Japan Scalers | Episode 10: Scaling Sollective in Japan with Erika Iwai and Allen Wong
Jul 31, 2024
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Join co-founders Erika Iwai and Allen Wong as they dive deep into their innovative platform, Sollective, designed to transform the freelance industry in Japan. They discuss the unique challenges freelancers face, the importance of building trust in business relationships, and how their strategic approach has led to successful recruitment. The duo also shares invaluable tips for navigating the Japanese market and adapting sales strategies for local culture. With insights on fostering a thriving freelance community, their journey reveals the future of work in Japan.
Sollective is revolutionizing freelancing in Japan by creating a community-driven platform that connects vetted freelancers with innovative companies seeking high-level talent.
The concept of fractional leadership is being embraced in Japan, allowing startups to access senior expertise on a part-time basis while reducing costs and fostering flexibility.
Building trust through face-to-face interactions and understanding clients' needs is vital for Sollective, enhancing freelancers' profiles and strengthening professional relationships in Japan's business environment.
Deep dives
Reinventing Freelance in Japan
Selective is a unique freelancing platform that aims to redefine the perception of freelancing in Japan by providing community, software, and client opportunities to vetted freelancers. The company targets both freelancers seeking flexible work and innovative companies looking for high-level talent. Selective emphasizes a community-based approach, allowing freelancers to connect and collaborate effectively. This initiative addresses the stagnation in Japan's freelance market, aiming to create a dynamic ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders involved.
The Value of Fractional Leadership
The concept of fractional leadership is highlighted as a key advantage for startups looking for high-tier talent without committing to full-time employment. This model allows companies to engage senior experts on a part-time basis, thus reducing costs while accessing needed skills for specific projects. The practice is gradually gaining acceptance in Japan, challenging the traditional mindset of hiring full-time employees for every role. Selective aims to drive this change further by demonstrating the benefits of working with skilled freelancers as part of a flexible workforce solution.
Building Trust in Japanese Business Culture
Establishing trust is essential in Japan's business environment, where personal relationships often dictate professional opportunities. Selective fosters face-to-face interactions with clients to enhance assurance and facilitate stronger connections. Taking the time to understand clients’ challenges allows freelancers to present tailored solutions, increasing the likelihood of successful partnerships. This focus on building trust elevates the freelancers’ profiles as they gain access to top-tier opportunities through reputable channels.
Adapting to Regulatory Changes
Selective has adapted to Japan's evolving regulatory landscape by developing tools to assist freelancers with new invoicing requirements and legal compliance. The rollout of policies like the qualified invoice system has added complexities to freelancing, requiring innovative solutions to streamline invoicing processes. Creating tools such as customizable contract builders has eased the administrative burden on freelancers, enabling them to focus on delivering quality work. By anticipating and responding to these external changes, Selective enhances its value proposition, positioning its offerings effectively.
Emphasizing Community and Leadership Development
Selective is committed to fostering a community of high-end freelancers while simultaneously nurturing leadership roles within the market. The company emphasizes the importance of cultivating relationships and shared experiences that empower freelancers to grow and thrive in their careers. Initiatives like themed networking events help bridge connections between freelancers and companies, facilitating collaboration. This focus on community building not only strengthens the freelancer network but also promotes a healthier freelance ecosystem in Japan.
Welcome to the tenth episode of our new series Japan Scalers. In this series, we will only interview guests who have surpassed 100 million yen in revenue annually.
In this tenth episode, we are joined by Erika Iwai and Allen Wong, co-founders of Sollective, which is a Japan based corporation that is re-inventing freelance in Japan by changing the views of companies towards freelancers.
Join us as Erika and Allen explains the stages of their buisness progression that led them to be recognized as one of Japan’s best 100 startups in 2023 by the Toyo Keizai magazine.
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Time Stamps :
0:00 Introduction 3:35 About Sollective 4:44 How Does Sollective Help Freelancers? 6:04 What is “High-Level Talent” 10:35 What is Sollective's Competitive Advantage for Getting Into the Industry? 12:35 The Stages They Have Developed as a Company and How Many Users They Have
Now 14:06 Stage 1: The Beginning 16:38 What Is the difference between an HR Generalist and an HR BP? 19:59 Does Sollective find that to be a Huge Advantage in Developing the
Product? 21:29 How Did Sollective Gain their Initial Users? 28:26 Tips on How to Progress from the Starting Stage in the Japanese Market 31:56 Business Models Changes in the Earlier Stages 35:43 How Sollective Adapted their Personalities and Business Style in the
Beginning 38:27 Stage 2: The Investment 39:43 How the Managed the Challenge of handling and balancing Companies and
Freelancers in a Two-Way Marketplace 44:44 Stage 3 48:41 How Work Contracts and the Qualified Invoice System Impacted their
Business 54:19 Tips on How to Progress to Round 2 from Round 1 59:37 About the Trust between Them and Their Clients and Final Thoughts