#Japan #Tokyo #strike #For Startups #Startup M&A

For Startups and Strike Establish New M&A Support Initiative

For Startups Corporation, headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo and led by CEO Yuichiro Shimizu, has announced the launch of a new M&A support business aimed at startups in collaboration with Strike Corporation, located in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo and headed by CEO Kunihiko Arai. This initiative follows a capital participation in February 2024 and a deepened capital and business partnership in April 2024.

Expanding M&A Options for Startups

As the domestic startup market continues to grow, the importance of M&A as a key strategy is being spotlighted, especially in startups where the value of products, technologies, and talents is highly recognized. With changes to the listing maintenance criteria of the Tokyo Stock Exchange's Growth Market, it's expected that M&A activity related to startups will increase.

For Startups has been building a network in the startup ecosystem through its human capital initiatives and the management of the "STARTUP DB," a database that promotes open innovation. On the other hand, Strike has established itself as a leading company in M&A brokerage, particularly focused on small and medium-sized enterprises, with a solid track record and expertise.

By collaborating with Strike, For Startups aims to create a new support framework that takes into account the dynamics unique to startups, thereby enabling assistance from the early stages of growth strategies with an eye towards exit strategies.

Details of the Collaboration and Support Flow

The partnership has laid out a clear framework for cooperation as follows:

• - For Startups: Leverage its network of startups, venture capitals, and entrepreneurs to discover potential M&A candidates and provide information.
• - Strike: Act as the M&A intermediary, offering support throughout the matching process, terms design, and closing transactions.

Statements from Company Leaders

Yuichiro Shimizu, CEO of For Startups: "For startups, an exit is not an end goal but the beginning of a new challenge. It's essential to create an environment where M&A becomes a standard option, allowing entrepreneurs and investors to strategize more flexibly. Through our collaboration with Strike, we aim to significantly enhance the feasibility of this initiative."

Kunihiko Arai, CEO of Strike: "Since establishing our Innovation Support Office in October 2021, we have focused on facilitating collaboration between startups and businesses, especially in terms of M&A as an exit strategy. Our partnership with For Startups will fuse our knowledge of supporting startups to build a more flexible and multifaceted support framework. This initiative aims to accelerate the growth of startups and support the establishment of sustainable business models."

Additional Information

For more details on their collaboration, refer to the follow-up releases: Capital Participation Disclosure and Capital Business Alliance Press Release.

Company Profiles

Strike Corporation

• - CEO: Kunihiko Arai
• - Established: July 1997
• - Business: M&A brokerage
• - Securities Code: 6196 (Listed on Tokyo Prime Market)
• - Location: 15F Mitsui Bussan Building, Otemachi 1-2-1, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
• - Website: Strike

For Startups Corporation

• - CEO: Yuichiro Shimizu
• - Established: September 1, 2016
• - Business: Support for growth industries
• - Securities Code: 7089 (Listed on Tokyo Growth Market)
• - Location: 31F Azabudai Hills, 1-3-1 Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo
• - Website: For Startups

For Startups continues to build a "growth industry support platform" that assists startups and challengers through various services, focusing on human capital support, database operation, community building, funding assistance, and exit support.