Rising Edge

UTEC
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Monthly

“Rising Edge” presented by UTEC, is a show about the stories and people behind science and technology startups — built from Japan or built with Japan, the land of the rising sun. It features industry leaders, entrepreneurs, technology experts and investors contributing to the future of Japan. UTEC is one of Asia's oldest and largest deep-tech VC firms. Since 2004, UTEC has raised 6 funds with over $1B dollar AUM with a track record of 21 IPOs & 22 M&As. Learn more about us on www.ut-ec.co.jp/english and follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/utec

Episodes

  1. 2 days ago

    #3 Stay Alive Until the Wind Comes: Finatext’s Journey from Founding to IPO and Beyond

    Finatext Holdings went from a consumer app to being the infrastructure behind Japan's financial institutions. It listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2021 and is now building for the AI era. In this episode, we're joined by Finatext’s Co-founder & CEO Ryota Hayashi to talk about his journey from entrepreneur to public-company CEO — perseverance, risk management, how founders should choose investors, and what it takes to thrive in the AI era. AGENDA: 00:00 Introduction01:12 What Finatext does and the legacy problem in Japanese finance industry03:00 An entrepreneur father, the IT boom, and deciding to become a founder05:50 Moving to the UK: Bristol, and Deutsche Bank London after Lehman shock11:53 The initial days when nobody cared, building what people want, and the first hit16:50 Luck, risk management, and why founders who don’t quit get their hit19:00 Pivot to B2B infrastructure and the Nowcast acquisition21:04 How founders should choose a VC, and the resilience trait he looks for in entrepreneurs27:20 Life after the IPO and thriving in the AI era34:38 Pessimism is the state, optimism is the will Links: Finatext HoldingsRyota Hayashi’s letter to Finatext ShareholdersFinatext Holdings on UTEC's portfolio pagePassion for success behind rise of fintech startup — The University of TokyoSusumu Fujita (Founder of CyberAgent) - Ryota Hayashi’s role model Connect with the guest Ryota Hayashi and host Kiran Mysore: Ryota HayashiKiran Mysore Stay tuned for more stories from the land of the rising sun.

    #3 Stay Alive Until the Wind Comes: Finatext’s Journey from Founding to IPO and Beyond

  2. 20 Aug

    #2 Why Japan, Why Now?

    Japan's startup funding has grown roughly 10x in a decade, international VCs are entering the market, and the old "risk-averse Japan" perception no longer matches reality. In this episode, we are joined by Nori Sakamoto, Managing Partner and COO at UTEC and a three-time Forbes Japan Midas List honoree, to unpack what actually changed and where Japan's startup ecosystem is headed next. AGENDA: 00:00 Introduction: Rising Edge and guest Nori Sakamoto 01:08 Japan's ecosystem twelve years ago and the tenfold growth in startup funding 03:52 Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) and the "missing unicorns" question 07:01 Tokyo Stock Exchange's ¥10 billion rule and evolving exit strategies 09:10 International VCs arrive, and how Japanese VC funds stack up on returns 11:50 Talent mobility and government support for startups 15:41 Japan's science and technology edge: patents, Nobel prizes, and key sectors 19:56 The next decade: going global and Japan's unique opportunities Links: Japan Startup Ecosystem Overview - ReportUTEC (The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners) Connect with the guest Nori Sakamoto and host Kiran Mysore: Nori SakamotoKiran Mysore Stay tuned for more stories from the land of the rising sun!

    #2 Why Japan, Why Now?

  3. 6 Aug

    #1 The Past, Present and Future of Japanese Venture Capital

    Tomotaka (Tommy) Goji began his career at Japan's METI (the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) where he helped draft the Limited Partnership Act that gave Japanese venture funds their legal footing. He later left government to co-found UTEC, building a firm under the very framework he had helped create. Two decades on, he leads UTEC as CEO, chairs the Japan Venture Capital Association (JVCA), and teaches science and technology entrepreneurship at The University of Tokyo. In the first ever episode of Rising Edge, UTEC Partner Kiran Mysore talks with Goji about the origins, building, and future of Japanese venture capital. Agenda: 00:00 Introduction: Rising Edge, UTEC, and guest Tomotaka Goji 02:59 Drafting Japan's Limited Partnership Act at METI 05:30 The LP Act and the TSE Mothers Market that launched the Japanese ecosystem 07:24 Studying at Stanford and betting on early-stage deep tech 11:30 Founding UTEC in 2004 and keeping it independent 16:24 PeptiDream’s IPO and diversifying exits 22:13 Taking the portfolio global and teaching the next generation 26:26 From law to a data science PhD, and AI in investing 29:48 Leading the JVCA and the outlook for the next decade Links: UTEC (University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners)Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred LansingJapan Venture Capital Association (JVCA)Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth MarketPeptiDream Connect with the guest Tomotaka Goji and host Kiran Mysore: Tomotaka GojiKiran Mysore Stay tuned for more stories from the land of the rising sun!

    #1 The Past, Present and Future of Japanese Venture Capital

  4. Trailer

    #0 Rising Edge Trailer

    Coming soon! Subscribe now to catch new episodes every month. “Rising Edge” presented by UTEC, is a show about the stories and people behind science and technology startups — built from Japan or built with Japan, the land of the rising sun. It features industry leaders, entrepreneurs, technology experts and investors contributing to the future of Japan.

Trailer

About

“Rising Edge” presented by UTEC, is a show about the stories and people behind science and technology startups — built from Japan or built with Japan, the land of the rising sun. It features industry leaders, entrepreneurs, technology experts and investors contributing to the future of Japan. UTEC is one of Asia's oldest and largest deep-tech VC firms. Since 2004, UTEC has raised 6 funds with over $1B dollar AUM with a track record of 21 IPOs & 22 M&As. Learn more about us on www.ut-ec.co.jp/english and follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/utec

Information

  • Creator
    UTEC
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © UTEC
  • Show Website
    Rising Edge