Serendipity is not just luck.
It’s something we make happen.
Serend helps companies find market serendipity by connecting ideas, people, and resources across the US–Japan corridor — from strategy to on-the-ground execution.
What We Do
Vision
Strategizing Meaningful Coincidences.
Serendipity is the ability to find something new and valuable not by chance, but as a matter of inevitability. Rooted in flexible thinking and hands-on experience, the importance of organically connecting resonant phenomena is greater than ever before.
As AI expands how we think and geopolitics rewrites the rules of business, the world's connections are growing more complex — and the possibilities within them are expanding too. That is why we remain committed to advancing global innovation in step with a world that never stops changing.
Observe the Present, Shape the Future
We identify signs of change that point toward the future right on the ground and support your company’s decision-making from a holistic perspective.
Stay Current with Silicon Valley
New trends continue to emerge from Silicon Valley. We will continue to maintain close ties with Silicon Valley’s technology, people, and society.
Redefining Global Business
As globalization continues to evolve with the times, we are designing new forms of growth.
What We Do
Bridging Innovation. Unlocking Japan.
Building on Serend’s unique strengths, we help your business grow on a global scale.
Piller 01
Collaboration with Enterprises / Open Innovation
Target
Startups looking to scale their business by collaborating with Japanese companies
SERVICE EXAMPLES
Identifying and selecting Japanese companies interested in collaboration
Designing collaboration frameworks and driving PoC initiatives
Partnering with the right Japanese company can be the catalyst that transforms a promising startup into a scalable business. Serend leverages its deep network across Japanese enterprises and CVC arms to identify and connect you with the partners most aligned with your technology and growth vision — ensuring that promising conversations turn into real business outcomes.
Piller 02
Structure and Operation of the Global Program
Target
Companies, local governments, and academic institutions seeking to build networks and partnerships with Japan or obtain high-value-added local information
SERVICE EXAMPLES
Building and managing an overseas collaboration ecosystem with various Japanese stakeholders
Regular updates on specific fields and technologies in Japan
Building meaningful connections with Japan requires more than information — it requires trusted relationships, local fluency, and the ability to read between the lines. Serend designs and operates tailored programs that bring together the right Japanese stakeholders — from enterprises and universities to local governments and research institutions — to build ecosystems that generate lasting value.
Piller 03
Support for Expanding into Japan
Target
Startups and companies considering overseas expansion
SERVICE EXAMPLES
Go-to-market strategy design
Support for launching overseas operations
Support for local business development
For startups, the first step in expanding overseas is a battle against a lack of information and a lack of connections. Serend leverages its practical experience in both Japan and the U.S., as well as its Silicon Valley network, to address these challenges and drive expansion at the pace of the local market.
Why Serend
Because we know both worlds,
we can do what others can't.
Strength 01
20+ years on the ground in Silicon Valley
While Silicon Valley is known as a forward-looking region, it is precisely by learning from past trends that one develops the insight to identify the next business opportunities. We directly apply the insights we’ve cultivated through firsthand experience with the successive waves of innovation that have emerged here to solve new challenges.
Strength 02
Hands-on experience
in both Japan and the U.S.
Ignorance of differences in business culture can lead not only to wasted time but also to irreparable lost opportunities. Because Serend has a deep understanding of business practices and the nuances of interpersonal relationships in both Japan and the U.S., we go beyond merely acting as a bridge; we serve as a catalyst that brings out the strengths of both sides.
Strength 03
Extensive Network
While Silicon Valley is known as a forward-looking region, it is precisely by learning from past trends that one develops the insight to identify the next business opportunities. We directly apply the insights we’ve cultivated through firsthand experience with the successive waves of innovation that have emerged here to solve new challenges.
Strength 04
Support Through Execution
While Silicon Valley is known as a forward-looking region, it is precisely by learning from past trends that one develops the insight to identify the next business opportunities. We directly apply the insights we’ve cultivated through firsthand experience with the successive waves of innovation that have emerged here to solve new challenges.
Our Team
People deeply rooted
in both the U.S. and Japanese ecosystems.
As the global landscape grows increasingly complex, expanding business overseas is becoming more and more important. That said, for many companies, getting their overseas business off the ground is no easy task. This is because the key lies in mastering local business protocols and building a reliable and agile local network. Drawing on our professional experience spanning enterprise and startup sectors, as well as business and technology fields in both Japan and the United States, and leveraging our diverse, high-value network, Serend provides comprehensive support for your company’s global expansion.
Miyoko Oki
Founder and Principal
After leading global channel marketing at a major IT company in Tokyo, she moved to Silicon Valley to engage in business development between Japan and the United States. She subsequently gained first-hand experience in building early-stage businesses through her involvement with U.S. startups and venture incubation initiatives. She has also contributed to supporting and nurturing Japanese startups. Drawing on her hands-on experience in business operations in both Japan and the United States, she founded Serend in 2012.
Kaz Terada
Advisor
At Itochu Corporation, he was involved for many years in business development, investment, and management—primarily in the IT sector—both in Japan and overseas. While stationed in the United States, he managed investments in U.S. startups in New York and established a venture capital fund in Silicon Valley. Subsequently, after serving as Head of Business Development and Strategic Investments at the company’s Silicon Valley subsidiary, he returned to Japan to serve as the head of investments in domestic and international startups. Currently, in addition to serving as CEO of A2O Inc., he holds several key positions including founding board member of TiE Japan.
Robert Eberhart
Advisor
His research focuses on the relationship between entrepreneurship and social change, and he currently serves as an associate professor of management and faculty director of the Ahlers Center for International Business at the University of San Diego. Before entering academia, he held executive positions in the semiconductor and electronics industries, worked as a partner at a venture capital firm in San Francisco, and founded and served as CEO of a startup in Tokyo.
Tell us where you are. We'll help you figure out where to go next.
Share your current situation and business goals with us, and we'll propose the most relevant form of support — tailored to your stage and vision.
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