Market signal
Test customers, partners, competitive context and commercial relevance.
A Japan desk for the companies you back.
We work alongside VC and PE portfolio companies to test demand in Japan, develop corporate partnerships and manage investor relations from Tokyo.
Our approach
From a first conversation to a decision in Japan.
A single accountable Japan desk brings together opportunity validation, fractional IR and specialist execution. Every engagement starts with a defined decision, a named owner and a practical cadence for management and sponsors.
0130 daysFixed-scope opportunity validation
023 months+Managed execution when the case is proven
03WeeklyManagement cadence and sponsor visibility
01
How it works
Start with one company and one Japan question. Validate the opportunity, define the decision path and progress only when the evidence supports it.
Explore02Why it matters
Japan opportunities often stall between an introduction and internal approval. We create local ownership, develop internal advocates and manage the follow-through.
ExploreJapan Opportunity Sprint
Test the market before you build the team.
A fixed-scope, management-ready assessment for portfolio companies with a credible Japan question but no clear local operating plan.
Start a Japan SprintDecision path
Map stakeholders, barriers, internal advocates and the route to approval.
Execution plan
Deliver a go / no-go recommendation and a prioritized 90-day plan.
Japan Execution Desk
One accountable desk around the portfolio company.
When the opportunity is validated, ThirdHorizon operates the workstream with management. The team is led by a bilingual Japan lead and configured with the specialists the mandate actually requires.
What the desk does
Lead
One accountable point of coordination for management, sponsors and the Japan workstream.
Advocate
Build internal support inside target organizations—not an unmanaged contact hand-off.
Execute
Advance named accounts, partnerships, pilots, investor readiness or operating priorities.
Report
Maintain weekly milestones, decision logs and sponsor-level visibility.
Representative mandate
From Japan interest to an operating decision.
An overseas growth company needs to assess Japan without opening an office prematurely. ThirdHorizon validates the thesis, prioritizes relationships and builds the local execution plan with management.
- Starting point
- Strategic interest, fragmented conversations and no local owner
- Workstream
- Customer validation, decision-path mapping and partnership development
- Decision output
- Management-ready Japan thesis, relationship priorities and 90-day plan
What we deploy
Focused capabilities for the moments that determine Japan progress.
Where we work with management
01
Japan market execution
Opportunity validation, market access, strategic accounts and corporate partnerships.
02Fractional IR
Investor narrative, materials, KPI reporting, data-room readiness and management preparation.
03Portfolio support
Defined commercial, finance and operating workstreams for VC- and PE-backed companies.
Built for VC, CVC and private-equity sponsors—and the management teams they back.
Execution capabilities
Based in Tokyo. Working in two languages.
Capital raising
We prepare investor positioning, materials and management teams for targeted capital-raising conversations.
Market development
We test buyer demand and coordinate partner discussions and pilots.
Investor relations
We work with management on investor materials, reporting and meeting preparation.
Enquiry Form
Start a confidential conversation.
Share a concise outline of your organization, objectives and the opportunity under consideration. We will respond directly where there is a clear basis for discussion.