Shota Miura | Sales Executive

After working in the Rakuten Pay Department at Rakuten and as a Business Development Manager at Pace Enterprise Japan, joined Smartpay in May 2023.

Worked at a Singapore-based BNPL company. The decisive factor for joining Smartpay was the presence of its headquarters in Japan.

——Please tell us about your career before joining Smartpay.

Shota Miura (hereafter "Miura") joined Smartpay in May 2023, and has been with the company for 2 months (as of this July 2023 interview). After working in the mobile payment sales at Rakuten Pay, he gained experience at a Singapore-headquartered BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later) company, and joined Smartpay as a Sales Executive when that company withdrew from Japan.

——Why did you decide to join Smartpay?

Miura　The first reason was that the work was similar to what I had experienced, making it easier to keep up. Also, having their headquarters in Japan was a major deciding factor. I believe that the location of the headquarters is important for acquiring users. In my previous job, I struggled quite a bit since my previous job was a Singapore-based service. I wanted to work for a company headquartered in Japan in order to change the conventional thinking around finance in Japan.

Carefully proposes how to create values through BNPL based on individual customer’s issue

——Please explain your job responsibilities as a Sales Executive.

Miura　My role is to communicate the values of Smartpay to merchants and promote their adoption. Another team sets up appointments with potential merchants, and I normally give web presentations to them. For the customers I met with, I continue follow-up works by checking whether they're ready to adopt our service or what issues they have.

——I see that interacting with customers is your main focus. What do you particularly keep in your mind in your daily operations?

Miura　Within Smartpay, only the sales team including myself can interact with prospective merchants. In other words, we are the first Smartpay representatives they meet. I strive to conduct thorough consultations with them to grasp what they are looking for and support them throughout their journey.

——What is something you keep in your mind to understand your customers' feelings?

Miura　I make a conscious effort to research potential merchants thoroughly beforehand to help them become more open-minded. This is what I learned from our team members after joining the company. While I naturally look into their IR and latest news, I sometimes check the Twitter account of the person in charge as well. I believe it's best to start business meetings with lively small talk based on various pieces of information.

——What aspects of your responsibilities do you find challenging?

Miura　The main challenge is that BNPL hasn't really penetrated the market yet and is still an emerging service. I often find that customers either don't know about it at all, or they're skeptical about its potential. But looking at it another way, this means there's huge potential for growth. The big challenge at this phase is how to explain BNPL and deepen their understanding of it.

Chose Smartpay, which is headquartered in Japan, as his next company, hoping to transform conventional Japanese finance.

Environment where you can grow while learning with experienced team members

——Please tell me about Smartpay's company culture.

Miura　While we are a startup, we have many experienced members who are self-reliant and independent. I think people have a common image of startups where work is carried out in a casual, club-like atmosphere. At Smartpay, we don't have that aspect - instead, all our members steadily and diligently fulfill each responsibilities. The age demographic isn't too young either, and I feel we have a culture where people can help each other based on their rich expertise.

——Could you tell me what aspects make you feel proud to be a part of Smartpay?

Miura　All our members are seriously committed to spreading the BNPL culture, I believe that in the near future, we can change the conventional common sense for shopping. Working in an organization at this phase is absolutely fascinating and beneficial. I feel very proud to be in an environment where I can learn and grow.

——I think those considering joining Smartpay are also highly interested in opportunities for personal growth. Could you tell us a bit more about this?

Miura　Yes. First of all, we are given great discretion. While I think this is true for other startups as well, on the flip side, being a startup means we often face situations where we're not quite sure what the best course of action is.

In contrast, our Managing Director and Chief Revenue Officer, Naoya Otsubo, has experience in launching various startups. He has extensive knowledge about what needs to be done at each phase. All other members also have diverse experiences. I believe what sets Smartpay apart from other startups is that you can grow while receiving proper guidance from experienced professionals.

I think working at a company with solid backing, where you can confidently and aggressively pursue opportunities, could be a great chance for growth.

In his private life, he is a father of one child. In his pleasant work environment, he can center around remote work. His daily routine includes going for a morning walk before starting work.　

Contribution to widespread of BNPL leads to enriching people's lives

——Given that one of Smartpay's missions is "achieving financial well-being," in what ways do you feel you are contributing to this?

Miura　Shopping is so much fun, isn't it? I think 80% of that enjoyment comes from carefully considering different items before making a purchase. However, money can sometimes get in the way. Being able to buy what you want through buy-now-pay-later or installment payments truly leads to enriching consumers' lives. As someone in a position to promote BNPL adoption, I believe I am contributing to helping consumers achieve a more fulfilling lifestyle.

——What about the merchants who are currently using Smartpay?

Miura　From the merchant's perspective, I believe Smartpay supports them to compete on their products, meaning that customers who are fans of their products will increase without having to resort to discounts or sales. I was also in the BNPL industry in my previous job, and based on the knowledge I gained during that time, I would like to think together with merchants and implement how we can achieve better methods.

Expand our business from 1 to 100 with our own knowledge and ideas

——What benefits will new members gain from joining Smartpay?

Miura　Currently, Smartpay is not at a stage of starting completely from zero to one, but rather at a phase where we can expand the service that's approaching one into a hundred using our own knowledge and ideas. Therefore, I believe we can continue to build our careers by expanding the business.

——Would it be better to have BNPL experience like you, or at least some experience in finance?

Miura　I don't think financial knowledge is an absolute requirement. In fact, we have members who don't have a financial background. More importantly, I believe what matters is your vision of what you want to accomplish by joining Smartpay, why you want to join a company at this phase, how you can contribute, and your own perspective on BNPL.

——It's really interesting that you can take on this challenge even without financial knowledge.

Miura　Smartpay is a company that's trying to do new things. For example, even when a conventional financial company judges "it's difficult to achieve," we come up with a new idea and think "what if we try it in this way" to solve issues. I believe people who are joining us would have such expectations for the company.

——Finally, could you share some advice for those who are interested in applying to Smartpay?

Miura　While Smartpay is a startup, it's a company with a mature culture and many experienced members. For those who want to venture into startups but lack confidence, Smartpay is an excellent organization at a great phase. On top of it, you can also take on new challenges. I believe you can "get the best of the both aspects" for your career. Why don't you take on the wonderful challenge?

A T-shirt he bought recently using Smartpay. "Since it was expensive for a T-shirt, I used Smartpay's installment payment option. The quick-drying material makes it perfect for my morning walks" (Miura)