#Japan #Hokkaido #Beyondge #Yohei Sato #Nagnuma Town

Yohei Sato Appointed as Local Startup Advisor for Nagnuma's Entrepreneurship Program

In a significant development for local entrepreneurial support, Yohei Sato, a consultant at Beyondge Inc., has been appointed as a local startup advisor for the Nagnuma Entrepreneurship Program in Hokkaido. Known for its focus on startup creation, development, and support for exit strategies, Beyondge Inc. aims to empower local entrepreneurs while leveraging Sato's extensive background in the field.

Since January 2025, Sato has served as an advisory figure for local governance and policy challenges in Nagnuma. His experience in new business consulting and as a CFO for university-based startups will play a crucial role in guiding students through the formulation and execution of business concepts starting in September 2026.

Background: Tackling Regional Challenges with “Tourism × AI × Local” Themes

The Nagnuma Entrepreneurship Program is designed to cultivate new business initiatives that utilize local resources to tackle regional issues. This year's program focuses on three primary categories: sports-related businesses, experiential tourism leveraging regional resources, and urban revitalization through new mobility solutions. By offering a combination of in-person training in Nagnuma and online lectures, the program spans a total of 12 sessions from September to December 2026.

A significant challenge often faced in rural areas is the gap between possessing great business ideas or resources and transforming them into viable, profitable enterprises. The program aims to bridge this gap by providing comprehensive support, regardless of the participants' prior entrepreneurial experiences or knowledge.

Significance of Sato's Appointment: A Comprehensive Advisor

With his background from major organizations like Yomiuri Shimbun, PwC, and EY, Yohei Sato has gained a wealth of experience tackling various business challenges—from strategic planning to execution. Currently, he focuses on new business consulting at Beyondge, where he develops business plans and strategies. His involvement in the Nagnuma program will address the challenges posed by financial viability and the implementation of business concepts in a real-world environment.

Understanding the local context while guiding students through their business strategies, Sato’s dual experience as an advisor and entrepreneur provides him with a unique perspective. As a pro bono advisor, Sato has been deeply immersed in understanding the needs and issues faced by the town since early 2025. He aims to assist every participant in their business concept formulation, financial planning, and fundraising efforts, ensuring their dreams do not remain merely theoretical.

Additionally, through Beyondge AI Industry Base, the company has developed industry-specific AI solutions in collaboration with large corporations and startups. Sato is excited to bring these insights into the program, which has a thematic focus on “Tourism × AI × Local.”

Sato's Vision for the Program

In his own words, Sato reflected on his eagerness to contribute:

“I have been involved with Nagnuma since 2025 as an advisor, and there are numerous outstanding resources and ideas in the region that are not yet fully realized. However, the path to implementing these ideas into sustainable and profitable businesses is fraught with challenges. My experience as a consultant and a CFO has granted me insights into the complexity of transforming concepts into realities. I am committed to working alongside participants to ensure their ideas do not remain mere dreams, but evolve into sustainable ventures.”

Advisor Profile: Yohei Sato

Yohei Sato (佐藤 洋平) is a seasoned consultant with a background featuring roles at products at Yomiuri Shimbun, PwC, and EY. He currently focuses on new business consulting at Beyondge, where he engages in diverse management issues ranging from business planning to income improvement. Additionally, he serves as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Chiba University, advocating for startup formations from academic research, and as CFO at TelaAxon, an AI venture derived from Kobe University. Sato has been serving as a pro bono advisor for policy challenges in Nagnuma Town since January 2025.

Overview of the Nagnuma Entrepreneurship Program

• - Organizer: Nagnuma Town Government (Policy Promotion Division)
• - Theme: Tourism × AI × Local
• - Format: Local training (within Nagnuma) + Online lectures / Total of 12 sessions (September to December 2026)
• - Content: Focus on three categories: i) Sports-related businesses, ii) Experiential tourism using local resources, iii) Urban revitalization and new mobility solutions. The program includes understanding regional challenges, exploring tourism resources, AI trends, business model construction, financial planning, fundraising, field research, mentorship, pitching, and presentation sessions.
• - Target Audience: Individuals interested in launching businesses using local resources, combining tourism, food, IT, and AI, or exploring living and entrepreneurship opportunities in Hokkaido.
• - Participation Fee: Free (transportation and meal costs are the participant's responsibility; accommodation will be provided free of charge)
• - Details: Nagnuma Entrepreneurship Program Info

Beyondge’s Commitment to Supporting Startups

Beyondge Inc. operates as an innovation studio combining five key areas: business, recruitment, investment, M&A, and technology, aiming to simultaneously support rapid growth for startups and transformation for large enterprises. Participation as an advisor in this program is part of Beyondge's broader commitment to accompanying startups and new businesses throughout their journey towards growth and successful exits.

Company Overview:

• - Name: Beyondge Inc. (ビヨンジ)
• - CEO: Takashi Nogami
• - Location: 1-1-3 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
• - Established: August 2022
• - Business: Startup creation, development, and growth hacking for large enterprises
• - Website: Beyondge Official Site