Japan’s Startup Revolution (feat. Kathy Matsui) | E2235
Why do 40% of Japanese students want to build a company rather than join the corporate workforce? On TWiST, Jason considers this question along with special guest Kathy Matsui, general partner of the global VC fund MPower Partners. Their wide-ranging discussion also features a look inside one of Jason’s favorite international companies, Japan’s own fashion retailer Uniqlo, where Kathy is a board member. (While in town, he took the opportunity to check out their flagship store in Ginza.) They also take a look back at Japan’s economic crisis in the ‘90s, and why recovery took such a very long time… MPower’s philosophy while raising their second fund, and why they’re so focused on what they call “Japan Dynamism”… the key question of whether Japanese startups should focus on the domestic market first BEFORE chasing global customers… why an ESG (environment, social, governance) focus in Japan is so different from DEI in the US… and much more.
Key Points
- Japan's shrinking workforce creates a seller's market for young people, offering them numerous opportunities.
- Japan's high quality of life, including its safety, efficient public transportation, and world-class food, makes it an attractive destination for entrepreneurs.
- Japanese startups are increasingly ambitious about global expansion, supported by government initiatives and international venture capital.
Chapters
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Transcript
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