How to Run Your Startup and Survive Thrive in Japan & East Asia
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About this event
Starting a business in Japan can be tough—especially if you’re from another country. But plenty of foreign founders have still found big success here. In this session, you’ll hear their stories and learn how they overcame challenges like language barriers, cultural differences, and unfamiliar business rules.
Come discover the practical tips, key connections, and mindset shifts that helped foreign founders thrive in Japan, and find out how you can do it too. Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from seasoned experts, founders, investors, and industry leaders who have successfully built and scaled businesses in Japan and East Asia. Whether you’re just thinking about launching in Japan or already building your company here, you’ll learn proven strategies to stand out in these competitive markets, secure investment, and form the partnerships you need to succeed.
Motto:
Practical insights from foreigners who “made it in Japan” for building and scaling your startup.
Organizers:
- Venture Cafe Founder Institute Japan / Co-Capital.co Openfor.co
Agenda:
- Welcome and Introduction
- Panel Discussion
- Q&A Session
- Networking Session
Speakers:
- Erdinc Ekinci, Co-Founder, and CEO of Openfor.co & Co-capital.co and Managing Director of Founder Institute Japan/Korea/Taiwan.
-Tyson Batino, Co-Founder at SmartStart Japan
-Alexander De Vore, CEO of 3D Printing Corporation
- Serkan Toso, Co-Founder at byFood
Who Should Attend?
- Entrepreneurs and startup founders expanding into Japan or East Asia
- Investors and venture capitalists seeking opportunities in the region’s startup ecosystem
- Business development professionals exploring partnerships and collaborations in Japan and East Asia
- Corporate leaders interested in regional business expansion and strategic alliances
- Ecosystem builders, accelerators, and incubators supporting early-stage startups
- Government and policy professionals involved in supporting entrepreneurship and innovation
What You Will Learn
- Real Challenges & Survival Tactics: Understand the biggest hurdles foreign entrepreneurs face in Japan and East Asia, and how to overcome them.
- Market Entry & Growth Strategies: Learn proven methods for launching and scaling your startup in these unique markets.
- Navigating Culture & Regulations: Get tips on handling cultural nuances and local regulations to keep your business running smoothly.
- Raising Capital & Attracting Investors: Discover how to secure funding and build investor confidence in your venture.
- Power of Local Partnerships & Networking: See why forming the right connections can make all the difference for rapid, sustainable growth.
About the Ecosystem Organizations:
- Founder Institute: The Founder Institute is the world’s largest startup accelerator, helping entrepreneurs around the globe turn ideas into impactful technology companies. With over 8,000 alumni and $BN raised since 2009, there are programs in 200 cities in the world. FI’s mission is to empower entrepreneurs to build meaningful technology businesses.
- Venture Cafe Tokyo: A global community where various innovators, including entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and students, gather, connect, and create innovation in society through a variety of programs.
- Openfor.co: A “Global Partnership Accelerator” originated in Silicon Valley that combined with an online platform and marketplace for learning, building, launching, monetizing, and growing partner ecosystems and collaborative community around you for achieving effective marketing, sales, community building, GTM, fundraising, and many more.
- Co-Capital: Co-Capital is a VC that supports startups, investors, and governments by providing extensive networks, programs, and strategic guidance, helping them gain international traction, and funding opportunities through a collaborative ecosystem focusing on creating synergies among EdTech, Wellness, FinTech, and Deep Tech to foster a cohesive ecosystem where each sector supports and enhances the others with it's regional focus on East Asia to Silicon Valley.
- -Venture Café Tokyo : Venture Café Tokyo is the first Asian location of the Venture Café global network, which operates in 11 cities in six countries around the world. Venture Café Tokyo aims to enhance the innovation ecosystem by connecting innovators through providing engaging spaces, programs and stories. Venture Café Tokyo supports your innovation through opportunities for meeting and learning
