We have with us Kazuhiro Shimada (Kaz), Country Chief Operating Officer from Warner Music, Japan. He was kind enough to spend some time sharing his personal journey, his views on startups in Japan, what has worked and what has not, and what he thinks to focus on to grow the startup ecosystem in Japan.

Kaz embarked on his educational journey in Japan, laying the groundwork for his academic pursuits. Subsequently, he pursued pre-university studies in Canada before obtaining his bachelor's degree in science from the prestigious London School of Economics.

His professional trajectory has been marked by significant contributions to the Music and Media industry, with notable stints at prominent companies such as GE, Viacom, Amazon, and currently serving as the Country Chief Operating Officer for Warner Music.

Reflecting on the startup landscape in Japan, we do acknowledge its initial slower uptake compared to other nations. Despite representing just a fraction of the global population, Japan boasts a remarkable 10.6% share of Fortune 500 companies. However, this dominance has slightly waned over the years, notably since 2000 (20% of Fortune 500), with the emergence of new players like Amazon, Apple, Alphabet, Dell, and Microsoft.

In recent years, sectors such as Healthcare, Finance, Energy, and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) have gained prominence, eclipsing traditional engineering-focused industries. Although Japan has seen a proliferation of startups, the number of unicorn startups remains relatively modest, with just eight (8) out of 943 globally recognized unicorns as of 2022.

Noteworthy Japanese unicorns include SmartNews, valued at $2 billion, which offers an innovative news discovery and delivery app. Similarly, Preferred Networks, also valued at $2 billion, specializes in developing practical applications of advanced technologies like deep learning and robotics. Other notable unicorns include SmartHR, Spiber, Opn, and Playco, each making significant strides in their respective fields.

Kaz exudes optimism regarding Japan's startup ecosystem, citing shifting mindsets, favorable financial conditions, increasing diversity providing additional opportunities for women, government support, and most importantly, the potential for Japan's youth to leverage the strengths of Fortune 500 companies and offer diverse solutions.