Brandon K. Hill is the CEO and Founder of btrax, a design agency based in San Francisco and Tokyo. He serves as an advisor to the City of San Francisco. He has spoken at global tech conferences such as Tech in Asia, Web Summit, and RISE Conference, and actively mentors startups through programs including METI's Next Innovator, J-StarX, and Startup Weekend.

John Hayato Branderhorst is Director of Operations at btrax, where he helps U.S. and Japanese companies navigate cross-border growth. A second-generation Japanese American raised between the U.S. and Okinawa, he brings lived cultural insight and strategic expertise to every project, from localization to market entry. He once launched a ramen business in San Francisco.

Salina Phon is a HR Operations Manager at btrax, where she champions employee experience, inclusive culture, and internal communications. With a background in communication studies and a passion for HR, she leads recruiting, onboarding, and culture-building initiatives for global design and marketing teams. She practices pilates and yoga regularly as part of her wellness routine.

Tamayo Suzumura is the General Manager of btrax Japan, where she leads cross-border strategy and operations. With a background in international consulting and business design, she helps global companies expand into Japan through culture-driven leadership, team development, and creative collaboration. Outside of work, she enjoys playing chamber music and regularly practices classical piano.

Ayaka Ishikawa is a UX designer who bridges user needs and business goals through research, prototyping, localization, and workshops. With a Master’s in Human-Computer Interaction from DePaul University and more than six years in SaaS sales, she brings both business acumen and user-centered design expertise to help companies create impactful products and services.

Mana Hashimoto is a bilingual Senior Business Development Consultant at btrax, based in San Francisco. With roots in Japan and Canada, she specializes in cross-cultural brand strategy, market entry support, and storytelling that connects global audiences through design, research, and marketing. Before joining btrax, she worked as a Management Consultant in Tokyo.

Mari Kimata is a Tokyo-based UX researcher at btrax, specializing in cross-cultural user insights between Japan and global markets. With a background in art and design, she uncovers deep user needs to help brands localize experiences through thoughtful research, interviews, and cultural analysis. She has a background in photography and often explores Tokyo with a camera in hand.

As a Business Producer at btrax with experience in consulting and IT ventures, Mitsutaka "Mitchy" Kaneko helps large Japanese companies adopt design thinking to drive innovation and business transformation. He holds an MBA from Bond University and completed the Stanford LEAD Executive Education program in leadership and strategy. He is also an accomplished musician playing the Clarinet.

Mizuho Maeda is a Service Designer at btrax, specializing in user-centered new business development. In 2020, she was selected as one of 20 finalists in an entrepreneurship program by METI and JETRO, which led to her proposal being implemented within a major Japanese company. She now works with corporate clients on new business initiatives and design thinking workshops. An avid traveler, she has visited over 30 countries.

Ryuichi Sakurai is a San Francisco-based marketer at btrax. With roots in Japan and Singapore, he supports global brands with cross-cultural marketing, project management, and brand localization. He specializes in helping international teams align strategy and execution across markets. He studied business at the University of Washington and previously worked in the insurance industry in Tokyo.