HiJoJo Partners Inc. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Co-CEOs: Spyridon Mentzas and Norifumi Akiyama; hereinafter "HJJ") is pleased to announce that, on July 10, 2026, it entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (the "MOU") with STJ Advisors Group Limited (Head Office: London, United Kingdom; hereinafter "STJ"), a leading independent advisory businesses in the capital markets, regarding a strategic partnership in the private equity business, including IPO consulting.
Going forward, based on the MOU, the two companies will hold discussions on specific areas of collaboration aimed at expanding services for companies considering an IPO (initial public offering), existing investors in such companies, and investors newly participating through the IPO. The MOU establishes a framework for discussions between the two companies regarding future collaboration, and separate individual agreements will be concluded as necessary for the implementation of each collaborative initiative.
HJJ is an independent asset management company that primarily organizes and distributes private equity funds in Japan, and is engaged in providing investment opportunities in startups both in Japan and overseas, as well as supporting companies and investors aiming for an IPO. HJJ has provided a range of support aimed at deepening the understanding of capital markets among stakeholders across the private and public equity ecosystem, including private and listed companies as well as government bodies.
Since its establishment in 2008, STJ has provided advisory services on more than 1,200 IPOs and other equity offerings, led by professionals who previously headed ECM and investment banking divisions at multiple global investment banks. In Japan, since establishing its local subsidiary in 2014, STJ has been involved in 18 IPO transactions totaling approximately JPY 800 billion.
Leveraging their respective networks and expertise, the two companies will continue discussions under the MOU with the aim of providing better options for companies considering an IPO, existing shareholders, new investors and relevant stakeholders.
Since its establishment, STJ Advisors has served as an independent advisory firm aligned with the interests of both issuers and investors, advising on numerous IPOs and equity offerings across the world's capital markets. We are honored to partner with HiJoJo Partners, who have built a distinctive investor network and a proven track record within Japan's startup ecosystem. Through this partnership, we are committed to providing the most suitable options to companies pursuing an IPO, their existing shareholders, and those who will become new investors, delivered through high-quality advisory services grounded in our global expertise. We sincerely hope that this collaboration will contribute to the further development of Japan's capital markets.
HiJoJo Partners, as an independent asset management firm, has invested in unicorn companies, primarily in the United States, providing rare investment opportunities to investors in Japan. Guided by our purpose — "Unlocking Investment, Transforming Markets, Empowering Japan" — we have expanded beyond asset management to also provide consulting services to private companies, institutional investors, and listed companies. As part of this expansion, we are delighted to announce this partnership with STJ Advisors Group, which has a strong presence in both the global and Japanese IPO markets. The company has a proven track record of providing professional advisory services to leading companies in Japan and around the world, as well as their existing shareholders. Through this partnership, we will work together to address the challenges facing Japan's markets, contributing to their development and their connection with global markets. We believe this will also allow us to offer optimal options to companies and investors both in Japan and internationally, supporting the continued growth of the capital markets.
Company Name: STJ Advisors Group Limited
Founded: 2008
Head Office: London, United Kingdom (Eagle House, 108-110 Jermyn Street)
Business: Advisory services in Equity Capital Markets (ECM)
Executives: John St. John (UK), Shingo Matsuda (Japan)
Locations: London, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, Madrid, Stockholm, Helsinki, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, New York
For more information, please visit: www.stjadvisors.com
HJJ is an independent Japanese asset management company founded in 2017 by Spyridon Mentzas. Since its founding, HJJ has distributed funds to Japanese investors through both offline and online channels, investing in mid-to-late-stage companies with cumulative sales exceeding ¥60 billion (as of June 30, 2026). HJJ's shareholders include major Japanese financial institution groups such as Credit Saison, Mizuho Securities, SBI Group, Finatext Holdings, MUFG Innovation Partners, Okasan Securities Group, Japan Investment Adviser, Monex Group Pegasus Tech Ventures, i-nest capital, and SMBC Venture Capital.
Company Name: HiJoJo Partners Inc.
Registration Number: Kanto Local Finance Bureau No. 3065
Registration of Financial Instruments and Exchange Operations: Type II Financial Instruments Business, Investment Management Business, Investment Advisory and Agency Business
Association Membership: Type II Financial Instruments Firms Association Japan, Investment Management Association of Japan
For more information, please visit: https://www.hijojo-partners.com/en
STJ Advisors Group Ltd
Shingo Matsuda, Japan Representative
Mail: sma@stjadvisors.com
HiJoJo Partners Inc.
Yoichi Morimoto, Executive Officer
Mail: business_development@hijojo.com
This document has been prepared by HiJoJo Partners Inc. (the "Company") solely for the purpose of providing general information. It does not constitute a solicitation to acquire any securities, nor is it intended as investment advice by the Company. The Company makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any data or opinions contained herein. The contents of this document are subject to change without prior notice. The copyright of this document belongs to the Company, and any citation or reproduction of it, for any purpose, without authorization is prohibited. For inquiries regarding this document, please contact the Company's representative.