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STATION Ai and Persol Career Unveil Sales Engine Program Results

In a significant stride for startups, STATION Ai Corporation and Persol Career Co., Ltd. have published the outcomes of the first phase of their innovative Sales Engine Program, aimed at supporting early-stage startups in enhancing their sales strategies. This program, running over about four months from November 25, 2025, gathered six promising startups located within STATION Ai, one of Japan’s largest open innovation hubs, to refine their sales approaches.

The inaugural phase saw remarkable success, with participating startups achieving improved lead generation and conversion rates while also forming partnerships and building robust sales systems. Such advances illustrate the immense potential of this initiative. Building on the successes of the first phase, the second phase is set to commence on July 1, 2026, expanding its capacity to accommodate ten startups.

As part of the second phase, the program will not only continue to bolster sales strategies and execution but will also foster connections between startups and large corporations as well as business developers. This broadened focus aims to create deeper engagement opportunities that enhance sales and collaborative alliances.

Overview of the Sales Engine Program

The Sales Engine Program, designed specifically for Series A or pre-Series A startups, offers tailored support covering everything from defining sales strategies to developing customer engagement tactics over a four-month period. During the first phase, the program effectively combined Persol Career's expertise in providing professional personnel support through their service, HiPro, with STATION Ai's extensive network that includes startups, large enterprises, venture capitalists, and support organizations. STATION Ai played a crucial role in identifying participant challenges, facilitating connections, and enhancing the overall program framework alongside HiPro.

For each startup, the program crafted individualized solutions to their sales challenges, assisting with strategy formulation, proposal enhancement, and sales process visibility. This nuanced approach not only addressed the unique requirements of each startup but also laid a strong foundation for lasting growth.

Key Findings from the First Phase

An analysis of the six participating startups revealed several common sales challenges faced by early-stage companies. Notably, there was a trend of sales activities being overly reliant on founders or key representatives. Issues such as inadequate CRM systems, poor deal management, undeveloped outbound strategies, and insufficiently crafted proposal materials were frequently encountered.

Particularly in technology-driven startups, a mindset emerged where sales were thought to require an understanding of intricate technicalities, hindering the use of external sales personnel and cementing an insular approach to sales processes.

The Sales Engine Program tackled these issues by embedding top sales personnel within participating companies to support visible sales processes, enhance deal management, execute outbound strategies, and refine sales documentation. By addressing the specific business phases and challenges faced by each startup, the program helped set realistic expectations and nurtured successful outcomes throughout the duration.

Success Stories from the First Phase

Case Study 1: CROSLAN Inc.

CROSLAN, which automates and streamlines the acceptance and management of skilled foreign workers through their SaaS platform, SMILEVISA, found itself struggling initially with enterprise sales methodologies and approaches. After participating in the program, CROSLAN significantly clarified its sales strategy and standardized its sales process. By December 2025, they successfully closed ten deals in one month, doubling their negotiations and increasing their conversion rate by over ten percent.

Case Study 2: itowa Inc.

Focusing on a digital platform for funeral services, itowa previously relied mainly on inbound sales driven by exhibitions and web inquiries. With assistance from the program, they developed outbound sales strategies and established essential business alliances. This culminated in a partnership with Net Protections to enhance industry-wide efficiencies.

Case Study 3: Friend Microbe, Inc.

Operating in the contract research and oil decomposition sectors, Friend Microbe also capitalized on the program to overcome barriers related to sales knowledge and strategy formulation. They successfully structured their sales processes through support from the program, which led to new collaborations created during co-creation events.

Looking Ahead: The Second Phase

Building on the foundation laid by the initial phase, the second iteration of the Sales Engine Program will kick off in July 2026. The expanded program aims to cater to ten early-phase companies, continuing its focus on individual challenge assessments, sales strategy development, and execution support while enhancing events to promote collaborations with large corporations, venture capitalists, and business development stakeholders.

The ongoing commitment to comprehensively understanding and addressing the challenges faced by resident startups ensures that STATION Ai stands at the forefront of fostering innovation and growth in Japan's startup ecosystem. For more details, check out the official STATION Ai website.

Get Involved

For startups looking to elevate their business performance through the Sales Engine Program, application forms are available for interested parties. Don’t miss out on this chance to transform your sales capabilities and drive your business growth.

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