Just yesterday, we returned from a very special trade mission for IT companies: Riga–Japan, organized with the support of the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) and Latvian IT Cluster / EDIH as part of #MissionLatvia. The flex.bi team joined the mission with three team members, alongside nine other Latvian companies representing both software development and specialized hardware sectors—such as Tiki-Taka PAY, InPass IoT, and Mobilly—to introduce technologies that have already proven themselves in Latvia and Europe to the Japanese market.
This wasn’t just a typical business visit. It was a thoughtfully planned entry into one of the world’s most complex yet innovative markets—where technology, tradition, and sustainable thinking meet.
🎯 SushiTech 2025, Tokyo (May 8–10) – A Tech Gateway to Asian
The central event of the mission was SushiTech 2025—one of the leading technology exhibitions in the Asia region. Thanks to LIAA, we had a joint booth concept, interpreter and consultant support in Japanese, and matchmaking sessions with potential business partners. The Latvian support team worked actively to attract Japanese companies and introduce them to us. Professional interpreters ensured smooth communication and helped overcome both language and cultural barriers.
💡 Observation 1: Japan loves animated characters and cuteness—it’s a direct path to the Japanese heart, even in business!
🍣 The Sushi CAFE Dashboard – Business Intelligence with a Local Twist
To connect with the Japanese audience, the flex.bi team presented a specially created Sushi CAFE dashboard – 寿司カフェ ダッシュボード 🍣 – to show how our platform can be localized and adapted to local needs. This approach was especially well received, as the Japanese market highly values attention to detail, personalization, and even a touch of humor—even in a seemingly serious topic like business intelligence.
We saw the same trend in other platforms’ marketing strategies—animation, storytelling, and charm go a long way.
The Sushi Cafe sales dashboard in Japanese🍣 – A real crowd-pleaser!
🤖 Technologies and their use in Japan
While Japanese toilets might come with 10+ buttons for a full-featured experience 🤔, conversations with locals gave us the impression that innovation is still strongest in the hardware sector. The software market, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses (our target audience), remains less open and slower to adopt new solutions.
☁️ Observation 2: Many Japanese SMEs are cautious when it comes to data handling. Phrases like “cloud-based data,” “accessible to everyone,” or “easy to share” are often met with concern.
This raises an important question—can Japan’s structured and cautious market align with our open, dynamic, and flexible development mindset? 🤔
🎤 Discover Latvia – Startup Pitch Kobe: Highlighting flex.bi’s Flexibility
In Kobe, we took part in the Startup Pitch event, where we had the opportunity to introduce the Japanese innovation and startup ecosystem to the flex.bi business intelligence platform.
In Japan, “startup” isn’t just about being new—it also applies to companies aiming to enter the Japanese market with fresh ideas.
Our pitch highlighted:
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Suitability for SMEs and fast implementation
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High scalability, international experience, and localization capabilities
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In-depth transparency and data-driven decision-making
💵 Observation 3: Japan is currently supporting the entry of tech companies into the market. There are various incentives for platforms that enable automation and digitalization—not just in big cities. Depending on the municipality, support of up to €300,000 is available for first-year expenses and market-entry consultants. A solid launchpad for newcomers!
🚀 Conclusion: #MissionLatvia with LIAA – A Valuable Launchpad for Global Growth
This wasn’t our first trade mission with LIAA, and once again we can confidently say—it was meaningful for flex.bi both in business terms and personally. These missions help us better understand the specifics of the Japanese market, evaluate our product’s global potential, and build confidence in our ability to compete internationally. We also get to meet and collaborate with like-minded Latvian companies.
A big thank you to LIAA for this opportunity and for helping raise the visibility of Latvian technology worldwide!
