tailored to the founders needs to make NEDO’s and the founders’ efforts the most effective.
International founders, especially Japanese founders, have specific challenges when they try to build their business in Silicon Valley. 1) Silicon Valley has a relationship-based business culture but they do not know many people here, 2) Business culture is very different and what considered valuable, respectful, impactful are often different in their own countries and Silicon Valley, 3) linguistic barrier, meaning you have to be able to communicate well in English. To overcome those challenges, we developed a program combining training, workshop, mentoring and meetings for the founders to gain insights and information on how they can approach the US market.
Program Contents
One of the most important things to do before they start building their businesses is to prepare themselves to engage with people and businesses in Silicon Valley. To understand their companies’ value and potential in Silicon Valley, you need to go talk to people who understand your business, technology, vision, etc. They can be potential investors, partners, customers, competitors or industry/technology experts who can guide you through the process. And for them to effectively communicate with those who can give them the valuable insights and feedback, they need to be prepared to deliver their message clearly, present their business with confidence and engage them to start building a relationship. Most international founders are not ready, however. They need the right materials, the right approach to carry conversations, the right attitude to be a part of the Silicon Valley community.
Our program is about 2 months in length and consists of 3 components. 1) 1.5 months Virtual training and mentoring sessions, 2) 1-week Bootcamp in Japan, and 3) 1 week Program in Silicon Valley. We prepare founders for the said important points above during 1) and 2) and by the time they come to Silicon Valley, the founders are ready to engage. Examples of the contents in each component are as follows.
1) Virtual training and mentoring sessions
How to present your business using an effective pitch deck
Entrepreneurial mindset
individual mentoring sessions for pitching, building materials, communication, etc.
2) Bootcamp in Japan
Pitch training
Creating a potential lead list of customers, partners, investors, etc.
Effective communication skills
How to write emails and messages
3) Silicon Valley Program
Building strong partnerships
Enterprise sales process
Building cross-boarder teams
targeted meetings based on the lead list of each company
We connected the participating companies this time to Band of Angels, Silicon Valley Robotics, Hustle Fund, Data Collective, 500 Startups, ONEVC and more.
