Episode 79

full
Published on:

5th Oct 2026

Why Yamaha Agriculture Chose Kiwi Start Up Robotics Plus and What It Takes to Make an Acquisition Work

This is part two of a two-part series. In part one, Steve Saunders, the co-founder of New Zealand Robotics Plus told his side of the story of the acquisition journey of the company by Yamaha Agriculture. Now Nolan Paul, CEO of Yamaha Agriculture, gives us the buyer view from the other side of the table.

Nolan is building out the agricultural strategy of Yamaha Agriculture by searching the world for the very best agricultural technology they can find. In April 2025, they closed the acquisition of Robotics Plus which completed the vision of a fully integrated autonomous, data-driven agricultural platform. In this conversation, Nolan shares what it is really like to bring three companies from three different countries under one roof inside a Japanese corporation.

Subscribe to our list so you never miss an episode of Jandals in Japan

Jandals in Japan is brought to you by Catherine O’Connell Law and PodLaunch with Jayne

Visit ON Consulting for indepth articles in Japanese and English

If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would come and say hi (or Kia Ora or Konnichi Wa!) over on @jandalsinjapan on Instagram.

In this episode you’ll hear:

  • The chance encounter that in hindsight, set in motion a decade-long journey from investment to full acquisition.
  • What it was that attracted Yamaha Agriculture to choose Robotics Plus
  • The honest reality of post-acquisition integration across multiple cultures: Kiwi,, American, and Japanese
  • The importance of building genuine partnerships before you need to call on them

About Nolan

Nolan Paul is the CEO of Yamaha Agriculture. His career spans agriculture, capital allocation, and industrial scale‐up.

Nolan combines disciplined operating judgment and financial fluency with global governance experience within a major OEM, direct grower‐level investment management, and responsibility for deploying autonomous systems at scale.

Links

Yamaha Agriculture https://yamaha-agriculture.com/

Connect with Jayne and Catherine

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jandals-in-japan-podcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jandalsinjapan/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jandalsinjapan

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jandalsinjapan

All Episodes Previous Episode

Support Jandals in Japan®

A huge thank you to our supporters, it means a lot that you support our podcast.

If you like the podcast and want to support it, too, you can leave us a tip using the button below. We really appreciate it and it only takes a moment!
Support Jandals in Japan®
A
We haven’t had any Tips yet :( Maybe you could be the first!

Listen for free

Show artwork for Jandals in Japan®

About the Podcast

Jandals in Japan®
Bringing The Land of the Long White Cloud to The Land of the Rising Sun
The best show about New Zealanders doing business in Japan, bringing The Land of the Long White Cloud to The Land of the Rising Sun
How do you build a brand in Japan and nurture a loyal customer base?
What do you need to have in your tool belt if you are thinking of coming to Japan to launch a business here?
Japan is often considered to be in the "too hard" basket but we are here to open up the black box of doing business in Japan.
We will share stories from successful Kiwis selling their products and services here in Japan.
They'll tell you their tips for success and pitfalls to avoid.
They'll share their challenges and what they did to overcome them.
They will tell you things you can't find in textbooks or on the internet.
We will also be sharing the latest intel and insights on Japan from our on-the-ground presence
And you'll hear some super business culture and other tips from us sprinkled throughout.
Grab a glass of sake and let's get into it.
Support This Show

About your hosts

Jayne Nakata

Profile picture for Jayne Nakata
Jayne Nakata is a Southland girl who arrived in Japan in 2002, planning to stay just two years. 20 years later she is still living in Fukushima Prefecture with her Japanese husband and two children. When the triple disaster hit in 2011, Jayne made the commitment to stay in Fukushima and contribute to rebuilding the area. She is the host of the award winning podcast Transformations with Jayne, which is a favourite with international women living in Japan. She is also the double award winning podcast producer and manager for PodLaunch with Jayne.

Catherine O’Connell

Profile picture for Catherine O’Connell
Originally from Christchurch, Catherine O’Connell has lived in Japan since 2002 and has built a distinguished 23-year career as legal counsel in leading Japanese corporations. In 2018, she launched Catherine O’Connell Law, Tokyo’s first foreign female–founded boutique law firm, now a multi-award-winning practice.
Catherine is Vice Chair Emerita of the Australian & New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan (2012–2025) and currently serves as an Audit & Supervisory Board Member at Fujitsu Limited (2022–). She previously served on the Audit & Supervisory Board of Toyota Motor Corporation (2023–2025).
A trusted advisor to boards and coach/mentor to C-suite executives, Catherine helps leaders excel in the complex Japanese business environment with cross-cultural clarity and strategic insight.
Alongside co-hosting the Jandals in Japan™ Podcast, she is also the host of the award-winning Lawyer on Air Podcast, highlighting untold stories of women in law in Japan.