InnoHyve
InnoHyve
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Why does Japan not have a Tech Unicorn? VC Speaks on the Tokyo Tech Ecosystem.
Episode Description:
In this episode of the InnoHyve Podcast, we sit down with Kenneth Jeng-an ecosystem builder, “accidental startup person,” and Global Platform Lead at Headline Asia, a global early-stage venture firm investing across the region. From his foundational experiences at a seed-stage logistics marketplace in Tokyo to immersing himself in San Francisco’s hyper-competitive tech hub, Kenneth’s journey reveals how curiosity, global perspective, and a relentless drive to tackle complex challenges can fuel meaningful innovation.
Previously a Senior Product Manager at Moon Creative Lab, a design-focused venture studio affiliated with Mitsui & Co., Kenneth was responsible for bringing 0-1 ventures to life. He’s lived and worked in five different countries, serving in roles that span corporate venture advisory, international market entry, and early-stage startup operations. Today, he’s busy building a thriving community for international startup talent in Tokyo while moonlighting as a newsletter writer covering Japan’s startup world.
In this inspiring conversation, Kenneth shares how his fascination with policy, international relations, and technology led him into the startup arena-eventually guiding him to help founders navigate Japan’s unique cultural and business landscape. Learn how his hands-on approach, combined with a passion for community building, has allowed him to champion local entrepreneurs, seed cross-border partnerships, and reimagine what’s possible in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Join us as Kenneth discusses:
The Future of Japan’s Startup Ecosystem:
A deep dive into how cultural factors shape entrepreneurial success and what truly matters when scaling new ventures in Japan.
Beyond the Hype:
A candid conversation on bridging cultural and business gaps, the real challenges of Japan’s ecosystem, and the path toward meaningful, incremental progress.
Advice for Entrepreneurs:
Practical tips on navigating Japan’s startup landscape, learning from failures, engaging with investors, and envisioning a future where foreign and local founders collaborate for success.
Whether you’re drawn to Japan’s unique business culture, intrigued by cross-border expansion, or eager to learn how to align bold ideas with on-the-ground realities, this episode is packed with insights. Tune in to hear Kenneth’s story and discover how openness, relational mobility, and cultural bridging can shape the future of innovation in Japan!
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🔗 Links:
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Headline:
HOMEPAGE: headline.com/
LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/in/kennethjeng/
InnoHyve
HOMEPAGE: www.innohyve.co.jp/
INSTAGRAM: innohyve
LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/company/99374902
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Timestamps
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00:00 - Two Types of People: Complainers vs. Doers
Why some folks focus on problems while others focus on fixing them-and how that shapes the startup world.
12:00 - Complexity Is the Attraction
Kenneth shares why tackling complicated puzzles is so compelling and how startups feed that appetite for challenge.
19:00 - Japan’s Intentions vs. Reality
Debating whether Japan’s good intentions for technology and innovation align with the on-the-ground ecosystem.
24:00 - “You’re Not That Special” (Hard Truths)
Kenneth’s wake-up call in hyper-competitive environments like Silicon Valley-and how it fueled his drive.
55:00 - A Brain Drawn to Complexity
Kenneth explains the deep pull toward solving multi-layered issues and how that shaped his career choices.
01:02:00 - First Impressions: “This Guy’s Awesome!”
How Kenneth’s openness, energy, and willingness to share made a lasting impact on the InnoHyve team and community.
01:08:00 - The Accidental Startup Journey
From international relations to early-stage ventures, discover how Kenneth stumbled into startups almost by chance.
01:16:00 - Why Japan?
Kenneth dives into what brought him to Tokyo-and what keeps him here-despite challenges in the ecosystem.
01:22:00 - Challenges & Opportunities
A realistic look at Japan’s startup hurdles, plus the bright spots that show promise for future founders.
01:27:00 - Kenneth’s Mission & Vision
Harnessing global perspectives, building communities, and fostering the next wave of international startup success.
!!! If you enjoyed this episode, please like, share, and subscribe to support the podcast !!!
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ความคิดเห็น

  • @juliealgoet4034
    @juliealgoet4034 5 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Axel axel ❤❤❤❤

  • @xenoliving3951
    @xenoliving3951 7 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Instant click. 🙌

  • @ruledbysaturn
    @ruledbysaturn 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Space lol.

  • @jamesdelb6885
    @jamesdelb6885 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

    You know what's a very real problem? Advancement! By that I mean that our government and others with nuclear technology, pronounced nu-cle-ar, not nu-cu-lar, detonated 5 nuclear bombs (at least) in the upper atmosphere, just t see what the effects would be. Like giving a child a match in a room full of dynamite. imbeciles.

  • @InnoHyve
    @InnoHyve 28 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Do you think chat gpt should have a robot body 😅?

  • @JulieAlgoet
    @JulieAlgoet หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great way to celebrate this 10th release @InnoHyve : Marisa her insights on Web3 and the future of privacy are a must-hear for anyone passionate about innovation and the evolving workforce. Don’t miss this one!

  • @InnoHyve
    @InnoHyve หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you for celebrating our 10th episode with us! What did you learn from this conversation? Let us know your thoughts and the kinds of guests you'd like to see next. Stay curious and keep exploring!

  • @wanneschauvaux3357
    @wanneschauvaux3357 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Janelle is a rockstar 👌🤘

  • @chinokakurega
    @chinokakurega หลายเดือนก่อน

    Nice conversation. I see a similar mindset as a space-related engineer

    • @InnoHyve
      @InnoHyve หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thanks for watching!

  • @vertomme
    @vertomme หลายเดือนก่อน

    This was a great episode, I really enjoyed it!.

    • @InnoHyve
      @InnoHyve หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thank you for the support! Janelle is great!

  • @wanneschauvaux3357
    @wanneschauvaux3357 หลายเดือนก่อน

    the why not way of thinking is so powerful!

    • @InnoHyve
      @InnoHyve หลายเดือนก่อน

      truly inspiring journey!

  • @InnoHyve
    @InnoHyve หลายเดือนก่อน

    🚀 What would YOU risk for a chance to lead a mission to the moon? 🌕 Janelle Wellons shares her inspiring journey from MIT to NASA to becoming a lunar mission leader in Japan. 🌟 💬 Drop your questions or thoughts below-Janelle might even answer them! 👍 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more incredible stories from the tech and space world. 👉 What’s your biggest takeaway from this episode? Let us know!

  • @GrantCastillou
    @GrantCastillou หลายเดือนก่อน

    It's becoming clear that with all the brain and consciousness theories out there, the proof will be in the pudding. By this I mean, can any particular theory be used to create a human adult level conscious machine. My bet is on the late Gerald Edelman's Extended Theory of Neuronal Group Selection. The lead group in robotics based on this theory is the Neurorobotics Lab at UC at Irvine. Dr. Edelman distinguished between primary consciousness, which came first in evolution, and that humans share with other conscious animals, and higher order consciousness, which came to only humans with the acquisition of language. A machine with only primary consciousness will probably have to come first. What I find special about the TNGS is the Darwin series of automata created at the Neurosciences Institute by Dr. Edelman and his colleagues in the 1990's and 2000's. These machines perform in the real world, not in a restricted simulated world, and display convincing physical behavior indicative of higher psychological functions necessary for consciousness, such as perceptual categorization, memory, and learning. They are based on realistic models of the parts of the biological brain that the theory claims subserve these functions. The extended TNGS allows for the emergence of consciousness based only on further evolutionary development of the brain areas responsible for these functions, in a parsimonious way. No other research I've encountered is anywhere near as convincing. I post because on almost every video and article about the brain and consciousness that I encounter, the attitude seems to be that we still know next to nothing about how the brain and consciousness work; that there's lots of data but no unifying theory. I believe the extended TNGS is that theory. My motivation is to keep that theory in front of the public. And obviously, I consider it the route to a truly conscious machine, primary and higher-order. My advice to people who want to create a conscious machine is to seriously ground themselves in the extended TNGS and the Darwin automata first, and proceed from there, by applying to Jeff Krichmar's lab at UC Irvine, possibly. Dr. Edelman's roadmap to a conscious machine is at arxiv.org/abs/2105.10461, and here is a video of Jeff Krichmar talking about some of the Darwin automata, th-cam.com/video/J7Uh9phc1Ow/w-d-xo.html

  • @M132K60
    @M132K60 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Honored to call Daniel my best friend! Thank you for having him on! 😊

    • @InnoHyve
      @InnoHyve หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thank you for listening!

  • @katherinegallagher9081
    @katherinegallagher9081 หลายเดือนก่อน

    ❤. That's the Best ! 2 people, being together .. Just Because

  • @leerlingbaz7325
    @leerlingbaz7325 หลายเดือนก่อน

    axel space x is from elon MUSK

  • @InnoHyve
    @InnoHyve 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    "Thanks for watching! 🚀 What’s one insight from Dan’s journey that really stood out to you? Drop it in the comments - we’d love to hear your thoughts! 👇

  • @dearraecine
    @dearraecine 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Saving this video so I can remember to get up and work!

    • @InnoHyve
      @InnoHyve 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      you best believe it!!

  • @demskymusic
    @demskymusic 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Speaks the facts

    • @InnoHyve
      @InnoHyve 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      The ultimate karate move: speaking facts!

  • @vertomme
    @vertomme 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Very interesting

    • @InnoHyve
      @InnoHyve 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      absolutely!

  • @sridsn
    @sridsn 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Good one!

    • @InnoHyve
      @InnoHyve 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thanks for listening

  • @life_of_kai__
    @life_of_kai__ 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I really enjoyed this episode Alex. Would like to see more such startup stories!

    • @InnoHyve
      @InnoHyve 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thank you for watching! More startup stories to come!

  • @InnoHyve
    @InnoHyve 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you for exploring the world of robotics startups in Japan with us! 🤖 We're dedicated to showcasing the breakthroughs and informing you about the ecosystem pushing the boundaries of technology. We'd love your input: - What did you enjoy most about this episode? - Any robotics leaders or innovations you'd like us to feature? Your feedback is invaluable. Share your thoughts below! ⬇

  • @InnoHyve
    @InnoHyve 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thanks for being part of our exploration of Japan's space industry! 🙌 Our goal is to inform and showcase the latest advancements and the people driving them beyond our planet. We want to hear from you: - What was your key takeaway from this episode? - Who or what in the space field should we explore in future episodes? Your suggestions shape our future content. Share your feedback below! ⬇

  • @InnoHyve
    @InnoHyve 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you for joining us on this exciting exploration of Japan's robotics startup scene! 🤖 Our mission is to showcase and inform you about the innovators transforming robotics technology here. We'd love to hear from you: - What did you find most fascinating in this episode? - Which robotics topics or entrepreneurs would you like us to feature next? Your feedback helps us bring you the content you're passionate about. Share your thoughts below! ⬇

  • @InnoHyve
    @InnoHyve 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Grateful to have you with us on this journey! 🙏 Our goal is to inform and highlight the key players and ideas shaping Japan's startup ecosystem. We want to hear from you: - What did you find most interesting in this episode? - Any suggestions for guests or topics you'd like us to cover? Your feedback makes a difference. Share your thoughts below! ⬇

  • @InnoHyve
    @InnoHyve 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you for tuning into our deep-dive conversation with Eric Turner, founder of Japan Dev! 🙌 Our mission is to showcase and inform you about Japan's startup tech ecosystem, connecting you with the stories that matter. We'd love to hear from you: - What did you enjoy most about this episode? - Which topics or guests would you like to see featured next? Your feedback helps us bring you the content you care about. Drop your thoughts below! ⬇

  • @WannesChauvaux-x1q
    @WannesChauvaux-x1q 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    EPISODE 5🤩

  • @barbaralelan2182
    @barbaralelan2182 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thats me nonkel❤❤

  • @gabrielcalper6295
    @gabrielcalper6295 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Haha, awesome podcast! 😄 The guest gave a great insight into the market, and the episode was really informative for gathering useful information!

    • @InnoHyve
      @InnoHyve 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thank you! Stay tuned for the next one!

  • @jackxavier_expatlens
    @jackxavier_expatlens 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Congratulations on episode 1 🎊 Looking forward to the next ones

    • @InnoHyve
      @InnoHyve 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      coming up soon!

    • @InnoHyve
      @InnoHyve 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      thank you!

  • @jurgen_moors
    @jurgen_moors 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great guest you have with Michele ! Love this guy !

    • @InnoHyve
      @InnoHyve 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Us too!

  • @ThePretentiousEngineer
    @ThePretentiousEngineer 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    2 DAYS.... But I want to watch it right now!?! I shall return

    • @ThePretentiousEngineer
      @ThePretentiousEngineer 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Uhg... Still a 22 hour wait... I shall Return

    • @InnoHyve
      @InnoHyve 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      good things are worth the wait! :)