About
Ayumi is Director of Investor Relations at Allegis Capital, a Silicon Valley based…
Experience
Education
Volunteer Experience
Publications
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Are Japanese startups ready for the big leagues? | Q&A with Ayumi Ode, director of Japan at 500 Startups
KrASIA
Japan’s ecosystem is evolving. However, the government, investors, and corporates are ‘still looking at how to better involve themselves,’ says Ode.
Japan is the world’s third-largest economy by nominal gross domestic product (GDP). However, the country lags behind other developing nations, such as Singapore and Malaysia, in adopting digital technologies as a key driver for economic transformation. Based on the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, Japan only ranks 27th globally in…Japan’s ecosystem is evolving. However, the government, investors, and corporates are ‘still looking at how to better involve themselves,’ says Ode.
Japan is the world’s third-largest economy by nominal gross domestic product (GDP). However, the country lags behind other developing nations, such as Singapore and Malaysia, in adopting digital technologies as a key driver for economic transformation. Based on the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, Japan only ranks 27th globally in a list led by the US and Singapore.
US-based early-stage venture capital (VC) firm 500 Startups is well aware of this reality. In 2016, the firm launched a local fund to work together with the Japanese government, investors, and corporates to develop a more robust local startup ecosystem. To date, 500 Startups has invested in over 60 Japanese firms, including fintech developer Paidy, personal mobility startup Whill, and crowdsourcing human translation platform Gengo. -
The Current State and Future of the U.S. Startup Ecosystem
Japan Business Federation (Keidanren)
In March 2020, global venture capital firm 500 Startups surveyed early stage investors as COVID-19 led to lockdowns and started impacting businesses. The responses echoed the uncertainty the venture capital community at large felt, as it entered uncharted territory, with the majority believing that the pandemic will negatively impact investment activity.
Numbers have since confirmed the survey’s findings. Seed deals fell by more than half during the second quarter of this year, with…In March 2020, global venture capital firm 500 Startups surveyed early stage investors as COVID-19 led to lockdowns and started impacting businesses. The responses echoed the uncertainty the venture capital community at large felt, as it entered uncharted territory, with the majority believing that the pandemic will negatively impact investment activity.
Numbers have since confirmed the survey’s findings. Seed deals fell by more than half during the second quarter of this year, with investors completing 316 deals compared to an average of 650 per quarter in 2019, according to PitchBook. Investors turned their attention to their portfolio, advising founders to primarily preserve runway.
Languages
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English
Full professional proficiency
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Japanese
Native or bilingual proficiency
Organizations
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Columbia Venture Community (CVC)
Japan Chapter Lead
- PresentColumbia Venture Community was founded at Columbia Business School. Since then, it has been one of the largest and most inclusive entrepreneurship-focused communities in the Columbia innovation ecosystem. https://columbiaventurecommunity.com/ The Japan Chapter of Columbia Venture Community (CVC) was launched in 2020 with a mission to foster entrepreneurship and innovation in Japan. CVC Japan aims to contribute to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Japan through its activities and community…
Columbia Venture Community was founded at Columbia Business School. Since then, it has been one of the largest and most inclusive entrepreneurship-focused communities in the Columbia innovation ecosystem. https://columbiaventurecommunity.com/ The Japan Chapter of Columbia Venture Community (CVC) was launched in 2020 with a mission to foster entrepreneurship and innovation in Japan. CVC Japan aims to contribute to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Japan through its activities and community. https://www.cvcjp.com/
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