Jason Reacts To Japanese Founder Pitches + Fireside Chat With Yuki Shirato

Jason Calacanis travels to Osaka for Techstars Tokyo's pitch event, joined by managing director Yuki Shirato. They react to pitches from eleven Japanese founders spanning AI 3D models, indoor navigation, battery recycling, and AI digital twins. The conversation also explores why Japan's startup boom is breaking with lifetime employment norms, the fear of failure that still holds founders back, and how startups can think globally. Jason offers blunt feedback on each pitch, picks a layup and a wild card, and shares lessons on startup positioning.