Share

Welcome to Connect!

Connect is a dedicated digital marketplace offering SMEs, entrepreneurs, independent businesses and other local companies in Japan much-needed free visibility and valuable promotion.

We’re in this together,
so let’s support each other!

We are living in unprecedented times. The coronavirus Covid-19 is a global pandemic and the full effects on business are still unknown. What we do know is that the coming downturn is going to hit small and independent businesses sooner and harder than large corporations. While we all know that supporting everyone is important, Custom Media, as an SME, wondered what we could do to help small and independent businesses out there.

That meant advertising and marketing—which is what we do best.

We came up with the idea of Connect, a dedicated digital platform offering SMEs, entrepreneurs, independent businesses and other local companies visibility and valuable promotion to audiences that they may not have been able to connect with previously to help all of us get through this uncharted crisis.

Connect is absolutely free to all SMEs, entrepreneurs and local businesses that join. All that we ask is for you to consider offering a promotional discount, special offer, gift, advice or other attraction to the B2C and B2B consumers that will visit the site. We hope that consumers will use this opportunity to try new products or services that they may not otherwise see. We would also ask for your feedback at any time on this shared marketplace as we go along so that we can continually improve it and to make sure that you are getting value out of your participation.

Get started

Custom Media is developing this shared marketplace at no cost or obligation to you. Our only goal is to help as many other SMEs to survive this human and economic crisis.

To pledge your offer or request more details, apply online.

Please share Connect with companies and individuals you think might benefit from promoting their offers or receiving these special offers.

Best wishes,
Robert Heldt
President and Co-founder

Read Other Articles

Cybersecurity Compliance for Foreign Firms Entering Japan

Entering Japan's market means navigating a patchwork of cybersecurity laws, from the far-reaching APPI to sector-specific ESPA requirements. Unlike the US or EU, Japan has no single overarching framework, making compliance both nuanced and critical. For foreign firms, getting it right isn't just a legal obligation. It's the foundation of trust in one of the world's most reputation-driven business environments.

Cybersecurity Compliance for Foreign Firms Entering Japan

Episode 11 – Japan’s Talent “Epidemic” (and How to Fix It), with Dr. David Sweet

Japan’s talent shortage is not a pipeline problem. It is, in David Sweet’s words, an epidemic and most foreign companies are making it worse by using the wrong tools and hiring for the wrong tasks.

Episode 11 – Japan’s Talent “Epidemic” (and How to Fix It), with Dr. David Sweet

The SaaS Source: April 2026

April 2026's Japan SaaS roundup covers a Series A for a satellite data platform backed by NTT Docomo and JR East, a scholarship management SaaS closing its Series B, a Niigata-based 3D decision-support platform raising its first-ever outside capital, and construction SaaS giant rolling out AI agents across its platform.

The SaaS Source: April 2026