OSLO TO TOKYO 2017

27-31 March 2017

HORIZONTAL PICTURE

The agenda for Oslo Business Region’s trip to Tokyo was to 1) support startups attending Slush Tokyo 2017 2) learn about and make connections in the Japanese startup ecosystem, 3) profile Oslo and 4) strengthen the ties with the Nordic region.

The Japanese market is the third largest economy in the world and a (potential) important market to Norwegian startups. In addition,

there are similarities between the Japanese and Norwegian startup ecosystem, both young and emerging, that we could both learn from and build on. The right time to tap into these prospects and make collaborations is now. Slush is building a position in the Asian market,

and the interest in Nordic startups is growing. Slush Tokyo is an international startup conference, originally from Finland, March 29-30, 2017 in Tokyo, Japan.

The mission was to look into these possibilities, and evaluate how Nordic cooperation and our support and presence can benefit the startups and Oslo.

All images by: Slush Media expect page 4, image by Øl Tokyo

WHY TOKYO AND SLUSH TOKYO 2017

KEY FACTS AND NUMBERSOslo to Tokyo 2017

Inzpire.Mewon the Japan

Airlines Award at Slush Pitch Contest

2017

3:3said it was

worth their time

3:3got new

valuable contacts

6Media articles

3Norwegian

startups

Source: Slush and Meltwater

28kreach in

social media

Tobias Bæck Bakken & Bæck was a

keynote speaker at Slush Tokyo 2017

5000attendees at Slush

Tokyo 2017,including

200 investors250 journalists

20Nordic startupsattended Slush

Tokyo 2017

44Follow ups/leads the startups

have after the trip

Oslo Business Region

Introduction to Japanese business culture session by Innovation Norway in Tokyo

Entry to market seminars by Slush, Slush Tokyo and Tokyo Startup Hub

Meeting and visit to a maker space and East Ventures

Reception at the Norwegian Embassy with 50 people from Japanese finance, hosted by Innovation Norway, in collaboration with ICT Norway and 5 Norwegian fintech companies.

Attendance to Slush Tokyo 2017

Hosted a #Nordicmade networking mixer at the Norwegian bar ØL in Tokyo in collaboration with Slush Helsinki, Startup Sauna and Fuglen. About 20 Nordic startups and their Japanese counterparts and investors attended.

OSLO TO TOKYO2017 AGENDA

6 articles in Norwegian and Japanese media were published on Inzpire.Me•2 Japanese - one has the potential reach of 465k and the other one 5Mhttp://www.sankei.com/economy/print/170331/ecn1703310028-c.htmlhttp://thebridge.jp/2017/03/slush-tokyo-2017-pitch-conest-finals?utm_source=FeedBurner-Sd+Japan%28Japanese-New%29&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SdJapan+%28The+Bridge+%28Japanese%29%29

•1 English - potential reach of 126khttps://www.siliconrepublic.com/start-ups/dot-incorporation-slush-tokyo

•3 in Norwegian Shifter - potential reach of 15khttp://shifter.no/index.php/2017/03/30/matte-smartklokke-blinde-a-sla-inzpire-me-finalen-slush-tokyo-marie-mostad-finalen-stor-bonus/Shifter article likes on social media: Twitter 23, LinkedIn 11, Facebook 803

Mention in The Nordic Web’s weekly newsletter

OSLO TO TOKYO2017 PRESS

3 tips to startups from Marie Mostad, co-founder of Inzpire.Me

1. Apply for the pitch contest in advance! 2. Use the meeting tool to book in advance

(it’s hard to locate relevant people while you are at the event)

3. Use your network to get intros to other attendees you want to meet. It’s more efficient than contacting people who don’t know you.

Slush Tokyo 2017

TOBIAS BÆCK, BAKKEN & BÆCKABOUT

ME

Co-founder of Bakken & Bæck, Tobias Bæck, was a keynote speaker at Slush Tokyo 2017, Day 1.

“Flying half way around the globe for 72 hours in Tokyo was totally worth it! Great fun, useful and inspiring.”

How should we (OBR) improve?”Different visits around the city based on themes. For me it would be interesting to visit companies within tech, art and design.”

10Individual meetings the startups

Had while in Tokyo

Oslo to Tokyo 2017

4 tips to Japanese business/meeting culture by Erik Hoftun,Snowcastle Games

1. Listen to people with experience from doing business in Japan. It’s very different from the Nordic’s.

2. A “yes” (“hai”) does not necessarily mean the person you’re meeting with agrees with you. “Hai” could just mean he (it’s often a he) is attentive and listening. You rarely hear “no” because they don’t want to hurt you. Ask open questions that require more than yes or no.

3. Japanese culture is based on consensus. This means decisions take a lot of time. Norwegian “easy fixes” or “skippertak” are not popular in Japan. Key words are thoroughness, quality and patience.

4. Ask the person you are meeting with to suggest a place to eat and combine business and the world’s finest food.

Oslo to Tokyo 2017

• The Japanese market holds great possibilities for Norwegian startups in industries like health, education, smart city, entertainment, fintech and more, but requires companies which have good Japanese relations and can endure long processes.

• The Slush Tokyo program has a young crowd and is most suitable for early stage startups. Norwegian startups have the potential to make a mark at the conference.

• The value of having Norwegian keynotes on stage at Slush Tokyo is high due to reach and media coverage.

• Nordic collaborations = higher international attention and attendees to events = added value for the Norwegian startups

• A follow up to Tokyo is of value based on interest from the right startups, more Nordic collaborations, planning ahead (a least 2-4 months before) with local partners to book meetings, and the possibility of more Norwegian keynotes on stage at Slush Tokyo 2018.

KEY LEARNINGS

Oslo to Tokyo 2017

• The Japanese market holds great possibilities for Norwegian startups in industries like health, education, smart city, entertainment, fintech and more, but requires companies which have good Japanese relations and can endure long processes.

• The Slush Tokyo program has a young crowd and is most suitable for early stage startups. Norwegian startups have the potential to make a mark at the conference.

• The value of having Norwegian keynotes on stage at Slush Tokyo is high due to reach and media coverage.

• Nordic collaborations = higher international attention and attendees to events = added value for the Norwegian startups

• A follow up to Tokyo is of value based on interest from the right startups, more Nordic collaborations, planning ahead (a least 2-4 months before) with local partners to book meetings, and the possibility of more Norwegian keynotes on stage at Slush Tokyo 2018.

KEY LEARNINGS

Oslo to Tokyo 2017