#16: Globis Capital Partners' Shinichi Takamiya on Building the Shohei Ohtani of Startups

Welcome to another episode of The Coral Capital Podcast, a show about startups, technology, and venture capital with a focus on Japan and Asia broadly.

Our guest today is Shinichi Takamiya, Managing Partner at Globis Capital Partners. Takamiya-san was ranked first in Forbes Japan’s Midas List in 2018, seventh in 2015, and tenth in 2020. He joined Globis Capital Partners after managing consulting projects at Arthur D. Little. His venture capital track record includes iStyle, Aucfan, Kayac, Pixta, Mercari, and Lancers; M&A Shimauma Print System, nanapi, and Coubic etc. He holds a BA in economics from the University of Tokyo, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Here are some takeaways from today’s episode:

• The evolution of “Venture Businesses (VB)” into “Startups” and what it signifies for the ecosystem
• The next wave of startups is driven by global and serial entrepreneurs
• Building the Shohei Ohtani of startups
• Over 10 industries in Japan boast market sizes exceeding ¥10 trillion (~$100 billion).
• The three business models for global expansion: 1) Universal Fit: A single model that works across regions (e.g., Toyota) 2) Niche Subverticals: Specific segments adaptable across markets (e.g., pixiv) 3) Localized Approach: Tailored strategies for each region (e.g., Mercari)
• How Josys is tackling the global market from day one, leveraging Japan’s advantages like low cost, high-quality operation centers
• Globis’s ¥72.7 billion (~$500 million) fund aims for 1–3 investments in companies with $5B~$10B outcomes, maintaining 10–20% ownership
• Investing in consumer services that address critical needs, such as FastDoctor
• Exploring consumer businesses pursuing parallel strategies: co-pilot models alongside R&D and autonomous solutions
• Succession planning in the venture capital industry

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