STATION Ai Inc. (Headquarters: Nagoya City, Showa Ward, President & CEO: Hirotaka Sahashi) will jointly hold the "M&A Seminar from the Perspective of Open Innovation" (hereinafter referred to as "this event") with WellBear Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "WellBear"), an investee of the STATION Ai Central Japan 1st Fund (STATION Ai Central Japan 1st Investment Business Limited Partnership), at "STATION Ai," one of Japan's largest open innovation hubs, on July 16, 2026 (Thu).

This event will explain M&A, which is gaining attention as a growth strategy for startups and established companies against the backdrop of changes in the funding environment, from the perspectives of both startups and established companies. It will introduce practical approaches for considering and promoting M&A as a business, covering the entire process from sourcing to evaluation/valuation, due diligence, contract negotiation, and PMI (integration), with concrete examples.

Background of the Event

In recent years, the business environment surrounding startups has been changing. Against the backdrop of changes in the funding environment and the diversification of growth strategies centered on IPOs, M&A is attracting increasing interest from startups as an option for growth and exit strategies that do not rely solely on fundraising or listing.

Meanwhile, for established companies, M&A is also a powerful means of implementing open innovation to promote new business development, entry into new fields, and the creation of synergies with existing businesses.

At STATION Ai, in supporting startup growth, we are working to create diverse growth opportunities, including M&A, in addition to fundraising, business collaboration, sales channel development, and human resource/organizational development. This event, as part of that effort, provides an opportunity for both startups and established companies to deepen their understanding of M&A and connect it to concrete consideration as a growth strategy.

Furthermore, this event is open not only to STATION Ai members but also to anyone interested in startup growth strategies and open innovation by established companies. The content is suitable for those who are concretely considering M&A, as well as those who want to start gathering information as one of their future growth strategies.

Event Content

This event will explain the overall picture of M&A and practical points, with the themes of "Why M&A Now?" and "How to Increase the Probability of M&A Success?"

The speaker will be Kazuyoshi Okuma, Co-Representative of WellBear Inc., which provides matching and advisory services for cross-border M&A. Mr. Okuma was involved in the management of overseas subsidiaries and business due diligence for overseas M&A at Monster Lab Inc. (now Monster Lab Holdings Inc.), which supports companies in digital transformation (DX) and the utilization of AI (artificial intelligence), and co-founded WellBear in 2023.

On the day, he will explain from basic concepts when considering M&A to practical points that determine success or failure, targeting both startups and established companies.

Program

Changing External Environment and the Background of Attention on M&A

Overview of M&A (Strategy Formulation, Sourcing, Evaluation/Valuation, Due Diligence, Contract Negotiation, Closing, PMI) (Note)

Practical Points that Determine Success or Failure (Cultural Fit, KPI Design, Governance, Key Person Design, PMI Design, etc.)

Success and Failure Case Studies from the Perspectives of Both Startups and Established Companies

Q&A

*Content is subject to change.

Note: PMI stands for Post Merger Integration, a process of integrating organizations, businesses, systems, etc., after the completion of an M&A to achieve the intended results.

Event Overview

Date and Time: July 16, 2026 (Thu) 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Venue: STATION Ai 3rd Floor, Central Lounge

1-2-32 Tsurumai, Showa Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture

Format: Seminar, Q&A

Participation Fee: Free

Capacity: 100 people

Target Audience: Startups, established companies, personnel in charge of new business, investment, and M&A, and those interested in open innovation.

How to Apply: Please apply through the entry form.

Application Deadline: July 15, 2026 (Wed)

*As this is a first-come, first-served basis, recruitment may close before the deadline if the number of applications reaches capacity.

Speaker

WellBear Inc. Co-Representative

Kazuyoshi Okuma

Career: Joined Monster Lab Inc. (now Monster Lab Holdings Inc.) in 2011. Engaged in programmer, sales, and project management roles. In 2014, established a wholly-owned subsidiary responsible for overseas business in Singapore and became its Representative Director and COO.

Subsequently, he concurrently served as an Executive Officer at Monster Lab headquarters, which had executed over 10 overseas M&A deals, and was responsible for the management of overseas subsidiaries, head of sales and marketing, and business due diligence for overseas M&A. Leveraging his experience at the company, he co-founded WellBear in 2023 to provide matching and advisory services for cross-border M&A.

About WellBear Inc.

WellBear Inc. is a company that provides matching and advisory services for cross-border M&A. It was founded in 2023 by members who executed over 10 overseas M&A deals at Monster Lab (5255/Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth). The company's main focus is on cross-border deals in the range of 10M to 100M US dollars (approximately 1.5 to 15 billion yen). It currently has a subsidiary in the United States and primarily supports transactions between Japan and the US. It provides end-to-end support for deals that have been difficult to reach until now, from overseas acquisitions by listed companies (buy-side) to overseas sales of startups (sell-side).

●Co-Representatives (Managing Partners): Kazuyoshi Okuma, Yuta Sakurai

●Business Activities: Cross-border M&A matching and advisory services

●Official Website: https://wellbearma.com/

About STATION Ai

"STATION Ai" provides various support services aimed at fostering startups and promoting open innovation. Over 1,000 domestic and international startups, partner companies, support organizations such as venture capital (VC), and universities participate, working to create new businesses. In addition to providing a comfortable office environment, it offers study sessions, mentoring, and matching opportunities for startups to support their business growth, with comprehensive support from specialized staff. Programs are available to solve various challenges faced by startups. The locations of member startups are diverse, including Aichi Prefecture, Tokyo, and overseas.

Inquiries Regarding the Event

STATION Ai Inc.

Contact: Mishima

Email: ext-oi-development@stationai.co.jp

Inquiries Regarding Media Coverage

STATION Ai Inc. Public Relations Department

Inquiry form here *Inquiry Type: Media/Public Relations Inquiries

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: Event