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From Zero to 80+ Countries — Helping SMEs Expand Internationally

From Zero to 80+ Countries
Helping SMEs Expand Internationally

Practical, real-world guidance from 20+ years building overseas sales, teams, and subsidiaries across Europe, North America, and Asia — from scratch.

✔ 80+ countries ✔ Europe, US & Asia bases ✔ Trade shows worldwide

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(Free newsletter — real experience, no theory)

Thinking About Expanding Overseas — But Feeling Stuck?

Many small and mid-sized companies want to grow internationally, but:

  • Not sure which country to start with
  • Hiring local staff overseas feels risky and unclear
  • Consultants offer theory, not execution
  • Trade shows are expensive with uncertain results
  • One wrong move overseas can cost years and serious money

International expansion shouldn’t be guesswork.

Who I Am

My name is Akira. I worked for over 20 years as an international sales manager at a regional food manufacturer in Japan.

When I joined the company, it had almost zero overseas presence. My very first task was building an English website.

From there, I was responsible for building the company’s global business from the ground up — sales channels, local hiring, training, subsidiaries, and international trade shows.

Over time, we expanded exports to more than 80 countries and established regional bases in Europe (Netherlands), North America (Texas), and Southeast Asia (Singapore).

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What I Help Companies With

I help small to mid-sized enterprises expand internationally in a practical, realistic, and sustainable way.

  • Market selection — choosing the right country to start
  • Local hiring and team building
  • Setting up overseas subsidiaries
  • Export and distributor strategy
  • International trade show planning and execution

No buzzwords. No theory-only consulting. Only what has been proven in real-world execution.

Working Directly With Companies

I currently work directly with a small number of companies that are serious about expanding internationally.

This typically includes:

  • Market entry strategy
  • Overseas hiring and team setup
  • Subsidiary and regional base planning
  • Execution support during critical phases

For most companies, the newsletter is the best place to start. When it makes sense, direct collaboration can follow naturally.

© Akira — Practical Global Expansion for SMEs