The Japan Go IPO Summit provides a comprehensive overview of everything the audience needs to know about going public in the U.S., including:

• What stage of companies and sectors are suitable for listing in the U.S.?
  U.S. investors reward a clear growth story, a large addressable market and a credible path to profitability. Technology, deep tech, life sciences and consumer brands with global customers tend to resonate most. Scale matters: Nasdaq’s listing standards and investors’ liquidity needs favor companies that can raise a meaningful offering.

• What are the advantages and challenges of a U.S. listing compared to a domestic listing on TSE?
  A U.S. listing offers access to the world’s deepest pool of growth and technology investors, valuation benchmarks that are often higher, a global brand and a liquid acquisition currency. The trade-offs are higher listing and compliance costs, SEC reporting and liability, and the work of building a following among U.S. investors.

• What role do late-stage growth and crossover investors play in validating and scaling your business?
  Crossover and late-stage growth funds invest before the IPO and often anchor the offering. Their participation signals quality to other institutions, helps set valuation and gives underwriters confidence to launch.

• What are the options for providing early investors and the team with liquidity before an IPO?
  Options include secondary sales to new private investors, structured tender offers and a secondary component within the IPO itself. Each needs planning around tax, lock-ups and how the market will read insider selling.

• How should you prepare to attract a high-quality investment banker?
  Bankers look for audit-ready financials from a PCAOB-registered auditor, a clear equity story, a credible management team and realistic valuation expectations. Start the dialogue 12 to 24 months before a listing and run a structured selection process.

• How can you select and deal with key professionals, including legal counsel and auditors?
  Choose U.S. securities counsel and a PCAOB-registered auditor with recent cross-border IPO experience. Ask for comparable transactions, the actual team that will staff your deal and a fee estimate. These advisors shape your timeline more than any other choice.

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of a SPAC merger versus a traditional IPO?
  A SPAC merger offers a negotiated valuation and can move faster, but often brings high redemptions, sponsor dilution and weaker aftermarket trading. A traditional IPO is priced by the market and generally carries more credibility with institutions, but its timing depends on market windows.

• What strategies are available after the IPO to raise additional growth capital, including shelf offerings, ATMs, and PIPEs?
  Public companies can raise capital through shelf registrations, at-the-market (ATM) programs, follow-on offerings, registered direct offerings and PIPEs. Shelf eligibility generally requires 12 months of timely SEC reporting, so plan the post-IPO financing path early.

• How do public companies use their equity for M&A?
  Listed shares are an acquisition currency. Public companies can pay with stock, alone or with cash, at a transparent market value, and retain acquired teams with equity awards.

• How can you develop institutional sponsorship and liquidity through IR, research coverage, and non-deal roadshows?
  Liquidity and valuation depend on sustained investor attention. That means consistent earnings communication, research coverage from underwriters and independent analysts, non-deal roadshows and investor conferences.