Hello Clever Appoints Kaido Chiwata as Head of Japan & Global Expansion
(L-R: Kaido Chiwata Head of Japan, Caroline Tran CEO, Reinard Surya COO)
Sydney / Tokyo, 2 September 2025 Australian-based fintech Hello Clever today announced the appointment of Kaido Chiwata as Head of Japan & Global Expansion, alongside the official launch of its Japan office. The move marks a major step in the company’s Asia Pacific strategy and underscores its commitment to building long-term operations in one of the world’s most important fintech markets.
Hello Clever has been expanding rapidly across the region in 2025, opening its Singapore office in February and Vietnam in August. The launch of the Japan office in September reflects the company’s ambition to support merchants in high-growth, high-complexity markets across APAC.
Japan: A Market Ready for Change
Japan’s digital payments market is projected to exceed USD 1 trillion by 2030, growing from approximately USD 280 billion in 2025. Yet even as adoption accelerates, cashless payments still account for less than half of consumer spend.
Government initiatives are driving the shift. Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry originally set a target of 40% cashless adoption by 2025 a milestone already surpassed in 2024. The long-term goal is 80% by 2030, signaling sustained momentum.
At the same time, loyalty adoption is accelerating, with businesses seeking platforms that connect payments to customer retention, turning every transaction into a lever for growth.
Built Different
Unlike traditional providers that simply process payments, Hello Clever offers a real-time payments intelligence layer that helps merchants instantly interpret transactions and turn them into growth opportunities. By combining payments, loyalty, and AI-powered insights, the platform enables businesses to:
Strengthen retention and loyalty programs
Increase repeat sales and customer lifetime value
Operate with enterprise-grade trust and compliance (PCI DSS v4.0.1 certified)
Leverage a real-time payment infrastructure, both locally and cross-border
Activate AI-powered recommendations and predictive campaign simulations
Help Japanese merchants reach overseas customers with FX-friendly and multi-currency capabilities
Enable global merchants to localise loyalty and checkout experiences for Japanese consumers
Hello Clever’s local-first strategy in Japan focuses on integrating with domestic payment rails, forging merchant-first partnerships, and embedding regulatory compliance at the core of its operations.
Proven Leadership for Japan
To lead the new office, Hello Clever has appointed Kaido Chiwata, a seasoned fintech operator with more than a decade of leadership experience. Chiwata has held senior roles at Stripe, Moneytree, and Spenmo, and most recently co-founded BillPay, a Tokyo-based startup that simplifies Japan market entry for foreign companies.
In 2025, BillPay won the Audience Award at FINOPITCH, Japan’s premier fintech pitch contest. Chiwata also took part in the JETRO × AlchemistX Global Startup Acceleration Program, showcasing his entrepreneurial leadership and deepening ties within Japan’s financial and startup ecosystem.
“Japan is a cornerstone in our Asia Pacific expansion,” said Caroline Tran, Co-Founder & CEO of Hello Clever. “With Kaido leading, we’re combining local knowledge, regulatory trust, and a differentiated product that goes beyond processing to help merchants unlock true growth.”
“I’m excited to build Hello Clever’s Japan business from the ground up,” said Kaido Chiwata, Head of Japan & Global Expansion. “The future of payments here is about more than speed. Merchants want real-time settlement, smarter ways to engage customers, and the intelligence to act on behaviour instantly. Hello Clever delivers all three while also helping Japanese merchants reach overseas buyers, and global brands succeed in Japan.”
Building for APAC and Beyond
The opening of Hello Clever Japan marks the company’s third Asia Pacific office in 2025, following Singapore and Vietnam. With headquarters in Sydney, Australia, and a growing presence across the region, Hello Clever is building the payments and loyalty intelligence platform that helps merchants turn every transaction into growth.
About Hello Clever
Hello Clever is a real-time payments and loyalty intelligence platform built for modern merchants. Headquartered in Sydney with offices across APAC, it brings together payments, rewards, and AI-powered insights to help businesses make smarter, faster decisions with every transaction.
