Budget-managing app operator Money Forward Inc. stoked investor excitement when it became the nation¡¯s first financial technology venture to go public in September, reflecting strong interest in the nascent but fast-growing sector.

Yosuke Tsuji, the startup¡¯s founder and chief executive officer, is now looking to expand and refine his service to make it the first of its kind to break out of Japan.

¡°I really want to go global. I want to create a world-class company like Sony,¡± he said during an interview with The Japan Times on Thursday, referring to the electronics giant and former employer.