How Startups Enter Japan: 3 Proven Paths That Actually Work
Japan is one of the most attractive and most misunderstood markets for foreign startups. The world’s 3rd largest economy Strong enterprise demand Deep industrial base Rapid adoption of AI, SaaS, and automation And yet, most foreign startups: Enter too early and fail or delay too long and miss the opportunity The reason is simple: Japan does not follow global expansion playbooks. After analyzing dozens of foreign startup entries into Japan, one pattern becomes clear: Startups
6 days ago5 min read
Cold Outreach That Actually Works: Lessons from Arzoo of Treeo VC
Raising a venture capital fund is often described as one of the hardest fundraising challenges in the startup ecosystem. Unlike startups that pitch a product or early traction, emerging fund managers are asking investors to trust their judgment, network, and long-term vision often before there is a track record. In a recent webinar hosted by VC Lab (Decile Group) , marketing leader Sarah Lacy sat down with Arzoo, GP at Treeo VC , to unpack a surprisingly effective str
Mar 175 min read
Are All AI Wrappers Bad Businesses?
VC Twitter loves the meme: “AI wrappers are dead.” And yes… many are. A lot of LLM startups today are simply thin user interfaces built on top of APIs from OpenAI or Anthropic . These products often have: No control over the core intellectual property Fragile margins that depend on API pricing Almost zero switching costs for users In many cases, these are not great venture bets . If the underlying model provider launches the same feature or changes pricing, the ent
Mar 134 min read
Going Global from Japan: The Funding Gap, the Glass Ceiling, and the Allocator Question
About eight months ago, Japan Investment Corporation (JIC)/（株）産業革新投資機構 published a detailed analysis on the global expansion status of Japanese startups . While the report is not brand new, its structural insights remain highly relevant, especially as AI, robotics, energy systems, and advanced manufacturing accelerate globally. If anything, recent deep-tech activity in Japan reinforces the report’s central tension: Japan’s founders are moving globally. The allocator laye
Mar 34 min read
What the BOJ’s 0.75% Hike Really Means for Home Loans in 2026 — and How to Prepare
This rate hike won’t hurt today — but it will matter tomorrow On December 19, 2025 , the Bank of Japan raised its policy interest rate from 0.5% to 0.75% , the highest level in roughly 30 years . The move was widely expected. Markets barely reacted. Nothing dramatic happened the next morning. But for homeowners — and anyone planning to buy property in Japan — this decision is far more important than it looks. This single hike is not aggressive, but it is symbolic . It confir
Dec 23, 20255 min read
