Post by Geodesic Capital

Day 4 of Geodesic Forum 2026: Winning in Japan 🇯🇵 We closed Forum week with one of our most practical sessions: Winning in Japan—a focused look at what it actually takes to launch and scale successfully in this market. The morning opened with a fireside chat between James Kondo, Senior Advisor at Geodesic Capital, and Miki Tsusaka, President of Microsoft Japan. Miki shared two core considerations for entering Japan: • Product—high quality and deeply localized • People—hiring the right leaders on the ground She also reflected on the fact that both Microsoft and Boston Consulting Group (where she previously worked) chose Japan for their first overseas office—a reminder of the market’s long-term strategic importance. From there, the session shifted into tactical execution: • Marcus Otsuji, Country Manager of Geodesic Japan, on How to Win in Japan • Hiro Kawanobe, Country Manager of Figma Japan, sharing his journey and lessons learned • Andrew Nimmer (Japan’s leading executive recruiter) on How toHire in Japan • Edward Ramsey, Business Development Manager at JETRO - Japan External Trade Organization San Francisco, outlining how JETRO supports U.S. startups launching in Japan Across sessions, a consistent message emerged: success in Japan requires strategic clarity, operational discipline, and a deep respect for the market’s cultural and structural nuances across product, sales, marketing, partnerships, and hiring. Forum concluded with a final moment of creativity and connection: a visit to Small Worlds, where attendees created miniature versions of themselves. A fitting close to a week dedicated to building long-term bridges between the U.S. and Japan. Thank you to everyone who joined us for Geodesic Forum 2026. #GeodesicForum #USJapan #WinningInJapan #VentureCapital #EnterpriseAI