Rising Edge

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 Sakamoto01:08 Japan's ecosystem twelve years ago and the tenfold growth in startup funding03:52 Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) and the "missing unicorns" question07:01 Tokyo Stock Exchange's ¥10 billion rule and evolving exit strategies09:10 International VCs arrive, and how Japanese VC funds stack up on returns11:50 Talent mobility and government support for startups15:41 Japan's science and technology edge: patents, Nobel prizes, and key sectors19:56 The next decade: going global and Japan's unique opportunitiesLinks:Japan Startup Ecosystem Overview - ReportUTEC (The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners)Connect with the guest Nori Sakamoto and host Kiran Mysore:Nori SakamotoKiran MysoreStay tuned for more stories from the land of the rising sun!

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 Goji02:59 Drafting Japan's Limited Partnership Act at METI05:30 The LP Act and the TSE Mothers Market that launched the Japanese ecosystem07:24 Studying at Stanford and betting on early-stage deep tech11:30 Founding UTEC in 2004 and keeping it independent16:24 PeptiDream’s IPO and diversifying exits22:13 Taking the portfolio global and teaching the next generation26:26 From law to a data science PhD, and AI in investing29:48 Leading the JVCA and the outlook for the next decadeLinks:UTEC (University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners)Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred LansingJapan Venture Capital Association (JVCA)Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth MarketPeptiDreamConnect with the guest Tomotaka Goji and host Kiran Mysore:Tomotaka GojiKiran MysoreStay tuned for more stories from the land of the rising sun!

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.