JMEC

What JMEC does

JMEC (Japan Market Expansion Competition) is a Tokyo-based non-profit business training program founded in 1993 that operates a single annual 7-month cohort in which mid-career professionals write actual business plans for companies seeking to enter or expand in the Japanese market. The program is structured in two phases: a Saturday lecture series covering business fundamentals (market research, finance, accounting, distribution, project management, advertising, presentation skills, and Japanese business culture) followed by a hands-on phase in which teams of 5–6 participants develop a complete business plan for an assigned project client. Each cohort comprises 50–65 participants (average age 33–34, balanced 50/50 between Japanese and foreign nationals, with 14–24 nationalities per cycle) drawn from the membership of 18 supporting foreign chambers of commerce in Japan. JMEC has trained over 1,450 professionals and delivered 298 business plans over its 29-year operating history, and is internationally accredited by Pearson PLC under the Pearson Assured certification.

Name

JMEC

Legal name

Japan Market Expansion Competition

Website

https://jmec.gr.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

JMEC is a Tokyo-based non-profit running a 7-month annual business training program since 1993, where international mid-career professionals write business plans for companies entering or expanding in Japan, supported by 18 foreign chambers of commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Training and Professional Education

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDABAHAI

Product Operations & Lifecycle Management (Launch, GTM, Sunset)

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Project, Program & Product Management Training

SECONDARYEDABAHAE

Delivery & Execution (Planning, Estimation, Tracking)

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Project, Program & Product Management Training

SECONDARYEDABAHAC

Product Management (Core)

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Project, Program & Product Management Training

Keywords

• Business training program
• Market entry consulting
• Business plan writing
• Professional development Japan
• Foreign business expansion

Headquarters

HQ city

Shibuya

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Participant Program Fees: Individual participants pay a fee to join the JMEC program. Standard fee is JPY 150,000 for the 7-month program; early bird rate of JPY 125,000 for applications submitted before September 30.
2. Project Client Business Plans: Companies seeking market entry or expansion in Japan pay for a team of 5-6 professionals to develop a comprehensive business plan. Standard fee JPY 1,500,000; early bird discounted rate JPY 1,200,000 for applications and payment by September 30.
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors provide cash donations or product donations at various tiers: Platinum (¥1,000,000 cash or ¥1,500,000 product), Gold (¥500,000 cash or ¥750,000 product), Silver (¥250,000 cash or ¥375,000 product), Bronze (¥100,000 cash or ¥150,000 product), and Patron (¥50,000 cash).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

JMEC delivers a 7-month business training program in Tokyo in which 50-65 mid-career professionals per cohort attend Saturday lectures on market research, finance, distribution, and Japanese business practices, then form teams of 5-6 to write and present a complete business plan for a company seeking to enter or expand in the Japanese market. Project client companies receive ready-to-implement business plans covering strategy, marketing, sales, finance, HR, and legal issues, while participants earn a Pearson Assured certified JMEC certificate. The program is supported by 18 foreign chambers of commerce and operates as a non-profit competition culminating in judged awards.

Product overview

JMEC (Japan Market Expansion Competition) is a non-profit business training program offering a single unified product: a competitive business plan writing program centered on the Japan market. The program operates in two phases—a classroom lecture series covering business fundamentals, market research, and Japanese business practices, followed by a hands-on phase where participants form teams to develop business plans for real companies. Revenue comes from participant fees (JPY 150,000 for the 7-month program) and project client fees (JPY 1,500,000 per business plan). The program is entirely in English and is supported by 18 foreign chambers of commerce in Japan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• JMEC Business Training Program A 7-month business training program centered on a Japan market expansion competition, where 50-65 mid-career participants attend Saturday lectures on business fundamentals and Japanese market entry, then form teams of 5-6 to write and present a complete business plan for an assigned company seeking to enter or expand in the Japanese market. The program is delivered entirely in English in Tokyo and awards a Pearson Assured certified JMEC certificate upon completion.
• JMEC Business Plans (Project Client Service) Professional-quality business plans produced by participant teams for project client companies seeking to enter or expand in the Japanese market. Each plan covers strategy, marketing, sales, finance, human resources, and legal issues and is delivered as a ready-to-implement document. Standard fee is JPY 1,500,000 (JPY 1,200,000 early bird).
• Corporate Sponsorship Program Tiered corporate sponsorship offering (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Patron) providing brand visibility on JMEC materials and website, employee participation slots (1-3 based on tier), complimentary Awards Ceremony invitations (1-4 based on tier), and access to the JMEC graduate talent pool. Cash or in-kind (product) contributions accepted at each tier.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,450 professionals trained over 29 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993ACCJ is one of the 18 foreign chambers of commerce supporting JMEC since its founding in 1993. ACCJ promotes the program to members and provides venue support for events including the annual Awards Ceremony held at Tokyo American Club.
• Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ANZCCJ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993ANZCCJ initiated JMEC in 1993 based on the New South Wales Enterprise Workshop. As the founding chamber, ANZCCJ maintains a central role in program governance and continues as a core supporting organization.
• British Chamber of Commerce in Japan (BCCJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCCJ is one of the 18 supporting chambers of commerce, promoting JMEC to British companies and professionals in Japan.
• Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan (CCCJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCCJ has supported JMEC for over 20 years. The chamber publishes articles about JMEC in its magazine The Canadian and promotes the program to members.
• German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan (AHK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAHK is one of the 18 supporting chambers, promoting JMEC to German companies and professionals in Japan.
• EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation (EUJC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUJC sponsors JMEC projects under their Keys to Japan program, supporting European SMEs with advanced technologies seeking Japan market entry.
• Delta Air Lines Inc.majorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor providing flight tickets to Europe as prizes for first-place winning teams. Provides travel benefits that enhance the appeal of JMEC competition prizes.
• HP (Hewlett-Packard)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor providing HP computers as prizes for winning teams. HP Enterprise is also a separate Platinum sponsor. Enhances program credibility and prize value.
• PearsonmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor and international accreditation provider. As the world's largest learning company, Pearson provides certification and quality assurance for the JMEC program.
• JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor. JETRO supports foreign companies entering the Japanese market and promotes JMEC as part of its ecosystem of services for international businesses.
• Dale Carnegie TrainingmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor providing professional development expertise and resources to JMEC participants.
• Custom MediamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor and media partner producing content about JMEC, including press releases and coverage in chamber publications.
• Tokyo American ClubmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor providing venue for the annual Awards Ceremony. Also offers member benefits for JMEC participants and winners.
• FinnairminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides flight tickets to Europe as prizes for winning teams in JMEC competitions.
• BREEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman brand that provides stylish travel bags and satchels as prizes for third-place winners.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Development Dimensions International (DDI): Global leadership and talent development firm offering subscription-based training, assessment, and executive education programs. Comparable to JMEC in serving mid-career professionals and corporate clients with structured development programs.
• FranklinCovey Japan: Global leadership and professional development training provider with significant Japan operations serving corporate and individual learners. Comparable in delivering structured, cohort-style executive education programs targeting mid-career professionals.
• Dale Carnegie Training Japan: Established executive and professional development training provider in Japan operating through licensed franchise model. JMEC and Dale Carnegie serve overlapping mid-career professional segments in Tokyo, and Dale Carnegie is also a JMEC Platinum sponsor, evidencing direct category overlap.
• EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation: Public-private initiative supporting EU SMEs entering Japan through training and cluster programs (e.g., 'Keys to Japan'), directly overlapping with JMEC's project-client mandate. JMEC and EUJC co-deliver projects, evidencing closely aligned mission.
• AOTS (Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships): Japan-based non-profit providing professional and technical training programs for international participants, with similar emphasis on Japan-context business education and human capital development. Directly comparable in mission, structure, and target audience to JMEC.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with significant executive education and leadership development offerings. Comparable to JMEC in addressing the professional development needs of senior managers and corporate clients, though at much larger scale.
• Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO): Government-affiliated organization supporting foreign companies' entry into Japan through consulting, market research, and incentive programs — a much larger, government-backed version of JMEC's project-client function. JETRO is also a JMEC Gold sponsor.
• Japan Management Association (JMA / Nihon Noritsu Kyokai): Long-established Japanese management training and certification body offering courses in business strategy, operations, and management. Operates at much broader scale than JMEC but serves directly overlapping professional-development audiences in Japan.

Others

• Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade Japan): Australian government trade promotion agency supporting Australian companies entering Japan, including through training and market-entry advisory programs. Directly comparable in enabling cross-border business development into Japan, although Austrade is government-funded and broader in scope.

Regional players

• Council for Better Corporate Citizenship (CBCC / Keidanren): Japan-based industry body running corporate training, CSR education, and professional development programs. Overlaps with JMEC's corporate-sponsor and participant ecosystems, though focused on larger Japanese-firm audiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutu.be/Hmy0AniqLQ0
• Xx.com/JMEC_BT
• Facebookfacebook.com/japanmarketexpansioncompetition.jmec

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about JMEC