Kaori Rei’s Post

😃Hello from Tokyo🗼 The podcast "AI Founders' Mindset" 🎙️149. From Silicon Valley to Tokyo: How Ken is Transforming Japan’s Startup Scene: Ken Yasunaga Part 1 The full episode is here: hhttps://lnkd.in/ehzRt_CB 🥸🥸Please subscribe us❤️, and give your LIKE👍 and comments!🥸🥸 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The 3 key takeaways from the conversation with Ken Yasunaga Global Hands-On VC (GHOVC) 1. Bringing Silicon Valley’s Entrepreneurial Spirit to Japan Ken was deeply influenced by Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial culture, where innovation and risk-taking are highly encouraged. Surrounded by startup founders and top-tier venture capitalists, he felt inspired to take on new challenges. This environment helped shape his decision to leave a large corporation, start his own firm in the U.S., and later return to Japan to influence the startup ecosystem. 🔹 Example: Ken compared the U.S. and Japan’s startup environments and recognized that Japan lacked the same culture of risk-taking. Instead of staying in an already mature ecosystem, he wanted to contribute to Japan’s early-stage startup scene and help create a more dynamic environment. 2. Building a Hands-On VC to Support Japanese Startups’ Global Expansion Ken co-founded Global Hands-On VC, a firm that provides not just funding but also strategic, hands-on support to Japanese startups looking to expand globally. The firm was established with partners who have strong backgrounds in both Japan and the U.S., including former executives from Oracle and Salesforce Japan and top-tier software engineering experts. 🔹 Example: Many Japanese startups struggle to enter the global market due to cultural and business differences. Ken’s VC firm bridges this gap by leveraging the experience of its international partners and providing startups with direct access to key players in Silicon Valley. 3. Paying It Forward: Transforming Japan’s Startup Culture Ken’s return to Japan was driven by a desire to give back to the entrepreneurial community by applying what he learned from Silicon Valley’s top VCs. He recognized that Japan’s startup ecosystem was still developing and wanted to contribute to its growth rather than just benefiting from an already mature market. 🔹 Example: Instead of taking the easier path of staying in the U.S., Ken chose to struggle in the early stages of Japan’s startup ecosystem so he could actively shape it. His goal is to influence, mentor, and support the next generation of Japanese founders, just as he was supported by mentors in Silicon Valley.