Scaling into a new international market is challenging. You may have achieved product–market fit at home. Your technology works. Customers are buying. But crossing borders is about far more than translating your website or setting up a local legal entity.

Regulations change, customer behavior shifts, corporate decision-making follows unfamiliar logic... And suddenly, even getting a first meeting becomes difficult.

Whether you are entering the fragmented landscape of Asia, the relationship-driven economies of Latin America, or the hyper-competitive ecosystem of the United States, the friction points are remarkably similar:

Trust. Culture. Speed.

This is where mentors make the difference.

Not advisors with theoretical frameworks - but people who have built companies, scaled across borders, led corporate innovation, shaped ecosystems, and know how to navigate the messy middle between “we’re interested” and real traction.

Their mission is simple: Help founders reach true market fit faster - with clarity, access, and local insight you cannot Google.

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Why Mentors Matter and Who Are They?

Every region has its own unwritten rules.

What works in Berlin may stall in Singapore. A strategy that scales in Houston may fall flat in Tokyo or São Paulo.

Mentors understand these dynamics deeply because they have lived, worked, advised, and built in these markets for decades. They know where founders lose time, where misunderstandings happen, and how momentum quietly dies... or accelerates.

Most importantly, however, our startups don’t just hear these insights in group sessions. Founders receive personalized, one-on-one time with mentors who focus specifically on their product, their customers, and their go-to-market challenges. This private, tailored guidance is what turns abstract advice into actionable strategy.

Here are a few mentors and the expertise they bring to startups expanding globally.

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‍‍The Cultural Translator: Yoshiyuki Ogura

"I recommend you to put somebody in between at the entrance of the discussion with Japanese companies. Somebody who has the deep experience of the business in both Germany and Japan. It saves time and gets results."

Yoshiyuki supports startups by acting as a cultural and commercial bridge. He helps founders structure early conversations, manage expectations, and avoid misalignment by translating both intent and context between Western teams and Japanese corporates

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The Corporate Insider: Jaemin Ryu

"I worked for a company called Samsung Ware Street, which is part of Samsung Group's. Back in the days, Samsung made a decision to work with accelerators who actually have specialties. So we leveraged this network to connect with the startups who can collaborate, build a mutually beneficial relationship."

Jaemin helps startups position their solutions in a way that resonates with Korean corporates and institutions. Drawing on his corporate strategy background, he supports founders in shaping proposals that align with real business challenges and decision-making criteria.

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The Market Navigator: Sian

"I have firsthand experience growing businesses overseas and I fully appreciate all the difficulties companies would have expanding into a foreign market with foreign rules and foreign cultures. Every single country will have its laws, its unique market preferences, market behaviors. Have an open mind, realize that not everything is going to follow Western ways of doing things."

Xian supports startups in navigating Southeast Asia market by market. He helps founders adapt products, pricing, and go-to-market strategies to local conditions, reducing friction and accelerating early traction across the region.

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The Risk Mitigator: Alex Odejima

"In Japan, safety matters much more than innovation."

Alex helps startups translate their value proposition into what Japanese customers and partners actually expect: proof, reliability, and risk mitigation. His guidance supports founders in preparing market entry strategies that meet regulatory, corporate, and customer standards from day one.

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The Legal & Trust Expert: Moritz Winkler

"I’d like to emphasize not to put too much emphasis on contracts and written agreements from the outset. I'm very much in favor of encouraging trust and trust is something you gain by having personal meetings, good communication, and later you can put them into a contract."

Moritz guides startups on how to build trust with Korean partners before formalizing agreements. He supports founders in structuring meetings, communication, and relationship-building to create momentum without creating distance.

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Your Global Growth Starts Here

Wherever your next chapter is, German Accelerator gives you the clarity, connections, and confidence to scale globally.

Your innovation deserves a global stage and the right guidance to reach it.