How startups suddenly became “cool” in Japan (feat. Shin Takamiya of Globis Capital) | E2237

This Week in Startups

Jason Calacanis

Technology

4.2 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 20 January 2026

⏱️ 58 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This Week In Startups is made possible by:

Circle.so - http://Circle.so/twist

Deel - http://deel.com/twist

Uber AI Solutions - http://uber.com/twist

Today’s show:

Not long ago, promising young Japanese graduates wanted to go work for the largest, most established, and even oldest corporations: Sony, Mitsubishi, and the like. But now, just over the last few years, more and more Japanese people are becoming entrepreneurs and founders.

TWiST Japan continues with a fascinating look inside the country’s growing startup ecosystem with special guest, venture capitalist Shinichi “Shin” Takamiya.

He’ll walk Jason through how Japan stayed ahead of the rest of the world in technology, but started falling behind when it came to founding companies, and how the Japanese are now starting to level the playing field.

PLUS why his fund, Globis, sees other VC firms as collaborators rather than the competition… How AI is helping Japanese and American founders build their companies more quickly… Why Jason prefers training younger people to become VCs rather than hiring more experienced players… Shin’s guide to eating out in Tokyo… and much more!

Timestamps:

(00:00) We’re so excited to bring Founder University in Japan!

(04:15) Jason and our guest first met 15-25 years ago…

(06:06) How is Japan always so far ahead of the rest of the world?

(08:29) Globis is one of Japan’s largest and oldest venture capital firms!

(10:48) Circle.so - the easiest way to build a home for your community, events, and courses — all under your own brand. TWiST listeners get $1,000 off Circle’s Professional Plan by going to http://Circle.so/twist

(12:38) Why founders need to play the long game when it comes to networking

(15:03) “The founder is the most precious resource in the startup community”

(16:50) Shin takes us inside his Mercari (a massive Japanese marketplace site) investment

(18:20) How startups became “cool” in Japan, just recently

(19:43) Deel - Founders ship faster on Deel. Set up payroll for any country in minutes and get back to building. Visit http://deel.com/twist to learn more.

(21:09) You don’t have to tell an investor your whole story… just get them interested

(25:28) Why Jason likes to train young folks to be VCs, rather than hiring for experience

(28:44) The differences between being candid and rude

(29:44) Uber AI Solutions - Your trusted partner to get AI to work in the real world. Book a demo with them TODAY at http://uber.com/twist

(35:40) Why Globis sees other VC firms as collaborators

(39:08) The world’s OLDEST company is 1500 years old… and it’s from Japan…

(39:54) Why a lot of great businesses aren’t right for VC investment

(43:34) Why picking the right market is so crucial

(48:37) When you know the direction of change but can’t predict the timing

(50:34) How founders are using AI to build better companies faster

(54:39) Shin’s guide to eating out in Tokyo

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Thank you to our partners:

(19:43) Deel - Founders ship faster on Deel. Set up payroll for any country in minutes and get back to building. Visit http://deel.com/twist to learn more.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	younger generation is becoming entrepreneurs and, you know, startups are becoming cool.
0:05.0	So the traditional kind of stereotype image of Japanese wearing suits being what we call
0:12.0	salary man, you know, lifetime employment, that's totally gone right now.
0:16.5	Totally gone for young people.
0:18.2	For young people, yeah.
0:19.0	They still have it as an option.
0:21.6	Yes. But they're now, it's number two on the list, number three on the list of possibility?
0:25.6	Yeah, yeah, maybe.
0:26.6	So another kind of a showcase, it's like a joke, but I always tell.
0:31.6	Number one job thought after McKinsey is now startups.
0:35.6	McKinsey used to be number one? You know, it's one of the prestige, you know,
0:40.3	jobs you can get, and you know, typically people might
0:43.3	join a big Japanese boot chip company to become one of the, you know,
0:47.3	top management or something like that.
0:49.3	That was high status.
0:50.3	Yes.
0:51.3	And now high status has shifted for young people to being a founder or even joining.
0:56.6	Or be associated with startups.
0:57.9	Yes, exactly.
1:02.8	This weekend startups is brought to you by Uber AI Solutions, your trusted partner to get AI
1:08.7	to work in the real world.
1:10.4	Book a demo with them today at uber.com slash twist.
	...

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