ProtoStar Inc.
- Event
- All Startups/Scaleups
- All Industries
Overview
Protostar provides a wide variety of services to support startups and has the largest support track record in Japan.
We are mainly developing services for startups,including “StartupList,” one of the largest entrepreneur and investor matching services in Japan, “STARTUP M&A,” a startup-specific M&A service, and “JP STARTUPS,” to introduce and support startups from Japan.
In addition, we have established a business system to support a wide range of challengers including major companies.
Our alliance business, which encourages co-creation and acceleration of startups mainly by major companies, and businesses such as “Entrepreneurship LOG” and “SaaSLOG,” one of the largest startup support media in Japan, are also performing well.
Initiative details
One of the challenges of the startup ecosystem in Japan is the lack of M&A awareness and experience, and the fact that exit strategies are heavily weighted toward IPOs, which can easily lead to stagnant growth, small IPOs, and second financing deadlocks after growth listings. This project aims to fill a missing piece in Tokyo’s startup ecosystem by providing a positive atmosphere for startups with the aforementioned challenges to have M&A as an option for their next growth and exit, fostering a positive atmosphere for choosing M&A, sharing know-how and knowledge, and so on. We will fill in the missing pieces of Tokyo’s startup ecosystem. By doing so, we will accelerate the flow of funds into the startup ecosystem, support and human resources (an increase in the number of people with M&A knowledge, serial entrepreneurs and angel investors), and the circulation of knowledge, thereby increasing the potential for expanding the base and creating unicorns, and making a sustainable contribution to the 10x10x10 goal of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. We will contribute to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s 10x10x10 goals.
Progress
KPIs & Achievements
Can be viewed by scrolling horizontally.
Outcomes / As of December 31, 2024
Outputs / As of December 31, 2024
Details
At Protostar, we are driving the "STARTUP M&A Circulation" program with the vision of making M&A a natural choice for startups.
From October to December 2024, our key initiatives included the following three activities:
①Hosting a Startup M&A Event
We organized an event featuring startups with M&A experience, venture capitalists, and other key stakeholders to share real-world case studies and insights from the perspectives of sellers (sell-side), buyers (buy-side), and investors.
With over 70 participants signing up for the first session, the event provided a rare opportunity to hear firsthand from experienced professionals. Attendee satisfaction was highly rated, with an average score of 4.6 out of 5, and the networking session was a great success.
<1st Startup M&A Event Banner>
②Startup M&A Training Program
We launched a structured training program designed to provide essential knowledge and practical insights for both buy-side and sell-side participants in startup M&A.
Our inaugural buy-side session attracted numerous participants, including startups, business corporations, and VCs. The program received high praise, with an average satisfaction rating of 4.7 or higher out of 5 for each session.
Additionally, the training program fostered direct M&A discussions and acquisition strategy meetings, further enhancing participants' understanding and engagement with M&A opportunities.
<1st Startup M&A Training Banner>
③Expert Matching Event
In this event, we invited experienced professionals who had handled over five acquisitions, along with key supporters of startup M&A. Together, they provided valuable insights into the essential preparations and mindset required for startups considering M&A, based on real-world examples.
With an average satisfaction rating of 4.2 out of 5, the event successfully facilitated numerous one-on-one consultations between participants and experts. Several meaningful connections were formed, making it a highly impactful opportunity.
<1st Expert Matching Event Banner>
Moving forward, we will continue to promote the adoption and acceleration of startup M&A through the "STARTUP M&A Circulation" program.
If you resonate with our mission and are interested in speaking at or participating in our events, please feel free to reach out to us!
SU Support Info
・Applications not available at this time
