This past August marked a special milestone for our CEO, Yuki Kishi. Returning to the halls of the University of Cambridge — where he earned his MBA — Yuki took the stage not as a student, but as a thought leader at the Cambridge Japan Forum 2025.

The session: Expanding business into the Japanese market

Yuki joined a prestigious panel for the forum's 2nd session, titled "Expanding Business into the Japanese Market." Sharing the stage with key ecosystem players JETRO and the AI unicorn Tractable, the discussion offered a 360-degree view of market entry.

Key perspectives shared

  • The government view (JETRO). Highlighted the robust support systems and subsidies available for foreign entities.
  • The success story (Tractable). Shared the real-world journey of scaling an AI unicorn in Japan, navigating cultural nuances to win major insurance contracts.
  • The bridge (YKBridge). Yuki provided the "how-to" framework. He emphasized that while government support and product strength are vital, the "missing link" is often execution — having a trusted local leader who can close deals before a full subsidiary is established.

A personal note from Yuki

"Standing on the podium at Cambridge was a full-circle moment. The lessons I learned here about global business strategy are the foundation of YKBridge. To come back and share practical insights on connecting the UK and Japan was a profound honor."

At YKBridge, we continue to embody the Cambridge spirit of innovation and global connection, helping the next generation of leaders succeed in Japan.