podcast episodes Archives - Frederic Peyrot: Recent Episodes
Personal Website of Frederic Peyrot | Intrapreneur and student of life in quest to become a super human
Japan tourism is booming and it is forecast to welcome some 40 million tourists by 2020, which is the double of 2015. At the same time, there is a massive shortage of hotel rooms available and this has led to huge opportunities in the house sharing market. Platforms like Airbnb have experienced a great success in the past few years and many companies have been piggybacking on this growth to launch their own services.
My guest this week is Devin Norby, founder CEO of Asistee, an all-inclusive property management and cleaning service. Devin initially started with its own properties and then extended to help friends, friends’ friends and today has organically grown his business to more than 60 properties.
Devin explains how his industry is labor intensive and that only by using technology can it become scalable. He shares with us his ambition to automate all parts of his business, from booking to cleaning and eventually share this smart solution with the rest of the world.
We also discuss about the real estate market, its trends and we attempt some forecasting. Devin share his key criteria when it comes to buying a property as well as his business strategy.
The episode goes through many other topics from the minpaku laws to its staff training and quality control. Lots of good lessons which I hope you’ll enjoy.
Questions: If you could, would you rent your property on Airbnb? What are the main things to consider when buying an apartment in Tokyo? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Ep-51-On-Automation-Property-Management-and-the-Real-Estate-Market-with-Devin-Norby.mp3 Download Episode
Shownotes * Managing properties * Minpaku law * Customers acquisition * Booming toursim * Competition * Automation and scalability * Customer feedback * Legal risks * Recurrent problems * Staff training * 1 year plan * Key criteria when buying a house * Forecast on the housing market * Quickfire questions
Links * Asistee * Asistee on Facebook * Minpaku association * Kurokawa shokudo
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 51 – On Automation, Property Management and the Real Estate Market – with Devin Norby appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
From a job on Wall street, to an Ed-tech Startup, to VC. That’s the atypical career path of my guest this week. Allison Baum, is a Partner at Fresco Capital, a Venture Capital Fund focusing on global early-stage startups that she co-founded in January 2014.
Allison shares with us her passion for education and we discuss about the ongoing transformations that this sector is going through. Indeed, the digitalization of contents now allows anyone to get access to education, on demand, and at a fraction of the cost. While this trend is spreading around the world, I’m asking Allison if she believes that this could be the end of Universities.
She also explains how she moved from Goldman Sachs to General Assembly, an education startup. On her first day, she says, she realized that she didn’t know anything about the job, and was told to launch an education program in just two weeks. Finding the people who know what you don’t know seems to be her most valuable lesson.
Now Allison manages the Japan office her VC firm. We talk about her decision to come to Japan and about the business opportunities she sees here, as the country is getting more global.
Questions: Do you think Universities will disappear? What are the main opportunities as Japan is getting global? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Ep-50-On-Starting-a-VC-Fund-and-the-New-Education-Paradigm-with-Allison-Baum.mp3 Download Episode
Shownotes * General Assembly * New education paradigm * First day at a startup * When you don’t know anything * The end of traditional education? * The limit of being remote * Japanese education system * Ed-tech startups * Open Hong Kong Office * Starting a VC fund * Questions to startups pitching * Business in Japan * Slow decision, fast execution * Quick-fire questions
Links * Fresco Capital * Allison on Twitter * General Assembly * Restaurants + Abura soba + Aloha table
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 50 – On Starting a VC Fund and the New Education Paradigm – with Allison Baum appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Payment is becoming digital. While we’re still living in a world where we carry notes and metal coins in our wallets, the fast digitalisation of the economy foresees a cash less economy where most transactions will happen online.
To foster that trend Stripe was founded with the ambition to allow both private individuals and businesses to accept payments over the Internet. While it seems such an obvious need, the complex financial system has made it difficult for any such service to arise for many years. Founded in 2011, Stripe has experienced a massive growth and is, five years later, valued at $5 billion.
My guest this week, is Daniel Heffernan, the Representative Director of Stripe Japan. Daniel explains why Stripe chose Japan as the first base in Asia. Indeed, while Japan’s online payment is still at an early stage, it is growing 10% year-over-year and it is the #4 e-commerce market worldwide.
In this episode, we go back to the early days of Daniel playing video games with Stripe’s founders in middle school and end up ten years from now where fin-tech startups will change the economy as we know it.
Questions: What financial or banking innovation is most needed? How do you foresee the payment industry in 10 years? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Ep-49-Dominating-Payments-Online-and-Other-Fin-tech-Stories-with-Daniel-Heffernan.mp3 Download Episode
Shownotes * Introduction of Dan * Business diversification * When innovation seems obvious * Relay – selling on apps * Business needs * All started from middle school * Why Japan * Career timing * Becoming Japan’s Representative Director * Two weeks of financial training * Japan’s specific payment system * Why is the financial industry lagging behind * Fin-tech, a new hope * The long life of credit cards * Quick-fire questions
Links * Stripe * Relay * Daniel’s personal website * Cookpad * Lyft * Instacart * Moneytree * Clementia (pizza) * Brozers (burgers)
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 49 – Dominating Payments Online and Other Fin-tech Stories – with Daniel Heffernan appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Sensor network, Synthetic biology, 3D printing are all exponentional technologies that, according to Peter Diamandis, the founder of the X Prize, will change the world as we know it. And how about the conquest of space?
What was before a monopoly of the states is now opening to private companies. It is now possible for less than a million dollar to launch a satellite in orbit around the earth. While still we are still at the beginning of this new era, applications already seem endless.
To talk about it, I had the chance to sit with Aki Saarinen, Parnter at Reaktor, a creative technology house from Finland. Aki was discussing with me about Reaktor’s latest inhouse project called Reaktor Space, about to launch their first commercial satellite in the Fall of 2016.
Aki also shares his views on how Artificial Intelligence will change the economy, for the better, and why we should not worry to much about having robots stealing our jobs. A great conversation about the future happening today.
Questions: What technology will change the world as we know it? Should we fear technology? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Ep-48-On-Thinking-Bold-and-How-to-Launch-a-Satellite-into-Space-with-Aki-Saarinen.mp3 Download Podcast
Shownotes * Presentation of Aki * Launching a satellite into space * Exponential technologies * Artificial Intelligence * Should people worry about technology? * Kids coding school * Opening an branch office in Japan * Delivering innovative solutions for companies * Compromising with clients requests * Lean principles vs. corporations * Showing your work to the world * Quick-fire questions
Links * Reaktor Space * Reaktor Japan * Reaktor Ventures * Martini burger (Kagurazakua)
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 48 – On Bold Thinking and How to Launch a Satellite into Space – with Aki Saarinen appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
So many people want to become an entrepreneur, yet the vast majority stays on the planning side and never cross the bridge to the execution side. My guest today never had any entrepreneur experience whatsoever just half a year ago. But after 6 months, she acquired paying customers and was able to pitch at Pioneers Asia, one of Asia’s leading startup events.
I was happy to sit with Natali Jafaar, co-founder of ZOE, a automated delivery service of sanitary products for women. Everything started when Natali initially joined Pioneers Dojo, a 5-month startup mentoring program, that I was proudly leading. Together with 50 other participants, the program was designed to give a basic tool kit for first time entrepreneurs. Supported by 15 other mentors, participants were tasked to build a project from the ground up: from finding their business ideas to getting their first paying customer. Eventually ZOE won the first prize of the program and secured a spot to pitch at Pioneers Asia.
Natali shares with us her amazing journey. She tells us about how she met one of her co-founder at the program, and how they eventually came up with their business idea. She also explains about what most first time entrepreneurs have to deal with, that is finding time to grow a project while having a day job. I believe many listeners will be able to relate to this interview and hopefully find some practical advice to succeed with their own venture.
Questions: What are the main mistakes to avoid as a first time entrepreneur? When is the right time to quit your day job? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Ep-47-Half-a-Year-as-a-First-Time-Entrepreneur-with-Natali-Jaafar.mp3 Download Podcast
Shownotes * Introduction of Natali * Pioneers Dojo: a 5-month mentoring program * Choosing her co-founder * ZOE: monthly pack for women’s period * Product validation * Growing the customer base * Delivering just in time * Long term vision * Why you shouldn’t quit your day job * Peer mentoring * How to manage team work * Finding the time when you’re busy * Having clear goals * Pitch training * Pitching for your audience * Quick-fire question
Links * ZOE * Natali on LinkedIn * Restaurant: Kinnome (金の目) – Lamb shabushabu
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 47 – Half a Year as a First Time Entrepreneur – with Natali Jaafar appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Finding the right product-market fit is businesses’ toughest mission. This is usually where most entrepreneurs’ failure originate. It is therefore crucial to initially focus on listening to market’s feedback instead of counting on technology as a solution. Indeed, technology doesn’t solve problems in itself but is the vehicle to a solution for a particular business need. One should instead direct his efforts on learning from customers before relying on technology.
This is what my guest, Mark McFarlane, focuses on whenever working for clients or on his own product. Mark is the Founder and CEO of Tacchi Studios, a mobile and web app development agency based in Tokyo. He is also behind the local social network for creatives called Canvas.
Mark started his entrepreneur career in the UK as a co-founder and investor of Vinetrade, a web-based wine trading service. Despite the company failing after a few years, he shares with us the most valuable lessons that he learnt along the way.
One thing that I was particularly interested to discuss with Mark was the natural progression of his career from freelancer to agency to product. Mark explains how the transitions took place on this path to scalability and we discuss the pros and cons of each business type.
Questions: What are the best strategies to validate the product-market fit? What are great question to ask at interviews when hiring? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Ep-46-On-Product-Validation-and-How-to-Learn-from-Customers-with-Mark-McFarlane.mp3 Download Podcast
Shownotes * Introduction of Mark McFarlane * Learning from startup failure * Building an MVP * Technology is not the solution * From freelancer to agency * How to become a good manager * Hiring, what question to ask * The importance of having side projects * Scalability by building a product * Canvas: social platform for creative people * Customer feedback and product validation * Quickfire questions
Links * Canvas (TW / FB) * Tacchi Studios * Mark on Twitter * Restaurants: + Beacon (modern American) + Bistrot Le Man (French) + Le Bouchon Ogasawara (French)
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 46 – On Product Validation and How to Learn from Customers – with Mark McFarlane appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Information is probably companies’ strongest asset. Having a knowledge advantage in your industry, not only leads to better decision making, but it also makes it very hard for any competitor to catch up. But to get knowledgeable, one should not be afraid to say “I don’t know” and ask people. Those who fake it will never learn. And those who don’t learn won’t get that critical advantage.
My guests today have understood this valuable lesson after running their business in the music industry for over 10 years. Malek Nasser and Sach Jobb are the co-founders of iFlyer, Asia’s biggest source of music news, festival, club and concert information.
They explained how they initially got out of the chicken-and-egg problem that most marketplaces face at the begining. They also share with us about the importance of getting a first client reference, especially in Japan. Indeed, in this country, nobody wants to be the first, but nobody wants to be the last either.
Today iflyer has evolved into a connected network of music actors, including venues, promoters and artists, and is listing 5,000+ events a month. In this episode, Malek and Sach also share the story of their partnership with TicketPia, Japan’s largest ticketing company, and the valuable lessons they’ve learnt along the way.
With more than 250,000 unique visitors a month, iFlyer keeps growing and is now targeting expansion outside Japan. That said, Malek and Sach remind us the importance of keeping focused and the danger of diversification.
Questions: In a marketplace business, who do you consider first? How can you become more knowledgeable about your industry? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Ep-45-On-Traction-Partnerships-and-The-Knowledge-Advantage-with-Malek-Nasser-and-Sach-Jobb.mp3 Download Podcast
Shownotes * (0:25) Introduction of Malek and Sach * (2:25) The magic number: 34% * (4:12) The relativity of saturated markets * (8:36) Discover night club events * (13:12) Getting traction in a marketplace * (15:44) Many types of users * (20:19) A Major partnership * (26:45) Keeping focus * (29:39) Expertise and the knowledge advantage * (34:50) Competition doesn’t matter * (37:42) Expansion * (41:22) Managing your network * (42:45) Selling an internal product * (45:04) Recommendations and sharing * (47:01) Quick-fire questions
Links * iFlyer * 77 Hz * TicketPia * Meditation apps: Calm / Headspace / 10% Happier * Restaurant: Tokyo Family Restaurant
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 45 – On Traction, Partnerships, and The Knowledge Advantage – with Malek Nasser and Sach Jobb appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Pioneers Asia is coming this year to Tokyo to boost the local startup ecosystem. Its mission: Inspire, Empower, and Connect all actors, from start-ups, to corporates and help bridge Europe with Asia.
My guest Andreas Tschas, initially launched a venture called StartEurope right after graduation in 2009, at the peak of the economic crisis. Unemployment rates were booming all over Europe, and he felt that technology had the power to improve economic conditions. But unemployment was just one of the many problems technology could solve. From green energies to clean water, many challenges were starting to see new solutions. That’s when Andreas realized that he had to think global and StartEurope became Pioneers.
At its core, Pioneers is a startup festival. Andreas believes that events have the power to start ecosystems and help them grow. To date, Pioneers organized over 200 events, from over 30 cities around the globe. But Pioneers is more than just gathering people together. Pioneers Discover for instance is a platform for start-ups and big corporations to collaborate. And Pioneers Ventures a 10 million dollar fund to invest into promising innovative companies.
I was so glad to have Andreas on the show as I’m myself proud to be part of the Pioneers adventure. For the past few months, I’ve been running the Pioneers Dojo, a 5-month start-up mentoring program. Working together with the Pioneers Asia team has been such a rich experience. I’ve learnt so much about event organization and I was curious to ask Andreas what he believes are the keys to pull off a great event.
Now we’re just about a month away from Pioneers Asia, so if you haven’t done so, I encourage you to get involved and be part of this incredible journey together.
Questions: What are the main global challenges that technology should focus on? What should a great start-up event be about? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Ep-44-Pioneers-Asia-to-Inspire-Empower-and-Connect-Start-ups-with-Andreas-Tschas.mp3 Download Podcast
Shownotes * (0:24) Introduction of Andreas * (2:20) Consulting by students * (6:51) StartEurope and solving unemployment * (9:17) Thinking global * (12:22) More than 200 events * (13:47) Corporates are lacking innovation * (17:02) Solving world’s biggest challenges * (19:03) The art of organizing events * (24:52) Pioneers Asia * (34:14) Quick-fire questions
Links * Pioneers Asia * Pioneers Dojo * Pioneers Festival * Andreas LinkedIn profile
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 44 – Pioneers Asia to Inspire, Empower and Connect Start-ups – with Andreas Tschas appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Starting a hardware company has so much more constraints than with software. You need a lot of capital upfront, and your first prototype might take months. That’s the reason why many such companies have relied upon crowdsourcing to kickstart their project.
To talk about it, I was pleased to discuss with Shinya Shimizu, founder of a hardware startup called AgIC. His company’s mission is to embed electronics into everything on the planet with printed electronics technology. AgIC leverages a silver conductive ink technology that allows them to print circuits on demand, with no size limit on flexible and light surfaces. Applications are many, from advanced posters for advertising to under-floor heating.
Shinya initially launched a kickstarted campaign with a finding goal of $30,000. Eventually, he was able to raise some $80,000 from over 900 backers. We discuss about the best practices that he could observe and that in his opinion led to that success. I’m also asking Shinya about the common mistakes that he could observe from other campaigns and how can someone makes his campaign stand out from the thousand others.
We also discuss about Japan’s strength in hardware companies. As I keep repeating in my podcast, I’m more often impressed by hardware companies in Japan than those doing software. From new material companies, like Spiber, to 3D printing companies, like Kabuku, there are countless examples of disruptive companies in the hardware field. Why is Japan so much stronger in hardware than software? Shinya shares with us his take on the question.
Questions: What are you favorite hardware companies that would deserve to be better known? Have you ever thought doin a crowdfunding campaign? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Ep-43-On-Hardware-Startups-and-How-to-Win-at-Crowdfunding-with-Shinya-Shimizu.mp3 Download Podcast
Shownotes * (0:24) AgIC presentation * (3:40) Pivot from B2C to B2B * (5:09) From advertising to floor-heating * (10:37) Competition landscape * (14:37) Materials constraints * (16:54) On Japan’s hardware strength * (22:55) How accessible is it to do hardware * (24:29) Gap between academia and business * (29:09) Winning at Crowdfunding * (41:09) Quick-fire questions
Links * AgIC * Crowdfunding platforms: kickstarter / Indiegogo * Restaurant: Ramen fujimaru * Contact Shinya here: shinya[at]agic.cc
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 43 – On Hardware Startups and How to Win at Crowdfunding – with Shinya Shimizu appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
In the 15th century, Gutenberg changed the world by bringing 2D printing to life with the printing press. Today, 3D printing is about to shake the economy with the same order of magnitude. From automotive to medicine, the technology will impact a wide range of industries with applications looking like science fiction today.
To talk about it, I was pleased to sit with Masahiko Inada, founder of Kabuku and Yasuhide Yokoi, working with him as an industrial designer. They started explaining to me how the expiration of a patent in 2009 led to the recent acceleration of 3D printing capabilities and a drop in prices.
We discuss about the change of paradigm that is about to happen in the global economy, shifting from mass production to mass customization. That is, an economy where anyone will be able to consume products specifically tailored to their own taste. No more one-size-fit all for customers and no more inventories for companies. It’s a win-win model which is just getting started.
Kabuku is working on various projects, including Rinkak, Asia’s larget marketplace of 3D printed objects. It provides a framework for users to create their own products. They can simply upload their data, and Kabuku makes and sell them on demand.
In this episode Masa and Yasu, show us what is possible today and what the future applications will be. From self-building bridges to order-made medical prostheses, the future is actually closer than you think it is. According to them, there will be 3D printing services available at your nearby convenient store in less than 5 years. And this is just the tip of this massive iceberg. From printed food to printed organs, the only limit will be your imagination.
Questions: What sector will be disrupted the most by 3D printing? What applications are you most excited about? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Ep-42-On-3D-Printing-and-Mass-Customization-with-Masahiko-Inada-Yasuhide-Yokoi.mp3 Download Podcast
Shownotes * (0:23) Introduction of Masa & Yasu * (1:37) Presentation of Kabuku activities * (3:34) Price decrease trigger * (6:06) On-demand making and selling * (8:24) Materials: what’s possible? * (9:11) Creating a 3D model * (11:31) Who are the customers? * (12:50) From mass production to customisation economy * (16:20) Who are the big players? * (17:57) Toyota i-ROAD project * (21:20) When will we see 3D printers in every home? * (23:24) From Food to Bio-cells printing * (27:05) How to get started for beginners? * (29:58) Main limitations today * (33:25) 3D printing in 10 to 20 years * (35:32) A 3D printed model of yourself * (36:54) Leading countries * (38:29) How accessible is 3D printing? * (41:51) Final words
Links * Kabuku * Rinkak marketplace * 3D Printing Partner Program for factories * 3D Printing Management Service * Mass Customized Parts for TOYOTA i-ROAD * 3D Scan Solution Package * DecoBoco Map (3D diorama generator) * Autodesk * 123D Design * 123D Sculpt * MX3D bridge
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 42 – On 3D Printing and Mass Customization – with Masahiko Inada & Yasuhide Yokoi appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
While most start-ups try to build the next big thing, my guests today rather focus on solving many small problems. Ben Watanabe and David Smith are the co-founders of 96problems, a small venture aiming to build several simple solutions for small problems.
At 96Problems, they launch a new product every three months on average. In order to maintain that pace, they need to find some new ideas constantly. We go through their process of finding new problems to solve: from listening to existing customers to shadowing, we talk about various strategies for a better product-market fit. We also compare to the pros and cons of building hardware versus software products. In particular, Ben & Dave have learnt some valuable lessons from their experience crafting and selling a key-holder product.
Our discussion goes on to many other topics. We talk about the difference between building a bootstrap business compared with a VC-backed business. I’m also asking them about their process and metrics to assess the success of their products. Lastly, my quick-fire questions take us to deeper thoughts talking about meditation and productivity hacks.
A longer episode with a trio format to kick start this new year. My best wishes and I really hope you’ll like it.
Questions: What is the best way to find good problems to solve? Should you rather focus on solving many small problems or a big one? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Ep-41-On-Solving-Many-Small-Problems-with-Benjamin-Watanabe-David-Branson-Smith.mp3 Download Episode
Shownotes * (0:26) Introduction of David & Ben * (9:22) 96 Problems * (11:11) Many small problems vs. one big problem * (12:44) Bootstrapped vs VC-backed business * (17:52) Finding problems to solve and shadowing * (24:04) The hardship of making hardware * (30:46) First draft * (36:52) Success assessment and metrics * (43:10) B2C marketing * (47:46) Quick-fire questions
Links * 96problems * FirstDraft * Twitter: 96problems / Dave / Ben * “no one cares how hard you work” article * One thing well * Meditation apps: Calm / Headspace * Book: Waking Up (by Sam Harris) * Restaurant: Lesson (European) * Restaurant: Les Enfants Gâtés
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 41 – On Solving Many Small Problems – with Benjamin Watanabe & David Branson Smith appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
While charity and profits are often seen as antagonist concepts, my guest this week has found a business model to encourage people donating to good causes. Naoe Miyata, is the Founder and CEO of a Thailand-based start-up called CoinBack.
Naoe initially started after winning Startup Weekend in Bangkok with the assumption that departing travellers would give away their small change for a good cause if given the right opportunity. He came up with the idea of a digital kiosk which would allow people to drop their leftover coins while allowing them to select the cause of their choice. Furthermore, donors are given feedback regarding the direct impact of their donations.
I was impressed by how much time and efforts Naoe dedicated to validate his business idea. While having a day job in the morning, he spent several hours every day interviewing over 200 people at the airport for about two months. He shares with us his approach, and how he got to speed up the process around airport regulations.
Naoe initially moved to Thailand to join a family business. He explains how enriching this real-life experience was compared to the more academic knowledge he received from his MBA. Eventually that’s also in Thailand that he decided to starting up. I was curious to learn more about the start-up landscape there and surprisingly, I discovered that it shares many similarities with Japan.
Questions: How long should you spend on validating your business idea? How different are Thai and Japan’s start-up landscapes? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Ep-40-On-charity-business-validation-and-Thai-start-up-landscape-with-Naoe-Miyata.mp3 Download Podcast
Shownotes * (0:24) Introduction of Naoe * (4:44) Working for a domestic company * (8:24) Joining a family business in Thailand * (11:47) Main fears when starting your business * (14:22) Market validation * (22:42) CoinBack service * (30:16) A profitable charity business model * (32:42) Overcoming regulations * (34:12) Relevant market targets * (36:55) Thailand startup landscape * (43:03) Quick-fire questions
Links * CoinBack * Facebook * Hubba coworking space * Contact Naoe at: naoe.coinback [at] gmail.com or coin0back [at] gmail.com * Restaurant: Aoba (taiwanese)
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 40 – On charity, business validation and Thailand start-up landscape – with Naoe Miyata appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
If you think that being funny is challenging, improv comedy takes the challenge to another level. You can’t really rehearse jokes. You have to deal with what the situation gives you. You can’t overthink. You just have to let go.
My guest this week is Mike Staffa, the initiator of the first bilingual improv comedy show in Japan. The Pirates of Dotombori (in Osaka) and The Pirates of the Tokyo Bay (in Tokyo.) With now more than 10 years of activity, his troupe did some 300+ events, in seven countries, performing in front of diverse audiences, from TEDxTokyo to governments.
Mike explains the fundamental characteristics of a good improv actor. Having various ideas, Being willing to not be at the center of attention, trusting your peers etc. are all necessary ingredients to deliver a strong performance.
Recently the Pirates have extended their business model by providing training sessions for corporations. Mike believes that he can leverage the improv skills to help companies improve their cross-cultural communication and reinforce team building. He shares with us the main problems he usually witnesses at companies and explains the types of workshops he’s organizing.
Mike is the perfect example of somebody with a day job who can be an entrepreneur at the same time. He calls himself a “slow entrepreneur.” He explains how his experience at companies helped him better manage his personal venture and vice versa. Probably a trend that more and more people will embrace in the coming years.
Questions: How to overcome cross-cultural communication problems? How to encourage team building? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Ep-39-On-improv-comedy-cross-cultural-communication-and-team-building-with-Mike-Staffa.mp3 Download Podcast
Shownotes * (0:24) Various types of performances * (5:13) Starting an improv comedy * (7:32) Group comedy vs solo comedy * (8:17) Being funny in a foreign country * (10:32) What does an improv show look like * (14:42) The thought process of improvising * (17:27) Best personality to improvise * (21:47) Company training sessions * (26:58) Addressing different communication styles * (28:20) Recurrent problems at companies * (30:29) Business model * (35:45) Having a business on the side * (38:47) Working like an organisation * (40:57) 10-year vision * (43:58) Quick-fire questions
Links * Website * Facebook * YouTube * Intragram * Twitter * Line * Linkedin * Mobile app + [iOS] + [Android] * Restaurant: Troubadour (in Tamaplaza)
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 39 – On improv comedy, cross-cultural communication and team building – with Mike Staffa appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
You may have the best product in the world but it won’t sell unless you know how to sell it. Far too many startups believe that best products always win. But the truth is that the best sales win. Products come second. The ability for a startup founder to communicate his idea and sell his business is a crucial skill that only few really master.
My guest this week is Masa Tadokoro, a serial entrepreneur and a Venture Partner at Fenox VC. Masa has started several start-ups, both in the US and Japan. Furthermore, as part of his VC activities, he’s used to get pitched all the time. He’s become really good at filtering promising co-founders from others. In particular, he shares with us the key elements that make a great start-up pitch.
For him, most founders spend too much energy praising their product while in fact, most investors are looking for invisible issues, that is problems that haven’t been identified yet. According to Masa, promising founders are able to find the fine line between being a visionary but with enough flexibility to change their business idea. To use his own words, the best founder is a “paranoiac geek but flexible.”
We also discuss about Masa’s latest venture, Skillhub, an ed-tech company that he co-founded in 2013. Being used to give advice to others, I’m asking Masa about how hard it is to follow his own advice.
Questions: What are the common mistakes to avoid when pitching your start-up? How would you consider Japanese web design? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Episode-038.mp3 Download Podcast
Shownotes * (2:35) Introduction of Masa Tadokoro * (5:20) Japan vs Sillicon Valley * (7:40) Missing ingredients in Japan * (12:46) Exciting startups in Japan * (16:33) Where should Japan avoid being like Silicon Valley * (19:04) Improving Startup pitching * (24:45) Need for technical expertise * (26:52) business idea vs. team strength * (28:25) Fundraising: what’s the right time? * (32:00) Is it hard to be a VC in Japan? * (35:37) Skillhub: edtech startup * (40:40) Hard to follow our own advice * (45:25) Quick-fire questions
Links * Skillhub * Fenox VC * Euglena * How to start a startup (Slideshare) * Restaurants: Ippudo & Ichiran (Ramen)
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 38 – How to pitch your start-up business – with Masa Tadokoro appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Have you heard a few years ago about salaryman Sato? After his wife forbid him to buy a fancy electric shaver, he started a big movement to help other salarymen get free from their wives’ control over the family money! No, salaryman Sato didn’t really exist, but the movement was real. It was the fruit of UltraSuperNew, a creative agency, as part of a promotion campaign for the electronics giant Philips.
My guest this week is Marc Wesseling, one of UltraSuperNew’s co-founders. He explains how communication and advertising in Japan is outdated due to Dentsu’s monopoly. Traditionally, Japan’s brands love to use celebrities to promote their content or products. But as Marc emphasize, the lack of the innovation in the industry now leaves room for smaller but more modern creative agencies like his.
Marc explains how getting their first big reference with KLM helped them land other big clients like Heineken, Redbull, EA, or Philips. In this episode, we discuss about how the industry has evolved. Back in the day, advertising was campaign driven, now you need to communicate pretty much all the time. Therefore I’m asking Marc how to best communicate in Japan, especially when you are a foreign brand.
We also debate about Japan’s design, and particularly web design. Compared to western practices, Japan’s websites and other presentation documents are very crowded with information and very flashy. Most foreigners would actually say that they look terrible! So is Japanese design different, due to market preferences, or simply bad and outdated?
Questions: How can advertising be more effective in Japan? How would you consider Japanese web design? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Ep-37-Shaking-up-advertising-or-how-to-best-communicate-in-Japan-with-Marc-Wesseling.mp3 Download Podcast
Shownotes * (2:37) The beginning of UltraSuperNew * (8:42) Creating a viral mouvement * (17:11) The big breakthrough * (26:22) Communication strategy * (28:37) Advertising industry in Japan * (30:28) Is Japanese design different or simply bad? * (33:25) Japan’s advertising specificities and design trends * (37:44) From a law background to advertising * (39:15) Other comments on Japan’s design * (44:38) Quick-fire questions
Links * UltraSuperNew * Salaryman Sato fights for the right of salaryman * Restaurant: hotel pearl in nakameguro (apply for entrance code online)
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 37 – Shaking up advertising or how to best communicate in Japan – with Marc Wesseling appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
There are usually two ways to acquire new customers online: either you try to reach them, usually through paid campaigns, or you let them find you, in which case you should be findable. This concept of “findability”has never been that crucial. You may have the best product in the world but if your customers don’t know how to find you, they will not buy from you.
As trivial as it may seem, many companies still spend a tremendous amount of resources to conduct paid advertising and tend to neglect organic traffic. Today, there are several ways to increase your chances of being seen online: SEO, social media, email marketing, content marketing etc. But it is hard to easily measure and assess the performance of each strategy.
To solve this problem, my guest Ray Grieselhuber founded GinzaMarkets, helping companies improve their brand findability. Ray gives valuable advice on best practices to be found online and we also debate about the overemphasis of companies to acquire new customers at the expense of retaining existing ones.
While Ray initially created his company in Japan, he explains what led him to relocate the HQ to the US. Today his company is distributed over many countries, from Poland to Pakistan, and he shares with us how he handles the workflows but also communication across teams of various background and cultures.
Before starting GinzaMarkets, Ray spent a year off traveling the world. In this interview, I spend some time trying to understand how this experience has changed his personal and professional life.
Ray was probably one of my most inspiring guest and he surely gave me the most out-of-the-box responses to my quick-fire questions.
Questions: What are today’s best practices to be found online? What would you do if you could take a year off? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Ep-36-Findability-or-how-to-let-your-customers-find-you-with-Ray-Grieselhuber.mp3 Download Podcast
Shownotes * (2:32) Introduction of Ray * (5:46) Traveling the world for a year * (14:08) Leaving a startup to make your own * (16:26) Distributed team * (22:39) Findability * (26:09) Customer acquisition vs. retention * (28:40) Customer profiles * (30:37) How to acquire customers * (34:20) Why relocating the HQ * (35:50) Long term vision * (38:32) Quick-fire questions
Links * GinzaMetrics (EN) * Ginza Metrics (JP) * Twitter: @raygrieselhuber * A history of western philosophy (book) * Restaurant: kyubey (sushi)
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 36 – Findability or how to let your customers find you – with Ray Grieselhuber appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Masashi Takahashi was the very first user of Airbnb in Japan and has been hosting over two hundred travellers. Japan being a country where information in English is still very scarce, he was used to have guests asking him for recommendations of places to visit and sometimes had to help them make reservations. That’s where he recognized the need to make a platform to help foreigners find activities around Japan.
He founded Voyagin in 2011 under a different name: FindJPN. He explained what led to the change of name as well as the evolution of its service from the initial idea to what it is today. Voyagin has become this marketplace where users can easily find and book tours, activities, restaurants and tickets. It currently lists some 2000 activities, including 40% outside Japan. Today the company is profitable with over 30,000 guests making a booking (in 2014.)
With Japan hosting the Olympics in 2020, the market for services targeting tourists is really getting crowded. Masashi explains how he found a competitive edge that could set him apart from the competition. In particular, he shares with us how he first broke the “chicken and egg” problem that all marketplaces face at the very beginning. He also explains how the advice from a VC to focus on two specific but different destinations – Tokyo and Bali – made Voyagin really take off.
More recently in July 2015, The giant e-commerce company Rakuten acquired a majority stake in the company. Masashi goes through the changes that it brought to his company. We also discuss how the two entities are now working together despite their difference in size and culture.
Questions: How can a company know when it’s best to merge with a bigger player? What role travel plays in someone life? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Ep-35-Getting-a-competitive-edge-in-a-crowded-marketspace-with-Masashi-Takahashi.mp3 Download Podcast
Shownotes * (2:56) First Airbnb user in Japan * (6:52) Presentation of Voyagin * (10:38) Getting traction on a marketplace * (20:04) Finding the right sales channels * (25:08) More foreigners coming to Japan * (29:03) Acquisition by Rakuten * (32:52) Step by step collaboration * (36:51) Decision process of selling your company * (38:03) Moving HQ to Singapore * (41:10) How does it feel to see your company * (41:47) Differentiation advantage * (45:45) Travel impact on life * (48:17) Quick-fire questions
Links * Voyagin * Voyagin is hiring * Restaurant: Sugita (udon)
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 35 – Getting a competitive edge in a crowded marketspace – with Masashi Takahashi appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Did you know that Japan’s white collars have the lowest productivity level among the G7 countries? According to my guest, Hiroki Kudo, this may be explained by the extensive number of hours that salarymen stay at the office. But staying late at night at an office is not synonym of efficacy.
In a previous business, Hiroki realized that there is a lot of cumbersome admin work when doing business in Japan: from accounting, to tax payment, to salary calculations etc. He explains that companies should rather spend that time focusing on their core business. Therefore, he set himself the mission to fight against low productivity in Japan. In 2011, that led him to launch MerryBiz, an online bookkeeping service and the first company which developed a system to make receipts visible online in Japan.
Hiroki explains how OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology combined with Artificial Intelligence will revolutionize his business and in turn simplify companies bookkeeping process. As you’ll discover, bookkeeping has a lot to do with a country’s culture, and it is not that easy to outsource it to a different country where labor costs might be cheaper.
In this interview, we also discuss a lot about archaic work practices in Japan and how companies can change their bad working habits. As Hiroki explains however, Japan’s ageing population makes it hard for many corporation to become more digital as the elderly might be reluctant to embrace new technologies. So how can we make Japan more productive ? That’s the central question we’re trying to address in this episode.
Questions: How can Japan be more productive? How can companies be more digital? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Ep-34-Solving-Japans-productivity-problem-with-Hiroki-Kudo.mp3 Download Podcast
Shownotes * (2:59) Starting from own pain at previous company * (7:35) How MerryBiz works * (9:08) Encouraging women to work * (10:44) The cultural aspect of receipts * (13:12) Admin work and process optimisation * (16:02) Excel adoration in Japan and Cloud service adoption * (21:57) New business opportunities in admin work * (23:35) AI applied to bookkeeping * (28:05) changing archaic business practices * (32:34) legal change to only keep digital receipts * (35:37) Is Japan corp. getting more digital? * (37:26) Making Japan more productive * (41:14) Quick-fire questions
Links * MerryBiz * MerryBiz on Facebook & Twitter * Tokyo Office Tour (on The Bridge) * MerryBiz is looking for engineers (foreigners welcome) * Related episode: Ep 31 – On Schlep blindness, innovation trap and fintech * Beer bars: Craftheads & Goodbeer faucets
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 34 – Solving Japan’s productivity problem – with Hiroki Kudo appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Some people dream to make enough savings during their work life so that they can finally travel to paradise destinations. Some others don’t wait to be old to live this freedom lifestyle. That’s the spirit of a nomad entrepreneur, or a Hobo-entrepreneur as my guest Chris Kirkland like to call himself. (Their is no fundamental differences between the two, apart from the second wearing shabby pants and being more self deprecating.)
Chris embraced a hobo-entrepreneur lifestyle since 2006 and has lived in several places including the Chiang mai, Saigon, London, and Tokyo. He explains how he first started to live according to his own terms and shares with us the ups and downs of living a nomadic lifestyle.
We discuss the various ways people can start living and traveling at the same time. As Chris explains, age shouldn’t be a limit for people. But he also admits that living such a life involves dealing with lots of uncertainties. So we go over a few techniques that can help people dealing with their fears.
Living a hobo-entrepreneur life involves creating money supplies, so Chris talks about his latest venture called Tokyo Cheapo. It is a website targeting foreigners traveling or living in Japan whose mission is to dispel the myth of Tokyo being an expensive city. This online guide help visitors find lots of places and tips to live and travel cheaply in Japan. With over 150,000 monthly readers, Chris explains how he manages his business while having a completely remote team.
Questions: If you had a money supply, would you adopt a hobo-entrepreneur lifestyle? What are your main concerns with this freedom lifestyle? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Ep-33-How-to-live-a-Hobo-entrepreneur-lifestyle-with-Chris-Kirkland.mp3 Download Podcast
Shownotes * (3:26) Introduction of Chris, a hobo-entrepreneur * (7:58) Ups and downs of a nomadic life * (14:55) How to manage your fears * (21:32) Is there a best age to start a hobo life? * (24:48) How to start a hobo lifestyle? * (26:32) Hobo communities * (28:05) Tokyo Cheapo * (33:18) How to manage a business remotely * (36:52) How to get traction * (39:12) Business model, advertising and ebook * (42:46) Quick-fire questions
Links * Artweb * Tokyo Cheapo * The Tokyo Cheapo Guide Book * Hobo CEO * Chris’s personal website * Tools: Asana / Trello / Boomrang * The lean startup * Restaurant: Tomigaya terrace
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 33: How to live a Hobo-entrepreneur lifestyle – with Chris Kirkland appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
One thing most entrepreneurs have in common is failing. When you start a business, it is extremely rare to get it right the first time. The problem is that the vast majority of entrepreneurs are too slow to fail, and ultimately end up shutting down their business. However, for those who are fast enough to review their initial assumption, they can do what’s called a “pivot”. In the startup jargon, a pivot consists of leveraging the company’s current position and adopting a different strategy based on a whole new set of assumptions.
I was so thrilled to sit with my guest this week as I believe he is the perfect example of how a good pivot should look like. His name is Justin Clune and he’s the Co-founder CEO of HouseCare, a marketplace for house cleaning services. The timing couldn’t be better for HouseCare. With Airbnb on the rise in Japan, they can benefit from this booming market who needs on-demand cleaning services.
Justin first started working with his co-founder after participating to Startup Weekend, a 54-hour weekend event where people go from zero to launch. Justin explains how he tried to convince his team to keep on working on the project beyond the event. Their initial idea was actually called MommyCare, providing babysitting services as company’s benefits. He shares with us his what were his initial assumptions and how he hustled to find his first paying clients.
Eventually, he realized that this wouldn’t work for the Japanese market and engaged his company in a new direction. He explains how the pivot took place, step by step. But pivoting is not as easy as it seems. We tend to have a cognitive bias regarding our past actions and it is increasingly hard to change our mind after we’ve invested time and money into something. So I’m asking Justin about how other people can be sure when it’s time to take another business direction. Justing also gives away great pieces of advice to other entrepreneurs facing similar situations.
Questions: When can a startup know it’s time to pivot? Would you consider working as an independant contractor? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Ep-32-How-to-fail-fast-and-pivot-with-Justin-Clune.mp3 Download Episode
Shownotes * (3:36) Introduction of Justin * (6:55) First concept: MommyCare * (9:43) HouseCare surfing the Airbnb ride * (14:35) Retention through quality control * (21:24) Business dependency * (23:15) Women empowerment and employees benefits * (32:36) Launching the business after Startup Weekend * (35:40) Focusing on paying customers * (37:04) Pivot * (41:22) Independent contractors and legal issues * (45:35) Are full time employees dead? * (48:21) Quick-fire questions
Links * HouseCare * HouseCare Facebook page * Open Network Lab * Tokyo Startup Weekend * Restaurant: Delirium Cafe
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 32: How to fail fast and pivot – with Justin Clune appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
While some industries are able to radically change in a short span of time, some others seem stuck and unable to innovate. That’s the case of the banking and finance sector in Japan. From websites that look like they were designed in the 80’s to ATMs resting on weekends, it seems that it is not on a par with the high-tech image that Japan usually conveys. Why can some industries embrace innovation while other seem trapped? That’s a question I’m trying to answer with my guest this week.
Mark Makdad is the co-founder and Chief of Sales at Moneytree. Feeling frustrated about the poor user experience of such outdated services, he and his 2 partners, all foreigners, decided to make personal finance easy. Moneytree allows you to access and display all your financial information data by simply connecting the Moneytree app to your bank accounts, credit cards, and e-wallets etc. It also uses artificial intelligence to categorize your spendings and sends you alerts in case of unusual activity.
Mark explains that Moneytree was built on Paul Graham’s “Schlep Blindness” concept. It says that many great startup ideas are not considered by anyone because they are too tedious to implement and that most founders usually prefer being clever than practical. Moneytree’s team built their own aggregation platform through automated browser. Basically, it connects manually to the web interface of your bank, on your behalf. This may not be the sexiest piece of code, but surely, it is very practical. As a result, Moneytree has done extremely well. In just about three years, they’ve raised $1.6 million and accumulated over 800,000 downloads in Japan.
Mark, who also has a technical background, explains why some companies, due to their size, remain in some innovation trap. Japan’s aversion for failure seem to be part of the explanation. Many companies would indeed prefer having a mediocre product that works 100% of the time than an innovative product that might fail once in a while.
In this interview, we discuss about Fin-techs and market evolutions. From robo-advisors to e-wallets, this space seems really exciting with many opportunities to take.
Questions: What broken industry would you like to change? How to get out from innovation traps? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Ep-31-On-Schlep-blindness-innovation-trap-and-fintech-with-Mark-Makdad.mp3 Download Episode
Shownotes * (4:33) Introduction of Mark Makdad * (7:07) From Lifestyle business to a product * (14:57) Birth of Moneytree * (18:26) Why some industries in Japan stop innovating? * (22:27) Presentation of Moneytree features * (24:28) e-wallet in Japan and privacy * (28:36) Handling financial data * (32:47) Business model * (34:36) Long term vision * (36:47) Fin-tech opportunities * (39:27) Regulatory changes * (42:25) Quick-fire questions
Links * Moneytree * Smart Icoca * Stockspot * Learn more about Schlep Blindness * Restaurant: Gyouzabouchohakkai (gyouza)
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 31: On Schlep blindness, innovation trap and fintech – with Mark Makdad appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
When I first tried to prepare this interview, I didn’t really know where to start. My guest, although very young, has accumulated a tremendous amount of experience. From startup founder to country manager of a global gaming company, to event organizer, Antti Sonninen has done a “few things” as he likes to put it.
One day, while still in Finland, his home country, he met with the CMO of Rovio, the company behind the globally famous game: Angry Birds. Antti suggested that Japan would be an interesting market for the company to develop. The next day he got an interview and about a month later he was in Japan doing some market research for the Company. As he could see the potential of Japan’s market, he built up a proposal to open a regional office in Tokyo and submitted it to the headquarter. Shortly after, he was appointed country manager.
This accelerated career boost gave him confidence to achieve more. So while attending many startup meetups, he started noticing that these events were broken. Most of them were invitation only, all in Japanese, too formal and the crowd far too homogenous. This led him to launch a first event that would change the rules. Partnering with a local startup accelerator, he managed to attract a crowd of a few hundreds of people. This was the premise of what later became the massive Slush Asia.
Slush Asia has been the largest international startup event taking place in Japan and it received the biggest media coverage. With over 3,200 attendees, public figures like Taizo Son (movida), Dave McClure (500 startups), Tomoko Namba (DeNA), the real achievement was to have an English-only event. Now, while Antti is planning the next Slush, others have followed him on his quest to make Japan more global, with similar events taking place around Tokyo.
More recently Antti traded his country manager hat to join a startup team. He felt that, before preaching the truth to other entrepreneurs at events, he should walk the walk and step into the shoes of an entrepreneur himself. He is also convinced that he would never get this type of learning by staying at his comfortable country manager position.
Antti believes that big goals is what drives people up and only those who plant the seeds can see the fruits. In this interview, he tells his story from his graduation days to his current active role in the Japan’s startup ecosystem. There was too much I wanted to ask him so I hope this will lead to a part two sometimes. But for now, I hope you’ll enjoy this episode.
Question: What are the greatest knowledge you can get as an entrepreneur that no book can ever teach? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Ep-30-On-Angry-Birds-Slush-Asia-and-how-to-walk-the-walk-with-Antti-Sonninen.mp3 Download Episode
Shownotes * (3:23) Presentation of Antti Sonninen * (5:43) Starting as Not-for-Profit Entrepreneur * (09:12) Creating his first job at Rovio in Japan * (16:23) Opening Rovio Japan Office * (20:38) Visa, apartment and other admin hurdles * (24:45) Building a team * (21:21) Broken startup events in Japan * (30:35) Aalto University, and a new generation of entrepreneurs * (35:47) How Slush was born * (42:28) Bringing Slush to Asia * (44:42) From country manager to startup team member * (54:56) The most exciting thing! * (58:19) Quickfire questions
Links * Slush Asia: Website / Twitter * Slush in Helsinki (next event on Nov. 11th & 12th 2015) * Find Antti on Twitter * Beatrobo * Rovio * Angry Birds
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 30: On Angry Birds, Slush Asia and how to walk the walk – with Antti Sonninen appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Japan startup landscape is in deep mutation. I’ve witnessed so many changes for the past few years as startups are raising more and more interest. In this episode, I wanted to have an open discussion about different aspects of the local startup ecosystem, trying to draw a picture about how Japan looks like.
This is a two-part episode with multiple guests of various expertises and backgrounds. Nik Pavesic from Justa, the #1 recruiting platform for startups in Japan and a popular hub for entrepreneurs to connect. Andre Casaclang, founder of a Tokyo-based startup called Climbing Beans and organizer of the Pioneers Tokyo event. And finally, Darren Balcombe, co-founder of Make It Creative, an NPO focusing social innovation programs and an active community builder. They all provide a fresh yet different perspective regarding the Japan startup landscape.
The discussion is articulated around four themes, which are four questions we’re trying to answer:
- Where is the next ground breaking idea in Japan?
- Japan startup meetups: what shall be improved?
- Can foreigners really start a business in Japan?
- How will the Japan startup ecosystem in 5 Years look like?
If you’ve missed it, you should listen back to Part 1 first.
In this second part, we’re talking about foreigners setting up a business in Japan. Since corporate jobs at Japanese companies look very unattractive to foreigners, many decide to take the path of entrepreneurship. However, they soon realize that Japan is a very complex country with many hurdles for small businesses. While there are countless obstacles for foreigners, the language being the main barrier, there are also many assets that “gaijins” can leverage. We discuss about these advantages as well as the existing structures that can help young entrepreneurs starting up.
Finally, we are trying to project ourselves 5 years later, when Japan will be hosting the Olympics and try to imagine how the Japanese startup landscape will look like. Will Japan be able to overcome today’s main problems? What role will Japan play in the region, while surrounding countries show tremendous growth potential? How can Japan create its own identity to be different, not better, than Silicon Valley? These are some of the questions we’ll try to answer.
I hope you’ll enjoy this group podcast format. Feel free to share your comments and tell me what you think. Also, let me know if you have other themes or guests to suggest. (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Ep-29-Decrypting-Japan-startup-landscape-Part-2.mp3 Download Episode
Shownotes * (4:40) Can foreigners successfully run a business in Japan? * (30:35) Japan startup ecosystem in 5 years * (48:42) Many exciting projects: Justa, Climbing bean, Pioneers Tokyo, Make it Creative, Japan X, Startup Bar * (1:02:30) Quick-fire questions
Links * Justa: Website / Tech in Asia article * The PIK app * Tokyo Pioneers: Website / Festival * Climbing Bean * Make It Creative * Nesta * Incentivizing Innovation * Women’s Startup Lab * Japan X Accelerator Program * Startup Weekend * TEDxTokyo * PechaKucha * Restaurants: + Kururi (miso ramen) + The Great Burger + Fukutoku Ramen + ~~Sukiya~~
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 29: Decrypting Japan startup landscape – Part 2 appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Japan startup landscape is in deep mutation. I’ve witnessed so many changes for the past few years as startups are raising more and more interest. In this episode, I wanted to have an open discussion about different aspects of the local startup ecosystem, trying to draw a picture about how Japan looks like.
This is a two-part episode with multiple guests of various expertises and backgrounds. Nik Pavesic from Justa, the #1 recruiting platform for startups in Japan and a popular hub for entrepreneurs to connect. Andre Casaclang, founder of a Tokyo-based startup called Climbing Beans and organizer of the Pioneers Tokyo event. And finally, Darren Balcombe, co-founder of Make It Creative, an NPO focusing social innovation programs and an active community builder. They all provide a fresh yet different perspective regarding the Japan startup landscape.
The discussion is articulated around four themes, which are four questions we’re trying to answer:
- Where is the next ground breaking idea in Japan?
- Japan startup meetups: what shall be improved?
- Can foreigners really start a business in Japan?
- How will the Japan startup ecosystem in 5 Years look like?
In this first part, we’re addressing the question of innovation among Japanese startups. Although we witness many exciting business popping up, it is uncommon to see real disrupting ideas that could be a game changer. While great business ideas have the power of making a company successful, a ground breaking idea can change the economy as a whole. I’m asking my guests if they’ve witnessed such companies in Japan and how can we create an environment which can nurture ideas of this type.
We’re also discussing about entrepreneurs meetups and other startup events around Japan. All of my guests have been event organizers themselves and so they share their perspective on what make an event a successful one. While there is an increasing number of meetups around Japan, many events still look very similar, with a style more corporate than startup-like. I’m asking my guests about their favorite events around Tokyo and we also lay down the best attributes in order to foster interactions and innovation.
This is my first group podcast, so I’d be really interested to hear your comments about it. Also if you like the format, feel free to suggest other themes you’d like me to discuss next time. (reply in the comments)
Stay tuned for part 2 next week.
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Ep-28-Decrypting-Japan-startup-landscape-Part-1.mp3 Download Episode
Shownotes * (4:56) Presentation of guests * (9:07) Where is the next ground breaking idea? * (36:20) Startup events & meetups, what can be done better?
Links * Justa: Website / Tech in Asia article * The PIK app * Tokyo Pioneers: Website / Festival * Climbing Bean * Make It Creative * Nesta * Incentivizing Innovation * Women’s Startup Lab * Japan X Accelerator Program * Startup Weekend * TEDxTokyo * PechaKucha * Restaurants: + Kururi (miso ramen) + The Great Burger + Fukutoku Ramen + ~~Sukiya~~
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 28: Decrypting Japan startup landscape – Part 1 appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Selling your business is one thing. But it requires another level of skills to be able to sell several companies in the row. Merging or getting acquired by another company is a bit like marriage: you need to be sure you share similar values and can make things work out before getting into this big commitment.
To talk about selling a business, nobody was more appropriate than my guest this week, Yo Shibata. Yo started his first company when he was only 20 years old. After two years working on it, he decided to give a try to the corporate world but soon realized that this was not for him. He then moved back to the startup world, working on two companies at the same time. Eventually, he sold them both, including one for half a million dollar in just about a year.
Following that double success, he decided in 2011 to focus on his latest venture, Spotlight, making an O2O (online to offline) service called SMAPO. It is a mobile application where users can earn points by physically checking in at bricks and mortar retail shops. He has been able to sign over 90 brands at 700+ locations getting onboard big names like BicCamera or United Arrows. Eventually, in 2013, he sold 100% of the company to Rakuten, Japan’s biggest e-commerce company.
Yo explains how the acquisition took place step-by-step and tells us about the criteria that led him to choose that company over other offers he received. Merging a start-up with a multinational company is not an easy task. The management style as well as the corporate culture are so different. Yo guides us through the slow integration process following the acquisition and explains how adjustments have been made to only keep the best of both sides.
Beyond talking about how to sell your business, as a serial entrepreneur, Yo shares many pieces of advice for entrepreneurs out there. From how to make your first MVP to when to quit your corporate job, he gives us very valuable recommendations.
Questions: What criteria to consider when selling your company? How long building an MVP should take? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Ep-27-Selling-your-business-Stories-from-a-serial-entrepreneur-with-Yo-Shibata.mp3 Download Podcast
Shownotes * (3:31) Presentation of Yo Shibata * (6:17) Building 2 successful companies in parallel * (11:30) Making a quick MVP at low cost * (15:29) Presentation of SMAPO O2O application * (20:20) Marketing metrics – how to prove the efficiency * (22:26) Online to offline or offline to online * (24:14) New technologies and technology dependencies * (31:56) Acquisition by Rakuten – managing the fusion * (34:35) Acquisition process and criteria * (39:58) How does it feel to get acquired? * (42:16) What to do next after selling your business? * (44:20) Merging corporate cultures * (47:24) Quick-fire questions
Links * Smapo * iBeacon vs. ultrasonic indoor detection * Rakuten Corp. * Rakuten check * Restaruants: Ata & Urara (Italian)
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 27: Selling your business – Stories from a serial entrepreneur – with Yo Shibata appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
The economy is in deep mutation and it seems that only the very big or very small companies can survive. Either you’re a Google or Amazon dominating a whole industry. Or you’re a small scale venture with sufficient agility to constantly adapt to an ever changing demand. But the vast majority of companies sitting in the middle seem to have a hard time innovating, and many keep laying off their employees.
According to my guest this week, the solution lies in connecting startups with big companies. Ijichi Sorato is the founder of Creww, a platform giving startups access to all the resources they need. He believes that big companies have plenty of assets, ranging from IP to large customer bases that startups could leverage to create value. He hopes his platform can encourage this type of collaborations to eventually revive the Japanese economy.
To date, there were over 600 collaboration proposals and 95 effective partnerships were created. Creww’s platform lists over 1700 startups and continues to add new services for startups.
Sorato-san left Japan when he was only 16 years old to go study in the US. He explains how this transformed his mindset and pushed him in 2005 to create his first company. With no programing skills at all, his company was providing web services to over 600 clients worldwide. In 2009 he started another venture, an online shopping mall for japanese e-commerce websites to reach foreign markets. Eventually, he founded Creww in 2012, where at the time, everybody else told him that big companies would never work with startups.
Sorato-san shares how it was hard for him to go against the majority finding constant opposition during the first years of business. Today, big companies as well as the government seem to have finally understood the benefits of startups. However, the general population remains difficult to convince. Most parents don’t accept to have their children working for startups and would rather see them working for established companies.
Sorato-san explains that the education, both at school and at home, will have to evolve but it will probably take several generations. In the meantimes, he believes that having role models of successful entrepreneurs is the best way to strengthen the startup image.
The Japan Venture Show is proud to be part of Creww’s Publicity Service. Learn more here
Questions: How to make mentalities change towards startups? Can big companies still survive in today’s economy? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Ep-26-Reviving-Japan-Connecting-startups-with-big-companies-with-Ijichi-Sorato.mp3 Download Podcast
Shownotes * (3:21) Introduction of Ijichi Sorato * (5:39) Presentation of Creww * (8:04) Bringing big companies closer to startups * (14:33) All business connecting to the Internet * (16:17) Creating collaborations * (18:01) From venture to startup * (20:09) Going against the whole world * (25:27) Promoting Startups through mass media * (28:41) How to convince the general public? * (32:40) Who should be an entrepreneur? * (36:57) Quick-fire questions
Links * Creww * NihonTV x creww SENSORS: Web / Event * Morinaga * Disney Accelerator * Restaurant: DinTaiFon (鼎泰豊)
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 26: Reviving Japan – Connecting startups with big companies – with Ijichi Sorato appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
While it is true that you need luck to succeed, it is also fair to say that you successful people create their own luck. Challenging yourself and shaking your daily life routine is usually a good way to start.
My guest this week is a typical example of someone who lives by these rules. I was pleased to sit with Yuka Fujii, founder of a company called Famarry. Yuka explains how she moved by herself to Vietnam when she was 27, with the ambition of contributing to this rapidly growing economy. Although challenging at first, she created her first business in less than three weeks. She tried her chance and the chance smiled back at her. Less than a year later, the business was sold, and she decided to challenge herself somewhere else. She then moved to Singapore, working as a consultant and launching a new venture.
Yuka explains how living in many countries has shaped her current mindset and contributed to her successes. Her international exposure started very early on. She was born in Syria before moving to Dubai where she lived the first years of her life. After getting some business experience in South-East Asia, she eventually decided to come back to Japan to start Famarry, her current venture.
Famarry is a platform to help couples find a photographer for their pre-wedding photo session. In Asia, it is common practice for couples to take photos in traditional outfits before the actual wedding ceremony. With her service, she makes it easy for couples to choose the right photographer, based on the photo style they are looking for.
Along this interview, we talk extensively about her experience doing business in three very different markets: Vietnam, a rapidly growing economy; Singapore, a business friendly environment; and Japan, a rich nation with a big domestic market. She discusses about the difficulties she experienced in each of these markets and explains the reasons that led her to come back to Japan.
We also talk about the importance for business founders to surround themselves with the right people. She shares with us how she found her co-founders. We also debate about the pros and cons of having employees compared with business partners.
An inspiring guest which I hope will make you challenge yourself and create your own luck.
Questions: How do you create your own luck? What difficulties have you faced doing business in a country that is not your own? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Ep-25-Challenging-yourself-and-creating-your-own-chance-with-Yuka-Fujii.mp3 Download Podcast
Shownotes * (1:54) Presentation of Yuka * (3:08) Creating your own luck * (7:30) Starting a business in Vietnam * (11:04) Business development in a foreign country * (13:17) Setting a business in Singapore * (15:28) Wedding photography in Japan * (19:53) Advantage doing business in your own country * (21:33) First funds raising * (23:04) Famarry service * (23:45) Finding your first users * (25:43) Competition * (30:10) Importance of building the right team * (39:07) Benefits of international backgrounds * (41:58) Pros and cons of doing business in Japan * (46:49) Quick-fire questions
Links * Famarry + Famarry Website + Famarry plus JP / EN + Instagram + Facebook * Justa * Wantedly * East ventures * Restaurants: + Sanshuya (izakaya) + Imakatsu (tonkatsu)
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 25: Challenging yourself and creating your own luck – with Yuka Fujii appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
While companies generally focus on acquiring new customers, most of their revenue comes from existing customers, not new ones. On average, 80% of their revenue comes from customers they already have. So why not investing more on customers they already have? Why focusing so much on acquisition while the biggest value is on retention?
The art of retention marketing is to make your customers loyal. That is to keep them interested and engaged with your products and services. While companies have not only allocated a small budget to it, they’ve also relied on generic tactics that are one-size-fits-all solutions. They usually rely on membership programs, discounts, and points systems that are not really considering customers individuality.
My guest this week, Koji Fukada, understands that a loyalty should be based on building personalized relationship with customers. He’s the founder CEO of a Sprocket, a hospitality automation platform operating in Japan and US. The philosophy behind his product is derived from what he calls “Omotenashi Economics”, or Japanese hospitality consisting of anticipating needs of the guests.
Koji himself is from Kyoto, which is the capital of the omotenashi style. In the Gion district (the old town of Kyoto), most restaurants only accept a small network of customers and do not allow one-timer clients. What matters to them is the relationship they build with their existing customers, with only little consideration to fill the room. From customer management to customers engagement. This is what Koji tries to translate in the online world.
Koji has an impressive business background. He founded his first company in 2000. One year later he released the world’s first mobile e-commerce website. At the time, phones were only displaying a small matrix of black and white characters. But the technical challenge didn’t prevent him from selling 2-to-3 million dollar worth of fashion items every month.
In this interview, Koji shares his stories: how he’s built tremendous businesses, landing clients like McDonald, Sony, Uniqlo, etc. but also the hard times he went through, having to lose half of his employees for instance. He also shares some best practices on how to perform retention marketing today, to engage your customers and make them come back.
Questions: What are the best strategies to engage customers nowadays? What are the best tools to manage and interact with your customers? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Ep-24-Omotenashi-economics-or-how-to-master-retention-marketing-with-Koji-Fukada.mp3 Download Podcast
Shownotes * (2:29) Presentation of Sprocket – marketing automation * (7:20) O2O – omnichannel integration * (8:57) The world’s first mobile e-commerce website * (16:46) What to do when your partner stop paying you * (19:42) Importance of transparent communication * (23:37) From recovery to growth * (26:52) Building a vision * (32:47) Omotenashi economics * (39:09) Retention marketing automation * (41:55) The importance of stories * (49:24) How to increase customer engagement * (52:58) Is gamification dead? * (55:44) Quick-fire questions
Links * Sprocket * Yumemi * 16 Basic Human Desires (Steve Reiss) * Founders Dilemma (Noam Wasserman) * Kana-uni (カナユニ) Japanese/French restaurant in Akasaka
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 24: Omotenashi economics or how to master retention marketing – with Koji Fukada appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Managing a business is a tough job. You have to make critical decisions every single day. This is why big firms have relied on the expertise of consulting companies for many years. But when it comes to startups, most founders don’t have the proper support to guide their decision process. They receive advice from friends and family, but not all feedback is good feedback.
To talk about it, I was pleased to sit with my friend David Risselborn. He has experience advising companies of all size, from multinationals to startups. David used to work as a consultant for McKinsey and learned frameworks and methodologies to analyse businesses. He also has an entrepreneur background that he leveraged doing consulting with startups.
David is therefore very familiar with the common questions and problems that companies are facing. He explains how overcoming these issues, whether business or management related, differ depending on their size. While big firms have the financial resources to find solutions to their problems, they are pretty slow compared to startups when it comes to implementing the required changes.
David also talks about the importance of market feedback. He explains the importance for startups of releasing products fast although imperfect. He also goes through the best ways to get proper consumer feedback, and how to dissociate what to listen from what to ignore.
We talk about the importance of having processes within any organisation, including startups. While their agility is a strength, startups are also very prone to making mistake because of their lack of proper internal structure. So I’m asking David what types of process are most appropriate? And in which cases flexibility should prevail over optimisation?
In this episode we discuss about the importance for startups to have an advisor. After all, startup founders too need help. They need somebody with no emotional connection to their business to guide them in their decision. They need someone to ask them the hard questions.
Question: Which area would you like to get some advice for your business / project? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Ep-23-Startup-consulting-Why-founders-should-have-an-advisor-with-David-Risselborn.mp3 Download Podcast
Shownotes * (2:40) Presentation of David * (4:37) Consulting for startups vs. big companies * (7:29) Releasing an imperfect product * (9:55) A strong vision vs. listening to the market * (16:32) Prioritize and focus * (21:06) Processes and optimisation in small companies * (26:20) The value and limit of openness * (31:10) Current venture: planning tool for teachers * (36:06) Advice and emotional connection * (41:48) Advisor, persons to ask the hard questions * (43:20) Singapore, Sweden and Japan startup ecosystems * (53:10) Quick-fire questions
Links * BluePrint (Swedish) * State of the Internet 2015 (Mary Meeker) * Startup Consulting * Related episode: Ep 12: You can’t fail if you never give up – with Jay Winder * Kanban (wiki) * Project management tools: Trello / Asana * Online course: MIT Open Courseware / Coursera * Restaurant: Maisen (tonkatsu)
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
If you would like to participate as a guest, check out this page.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 23: Startup consulting – Why founders should have an advisor – with David Risselborn appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Everybody talks about the rise of tourists coming to Japan. Since Japan was selected to host the Olympic games of 2020, there is a big fuss about the increasing number of foreigners traveling to the country. In 2013, Japan has for the first time crossed the 10 million tourists threshold. And it is expected to double by 2020 with over 20 million visitors. This excitement about the booming tourist sector has attracted many businesses to enter and address this market.
While the foreign tourist market is on the rise, it remains relatively small compared to the domestic travel market. In value it represents no more than 5% of the total travel industry in Japan. This is the reason why my guest, Kei Shibata continues to bet on the Japanese domestic market.
Kei is the founder CEO of Venture Republic, a company managing websites like travel.jp or hotel.jp. His company has been in business for over 14 years and went IPO in 2008. He also sold the e-commerce part of his business to Yahoo Japan in 2013.
With such an long experience in business, I’m asking Kei about the main changes he has witnessed in the industry. When he first started, it was the early age of the Internet, and Kei explains how online strategies have evolved over time. In particular, he claims that today, quality content is the key to be seen in a market where the attention span has never been shorter.
Kei reveals the biggest lessons he got through his experience. He insists on the importance of having a solid admin team, something that is sometimes ignored by tech startups. He also shares some management insights, talking about the way he’s been working with companies he acquired in other countries.
Kei is a veteran of the online traveling space and I was glad he could share the biggest lessons of his 14 years experience in this short interview.
Questions: What part of the travel industry still need to be improved? What has been your biggest lesson since you started your business? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Ep-22-A-14-years-ride-in-the-travel-industry-with-Kei-Shibata.mp3 Download Podcast
Show notes * (1:51) Presentation of Kei * (3:11) Introduction of Travel meta search business * (5:12) Importance of domain names * (7:35) Travel industry boom in Japan * (14:07) Content strategy and social media * (20:45) Mobile apps * (22:53) Startup acquisition strategy * (28:48) Importance of the admin team * (32:03) Quick-fire questions
Links * Venture Republic * Travel.jp * Trip101 * News curation apps: Gunosy / SmartNews * Restaurants: + W The Cellar Grill + Tama
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 22: A 14-year ride in the travel industry – with Kei Shibata appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Is there a global spiritual revolution going on? I see more and more entrepreneurs and business leaders adopting meditation or other sorts of spiritual practices. Is this just a trend or is there something deeper happening?
Whether in our business or personal life, we all go through tough times. There are always unexpected events destroying our plans and affecting our well-being. In our career, we might not get the promotion that was promised to us. In our business, our main clients might suddenly turn to our competitor. Although we know that life is a bumpy road, it is so easy to get affected by these events. And so we are all trying to find ways to get through and move forward.
To talk about it, I was glad to invite a very different type of guest this week. His name is Chad Kreller, Director at Intelligence Global Search (IGS), one of the leading recruiting companies in Japan. Chad shares his personal story about how he went through dark times at his job. He explains how his physical and mental health were affected and shares the recipes of his recovery.
Chad believes that we are our own perception, and therefore we can control our emotions. He explains the process which led him to get better: starting with identifying the cause and regaining control over his mind and body.
Chad is a very fascinating person. He is part of several fraternities ranging from friendship group to secretive organizations like freemasonry. He talks openly about what’s going on inside these fraternity groups, and the various practices he’s learnt with them.
This is an experimental episode stepping about outside entrepreneurship. You may agree or disagree with what you listen. But at least, I hope this conversation will make you ask questions and raise your curiosity.
Questions: Do you have any spiritual practice? How do you deal with stress? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Ep-21-On-fraternities-meditation-and-spirituality-with-Chad-Kreller.mp3 Download Podcast
Show notes * (3:30) Presentation of Chad * (5:12) Gyros International * (8:07) What’s a fraternity * (9:23) Free Mason & Circes International * (11:44) Going through tough times * (19:00) Meditation and spiritual practices * (25:01) Global spiritual revolution * (26:22) Can you be spiritual without being religious * (30:57) Fraternities and secrets * (34:02) Frontier between fraternities and cults * (38:07) Practical advices * (41:11) Quick-fire questions
Links * CIRCES International * Tokyo GYROS * Freemasonry (Wiki) * 7 hermetic Principles (on Youtube) * Restaurant: Salt * Chad’s email for any inquiries: Cdk009japan@icloud.com
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 21: On fraternities, meditation and spirituality – with Chad Kreller appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Japan’s population is decreasing at a fast pace. From 127 million today, it is projected to go down to only 95 million people by 2050. Japanese companies won’t be able to solely rely on their domestic market anymore. They will have to find ways to become more international and reach overseas customers for the whole economy to maintain. But can Japanese companies really become more international? They are not particularly renowned for their global mindset. Apart from a few exceptions they are still very domestic, both in their operations and management style.
Still, some companies understand what’s at stakes and are willing to embrace this change. That’s what my guest, Asami Matsumoto, has decided to focus on. Her company Active Connector helps connecting international students with Japanese firms. In particular, she organizes workshops where companies’ employees mix with foreign students to solve the companies’ problems and challenges. She believes that diversity and global mindset is what Japan needs to really become more international.
This is a tough challenge she concedes. More than the language difference, it is the cultural gap that usually poses problems. Asami knows quite a lot about cultural differences and the power of diversity. She’s been living in many places including Wales, Canada and Pakistan. She’s therefore very much aware of the challenges it represents. But she hopes that bringing more foreigners to Japanese companies will overtime trigger the necessary changes that Japan needs.
I’m asking Asami why Japanese companies are so slow to change. In fact, many remain very unattractive with little paid vacations, long working hours and little room for employees to express their opinion. Therefore they will have a hard time bringing in more foreigners. We discuss about the main barriers to internationalization and how can foreigners contribute to make Japan more global.
Questions: What are the main barriers to internationalization in Japan? How can Japanese companies become more global? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Ep-20-Can-diversity-and-global-mindset-save-Japan’s-innovation-–-with-Asami-Matsumoto.mp3 Download Podcast
Show notes * (2:02) Presentation of Asami and Active Connector * (5:15) Are Japanese companies ready to be global? * (6:42) Focus on international students * (9:01) Japan’s recruiting process issue * (11:46) Work for what you love * (13:10) Companies don’t listen their employees * (14:47) Affirming uniqueness without breaking rules * (19:20) Becoming global is a necessity * (23:22) Life time employment vs. job hopping * (24:45) Tips for foreigners applying at Japanese companies * (27:02) Details about the ideation workshops * (33:47) Listening to employees’ voice * (36:05) Government initiatives * (37:39) Quick-fire questions
Links * Active Connector Website * Active Connector on Facebook / for Students * Asami’s blog * Global 30 (Governement Project) * Yamathon * Related episode: Running a charity event and the art of giving
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 20: Can diversity and global mindset save Japan’s innovation? – with Asami Matsumoto appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
It’s only until recently that I realized that there were only few tech founders among the Japan’s startup community. When you look at most founders’ profile, they very often come from consulting or finance. But tech founders are a rare species around here. I was therefore curious to know what differences it makes for a startup to have a tech person at its head.
To talk about it I was pleased to interview Paul McMahon, the founder of DoorKeeper. If you go to events around Japan, it’s likely that you’ve heard about them. DoorKeeper is a platform to organize events. It helps organizers recruit, manage and grow their community.
Paul is used to go to many events himself. One day he found out that organizers were struggling to manage participants showing up. In fact, the Japanese language makes it even more complicated when you have to look up for the name of the guests. As Paul told me, tech people love solving problems. And so, this is when he started to think about a solution. What was initially a personal challenge became three years later a company.
With Paul, we discuss about the unfair advantage of being a tech founder. What are the pluses but also what are the main skills that he lacks the most in his business. I’m also asking him about the differences that it makes for the company as a whole. Do tech founders manage their organization differently? According to Paul, the engineer mind loves processes and so this is also translated in their management style.
Paul is all about events and community management. He himself hosts the Tokyo Rubyist Meetup, bridging the Japan and international Ruby community. And so it seems that from the start he was destined to create DoorKeeper. Does your idea find you or do you find your idea? That’s another question we’re trying to solve.
Questions: What are the necessary skills when you start a company? How do you find your business idea? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Ep-19-Solving-problems-the-tech-founder-advantage-with-Paul-McMahon.mp3 Download Podcast
Show notes * (2:27) Introduction of Paul * (10:35) Presentation of Doorkeeper service * (12:37) How to spread your service name * (14:21) Differentiation with competitors * (16:00) Long term vision * (17:12) Starting as a side project * (19:45) Was becoming an entrepreneur a plan? * (20:45) How important is it to have a killer business idea? * (24:25) Criteria for picking a good business idea * (27:32) Having a tech background as a founder * (32:00) Cannot be an expert at everything * (34:05) Why only few tech founders in Japan * (36:39) Internal processes * (38:34) Getting feedback from users * (40:17) Ruby Community * (42:36) Quick-fire questions
Links * Doorkeeper: Website / Facebook / Twitter * Paul’s personal website * Tokyo Rubyist Meetup * Mobile Monday Tokyo * Restaurant: Bánh mì Sandwich
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 19: Solving problems, the tech founder advantage – with Paul McMahon appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
What’s the recipe to finding great business ideas? I’m not sure there is an answer to that question. But when my guest told me the story behind his company, I felt I was on the track to uncover part of the solution.
In this episode, I’m interviewing Shinichi Tatebayashi, founder CEO of Squeeze. With his team, they are making a rental online support service which helps individuals rent out their vacant homes. He explained to me that he first started by helping his parents to rent out a property they own. He set them up by creating an account on Airbnb and arranged all the communication part with the foreign customers. After only two months, he had been able to multiply the property revenue by 3 or 4. Following that success, he was asked by some of his friends to provide them with similar services. This is when he realised that this could become a viable business.
Based on that experience we discuss about how entrepreneurs come up with business ideas. We also debate about what makes an idea, a good business idea. Is there really a way to know? Or is it just something to figure out along the way?
But more than coming up with great ideas, Shinichi is a believer in the power of execution. His favorite motto is: “You miss a 100% of the shots you don’t take.” And so he’s taking his chances executing and implementing his ideas rather than planning and mitigating risks. We discuss about the importance of being bold and setting high goals, and how this helps achieving more than we believe we can.
I’m also very interested in his experience as a young manager. At just 25 years-old, he’s leading a team of some twenty people. And so I’m asking him about the biggest management lessons that he’s learned. He put a great emphasis on diversity. With ten different nationalities in his team, he believes that differences of backgrounds is what makes a great team and ultimately creates value.
Questions: What are the best way to generate ideas? Can you start a great business without a killer idea? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Ep-18-How-to-find-your-business-idea-and-get-started-with-Shinichi-Tatebayashi.mp3 Download Podcast
Show notes * (2:14) Introduction of Mister Suite 1.44 * (9:32) From helping family to making a business * (16:34) High home vacancy rate combined with hotel shortage * (20:44) From building a product to scaling * (22:52) #1 challenge * (26:04) Long term vision * (27:42) Killer idea vs. execution * (31:05) How to generate ideas * (35:47) What is a good business idea * (39:11) Diversity and building strengths * (45:54) Making Japan more international * (48:09) Management lessons * (50:14) Be bold and set high goals * (53:14) Quick-fire questions
Links * SQUEEZE Inc. (New solutions for emerging markets in the hospitality business) * Mister Suite (Providing full vacation rental support for property owners) * MINPAKU (A blog dedicated to helping vacation rental hosts with struggles in the new emerging hospitality market) * TRIPALS (A blog dedicated to helping tourists explore Japan and Tokyo like locals and create memorable experiences) * Airbnb * Restaurant: Okonomi Tamachan (お好みたまちゃん) * Related episode: Ep 12: You can’t fail if you never give up – with Jay Winder
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 18: How to find your business idea and get started? – with Shinichi Tatebayashi appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Financing plays a big role in the startup life. This is the oil in the business engine. Without capital, a company can hardly grow and move forward. For the past few years, I’ve witnessed a tremendous change of the venture capital (VC) landscape in Japan. It’s been growing at a fast pace and so I was curious to understand more about the status of VC in Japan and the way it operates.
Nobody could be more appropriate than my guest this week, Akira Kurabayashi, to talk about VC in Japan. Akira is a serial investor and has an impressive background. He served as a Director of the investment division at several big corporations like Mitsui Technology Investment Group, Globespan Capital Partners, and also Salesforce Ventures. More recently he joined as a Managing Director at Draper Nexus, a major US-Japan cross border investment firm.
I wanted to start with the basics. So I’m asking Akira to describe how a VC company works. How do they choose the companies to invest in. What are the main criteria influencing their decision process. And ultimately, what’s the definition of a successful investment.
Whenever we talk about startups, people tend to compare with what’s going on in the US. With investment experience in the American market, Akira also shares his views on the main differences with Japan. According to him, Japan’s startups focus essentially on the consumer market while in the US, the market is split equally with enterprise solutions. Furthermore, the entrepreneur crowd in Japan is pretty young in comparison and Akira really hopes to foster more business veterans in Japan.
We also talk extensively about the role of the board of directors. Should a VC become a board member, a board observer, or simply an advisor? It seems that more startups get reluctant to give away voting rights. And so, I’m asking Akira his views on when it makes sense to have investors seating at their board.
This episode really brings some tremendous insights about startups and financing from an investor’s point of view.
Questions: Should a VC seat at the board of directors? What should startups consider when choosing a VC (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Ep-17-Lessons-from-a-serial-VC-in-Japan-with-Akira-Kurabayashi.mp3 Download Podcast
Show notes * (2:11) Presentation of Draper Nexus * (5:34) What’s a successful investment * (9:49) Main criteria to invest into startups * (11:55) Investment process * (15:03) VC differences between Japan and the US * (18:36) What startups should look at when choosing a VC * (22:28) Collaboration between VCs * (24:51) Should VC seat at the board of directors? * (28:52) Board observer vs. adviser * (31:28) Japan startup scene * (35:05) The best age to start a business * (38:57) High potential sectors in Japan * (40:37) Quick-fire questions
Links * Draper Nexus Ventures * Draper Nexus on Draper Nexus Twitter * Apps & software: Sansan / Money Forward * Restaurant: Yakumo（八雲）
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 17: Lessons from a serial VC in Japan – with Akira Kurabayashi appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Every company, every brand, pretty much everybody is competing to get some attention online. Many tools are available to reach out people: Blogs, SEO, newsletters, paid advertising, social media etc. But as the internet is getting more and more crowded with information, it seems that the only successful strategy is to provide quality content.
Content marketing is the art of creating and distributing relevant content to a target audience. Creating quality content is not an easy task. You’ve got to find sources of information, aggregate relevant content, and ultimately deliver a message that is of value to your audience in a format that is easy to consume. Most companies don’t have the necessary resources to carry on such task. This is what my guest, Sunao Munakata, is focusing on with his company called Innova.
Innova offers a crowd-based content creating service where companies can externalize the content creation process. It also provides a marketing automation service called Coud-CMO, which simplifies content distribution and gives insightful analytics.
Anybody who’s running a business has to focus on online marketing at one point or another. But only few really invest into content marketing. Sunao believes this trend is about to change.
We talk about the current status of online marketing, what’s working and what’s not. We dig into each strategy and discuss their own specificities. I ask him the burning questions all entrepreneurs and marketing people consider: how can I optimize my SEO (Search Engine Optimization)? Should I create a mailing list? Where should I sell my products online?
I also ask my guest about his views on the specificities of the Japan market. It seems that, from a design point of view at least, Japan’s websites are very different than those in the west. Sunao explains how online behaviors are different in Japan. He also shares his views on where online marketing is going and what will the winning strategies be.
Great insights for entrepreneurs or anybody who want to increase his online visibility in Japan.
Questions: What online marketing strategy is working for you? Do you have any favorite tool for online marketing? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Ep-16-Content-marketing-or-how-to-be-seen-online-with-Sunao-Munakata.mp3 Download Podcast
Show notes * (2:17) Presentation of Innova’s business * (11:59) Women workers in Japan * (14:28) Best tips for building your online marketing * (21:54) Can we still do SEO nowadays? * (25:53) How to do SEO in Japan * (30:39) Web design in Japan * (33:54) Building trust and selling online * (37:39) Quick-fire questions
Links * Innova: Website / Facebook / Twitter * The Content Marketing: Website / Facebook * Sunao Munakata: Facebook / Twitter * Services talked about in the episode: Smartnews / Gunosy / Shopify * Recommended apps: Buffer / Manage Flitter / Relaxify * 商品を売るな (book from Sunao Munakata): Buy on Amazon * Qigong meditation * Restaurant recommendation: Uoshin (魚真乃木坂店) * Related post: Ep 13: Multiple Careers and the Knowledge Sharing Economy
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 16: Content marketing or how to be seen online – with Sunao Munakata appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Growing up in San Francisco, my guest Keigo Fukugaki, is used to hang out with the startup crowd. After coming to Japan about 4 years ago, he felt that the local startup ecosystem needed more places for interactions, allowing people to share and exchange ideas. With that conviction in mind, he wants to help build an open startup ecosystem in Japan.
For the past few months, Keigo has been working on starting his own accelerator program. Although this project is still at its premises, he has a strong vision on the environment he wants to create. More than just another incubation program, he wants to invite startups to join a new lifestyle.
In this episode, we discuss his views on the Japan startup ecosystem, what’s working and what needs to be improved. He says Japan needs more young millionaires. But this will be unlikely to happen as long as early employees in startups prefer a salary over equity.
Keigo is the type of guy who cannot just sit still and focus on one thing at the time. He’s involved in many projects and he believes that they all benefit one another. Keigo, is before anything else, a creative. With a strong background in architectural design, he’s working as a freelancer to remodel companies’ office space.
He is also currently involved in a startup working on a service called HoneyWedding. It’s a great tool for couples to plan their wedding according to their own tastes and without hassle. From RSVPs, guest list management, to photo sharing, HoneyWedding offers a long list of features aiming to facilitate wedding planning.
Whatever the project he is working on, Keigo tries to live by his motto: “inspire to be inspired.” So I really hope this episode will inspire you.
Question: What could make the Japan startup ecosystem more open? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Ep-15-Building-an-open-startup-ecosystem-in-Japan-with-Keigo-Fukugaki.mp3 Download Podcast
Show notes * (2:24) Introduction of Keigo * (6:58) Tokyo BnA: Connecting Art with Airbnb * (12:55) HoneyWedding: Online wedding planner * (22:37) Starting a company in Japan * (27:54) Starting a startup accelerator program * (37:18) What’s missing in Japan startup ecosystem * (41:06) Do you need to be part of an accelerator? * (44:40) Quick-fire questions
Links * Honeywedding: Website / Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter * Startup the Party: Website / Facebook * Tokyo BnA: Website / Facebook * Makeshift: Website / Facebook / Twitter * Apps: Avocado / Between / Propela * Restaurant: Afuri (ramen) / Oiran (bar)
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
Transcript
Hi, Welcome to the Japan Venture Show, your podcast about entrepreneurship and the startup scene in Japan.
I’m Frederic Peyrot, and thank you for listening.
Hello listeners and thank you for listening to the Japan Venture Show.
Today I’m interviewing my friend, Keigo Fukugaki.
Keigo is a multi-facet guy: he’s an artist, an interior architect, but also an entrepreneur.
He’s originally from San Fransisco but he came to Japan about four years ago.
He’s the type of guy who cannot be satisfied of doing too little, and he’s been involved in many different types of projects.
At the moment, he’s focusing his energy on a new service called HoneyWedding.
HoneyWedding helps couples plan their wedding online and it offers great tools such as:
RSVPs, Guest List, ToDo List, access to curated professionals, everything that you need to organize your own wedding.
We discuss about how the wedding industry is broken in Japan.
It’s outrageously expensive and leaves little room for couples to organize a wedding according to their own tastes.
this is what HoneyWedding is trying to solve.
Keigo has an even bigger appetite and he’s also working on building a startup accelerator program.
We share similar views on the fact that in Japan there are too few places where entrepreneur can freely share ideas.
Well you have meetups, network events, but usually people go there to talk about their own project,
not to exchange ideas freely, with an open mindset.
Usually people are kind of scared of having somebody else stealing their own ideas.
A place to share ideas openly. That’s exactly the environment he wants to create with his soon to become accelerator program.
We spend an extensive amount of time talking about the Japan startup scene and I’m sure you’ll also have some opinion about it as well, so don’t hesitate to share your comments on the Japan Venture Show website.
So without getting too long in my monologue here, let’s just move on to the interview.
Please welcome Keigo Fukugaki from Makeshift.
—
Fred: I’m very pleased today to have Keigo Fukugaki to my show and to talk about his company Makeshift.
Fred:Welcome.
Keigo: Thank you for having me.
Fred: How are you?
Keigo: I’ve been really good.
Fred: We’ve met not so long ago. about two weeks. We met at your office in Shibuya. Cool place. How is it called again?
Keigo: We’re calling it the “hideout”
Fred: the Hideout, love that!
Keigo: Thanks!
Fred: And yourself you’re working on so many different projects at the same time. So actually when I tried to script this interview, I didn’t know where to start from.
Keigo: Yeah…
Fred: When people ask you do, what do you usually tell them?
Keigo: I usually tell them I do anything that’s creative and as part of that, we’re doing an Internet startup as well.
But I do interior architecture, product design, graphic design, and right now we’re doing a wedding startup.
Fred: sounds good!
So, we’re at my home tonight for the interview, and when you arrived, you just told me that you finished this big project for a big client. Can I tell the name?
Keigo: yes
Fred: So it’s for the Pinterest office.
Keigo: hmm hmm
Fred: and so, as part of the projects you take on as a freelancer, you do interior design for companies’ office space.
right?
Keigo: hmm hmm
Fred: So can you give us a few word on what it consists of, and what exactly you’re doing there…
Keigo: So I started off as an architect, and when I moved to Japan, about four years ago, I shifted over to interior design, and at my previous company, I got the opportunity to design the Facebook office, and the Google office, and
Last year I decided to just go on my own and that’s when I started my Internet startup and also started doing some freelance interior design.
And I landed this gig which happened to be a nice one: Pinterest.
Fred: yes,
Keigo: … in Tokyo. So it’s their first international office and I got to work really closely with the client. And it turned out to be a really great project.
I just finished it this weekend and I feel great!
Fred: Alright. I have so many questions to ask you.
But before, let me just turn off the aircon cause it won’t be too good for the interview. Just a minute
[turning off the aircon]
Fred: And we’re back…
Just quick question: so you’re Japanese but also American.
You grew up in the US, and you’ve spent most of your life in the US. And you came to Japan actually through your girlfriend, right?
Keigo: hmm
Fred: So your girlfriend is also Japanese.
Keigo: She’s half American, half Japanese but she grew up in Japan.
We met overseas in San Francisco where I used to live.
And as soon as I met her I wanted to be where she lived.
So I decided to move to Japan.
Fred: Alright, so that’s was which year?
Keigo: 2011.
So I moved right after the earthquake.
Fred: the big one I see.
And 2011 was just a few years ago and you can already land clients like Pinterest.
How do you get that? How do you get those contracts?
Keigo: Actually not true, I guess I’m lucky and I happened to be really interested in the startup scene, even as an architect.
And when lived in San Fransisco, all my friends were involved in that so I was very close to that culture.
And working as an interior designer I found myself specializing in building that kind of corporate culture.
Well I don’t know if you can call it corporate culture but it’s the workplace culture for startups.
So I consider myself a little bit of an expert in that field and one thing led to another…
Fred: So you’ve gotta meet with people so eventually you can have these contracts…
Keigo: right.
Fred: So let’s talk about your company Makeshift.
That’s the central focus point of your business activity right now.
You founded this company in 2013, some two years ago.
And under this company you have several projects that are not related at all.
One of them is called Tokyo BnA: Bed and Art project.
So you want to bring art to Airbnb.
Keigo: Right.
Fred: Can you tell us just a few words about this project as well.
Keigo: So, I love Airbnb.
Every time I travel, I stay in Airbnb.
But I found myself kind of unsatisfied with some of them cause anywhere you go in the world, usually it’s an apartment filled with IKEA furnitures.
And sure the location is great but the interior might no be that exciting.
And I wanted to provided something very unique for visitors in Tokyo.
I love this city. It’s only been four years but you know I think this city is the coolest, the most intimate city in the world.
Fred: I couldn’t agree more…
Keigo: So, I decided to start an Airbnb unit where you can stay in an art gallery. And if you’re a visitor, you’re staying in a space where it’s filled with artwork by young Tokyo artists.
So I wanted to bring young Tokyo art to the rest of the world.
We just opened up this TokyoBnA, in February and we’re hoping to open up another one in Kyoto.
The best part about this is: we’re not making that much money off of it. Most of the revenue goes straight to the artist.
Fred: I see.
So, the process through which you go for this is that you contact somebody with a property right?
Keigo: hmm hmm
Fred: So you don’t own this place.
Keigo: Right
Fred: And you ask this guy whether you could actually put some pieces of art in his apartment, so that it gives some differentiation to his apartment. It may attract more guests and it can also charge a higher price on his renting property.
And you also contact an artist on the other side, to install some art.
And the client staying can buy this art.
So it’s a lot of parties all around: there is you, there is the artist, the owner, Airbnb, etc. it’s kind of a long process to manage.
First question: how did you come up with the idea?
Was it just by yourself? Feeling that something was missing?
Keigo: So you know… I have a couple of friends who run Airbnb units and they make a profit off of it.
But they also felt like it’s not right. There’s a lot more they could be doing with something like Airbnb, which monetizes something that’s extra.
And we felt that there’s gotta be a more socially beneficial way of leveraging something like Airbnb.
And I myself am really involved in the art scene in Tokyo so I tried to connect the two dots so that’s how it started.
Fred: I like when you have two different industries, two different worlds and you’re just trying to combine them.
And then you have something that emerges out of that.
I really like that.
And, how did you find the owner?
Cause it’s kind of hard to first find somebody and second to convince him to work through that. It seems like a lot of hassle.
Keigo: right.
It’s actually a lot of hustling. They’re actually great at hustling.
They go to local real estate offices and they go straight in ask them we want to do this, we want to paint the walls, we want to knock down walls, we’re going to make it a great project, and in return, the owners will have a steady income and that kind of stuffs…
It’s not for everybody but my partners go to one after another real estate offices and if they get denied? that’s fine. they just go to the next.
And until they find an owner that’s willing to work with us…
Fred: I love that. That’s something you want to expand.
you say that now you have two, but is that something you want to have like 10, 50?
Keigo: yes. We’re hoping to expand it to an actual community building project. So that’s the long term goal.
Fred: Initially it’s an office space, it’s not somebody’s home?
Keigo: hmm, no, it was actually an apartment and we knocked down walls and did all the renovation work by hand, like me and two other guys.
A lot of heavy lifting but it definitely pays off and I think it’s a conversation starter.
Fred: Definitely, that’s definitely a good story to tell.
So I’m glad you could tell it here on the show.
Keigo: Thanks
Fred: Let’s move on and talk about your main project. The one you really want to focus on, a service called HoneyWedding.
So obviously it’s a service for wedding parties.
It’s some sort of wedding planner on your mobile phone.
So what can you do exactly with it?
Keigo: So it’s a wedding planning web app. So you can access it from your PC and also your mobile phone. And basically, you can do everything from managing your guest list to RSVPs, building your custom website so that you can share it with your guests. And through that, we’re hoping that in Japan people will find a better way to enjoy their wedding planning period.
I myself had a wedding about two years ago, and I felt the wedding planning process could be a lot more fun and easier in Japan.
I know that in the US and Europe they have these online tools that make your life better, so your wedding experience become a fun thing.
Fred: In Japan I feel like the industry is very protected.
You find a wedding place first and it’s like “all inclusive” type of service. They have their own photographer, their own catering service etc. and if you want to choose whatever you want, it adds up costs on top of that.
If you want to have your own photographer, you actually need to pay. Not just your photographer, but also this wedding service for not using their own.
And also I was amazed by how much people spend in Japan on their wedding. I don’t know if there is any ranking anywhere but I’m pretty sure Japan would arrive close to the top.
Keigo: you’re absolutely right.
The industry is old and there’s mega-wedding-companies that really control how weddings are run, who’s involved in anyone’s wedding. And I felt like if the couple getting married were more involved in the planning stage, they would have more choice and they would also enjoy more their wedding day.
Right now, because it’s a package, you know you sign up, and you show up to three or four meetings at best and you show up on the day of your wedding and it’s everything is kind of set up so you’re off on the side line for most of it.
I feel that that also permeates to the actual event and the wedding guests who are there…
… everything is cookie cutter, and the couples don’t know what’s going on neither.
Fred: It’s very scripted.
My feeling is… I don’t want to hurt anyone on the show, but it’s very scripted. Everybody has a similar kind of wedding.
Keigo: exactly.
Fred: You have this artificial chapelle, you have also this fake priest, it’s actually a baito. Then you have the host of ceremony doing the same speech.
you have from 12:05 to 12:07: this gonna happen / 12:07 to 12:08: the couple stops to take a picture in the stairs / it’s like everything is so scripted.
And I feel like, if you want to enjoy your wedding, one of the greatest day of your life, you shouldn’t have to follow a script. You should just enjoy yourself
Keigo: I don’t think it’s the couple’s fault.
Fred: Absolutely not. It’s just the industry that pushes people to go through that.
Keigo: I think that having a tool where the couple knows exactly what’s going happen on that day, or what they need to do, then they see exactly where they can start getting involved and I think that’s where this HoneyWedding project is going to. Really change the industry and really hope we’re not going against the industry, we’re just trying to provide a new way of looking at wedding.
Fred: Letting people get more involved in their own wedding. Not just letting somebody else do everything for them.
Keigo: Exactly.
And you know sometimes, getting involved seems like an extra hassle, but we really think it’s an enjoyable process.
Fred: Absolutely, people want to be free to choose and design their own wedding the way they want so I think it’s great.
So let’s go a little bit deeper into the features.
So you can manage your guest list, send the invitations. What else can you do?
Can you give us a few hints about what’s possible
Keigo: In addition to that you can share photographs of yourself to the guest meeting up to the wedding but also after the wedding, of the wedding ceremony.
Fred: So there is this one place where everybody else after the ceremony can download the photos.
Keigo: Another feature we really like is the To Do list.
We have a professional wedding planner on our startup team and he’s provided us with a close to 60 items To Do list.
These are very common To Do items that each couple probably go through and you can check it off on your smartphone, on your browser… So it’s helping you along the way during your 6 months. And 60 items that’s a lots of stuffs to do, but if you can check it on your phone, it becomes more manageable.
Fred: yes, you see where you’re at, what’s remaining to do, what’s important to do now, what’s important to do later, you can really prioritize as well etc.
Keigo: Finally, we’re working on content and we’re trying to pick the best wedding vendors like the venue, the dress designers and so,
We’re not just listing every one in the market. We really don’t believe that’s the market for us. We really don’t think we can compete with the bigger listing websites.
What we cater is just the best of the best.
Fred: You designed the recommendations based on their own tastes
Keigo: Hmm hmm
Fred: So at some point you need probably to gather some information about them right?
Keigo: yes, so how we’re doing that is we’re building a little fun wedding image maker. And what you do is you pick out what’s your favorite color, what you want to see during your wedding… As you input those things, we start gathering up images and also vendors that might be able to help you.
Fred: Have you figured out the pricing model already?
Keigo: Right now we’re in beta. We’re looking to stay in beta for a little bit more. And during the beta we’re completely free.
And at some point we’ll have some premium features such as really nice website designs you can choose from, as well as unlimited photo uploads so that you can gather photos from all your guests and upload your high quality photos that you get taken by professional photographers.
Like right now, in Japan, you might hire a professional photographer but the only people
Keigo: That’s, I feel like, that’s such a shame. So I think if you can share it with your friends in a private way, not on Facebook, just with your wedding guests, that’d be really great.
Fred: I love that. And how many people are you working with on this project?
Keigo: My team is a team of four right now. We have a CTO, myself doing the front end, and two marketing, one of them being a professional wedding planner.
Fred: I see. And is that your first actual company?
Keigo: Yeah.
Fred: I mean, you’ve been working on many projects but that’s your first company, right?
Keigo: Definitely the first real company. I had a company back in when I was in college. Doing little web design here and there, but I wouldn’t call it really a company. It was just a freelance —
Fred: Freelance type of job, yeah.
Keigo: Yeah.
Fred: And so in the process of starting this company in Japan, you look fully Japanese, you speak Japanese, but you’re still American, right?
Keigo: Uh-huh.
Fred: You spent much of your life in America.
Keigo: Uh-huh.
Fred: What were the main struggles you had to go through?
Keigo: Definitely paperwork. And a lot of actually visiting to the ward office and that kind of stuff. It’s actually a long process. I did not know this. I speak Japanese so it’s probably easier for me than most other English speakers trying to set up a company in Japan. But there’s a lot of specialized terminologies.
Fred: Yeah.
Keigo: And I’m fluent in Japanese but I was still struggling. I had to go home, look up a lot of words.
Fred: Yeah, they are very technical. So we are talking about for the incorporation of the company, right?
Keigo: Right, incorporation of the company. It took me about three, four weeks of really putting together paperwork, going to the ward office, fixing things, going back. And those are tough three weeks.
Fred: Did you work with any company to help you set up your company?
Keigo: I worked with a family friend who helped me do all the paperwork. So that was good. Barely inexpensive. So I definitely suggest, even though it might cost a little bit of money, hiring someone. Because I really don’t know how I would’ve done it without him.
Fred: I totally agree. When I set up my own company, I wanted to do everything by myself because I was a bit naive. And it took actually two full months and we actually had to, well, we wrote our own article of incorporation in English and made them translate it. But of course they wouldn’t totally fit the Japanese laws. So with a notary, we had to fix it and correct it two times. I don’t know how many individuals we had to go through and it took time and money. And eventually I felt like, if I had to do it all over again, let’s just hire somebody.
Keigo: Yeah.
Fred: It just costs a little bit more but it’s such a pain in the ass that you don’t wanna go through.
Keigo: Right, you should be spending the time developing your product.
Fred: Working your product! Exactly! Because that’s pretty much, I mean all the time you spend incorporating, you don’t focus on your service at all. So incorporation, we all agree, and I think most people starting a business in Japan know about that. So what else? Just in the process of doing business in Japan, or doesn’t have to be Japan in specific, but just starting your first real product. What else?
Keigo: Definitely even now, I’m struggling to find talent, as in engineers. Definitely as a startup, if you don’t have a big funding, or haven’t gone to a funding round yet, it’s really hard to find engineers. Especially if you’re doing something in the wedding industry. It’s not something where a lot of young engineers might find a product that they wanna really get involved in.
Fred: Especially if they have not experienced being wed themselves.
Keigo: Exactly.
Fred: They are less connected to the product.
Keigo: Right. I’ve been looking for female engineers but it’s very hard to come by. And I’ve actually been personally working really hard to help out every female engineers in the industry. I really hope within the next couple of years there’s a lot more. Definitely a diversity would be a great addition to the Japanese startup scene.
Fred: What type of engineer particularly were the hardest to find, more like back end? Or–?
Keigo: I think someone that can bridge between the front end and back end. Someone that really wants to get involved in the development of the product. There’s a lot of back end people that I felt were a little weak on improving a product.
Fred: Yeah. So thinking that the product has a user experience.
Keigo: Right.
Fred: Usually those are two different types of skills you have. Like the more hardcore coders doing all the back end stuff and then you have the front end design thinking about the user, the features and trying always to think not as an engineer but as a designer of a product. Totally different skills. Great stuff. On the contrary, did you find that some things were actually easier or better in the Japanese ecosystem compared to — you’re from San Francisco so you’re like in the Silicon Valley, the center of the startup world. So do you find some competitive advantage in Japan?
Keigo: Competitive advantage?
Fred: Or just like things that are maybe done better here.
Keigo: Done better? I think communication is really good. If you can communicate, things will get done exactly the way it should be. But on the other hand, will there be innovation within that conversation? It’s hard to say. If you want something exactly done this way, it’s great. So I think something like using Crowd Works or that kind of service and you hired a Japanese freelancer, usually they’re quite responsive and I found that to be better than hiring foreign freelancers. So I’ve kind of enjoyed that process when I get some work done.
Fred: I see. So we’re talking a lot about the startup ecosystem right now and I know that you also have another project on the side. It’s to start your own accelerator or incubation program.
Keigo: Yeah.
Fred: So you’re actually managing some office space here in Shibuya, but it’s a temporary project. And now you have this kind of bigger project. Can you give a few words about it?
Keigo: So the incubator accelerator project is still definitely in the works. But it all started from a tech conference that I hosted back in September in 2014. I flew over I think 10 entrepreneurs from San Francisco. And we had about fourteen Japanese entrepreneurs. We did a week-long hack-a-thon. And it was more of a cultural exchange – sharing ideas, sharing music, art. So it was more than just a tech scene. We wanted to bridge the cultural bound between Tokyo startup scene, San Francisco Startup scene. And through that conversation, we found out that the Japanese startup scene needs to be more casual. There needs to be more ad-hoc meetups, not planned meetups. But there needs to be a space where a lot of people are just there, and they’re not afraid of sharing ideas, they’re not afraid of starting new projects on the side maybe. And I think that’s something that happens in San Francisco. A lot of just random ideas are flying around. And random projects might spawn up here and there. And I really hope that something like that can start developing in Japan. And I really think the startup scene is getting hot and a lot more people are interested. So if there is a space where people can casually just become friends and partners, I’d be really happy. So right now I’m running a startup shared office space where there’s no guest policies. If you’re a member there, you can just bring all your friends and I really don’t care and they really don’t need to pay or anything like that. And we’re just hoping that it’s like a casual–
Fred: I like this flexibility! That’s so rare in Japan.
Keigo: Right. So we’re hoping, right now the hideout is a test kind of space. And hopefully by the end of the year, we can acquire a full building, hopefully, that we can run an accelerator/casual space that everyone can just enjoy.
Fred: I’d love that. And it’s certainly true that most of startup meetings that I go to in Tokyo, and many of them are very good. I’m not saying that it’s all bad. But it’s very once again, very scripted. You have an agenda, opening at 6:30, 5 minutes each from 7 and it’s like by the clock, and everybody is introducing not even his product but how much capital we have. We don’t care. And we have this networking. It’s just like people come with their meishi (business cards) and everybody is so polite. And it’s not about exchanging ideas. It’s just about pitching your product and what you do to one another hoping that you make as much noise as possible about you and that’s it. But it’s not about exchanging.
Keigo: Right.
Fred: And we had this conversation already over lunch and actually I have another friend “Takafumi”. And we wanted to sell his project but we put it on hold. But we wanted to start a bar for startup entrepreneurs.
Keigo: That’d be awesome!
Fred: Just a bar where people can — they don’t have to pay to get in. So they can just stop buy for twenty minutes. Just have a beer, meet somebody at the counter next to them that has similar interests, like starting projects, technology, whatever, and talk. And they don’t have to necessarily talk about their own product but what they have in mind and not be afraid of having their ideas stolen. Just, “I have this stupid idea in mind. I wanna share it to you. What do you think?” Just as simple as that and many things can flourish from there.
Keigo: I think, yeah, we really hope as the scene gets hotter and hotter, that kind of exchange is accepted.
Fred: Yeah, I really hope you can go forward with your project. So when you say an accelerator/incubator, that means you still can have some startups that you can mentor, and are you gonna put some investment into the startups?
Keigo: Right, we’re hoping to create a fund that will hand-pick some of the startups that we wanna help mentor.
Fred: I see.
Keigo: So we have a great team starting to build up as mentors and advisers.
Fred: Alright.
Keigo: But still no works.
Fred: Of course, that’s kind of a big project for you to take on. But it’s definitely interesting. And for the past years I’ve seen from year on year, there are so many new incubator, accelerator, whatever you wanna call them, corporations, big companies are starting to wanna be part of the game. So they are also trying to do that from the inside. But it’s still very corporate. A corporate environment.
Keigo: Yeah.
Fred: A corporate environment. Even the big names, I don’t wanna give any name, but like “Movida” for instance, they are great guys but are still run by people with not necessarily an entrepreneurship background. And it’s more of an investment business more than just a community.
Keigo: One feature that is probably gonna make us completely different from all the other programs in Japan is that the advisors, were hoping, will live in the same building that we’re going to be running for the accelerator. So we’re not just hoping to become investors or coaches. We’re actually hoping to invite startups to join a new lifestyle. So we want to start something where we can really become mentors not just in running a business but also how to conduct yourself in life, I guess.
Fred: Yeah, I love that! And I think what I would suggest is to experiment. You can start with a few ideas, but just try stuff. If you have the building, if you start a first batch of startups, every batch you can start experimenting two or three ideas. And some may be just crazy and they may just fail, like totally. But that’s a great occasion to fail and try. This is where you can find greatness. So I can’t wait to see that happen. So maybe just another thing, so we’ve been talking about these accelerators, we’ve been talking about these meetups. What else do you think needs to be changed or evolve or maybe what’s missing in Japan’s ecosystem to really flourish?
Keigo: This also came up as a conversation in our tech conference back in September. But I think a lot of other people are talking about this here. But we really think there needs to be more young millionaires in Japan. And what I mean by that is equity. A lot of these startups, as the scene gets hotter, there’s gonna be exits. And right now, young people in those companies don’t have any stock options. If they do, it’s tiny. Even the founders, there might be one or two people holding 20-30% of the company and the rest gets taken by the investors. And when these people exit, you got one or two millionaires. And in San Francisco, when these companies exit, it produces a hundred millionaires and they become angel investors. It really boosts the economy.
Fred: It’s a victorious cycle. Then they reinvest this money to the ecosystem and watch for the same things to happen.
Keigo: And it’s hard because younger people in Japan don’t really see equity as something that they want. They prefer salary over equity and we’ve been seeing that when we’re trying to hire as well. They’d rather take the salary. Which is okay, it’s a personal preference.
Fred: Yeah. But it’s a risk-revenue equation. And Japan in general is a pretty risk-averse country.
Keigo: Maybe if there was a message that could be sent out —
Fred: But I think, example, just having a few cases where that happened and this may influence some of the startups as well but it’s a long process at the same time. It’s hard to push people, “Be more risky. Take equity. Less money right now.” No one’s gonna listen. Something like that is deep-rooted into their personalities. So just show by example. It’s the best case.
Keigo: So instead of pushing young people to take equity, maybe we are hoping to bring more angels from San Francisco into Japan. If it’s not here, then maybe we can bring them in. So hopefully we can continue this startup exchange between San Francisco and Tokyo and bring a little bit more attention to the Tokyo startup scene.
Fred: I love that. So it seems you’re gonna have a lot on your plate for the next months.
Keigo: Yeah, but I kind of enjoy all this not-so-hardcore projects that don’t require my 120%. They might require my 20% of energy, on and off. And I enjoy those kinds of projects because it creates a new kind of network in each project. And they start overlapping and I’m starting to see that every time I do a project.
Fred: It’s like a positive externalities on each other. Do you actually consider to get some funding or maybe be part of the accelerator yourself with Makeshift and Honeywedding?
Keigo: Yeah, I’ve actually went around speaking to most of the accelerators in Japan and hopefully we’re ready to do serious talk within the next month or two.
Fred: Alright. Sounds good. So of course, you’re not gonna discuss everything, I believe, before everything’s on the right track. And so why do you think it’s good to be part of an accelerator? And do you think there are cases where it’s not necessary?
Keigo: Definitely if you have a product that is already making money, do you really need to be an accelerator? Probably not, unless you wanna grow really fast. And that’s up to you. But for us, we’ve been toying with both options. Running with just what we have and making, we have a viable monetization model that could just run on its own. Or we go big and we try to hit the market before anyone else notices. So we’re hoping to join up with an accelerator that isn’t too concerned about becoming the next Facebook, really, because that’s not the goal on our side. So it’s interesting to meet a lot of the accelerators and see how different they are.
Fred: What value are you looking for when you talk to these accelerators? Is there some specific criteria in your selection process? Apart from money equity ratio, of course.
Keigo: I think a lot of it has to do with just letting us work at our own pace. But it’s hard to come by. Accelerators, they have their own agendas and they definitely —
Fred: Of course, and you cannot blame them. At the end of the day, they provide money, so.
Keigo: Yeah, so the more freedom, I think, the better on our side.
Fred: I see. Do you also look at their network to see if they have good connections for your business.
Keigo: Yeah, and especially in the wedding industry, an adviser pulls a lot of weight because it is an industry held by a lot of old-school companies. So having a good adviser will get us in the door. So that’s really important to us.
Fred: I see. And that’s something I also felt when I was talking to incubators in general. I felt like more than money, money is important of course, but more than that, it’s like ‘Who can these people connect you with?’ And if you’re running a business in the food industry, but the people that are giving you money, they have lots of connections, huge network, but in the fashion industry. Then it’s useless for you, and vice versa. So you have to find the right people suited for your business. Alright, time flies and I wanna move on to my last couple of quick-fire questions. So do you know the process?
Keigo: Yeah.
Fred: Alright. There are short questions so I expect short answers. But I never get short answers, but it doesn’t matter. So let’s start with this one. Do you have any mentor in your life or persons that are really inspiring to you?
Keigo: I have many, and they’re all my friends. And age doesn’t really matter to me, so I have friends who are older than my parents, people who are younger than myself, and they’re still my mentor. And they’re all very different. Many people that I meet has mentors.
Fred: Okay. What are the benefits for you to have mentors?
Keigo: I see them as people who I can count on for help anytime that I need it. And they’re, you know, every project that I do, I need different kinds of help. And I really do see these friends as mentors and they help me get these projects done well.
Fred: I see. And I think that’s something that’s so undervalued. I know that some people don’t want to have mentors because they feel like they don’t wanna copy anybody. They don’t wanna be somebody else. And I feel like mentoring is something that’s totally different. I feel that mentoring is having somebody giving you the right advice, the advice that you need. Not because you aspire to become this person, but just because maybe this person have been maybe through these different situations that you haven’t. And so you don’t have to go through the painful process of learning by yourself. Somebody has already the answer for you. So that’s just the shortcut. And that’s great you have mentors from very different backgrounds and can really guide you through your projects. Good to hear. And I really like the fact when you said that age doesn’t matter. ‘Cause really, when you say mentor, people will expect an old guy who has a long beard. Or a professor or sensei in Japan. It doesn’t have to be.
Keigo: Yeah. Even in the Japanese startup scene, I don’t know if you know Hiro Maeda. He’s a young guy.
Fred: He’s a very young guy.
Keigo: Yeah but he’s very in front of the line for Japanese startup, you know.
Fred: Yeah, we really like pioneered the local ecosystem here.
Keigo: Yeah, definitely a pioneer and countless other young people who are more achieved than myself easily, so–
Fred: Good to hear. Second question, do you have any software or app that you use on a regular basis that makes your life simpler, better, more beautiful.
Keigo: I’m kind of addicted to my phone so I have many.
Fred: Oh, I’m waiting for recommendations here.
Keigo: One I use with my wife, it’s called ‘Avocado’. It’s kind of like a couples messaging. But it’s quirky. You can only message one other person who’s connected. And instead of a thumbs up, you can actually send a hug or a kiss. And when you send a hug, you have to hold up the phone to your chest. And I guess it has a light sensor and if it knows that it’s covered up, it vibrates and it sends a message to other person that says, “Keigo sent you a hug and it vibrates.”
Fred: You should absolutely partner with those guys for your Honeywedding.
Keigo: Yeah.
Fred: Because people can start as an unmarried couple using that and then just put some advertisement, like sending hearts to each other and you see, like, “Let’s get to it. Let’s get married.” And you have this awesome service popping up. I think that’d be great. I’m actually using, ha-ha! I’m laughing, but I’m actually using a similar service. It’s called “Between”.
Keigo: Yeah, yeah. It’s a Japanese startup.
Fred: Yeah, great stuff. Avocado is one. What else?
Keigo: I definitely use the Reminder, the standard app that comes with your iPhone. I
have probably fourteen lists going at any given time for each project. And I’m checking that probably once an hour.
Fred: So that’s your main to-do list or task list?
Keigo: Yeah.
Fred: Okay.
Keigo: There’s probably better ones, but–
Fred: You are the first person actually that I know of that is using this app. I think I’ve
never used it myself but, good! That means that I–
Keigo: I’ve tried pretty much every single project management product out there — Base Camp, Asana. You name it, I’ve tried it. But it’s just a little too much. As you can see, I have five, six projects going at the same time. Trying to switch between projects on those, it takes another–
Fred: Yeah, especially if you’re mobile-centric. Yeah, I’m using Asana actually for all my projects. But it’s true that the mobile app is still kind of hard for you.
Keigo: Yeah, so I just keep it simple, just a simple list.
Fred: Reminder from Apple.
Keigo: Yup.
Fred: Right? Maybe you have a last one, a recommendation for our listeners maybe? Something to discover. It doesn’t need to be the best app in the world.
Keigo: There’s an app made by my friend. It’s called PROPELa. And it’s really similar to the calendar app, Sunrise. But it has location-based information. So what it does is, whatever is coming up next, if you input your location, it’ll tell you, “You need to leave now.” and also tells you directions without opening up Google Maps. So, like myself, I have to go from one place to another all the time so it’s really nice to get that alert like, “You need to leave now.”
Fred: So you can’t get lost like today.
Keigo: Yeah, exactly.
Fred: So it’s called PROPELa.
Keigo: Yeah.
Fred: P-R-O–?
Keigo: P-R-O-P-E-L-a.
Fred: Yeah?
Keigo: Yeah.
Fred: Alright. I’ll put the links on the website.
Keigo: Yeah.
Fred: Next question. A bit more philosophical.
Keigo: Uh-huh.
Fred: Can you tell me three principles or rules that you’re trying to follow for yourself.
Keigo: Three principles. The first one that comes to mind really fast, I say it on a day-to-day basis, and I should probably trademark it. I’ve never seen anyone else say it. And you can search it online and it won’t come up.
Fred: It’s public now.
Keigo: Yeah. Trademarked. “Inspire to be inspired.” And what that means is, I need to produce something inspiring in order to inspire other people. But also, by inspiring other people, they’ll inspire me back. And I think it’s a kind of a loop going back and forth so I make myself accountable of producing good works so I can inspire all my friends, my mentors. As long as I can produce those things, I think they’re willing to help me out again.
Fred: I love that. It’s kind of like a karma type of a motto.
Keigo: Yeah. And another one is, just being super honest. I try to be honest as I can be. It’s helped me make great friends. And the other one is, just trust your gut instinct.
Fred: Yeah.
Keigo: I’ve never felt like I’ve run into trouble by doing that. By being honest and by following your gut instinct. You know, if your gut instinct takes you somewhere wrong, then just be honest. And you can just turn around.
Fred: Yeah.
Keigo: But usually, trusting my gut instinct has lead me to great friends, great opportunities. So I think we’re all built to sense something good for ourselves.
Fred: I love that. Very inspiring. And thanks for sharing.
Keigo: Thank you. Thank you for asking.
Fred: Are you a morning person? Or a night person?
Keigo: I’m definitely a morning person now. My wife wakes up at six o’clock and goes to work so I try to wake up at the same time. So we’re tired at the same time.
Fred: Six o’clock in the morning?
Keigo: Yeah. So I’m definitely a morning person now and I definitely enjoy it.
Fred: And do you have a morning routine?
Keigo: Morning routine? Not really. I might eat breakfast, I might not.
Fred: Are there a few tasks that you do every day?
Keigo: Oh, I take a shower in the morning, and the shower, that space is my meditation room. I love the fact that it’s completely white and nothing is there. You know the running water on my head. So I do all my thinking in there. Go through everything that I probably need to do that day. And then do some creative thinking. And then by the end, I’m kind of traveling through the next universe. And then I gotta get out of the shower. So–
Fred: I love that. Actually I’ve read an article, I forgot from where, recently, where it said that the two moments in your day when you are the most creative are when you are walking out by yourself and while taking your shower.
Keigo: Yeah?
Fred: Definitely. Great! And it’s actually great you have finally somebody who’s a morning person on the show. I ask this person every single episode. And I think 90% of people I interview are night persons.
Keigo: Especially in Tokyo.
Fred: Especially in Tokyo. I don’t know why. I know that in the US it’s quite the opposite in the entrepreneur sphere.
Keigo: It’s actually one of the main reasons why I left my previous job.
Fred: Yeah?
Keigo: Because I’m a morning person and nobody in the office was. So there’s just like a huge difference in how we worked. And I felt like it was causing stress in my own life.
Fred: Yeah, yeah, I see. Kinda like you feel apart from the herd.
Keigo: Yeah.
Fred: Alright, last question. Do you have restaurant in Tokyo?
Keigo: I do. Can I give–
Fred: You can give a couple.
Keigo: Well, okay. So one’s a bar. But they serve food. And the other one’s a ramen restaurant.
Fred: Alright, I love those.
Keigo: So Ramen Afuri in Ebisu. Not anywhere else. They have six different stores but the one in–
Fred: Alright. They’re like a big chain.
Keigo: It’s not too big, but they’re getting bigger.
Fred: Alright.
Keigo: It’s really good.
Fred: What type of ramen?
Keigo: It’s, the broth is chicken and fish paste so it’s very light.
Fred: Oh, I love —
Keigo: And they have Yuzu Shouyu (soy sauce with yuzu), and Yuzu Shio (salt with yuzu), they’re just absolutely amazing. And it’s so light that you don’t feel guilty or sick afterwards.
Fred: Chashu tonkotsu (pork broth with roasted pork)
Keigo: Yeah, sometimes it’s great, but Tonkotsu just makes you sick, you know, sometimes.
Fred: It’s still my favorite though. But okay—
Keigo: So the Ebisu one is the best, and then the bar that I really enjoy is called “Oiran”. Like the kind of, what is it? Oiran is like a geisha but more fabulous version of a geisha. But the bar is based, it’s in Shibuya. By all the love hotels.
Fred: Alright. Maruyamacho?
Keigo: Yeah. So it’s a super tiny bar but they host internet, radio, and stuff like that. So they have like a DJ booth inside…
Fred: Oiran?
Keigo: Yeah. It’s got this classic Japanese styling but a modern take on it.
Fred: I love that.
Keigo: So definitely check it out.
Fred: I used to live around this area. When I first moved to Japan I was in a guesthouse in the…—
Keigo: Wow!–
Fred: …in Maruyamacho
Keigo: Definitely a bumping area.
Fred: And lots of tiny bars around. Very lovely as well. And clean. Just for the listeners. And just so you know, and for the listeners as well, I put on a Google Map with all the restaurant recommendations of all my guests.
Keigo: Ooh, awesome!
Fred: So you can find it on the website. You go to Podcasts and you have a sub-menu called “Guest Restaurants Picks” or something like this, I forgot the exact name. And this map is open to anybody and also, I’m waiting for comments. I don’t have time it try them all, so–
Keigo: Definitely put it on the AirBnB that we’ve been hosting. We’ll share it with our guests.
Fred: Onegaishimase (please). Well, thank you so much Keigo, for sharing all your stories with me today. And I wish you good luck for your projects. So what’s next for you in the next few months?
Keigo: Definitely getting out of Beta and finding some great angels or accelerators that are willing to help us out.
Fred: And if people wanna learn more about your service, where should they go?
Keigo: Please visit HoneyWedding.jp. It’s in Beta but you can sign up and start using it. Everything’s for free right now so if you’re getting married or anyone getting married, I highly, highly recommend it. Not just because I’m building it. But because it will make their lives easier.
Fred: Cool! Wish I learned about that before getting married.
Keigo: Not too late, get married again.
Fred: Ah, I cut that part. Well, thank you so much for sharing once again. I will put all the links and of course, all the links of your services on the website. And please use the Japan Venture Show comments. We ask questions every week about the episode. You can share your comments and thank you for listening. So see you next week.
Keigo: Thank you. Thank you for having me. Cheers!
Thanks for listening to Japan Venture Show. Check out our website at JapanVentureShow.com. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to be part of the Japan Venture community and receive exclusive updates.
The post Ep 15: Building an open startup ecosystem in Japan – with Keigo Fukugaki appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Let’s just fantasize for a minute. Imagine a company where employees are not employees, but simply members. A company where everybody is treated as equals, no manager-subordinate relationship. A company where trust and freedom are the main values, where members are free to choose their work conditions: how they work, where they work, what time they want to work. A company where they are allowed to decide their own title and salary. Well, this is not fantasy, this is the beauty of open management. And this is how my guest, Kozo Takei is running his company.
Kozo has a very peculiar story. He first kicked off his career as a Hip hop artist selling records in Japan. He then started a first company, but as the business didn’t go well, he hit the bottom and went through dark times. That experience led him to really understand the fundamental values in running a business. He decided to rebound and apply the lessons he learned into a new venture.
Today, his company Diamond Media is trying to revolutionize the way the Real Estate industry is operating. That sector is still highly inefficient and Kozo’s company is trying to disrupt it by making it simple for all parties (buyers, sellers, real estate agencies, property management etc.) to interact and exchange information.
Kozo is a humanist. He gives great importance to others’ feelings and wants to lead by example. His open management style may be disturbing for many, but the rewards far exceed the drawbacks. The main benefit of his radical management, he says, is to have happy employees at work. And in time of economic uncertainty, this is priceless. Overall, I really hope this episode will open your mind on what’s really possible in the workplace.
Question(s): (reply in the comments)
- What would be the #1 thing you would like to change in the workplace?
- You have a startup? What do you think of open management for your own company?
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Ep-14-Pioneering-radical-and-open-management-in-Japan-with-Kozo-Takei.mp3 Download Podcast
Show notes * (2:29) Introduction of Kozo * (3:55) How Diamond Media wants to simplify the Real Estate industry * (10:45) Starting as a Hip Hop artist * (14:23) Business is not for money * (16:24) How to recover when you’re at the bottom * (18:59) Diamondism – Radically open management * (24:04) Main benefits of open management * (26:29) Struggles of being open * (28:53) How to change Japan’s management practices * (34:42) Management advice for startups * (37:53) Quick fire-questions
Links * DiamondMedia website + DiamondTail + Centrl * Kozo Takei on facebook * Kozo Takei on Tumblr * The future of management (Book) by Gary Hamel * Watch Tenge Shiro on TEDxTokyo * Apps: Google apps for business / Money forward * Restaurant: Yamashiro-ya Shozo（山城屋庄藏）
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 14: Pioneering radical and open management in Japan – with Kozo Takei appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Did you know that the average millionaire has seven sources of income? We no longer live in a flat world where you can only rely on your day job. The economy has become too uncertain to put all your eggs in one single corporate basket. Rather, following multiple careers at the same time has become the way towards success and financial freedom.
Having multiple sources of income allows you to diversify your financial risk. Even if you get fired at one job or go bankrupt at another, you still have several other streams of revenue to support you. You also multiply your chances of success by investing yourself into various projects, which might also have positive side-effects on each other. However, in the economy we live in, most of our skills and knowledge remain confined in one single company and most of our potential stays unexploited.
Promoting the knowledge sharing economy is the challenge that my guest Eiko Hashiba has decided to tackle. She’s the founder CEO of VisasQ, a crowdsourcing service for business knowledge. Experts can register on VisasQ platform and tag their areas of expertise. On the other side, you have companies who are looking for specific knowledge and can tap into this pool of skilled professionals for a consultation. From online marketing to chemicals, companies can access a wide range of knowledge without the hassle of hiring somebody or going through a traditional consulting company.
Eiko believes that the multiple careers trend and she hopes her service will encourage more people to use their knowledge outside their day job. As of today 70% of the 5000+ registered experts are salaried employees. Her vision is to make knowledge crossing companies boundaries, countries borders, and generations.
Nobody understands better than Eiko what it is like to follow multiple careers. She’s a Mom Entrepreneur and being a mom is like having another full time job. We talk about the challenge of raising a child while having your own business. We also discuss about parenting and whether parents should encourage their kids to take more risk and be more entrepreneurial.
Eiko delivers many encouraging messages and I am sure she will inspire people, from working mothers to young entrepreneurs.
Question(s): What additional source of income can people easily implement? What should be done to encourage working mothers? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Ep-13-Multiple-careers-and-the-knowledge-sharing-economy-with-Eiko-Hashiba.mp3 Download Podcast
Show notes * (3:10) Presentation of VisasQ * (11:11) Spreading knowledge * (13:54) From life long employment to multiple careers * (19:53) Using investment money & financing * (24:18) Vision for VisasQ * (26:50) University degrees versus work experience * (29:12) Parenting and making kids more entrepreneurial * (33:01) How to be a mom entrepreneur * (40:46) Quick-fire questions
Links * VisasQ website * VisasQ on Facebook * Eiko’s profile on VisasQ * METI’s Jinkatsu funding program * Parent Teacher Association (PTA) in Japan * Weave mobile app * Yamasemi – Soba restaurant in Kagurazaka
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 13: Multiple careers and the knowledge sharing economy – with Eiko Hashiba appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
You can’t possibly fail if you never give up! That’s the big lesson I’ve learned from my interview with Jay Winder. Being persistent is a quality that most successful entrepreneurs have. In most success stories, entrepreneurs first go through dark times. And it’s usually before success that they find themselves at the lowest point. What set successful entrepreneurs apart is their ability to never give up, and keep showing up no matter how hard it is.
Jay is the founder CEO of MakeLeaps, a company that has revolutionized the way businesses manage their invoices. Japan is a country where, very often, working hard and working well are mistaken with one another. Jay had realized that many companies were spending countless hours managing their invoices, getting themselves busy with lots of manual work. Now thanks to MakeLeaps, what used to take several people, several hours a week can now be done online in just a few clicks in no more than 15 minutes. Today, the company has grown as the leading invoicing management system in Japan with over 18,000 customers (as of Mar. 2015.)
Jay shares with us his story, including his first struggles when starting MakeLeaps. One big lesson for him was to learn how to scale down and focus. Indeed, many first time entrepreneurs fail because they want to do too much, although when you manage a product, your success depends on your ability to say no to 99% of things you want to do.
We also discuss about the importance of getting yourself into difficult (if not embarrassing) situations. “A person’s success in life can usually be measured by the number of uncomfortable conversations he or she is willing to have.” says Tim Ferriss. Being an entrepreneur is about constantly selling your idea and product. Along the way, you’ll probably get a lot of rejections and people saying NO to you. That’s something you should get yourself used to says Jay. You should get out there and become an expert at asking for money!
Another great conversation with many pieces of advice for entrepreneurs.
Question: Keeping on or quitting, how can you know the right thing to do? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Ep-12-You-cant-fail-if-you-never-give-up-with-Jay-Winder.mp3 Download Podcast
Show notes * (01:54) Introduction of Jay Winder * (04:12) Presentation of MakeLeaps * (09:44) Getting busy is not working * (12:08) Where to invest your time, money and actions * (18:54) Making products vs providing services * (25:50) Finding a massive problem to solve * (29:34) Scoping down and importance of validation * (35:16) Learning how to sell and ask for money * (37:30) Main struggles * (40:32) 3 simple pieces of advice for any entrepreneur * (46:09) Hacker News meetups * (49:46) Quick-fire questions
Links * MakeLeaps website * MakeLeaps Facebook pages in EN & JP * MakeLeaps Twitter pages in EN & JP * WebnetIT website * Hacker News * Hacker News Tokyo Meetups (doorkeeper) * Books: + The Hard Thing About Hard Things (Ben Horowitz) + Mastery (Robert Greene) * Apps & software: Wunderlist / Tweetbot / Imiwa / Yo / Kindle / 1password / Sleep Meister * Philips Wake-up light * Restaurant recommendation: Frijoles
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 12: You can’t fail if you never give up – with Jay Winder appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Although money is a big variable, most people who choose to become an entrepreneur are driven by a different set of motivations. They may look for more freedom or try to avoid authority etc. But very often they simply want to do something meaningful that can impact the world. I think that Charities are probably the best representation of this driver.
Running a charity is like running a startup, if not more difficult. They both have to figure out their audience, raise fundings, do marketing campaigns, and sell their message out there. But the big differentiator is that a charity gives its money away instead of reinvesting it! So if you’ve ever wondered how to stay lean, my advice would be that you should take example on Charity management.
To talk about Charities, I was pleased to invite Joe Pournovin, founder of the Yamathon, a massive Charity event that has kept growing over the years. The Yamathon is basically a marathon event around the Yamanote train line (a railway loop line in Tokyo.) Initially started in 2010 with a simple Facebook event, it has grown to over 500 participants and 70 volunteers as of 2014.
I asked Joe about the story behind this fantastic initiative and he’s sharing with us his adventure over the years, including the struggles he had to face along the way. We cover questions such as: How to raise fundings? How to do marketing with limited resources? How to manage a team of volunteers? We also discuss about the art of giving and the personal reward you can actually gain from helping others.
This episode will also make you want to sweat more. We discuss about the pleasure of running and its physical and mental benefits. This conversation really made me want to do some more exercise and feel invincible. Because this is really how you feel when you surpass yourself with physical challenges.
Questions: What would make you volunteer more? Why would you recommend others to volunteer? (reply in the comments)
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Episode-011.mp3 Download Podcast
Show notes * (02:00) Introduction of Joe Pournovin * (06:37) What is the Yamathon * (10:27) Working with charities * (13:54) Growing event year after year * (20:30) Team challenge * (22:32) Main struggles * (26:24) Raising funds from sponsors * (30:54) Volunteering for the Yamathon * (33:33) The meaning of giving * (37:37) Managing a team you don’t pay * (39:56) Quick-fire questions
Links * Yamathon website * Yamathon on Facebook and Twitter * Oxfam trail walker * Supporting charities: Oxfam & Nadia * –> Donate Here <– * Sea to Summit event * Hyperdia * Restaurant recommendations: + Zillion (italian) in the Intercontinental hotel + Good morning cafe
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 11: Running a charity event and the art of giving – with Joe Pournovin appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
What do you think will the mainstream language of the 21st century be? Still English? Maybe Chinese or Spanish? And how about “Computer Code“? After all, this is the most widespread language in the world if you consider that pretty much any machine you interact with needs to understand code.
Who really needs to learn code? And more importantly: do you need it? That’s the main question I asked my guest, Masanori Kato, on this week’s episode.
Masa, is my youngest guest on the show and yet, he’s one of the most inspiring I’ve had so far. He’s the founder of Progate, an online solution that teaches you how to code. Traditionally, coding is taught from theory to practice. But what Masa realized was that the best way to learn and progress is to start typing your first lines of code right away – beginning with practice. This is precisely what progate is providing.
At just 21 years old, Masa found the courage to drop out from Tokyo University (Japan’s most prestigious school) to follow his vision and passion. He already raised money twice in less than 6 months and he’s now fully dedicated to Progate, working and living together with his 5 other team members. Therefore, it was natural for me to ask him what could be done to motivate the young generation in Japan to become more entrepreneurial.
If this show convinces you that you should give coding a try, Masa also shares his best pieces of advice to help you get started with coding: which language to start with, what software and other resources to use etc. You’ll have all you need to hack your programming skills.
Do you also think learning computer code will become a necessity?
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Show notes * (1:50) Introduction of Masa * (3:09) Progate introduction * (10:20) Realising you can make money with programming * (12:47) Safer to work for your startup than for a big company * (16:14) Business model * (17:01) Progate team * (18:20) Japan’s young generation mindset and the importance of a role model * (21:42) What did it take to drop out of school? * (24:59) Computer coding as a second language * (29:10) How to learn programming * (35:06) Quick-fire questions
Links * Progate website * Progate on Facebook and Twitter * Other online coding services: + Dot Install (JP) + Code Academy + Code School + Treehouse * Harvard Computer Science Class – CS50 * Beatrobo * Hello Ruby * App recommendations: + Newspicks + Sunrise + Mikan + Kindle + Slack * Restaurant recommendation: Waraji (和来路)
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 10: Computer Code, the new universal language? – with Masanori Kato appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Finding a job is already a hard task, but finding a job at a startup is almost “mission impossible”. Most of startup jobs aren’t listed anywhere. Small ventures usually don’t have the resources to post on traditional job boards, let alone working with traditional recruiting companies. So, if you’re looking to work for a startup, your options are usually very limited.
It is an issue for startups too. When looking to grow their teams, startups usually reach out their direct circle of friends, but have trouble putting the word out there. With such limitations, they are very unlikely to find the suitable candidates they are looking for. That’s the problem “Justa” is trying to solve.
My guest, Nikola Pavesic (Nik), is leading Justa’s ambition: “matching startups with great talents in Japan.” In the show, he reveals the secrets of the recruiting industry and shares with us his vision on the evolution of the employment market for startups.
Nik is also highly connected in the Japanese startup ecosystem. In about half a year, he not only launched Justa’s platform but was able to grow a massive awareness of his service inside the startup community. He explains to us the strategies he used to increase his user base, and to sign-up his first clients. He also shares with us his view on the local startup ecosystem in Japan.
Whether you’re looking for new opportunities or just want to get up to date with the startup job market, I’m sure Nik’s insights will prove very helpful.
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Episode-009.mp3 Download Podcast
Show notes * (1:30) Introduction of Nikola Pavesic * (3:40) Presentation of Justa * (8:06) The first 6 months biggest challenges * (11:00) How to get your first clients and users * (14:50) Improving job matching by focusing on skills * (18:14) Business model * (21:44) Job market in Japan * (27:08) Startups recruiting business * (30:22) Justa team * (32:28) The future of the recruiting market in Japan * (35:25) Creating a more cohesive and integrated startup ecosystem * (47:37) Quick-fire questions
Links * Justa website * Justa on Facebook & Twitter * Connect with Nik on Twitter * Parent company Red Brick Ventures * Sister company Wahl & Case * Discover startup events around Tokyo with meetup.com / Doorkeeper / Peatix * Check recurrent events: Mobile Monday & Hacker News * Productivity tools: Slack / Google Drive / Mailchimp / Bufferapp * Restaurant recommendations: Number A (bar) / Shin / Abura Soba / Torimasa (yakitori) * Related episode: Ep 08: How to learn new skills and get a smart education
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 09: Startup jobs in Japan and the recruiting revolution – with Nikola Pavesic appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Have you ever wanted to do something new but felt you did’t have the right skills? Or do you sometimes have regrets about your education and wished you chose a different path? Well, the good news is that you don’t have to go back to school. There are many online and offline learning services that can give you the right knowledge at a fraction of the cost of traditional education. You can now get yourself a “smart education.”
The truth is that, in our society, if you want to stand out from the crowd, you’ll have to keep learning all of your life. Whether you want to keep up with your industry, change career, or simply learn a new hobby, chances are that there’s somebody out there who is willing to teach you. That’s what my guest, Takashi Fujimoto has been focusing on with “Street Academy”, a C2C learning service he started in 2012.
Takashi is highly educated with two masters degrees from top American universities, but he realized that good diplomas are not all, and that he would have to learn new skills on his own.
In this interview, we talk about the future of education and how universities are challenged by the rise of both e-learning and offline C2C learning. We also cover many other topics such as how to find great business ideas; what’s the best timing to quit your corporate job etc.
This episode, I’m sure, won’t only whet your thirst for knowledge but will also give you clues on how to develop the right skills for making your projects come to life.
http://fredericpeyrot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Episode-008.mp3 Download Podcast
Show notes * (2:01) Introduction * (4:13) How to become an entrepreneur * (7:42) Finding a good business idea * (12:41) Process of starting up a business * (15:33) When should you quit your job? * (20:38) The culture of failure in Japan * (23:05) Choosing the right people for building a team * (28:20) Learning how to program with online courses * (34:47) e-education versus offline C2C learning * (37:46) The future of education and the tradeoff between skills and diploma * (43:14) Quick-fire questions
Links * Street Academy website * Street Academy on Facebook and Twitter * Online course services: Coursera, edX, Udemy * How to learn coding: Code academy, Progate, Code school * Wine scanner apps: Vivino and Drync * Book – The obstacle is the way from Ryan Holiday (from my top readings in 2014) * Tempura Restaurant Ten hide ( 天ひで)
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 08: How to learn new skills and get a smart education – with Takashi Fujimoto appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
Did you know that the Funeral industry in Japan was bigger than mobile gaming in all South-East and East Asia? 1.5 billion dollar per year in revenue! This is the sector that my guest, Yu Shinohara, has decided to disrupt.
I was blown away by how little that industry has evolved and how much opportunity it would offer to whoever dared changing the rules. I also realized that there are plenty of other industries out there that are waiting for entrepreneurs to disrupt them.
Shinohara-san’s company, AmazingLife, provides funeral and cremation services over a simple smartphone app. He’s also just launched a new service to manage inheritance to your love ones.
In the interview, we discuss about how he got all these non-conventional ideas, and how he does marketing in such a sensitive industry. We also explore the future of the life ending industry and the growing role of wearable devices.
I was truly grateful to have Shinohara-san on my show. He’s been very kind to share with us his personal and touching story which led him to start AmazingLife, a company born from anger. I hope this episode will inspire you and make you think big and unconventional.
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Show notes * (1:30) Introduction of Yu Shinohara and his startups career * (4:59) Two funds raising and several partnerships later * (8:30) AmazingLife’s story, a company born from anger * (11:34) Funeral industry and how disrupting a non-conventional sector * (20:24) Inheritance too goes digital * (28:19) How to deal with a regulated industry * (32:56) Marketing a life ending service * (37:36) How is it accepted to work in death related business? * (39:47) The future of the life ending industry assisted with wearable devices * (44:50) Quick-fire questions
Links * AmazingLife website * AmazingLife on Facebook & Twitter * Uketsugu (inheritance service) * Cu-hacker app * Slack * Seth Godin’s new book: “What to do when it’s your turn” * Okuwa Sakaya restaurant * Related post on the Importance of having a mentor and The power of listening
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 07: Disrupting a non-conventional industry – with Yu Shinohara appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
My guest this week is Tao Romera Martinez, founder of Tadaku, a service that provides cooking lessons from locals, in Japan and abroad. Instead of going to fancy cooking schools, why not learning home cooking from ‘real people’ at their own house? Whether you’re looking to gain some skills in Thai, Indian, or Italian cuisine, Tadaku can help you have an intimate and authentic cooking class with a local.
For Tao, Tadaku is not just a food experience but a true human and social experience. He believes that cooking is a universal language and a great medium to help people know each other’s culture better. Even though the host and the guest don’t speak the same language, communication is not a problem when sharing an activity together.
In this episode, you’ll also get some advice if you want to learn how to cook but don’t know where to start. A really rich conversation where you can both improve your diet and your business knowledge.
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Show notes * (1:30) Introduction of Tao * (5:31) From day job to freelancer to entrepreneur * (10:03) Beginning of Tadaku and the universal language of cooking * (16:40) Coming up with great ideas * (17:36) The hiring question when you’re a startup * (19:52) Details of the Tadaku service * (26:04) Targeting foreigners living in Japan * (28:38) Inviting people at home in Japan * (30:34) Long term vision * (34:59) The art of cooking and how to learn * (41:10) Cooking as a social experience * (44:11) Is there a good diet? * (47:44) Incorporating or not in Japan? * (51:18) Project management with a small team * (53:17) Quick-fire questions
Links * Tadaku website * The Lean startup book from Eric Ries * Tadaku is the Airbnb of cooking * Y combinator – How to start a startup (youtube channel) * Tofu restaurant Ume no hana (梅の花)
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 06: Learn how to cook like a local – with Tao Romera Martinez appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
If you’re a foreigner and were considering to come to Japan, you may soon realize that it requires lots of preparation, especially if you intend to stay for study or work. My guest Davide first came to Japan to study Japanese. He went, by himself, through the whole process of choosing a school, applying for a visa, finding an apartment etc.
Along the way, he encountered many struggles. This is when he realized that there was a market opportunity for helping other students facing similar problems. He then co-founded Go! Go! Nihon and today he is placing about 1,000 students to language schools every year.
Japan is, for many foreigners, an eldorado where they want to travel and even move to. Driven by the “cool Japan” image, the country attracts more and more foreigners every year. The number of tourists has crossed the 10 million cap in 2013 and thanks to the Olympics as well as a cheaper yen, that number is expected to double by 2020. With Davide, we’re discussing the opportunities that this might open as well as the difficulties foreigners may face coming to Japan.
Go! Go! Nihon is very international both internally and regarding its customer base. The team includes many nationalities from German, to Swedish, Japanese, American, Italian, Spanish, Mexican etc. and they have students coming from dozens of countries from all around the world. We dig into the way Go! Go! Nihon manages its work style with such a diverse team and how they do marketing to reach an international audience.
I had a great time catching up with Davide and I’m sure you’ll love his story as much as his restaurant recommendations
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Show notes * (1:17) Introduction of Davide * (2:39) What is Go! Go! Nihon? * (6:03) First steps in Japan * (10:55) How it all started and setting up a business in Japan * (15:07) How to find your first clients * (20:37) Business model and marketing to a world market * (25:07) More foreigners coming to Japan * (31:05) Main struggles for foreigners coming to Japan * (34:49) Becoming an entrepreneur in Japan * (38:11) Work style with an international team * (44:01) Quick-fire questions
Links * Go! Go! Nihon webiste * Go! Go! Nihon facebook page * Go! Go! Nihon twitter page * Productivity tools: Asana and Desk app * Davide recommends the following restaurants: gakko e iko (学校へ行こう), Riva degli Etruschi, and I due paesani * Listen to our previous episode to learn more about improving your Japanese skills
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 05: Live, study and learn Japanese in Japan – with Davide Rossi appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
If you’re like me and you’re studying a foreign language, chances are that you sometimes feel desperate and don’t see the end of the tunnel. For most western foreigners living in Japan, studying Japanese can be a painful and long process. My guest, Arnar Jensson, faced the same difficulties while taking his MSc. and PhD in Language recognition at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. He realized that language learning had not evolved for decades and that there was space to hack the way people were learning Japanese (Cooori also provides English learning for Japanese.)
He built “Cooori”, a comprehensive solution allying cognitive science and personalized pedagogy to improve students’ retention. As opposed to the traditional one size fits all textbook that is the same for all students, Cooori adapts to the student’s progress and interests to maximize results.
According to Arnar, you don’t need more than 15 min a day to make steady progress. Also, his studies show that Cooori’s “super users” spending some 45min per day can retain up to 600 new words in just a month!
Cooori has become one of the leading solutions for learning Japanese and English to Japanese and is now used by many universities as well as companies for employees training in Japan. More recently, it won the 2013 Japan Night, a Japanese startup competition held in Tokyo with finals in San Francisco.
In this interview, we’re digging into the birth of Cooori which took place in Yoyogi park. We also explore how Arnar was able to raise funds at the peak of the 2008 crisis in his heavily hit country, Iceland. We then talk about small hacks that you can apply to improve your language learning. Overall, plenty of advice that I’m sure will motivate you to keep learning languages!
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Show notes * (1:05) Introduction of Arnar Jensson * (5:55) How Cooori was born? * (12:45) Bringing an MVP to life * (16:03) Raising money in time of crisis * (18:37) Working with an international team spread all over the world * (23:08) What can you do with Cooori? How fast can you learn? * (29:15) Language learning, is there any trick? * (35:33) How Japan’s entrepreneurship environment has evolved * (37:17) CEO and Daddy: difficult balance? * (40:48) Quick-fire questions?
Links * Cooori website * Cooori applications on iTunes * Cooori on Facebook: EN–>JP page & JP–>EN page * Cooori twitter page * Temple to practice Zazen meditation: Choukokuji (長谷寺) (access) * Arnar is using these productivity tools: Hipchat and Trello * Resources to learn more about Scrum: Scrum methodology and Scrum hub * Arnar’s favorite restaurants: Sushi no midori and Savoy
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 04: Hacking language learning – with Arnar Jensson appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
I am happy to kick off 2015 with Hiroyuki Koike, my first Japanese guest on the show! Hiroyuki is an artist, both in business and private life. He put together his passion for music and his coding skills to create an application that has changed the way musicians read and interact with music sheets.
His application called PiaScore enables musicians, amateurs and professional alike to not only read music but also buy scores, take notes, record themselves, turn pages with a single head move as well as many other features.
In the same way Amazon has been disrupting the book industry, Hiroyuki hopes that the digitalization of music sheets industry will offer millions a new way to consume music scores and play instruments.
We discuss his long-term passion for entrepreneurship and desire to create a product that would solve music players’ problems. Today, if PiaScore has been able to reach over a million downloads, it’s because of his focus on building a great product (not agressive marketing) according to Hiroyuki. But as he confesses, the fast growth has reached its limit and he’s now looking for the next step to reach a wider audience. In particular, he explains to us his 2015 ambition to conquer the US market.
The episode was a lot of fun! I’ve myself learnt a lot: how the manga character Kōsaku Shima was a strong influence for Hiroyuki to become entrepreneur, as well as Hiroyuki’s wish to take Elon Musk eat some ramen
Lots of Nuggets in this episodes. I hope you’ll have fun listening!
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Show notes * (1:23) Presentation of PiaScore application * (6:21) Business model * (10:26) How the idea originated * (12:42) The future of paper vs. digital * (15:28) Transition from a day time job to independent entrepreneur * (20:27) Quitting your job and the importance of people around you * (23:45) Work-style and the importance of face to face communication * (28:55) Dealing with user feedback * (32:59) Business expansion outside Japan * (35:52) Japanese business environment for a single entrepreneur * (37:33) How to reach 1 million downloads? * (39:04) Quick-fire questions
Links * PiaScore website * PiaScore on iTunes * Plusadd website * Kachō Kōsaku Shima’s website and wiki * Ramen Ten Ichi’s website and wiki
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the comment section below to share your valuable thoughts!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 03: The digitalization of music sheets – with Hiroyuki Koike appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.
My guest for this episode is my dear friend Sebastien Béal, CEO and co-founder or Locarise, a traffic analytics solution for retail business. Locarise’s technology can track people coming by and to a store by detecting smartphone’s wifi signals. Therefore, if you carry a smartphone in your pocket, they know whether you’re looking at the store front, or entering the store, and for how long. Retailers can then use this data to understand and improve their business.
Online data analytics has already been around for some times but, according to Sebastien, we are still at the dawn of offline data. In particular, he sees tremendous evolutions for the retail industry in the coming years, along with the development of wearable devices.
I’m really interested in Sebastien’s experience as I know him since my early days in Japan. In the interview, we dig into what went through his mind when he decided to quit his comfortable day job at a big company to enter the jungle of entrepreneurship. For Sebastien, this transition was not really a jump but rather a logical continuity of his professional project and personal aspirations. We discuss things to consider before quitting your job and how to be best prepared before starting your own business. For him, the importance of finding a good team is crucial, much more so than having a good idea, which eventually will evolve anyway.
We also discuss about Japan’s market, being quite suited for Locarise business. Indeed, the Tokyo metropolitan area is one of the biggest in the world with over 30 million inhabitants and a very high population density. Therefore traffic data makes a lot of sense. Furthermore, the Japan retail industry is gigantic and competition in his sector very limited, which offers Locarise a highway of opportunities. Once again, it proves how much Japan has to offer for whoever put his entrepreneur mindset into practice.
For this episode, I listened to your comments and tried to improve from it. I hope you’ll enjoy listening and please send me your feedback at contact@fredericpeyrot.com to make the next show even better.
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Show notes * (1:22) Beginning of the interview * (1:51) Locarise Business and the power of traffic analytics * (5:30) How Sebastien started the company * (8:30) Privacy issues * (9:27) What’s the future of offline data for retail? * (11:35) What does it take to quit your job? * (18:50) First difficulties when you start your business * (21:18) Productivity and team work * (24:00) Japan’s environment to start your own business * (26:42) Quick fire questions
Links * Locarise website * Facebook page
Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining me again this week. Please use the section below to share your thoughts. Your comments are very valuable!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post.
Also, I know your time is limited but please leave an honest review on iTunes! It is crucial for the show to keep existing and your support is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, please reach out here.
Most importantly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates and to our newsletter to get exclusive content (I won’t spam you.)
Thanks again for your continuing support…
Frederic
The post Ep 02: Offline data analytics and the future of retail – with Sebastien Béal appeared first on Frederic Peyrot.