TBWA\Hakuhodo's subsidiary \Quantum launches Japanese startup studio in San Francisco
\Quantum, which started as a division of TBWA\Hakuhodo, has opened its doors on the West Coast of America, taking the startup studio outside of Japan for the first time.
Yuta Inoue to take on global role for TBWA\Hakuhodo R&D agency \Quantum
The first overseas office also marks the launch of Quantum\Global, which will become the global subsidiary for the business. The new practices will be headed up by Inoue, who will now become president of the global business after leading \Quantum as a general manager since its launch.
TBWA\Hakuhodo launched \Quantum in 2014 to service both large businesses and startups with resource around innovation projects, effectively being an outsourced R&D arm for clients.
Despite the new office being the first time it's had a physical presence outside Japan, \Quantum was already working on projects on a more global basis. In 2016 the company partnered with Hardware Club, a hardware focused VC firm, to help global startups crack the Japanese market and vice versa.
“Since \Quantum’s establishment, we’ve supported businesses across North America, Europe and Asia, so now launching Quantum\Global in San Francisco will greatly enhance and grow these global service capabilities,” said Yuta Inoue.
“With over 305 TBWA offices across 98 countries to draw upon, along with Hakuhodo’s many diverse partnerships around the globe, we aim to optimize these resources, both to enhance our own network, but also to utilize them in creating bold, new, disruptive business opportunities for our clients in Japan and around the world,” he added.