[April 21] ASEAN and Mekong Expansion Support Program Briefing for Japanese Startups and SMEs

Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. (Headquarters: Tokyo, hereafter MRI) and Kepple, Inc. (Headquarters: Tokyo) will hold a briefing session on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, to support the expansion of Japanese startups and SMEs into the ASEAN and Mekong regions.

Apply here: https://mri-kepple-20260421.peatix.com/

At this event, we have invited representatives from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Innovation and Environment Bureau, Startup and New Business Promotion Office), the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency (Business Support Department, Overseas Enterprise Support Office), JETRO, and startup entrepreneurs who have expanded into ASEAN. Together with MRIV International (Mitsubishi Research Institute's Vietnamese subsidiary), they will discuss expansion opportunities in the Mekong region, which is expected to experience particularly high growth within ASEAN, and specific support programs.

Background of the Event ASEAN is attracting attention as a critical growth market for Japanese companies.

This support program is implemented by the Japan-ASEAN Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee, a related organization of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as part of the 'Investigation Project for Building a Model to Support Japanese Startups Expanding into the Mekong Region' under the Reiwa 2 (2020) supplementary budget 'Asia DX and Other New Business Creation Promotion Support Project.' Public and private entities in Japan and the destination countries are collaborating to promote initiatives for Japanese startups and SMEs to expand into ASEAN, especially the Mekong region, and create new business opportunities.

On the other hand, many companies face challenges such as 'I am interested in expanding business to Global South countries, but I don't know where to start,' 'I can't see specific expansion methods,' and 'I want to find potential partners in the local ASEAN and Mekong regions, but I don't know who to ask.'

This event will focus on the potential of business in these regions, introducing the latest expansion support programs while delivering real business expansion case studies and practical insights from the field.

Event Overview Event Name: ASEAN and Mekong Expansion Support Program Briefing Date & Time: Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 16:00 - 18:00 Format: Hybrid (Offline/Online) Venue: Tokyo Venture Capital Hub (Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza B 5F) Participation Fee: Free Capacity: 30 companies (On-site participation) *No limit for online

▼ Apply here (Peatix) https://mri-kepple-20260421.peatix.com/

Organizers: Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. / Kepple, Inc.

Program (Tentative) - Opening - Keynote Speech: 'Overview and Business Opportunities in the ASEAN Market' - Explanation of the Expansion Support Program - Panel Discussion: 'Success Factors for Japanese Startups and SMEs Expanding into ASEAN' - Networking (Planned)

*The content is subject to change. *If there are many on-site applications, on-site participation will be limited to up to 2 people per company, and other participants will be guided to join online.

What You Will Gain from This Event - A realistic understanding of the markets in the ASEAN and Mekong regions - Concrete steps for business expansion into these regions - Details of the expansion support program - Criteria for judging local specific needs and your company's potential

Furthermore, we plan to provide opportunities to participate in future seminars and expansion support programs, focusing on the companies participating in this event.

Target Audience - Those in startups or SMEs specifically considering business expansion to Global South countries - Those in charge of new business and business development - Those interested in the ASEAN market but unsure about concrete steps - Executives looking for the next growth market

Future Developments After this briefing, we will confirm the expansion intentions of participating companies through surveys and proceed with selecting target companies. Subsequently, we plan to support the execution of specific Mekong region expansions through additional seminars and individual support.

Organizer Overview Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. A comprehensive think tank in the fields of policy, economy, and industry.

Kepple, Inc. Develops various businesses to contribute to the development of the startup ecosystem.

▼ Apply for Participation (Free) https://mri-kepple-20260421.peatix.com/

--- About Kepple, Inc. With the mission of 'Create New Industries,' Kepple promotes various businesses to contribute to the development of the startup ecosystem. Its wide-ranging business developments include 'M&A Support' which provides new growth opportunities for both startups and business corporations, 'Open Innovation Support' which comprehensively supports co-creation between corporations and startups, 'Startup Support' which aids in startup recruitment, and 'Fund Operation Support' which assists with a wide range of middle and back-office operations for funds. Going forward, we will further expand our support to startups and investors worldwide.

Kepple, Inc. Business Lineup

M&A Support Leveraging the abundant knowledge and extensive network cultivated through startup support, we assist in the execution of optimal stock/business transfers, acquisitions, and integrations. We connect challengers and successors to boost sustainable corporate value creation.

Open Innovation Support Comprehensively supporting corporate open innovation activities, including advisory services such as stock valuation and DD, search support utilizing our proprietary startup database 'KEPPLE DB,' and support for collaboration with overseas startups.

Startup Support Providing high-class talent recruitment support services like 'Startup Scout' by experienced professionals such as startup-specialized career advisors, certified public accountants, and analysts.

Fund Operation Support Supporting a broad range of middle and back-office operations related to fund management, centering on fund accounting, including capital and investment management, and reporting to investors.

For inquiries about our services, please visit each service page or use the inquiry form.