The Short Version
I am Ryan Tanaka. I coach runners and help running brands grow. I got here by way of robotics, which is exactly why I am good at this.
The Longer Version
I spent years in the robotics and warehouse automation industry, most notably as part of the founding sales team at OSARO, where I helped build the company’s commercial operations from scratch. I led the first multi-cell enterprise deployment, closing the first production account and establishing partnerships that shaped the company’s go-to-market trajectory. I then co-founded Robot Sales Club, a boutique GTM consulting firm that helps robotics startups figure out how to actually sell their products.
Along the way, I realized that the skills I was using every day (building sales infrastructure, developing channel strategies, crafting go-to-market plans for complex products) were exactly what running and athletics brands needed and almost never had. Most running companies are built by product people and athletes. The commercial infrastructure tends to come later, if it comes at all. That gap is where I work now.
I run a lot. I have qualified for and run the Boston Marathon five times and run multiple ultra marathons (50K to 80K). I coach athletes at every level from first-time 5K runners to ultramarathon competitors, and I believe deeply that running should add to your life, not take it over. That philosophy, “not a runner,” is the foundation of everything I do here.
The Japanese Connection
I lived in Osaka as a high school exchange student and have been deeply connected to Japanese language and culture ever since. I speak, read, and write Japanese at a native level. After graduating from Michigan State University, I moved to Japan and worked there for 7 and a half years.
This matters for my work because Japan is home to some of the world’s most respected running and athletics brands: Asics, Mizuno, Descente, Goldwin, Montbell, and many others. Several of these companies are actively growing their presence in the US market. I am one of very few people in the US who can provide go-to-market consulting across both languages and both business cultures. If you are a Japanese brand looking at the US market, or a US company exploring Japanese partnerships, I can help in ways that most consultants simply cannot.
Certifications & Credentials
- RRCA Certified Running Coach
- USATF Certified Coach
- SCA Coffee Certifications (Brewing, Barista Skills, Introduction to Coffee, Sensory Foundations)