Japan-centered market development

Build the market and the right organization at the right stage.

Rainbow Bridge crossing Tokyo Bay, with the waterfront skyline beyond.

Market strategy and commercial execution for technology companies developing business between Japan and North America.
Strategy | Business Development | Partnerships | Sales | Marketing | Localization | PR and Communications

Discuss Your Plans Explore Services
  1. StrategyMarket priorities and direction
  2. PartnershipsBuild & execute strategy
  3. Business Development & SalesEnterprise relationships and commercialization
  4. Marketing & localizationPositioning and native content
  5. PR & CommunicationsMedia and executive communications
  • Commercial ExperienceFrom strategy to relationship-building to after-sales
  • Enterprise TechnologyAI, SaaS, cybersecurity and data integration
  • Partner DevelopmentSystem integrators, resellers, platform providers and technology partners
  • International PerspectiveStrategic, operational and cultural fluency across Japan and North America

Japan market development

Understand and develop the market before scaling.

Decisions about Japan should start with understanding the market. Customers, competition and commercial priorities provide the basis for deciding where and when to invest.

  • Know where to compete.

    Assess the opportunity before structuring the local organization and committing resources.

  • Choose the route to market.

    Direct sales and partnerships serve different purposes. The choice depends on the technology, customers, and applications.

  • Build relationships before building up.

    Customer and partner development can begin while the longer-term organization takes shape.

  • Connect local and global decisions.

    Informed market knowledge should inform headquarter decisions.

  • Localization beyond language.

    “Native” positioning, communications and PR reflecting how the market views and assesses providers and their services.

What we do

Support from strategy to execution.

Bring commercial and market-facing capabilities together at the right stage. Apply existing services or build standalone capabilities as the opportunity develops.

  • Japan Market Strategy & Development

    Understand the opportunity, define how the market should be developed and build an actionable path from early validation through growth.

  • Partnerships, Channel & Business Development

    Identify, develop and activate the partners, relationships and commercial opportunities that can support growth in Japan and across Japan-linked business.

  • Positioning, Marketing & Localization

    Adapt positioning and market-facing communications for the audience and opportunity, including native-language marketing, translation, sales and training materials, and production.

  • PR & Executive Communications

    Build market credibility through PR strategy and execution, media relations, executive communications and coordination with local and global stakeholders.

How engagements work

Match the organization to the opportunity, not the other way around.

Market development can begin before a full local team is in place. Strategic leadership assesses cross-functional capabilities and provides capabilities and support as business needs arise.

For established operations, additional expertise can support a defined initiative or strengthen coordination with headquarters.

Who we work with

  • Technology companiesassessing or developing the market in AI, SaaS, enterprise software, cybersecurity, data and other technology, building relationships or helping customers expand globally.
  • Established Japan OperationsExperience to support commercial priorities across Japan and headquarters.
  • Japanese companies developing North AmericaSupport for U.S. opportunities, partnerships and market communications.

Support at each stage

  1. Understand

    Assess the opportunity.

  2. Validate

    Test the commercial assumptions.

  3. Develop

    Build commercial relationships.

  4. Establish

    Put the required capabilities in place.

  5. Scale

    Expand as the business develops.

The professional network

Expertise matched to the assignment.

Professionals in the U.S. and Japan, providing relevant expertise to each project’s needs.

Relevant experience including but not limited to strategy, business development, partnerships, marketing, localization, PR and communications.

The approach

Insights

Perspectives on Japan business

All insights

Planning for Japan? Start with a conversation.

Tell us where you are: evaluating Japan, developing the market, or connecting an established Japan operation with global strategy. We'll suggest a practical next step.

Discuss your Japan plans