Disrupting Japan: Startups and Venture Capital in Japan Tim Romero

It's a very short episode because I just want to let you know what's coming, and to thank you for all your support over the years.

Some industries need to be dragged kicking and screaming to innovation.



When margins are tight and profits are small, CEOs often don't want to spend a dime on the promise of increased efficiencies or long-term savings, and so external leverage is needed.



Today we talk with Shinya Shimizu, founder and CEO of Elephantech, who explains how he found that leverage in his mission to make the global technology supply chain more environmentally friendly.



We explore how Elephantech and other startups are helping the world meet net-zero targets, strategies for scaling  manufacturing startups, and how you can make money while doing good in the world.



It's a great conversation, and I think you'll enjoy it.

Japanese HR departments are in a bit of a panic right now.



The increasing job mobility that startups have unleashed is forcing them to rethink their entire mission. 



Today we sit down and Takako Ogawa, co-founder and CEO of Panalyt, a startup at the center of this transformation, and we talk about the changing career paths in Japan, when startups need to change CEOs, and the dangers of going global that people don't seem to talk about.  



It's a great conversation, and I think you'll enjoy it.

Fusion energy promises almost unlimited, inexpensive, clean energy.



That's a pretty big promise.



Today we sit down with Satoshi Konishi, co-founder and CEO of Kyoto Fusioneering, and we talk about what it is really going to take to develop commercially viable fusion power and the role that startups have to play in that process.



We talk about the emerging public-private research partnerships, who is pulling ahead in the fusion race, and  we dig into the long history and near future of fusion energy



It's a great conversation, and I think you'll enjoy it.

Most sustainability startups struggle to find sustainable business models



Towing, however, has found their solution, and their customers are seeing 20% to 70% increases crop yields.



Today we sit down with Towing co-founder Teppei Okamura and he explains why even such a drastic yield improvement required an innovative production and distribution model to achieve scale.



We also talk about the advantages (and the challenges) of working with university research teams, how environment policy and carbon credits affect innovation in sustainable agriculture, and Towing's joint research project with JAXA, Japan's space agency, on developing farming in space.



It's a great conversation, and I think you'll enjoy it.

Almost everyone agrees that the Japanese education system needs to be modernized, but EdTech startups face an uphill battle in Japan. 



Of course, academia and governments are not known for being particularly innovative or forward-thinking, and that's why Kohei Kuboyama left a fast-track career at Japan's Ministry of Finance to launch and EdTech startup. 



Kohei lays out his blueprint for getting new technology and new products adopted in Japan's schools, explains the challenges of leaving government service to start a startup, and talks about a few positive long-term trends he sees in Japan's eduction system.



It's a great conversation, and I think you'll enjoy it.