Core Insights - The upcoming sales automation exhibitions in Japan in 2025 will serve as a significant platform for companies to showcase their products and technologies while facilitating rich networking opportunities among industry professionals [1][8]. Group 1: Exhibition Details - The first exhibition will take place from January 15 to 17, 2025, at the Osaka International Exhibition Center, featuring innovative companies and experts in the sales automation field [3]. - The second exhibition is scheduled for April 23 to 25, 2025, at the Tokyo Big Sight, focusing on the application of sales automation in digital transformation [3]. - The third exhibition will occur from May 28 to 30, 2025, at the Nagoya International Exhibition Center, emphasizing the optimization of internal processes through sales automation [4]. - The final exhibition will be held from October 22 to 24, 2025, at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba, summarizing the outcomes of previous exhibitions and discussing future trends and challenges in sales automation [4]. Group 2: Benefits of Participation - Participants will have access to various formats for information gathering, including booths, lectures, and forums, providing valuable insights into the latest sales techniques and management experiences [5]. - The successful hosting of these exhibitions is expected to further promote the adoption and application of sales automation technologies, helping companies stand out in a competitive landscape [5][8]. Group 3: Industry Impact - Sales automation is recognized as a rapidly evolving field that is attracting increasing attention from companies, with the exhibitions facilitating resource integration and overall industry advancement [4][8].

Core Insights - Clay, a sales automation startup, has completed a Series C funding round led by CapitalG, achieving a valuation of approximately $3 billion [2] - The company recently allowed employees to sell shares at a $1.5 billion valuation, facilitated by a secondary market transaction led by Sequoia Capital [2] - Clay's CEO, Kareem Amin, expressed intentions to conduct annual share buyback offers [3] Company Overview - Founded in 2017, Clay shifted its focus to leveraging AI for sales and marketing, which has accelerated its growth [3] - The platform assists users in discovering key data and automating go-to-market strategies, enabling sales personnel to find updated prospect lists and craft personalized outreach emails [3] - Clay's tools are utilized by thousands of companies, including major firms like OpenAI, HubSpot, and Canva, as well as over 100 small consulting agencies [3] Competitive Landscape - Clay primarily competes with sales tech platforms such as ZoomInfo, Lusha, and Apollo.io, while also facing challenges from emerging products like Unify and Common Room [3] - Existing investors in Clay include Meritech Capital, Boldstart Ventures, Maple VC, First Round Capital, and Box Group [3]