Young Professionals to Watch: Sean Hill

The Share-Me founder shares how the ACCJ has helped him grow his start-up in Japan.

The Young Professionals Forum (YPF) serves as a platform to connect working professionals aged 35 and under within the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ). In this installment of our Young Professionals to Watch series, we talk to Sean Hill, founder and chief executive officer of Share-Me, about the real-life lessons he has learned by participating in YPF events, which go beyond traditional networking to give young professionals opportunities to learn directly from senior ACCJ members in intimate settings.

What do you do at Share-Me?

We’re a start-up reinventing the business card—beginning with beautifully designed, NFC-enabled smart cards that let you share your digital business card with a simple tap or QR scan. From social links to contact info and files, everything you want to share is instantly accessible. And we’re evolving into a seamless platform for digital business cards and lead management built for the way people connect today.

Before launching Share-Me, I studied entrepreneurship and marketing at George Washington University. I have always been passionate about building things from the ground up, and my goal is to become a leading entrepreneur who represents both our generation and Japan.

What is the most memorable project you have worked on? How did being a young professional make a difference?

Launching Share-Me has been way more challenging than I ever imagined. I started the company from scratch as a young, inexperienced founder with no business network in Japan. That came with obvious hurdles like building trust, earning credibility, and figuring things out as I went.

However, it also gave me a fresh perspective and the freedom to build something based not on bias but on real customer feedback. Being a young professional has allowed me to take bold risks and given me the hunger and resilience to keep pushing forward, even when things get tough.

How does Share-Me empower young professionals?

The best part about working at Share-Me is being part of a young, global team that’s building something from the ground up. It’s exciting to create a product or feature that thousands of customers are using.

Everyone on the team, no matter their background, is trusted with real responsibility—and not just to the company but to the customers and partners who believe in us. We’re not only supporting a vision, we’re actively shaping it together, which is exciting.

Do you have a memorable moment from a YPF or ACCJ event?

One of my most memorable ACCJ events was the year-end bonenkai [the Networking for Tomorrow event]. It was a great mix of fun and meaningful conversations, and I had the chance to connect with leaders from all different industries. What really stood out was how encouraging people were about the challenges I’m taking on, and I was very happy that they were interested in what we’re building and had good things to say about our products. It made me feel supported and reminded me how valuable this community is.

At my first YPF event, I was impressed by the energy in the room. There was this strong sense of ambition, and I felt everyone was driven, passionate, and eager to grow—even though many of us are still early in our careers. It felt like being surrounded by future leaders, and that kind of environment is both inspiring and motivating.

What are your expectations for the YPF and the ACCJ?

One of the core visions behind Share-Me—and something that drives me personally—is encouraging what is called “chosen” in Japanese, the courage to take on new challenges, especially among young professionals.

Share-Me isn’t just a tool for exchanging business cards; it’s a way to share your chosen. We’re offering the courage to share your story and build real connections beyond surface-level exchanges.

I hope the YPF and the ACCJ continue to create spaces where these stories are heard, where young professionals feel inspired to act, and where meaningful collaboration can grow. As a founder, I deeply value opportunities for mentorship, peer connections, and greater visibility within Japan’s business ecosystem.