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  1. The Evolution of Startup Methodology: Making the Right Thing Right, "in the Right Place"

    Having shared Lean Startup methodology, especially the hypothesis-testing kind, with aspiring founders, what I came to feel was this: "Unless this methodology is applied with careful thought, it is more likely to produce small businesses than fast-growing startups." That said, ...

  2. Company Creations by Vargas Holding: Creating a Series of Decacorns and Unicorns 🦄

    I previously wrote an article about the Venture Creation Model. This refers to a business model where investors take the…

  3. Read the Evaluation Criteria Carefully Before a Contest

    I try not to sit on the judging side very often, but presumptuous as it may be, I have been doing so more and more. The one thing I would really like to tell those who are about to take the stage at subsidy screenings or pitch contests, speaking as a judge, is this: "If the evaluation criteria are published in advance, read them carefully before you go in."

  4. Don't Get Too Hung Up on "Strengths"

    We often say, "My strength is X, so I'm choosing this path," or someone asks us, "How can Japan win by leveraging its strengths?" We are often told that we should focus on our strengths, and building on past experience makes sense both in theory and in terms of cost-effectiveness…

  5. Tips for Applying to and Preparing for J-Startup Impact, from a Recommendation Committee Member (2023 Edition)

    (Note: I wrote this article during and immediately after the recommendation review. I am publishing it now because the J-Startup Impact selected companies were announced on October 6, 2023.) I have read through about 500 applications and finished my evaluation. First, including both self-nominations and nominations by others, ...

  6. The Rise of Startup Studios and the Venture Creation Model, and Why Japan Needs Them

    Looking at startup investment in North America, late-stage is cooling, but seed-stage valuations are still holding at high levels*1. Looking at accelerators, once key players in the pre-seed and seed ecosystem, Y …

  7. Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) as a Career Opportunity, and Improving the Programs

    The "Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR)" model, which you occasionally see overseas, is gradually spreading in Japan as well. Roughly speaking, an Entrepreneur in Residence is a program, or a person taking part in one, in which you can prepare to start a company for anywhere from a few months to about two years while receiving a certain level of salary…

  8. The Startup Environment in 2023 and Measures for the Future (Especially from an Accelerator's Perspective)

    Looking at the results of prominent American accelerators other than Y Combinator, their performance since 2015 has not been all that strong. In terms of producing unicorns, [fewer unicorns are coming out of accelerators other than Y Combinator]…

  9. Innovation in How We Choose and Evaluate

    I sometimes serve as a judge or evaluation committee member for grants, awards, and the like. What I have come to feel is that the way we choose may also need innovation. We pay little attention to "choosing." In particular, when it comes to the "process of choosing" and the "method of choosing…

  10. Sorting Out "Impact" and "Startup"

    The terms social impact, and its shorthand, impact, have come to be discussed in startup circles as well. The term "impact startup" has also appeared, referring to a startup that reconciles "solving social problems" with "sustainable growth" and has a positive influence on society…