A former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. investment banker who advised Toshiba Corp. on the sale of its $18 billion memory-chip unit is now applying his dealmaking skills at a Japanese startup that's looking to go public.
Hidetoshi Uriu, who joined consulting matchmaker VisasQ Inc. as its chief financial officer in February, said the venture will consider an initial public offering "before too long." He declined to give the exact timing of any listing.
Tokyo-based VisasQ's business focuses on putting corporate clients in touch with its network of about 60,000 experts for interviews and advice. Formed in 2012, it has received about $3 million from investors including venture capital units of Mizuho Financial Group Inc. and Development Bank of Japan Inc.