Get ahead of the curve with 500 Startups at TIA Tokyo 2016

It’s really not just a name.

If one had to count the number of startups who have benefited from 500 Startups’ aid (both financial and otherwise), the company’s name would be something like 1500 Startups. The proportion of these startups who have gone on to greater things also speaks volumes about the seed fund’s eye for potential. Among the Japan trailblazers to have been given a leg up by one of the leading global VC are web-based human translation platform Gengo and Japanese pop culture content purveyor Tokyo Otaku Mode.

They’re not done accomplishing what they set out to do yet, and now you have the opportunity to glean some of that investment savviness for yourself!

500 Startups’ founding partner Dave McClure and head of Japanese operations, James Riney will both be present at Tech in Asia Tokyo 2016’s Main Stage on September 6. Here’s a preview of what you can expect from the two talks they’ll be headlining.

The Investment Opportunity in Japan

Speaker: James Riney, Head of 500 Startups Japan

The Japanese startup ecosystem is a unique and complex one. Venture investment levels have yet to scale the heights seen in other countries, and the entrenched dominance of the zaibatsu (mega conglomerate) has stifled the entrepreneurial spirit to a large extent.

But all that is changing.

Let James Riney tell you about the new developments sweeping the Japanese startup market, including the growing availability of top graduates for small, independent firms and the sheer quality of innovation just waiting to be discovered.

Also on the agenda:

• Challenges Japanese startups face in going global
• The various sources of aid a Japanese startup can turn to, including (surprise surprise!) the government
• How 500 Startups Japan in particular can help forward-thinking startups acquire the capital and guidance they require

The Innovator’s Dilemma: How Investors Must Bet Against the Present to Win the Future

Speakers: Dave McClure, founding partner of 500 Startups; Steve Leonard, CEO, SG-Innovate; Hiro Maeda, partner, Beenext

Choosing the right startup to invest in can sometimes seem like picking the right horse for the Sunday derby. Should you back the crowd favourite, the one all but equipped for success? Or the maverick outsider with an unproven track record?

A trio of industry experts, including 500 Startups’ founding partner Dave McClure, are here to tell you that it’s emphatically the latter (applicability for actual horse-racing not verified).

Having invested in success stories such as SlideShare and Credit Karma, Dave brings his expertise to this panel, discussing the perils of using today’s trends to predict tomorrow’s successes. He’ll be joined by Steve Leonard, who previously held stints as Asia Pacific President of both EMC and Symantec, and early stage venture capital firm Beenext’s Hiro Maeda.

You gotta catch ‘em all

Both of these talks are scheduled for the first day of Tech in Asia Tokyo 2016 (September 6), but why stop there? From US$199, you can gain access to the full programme of talks spanning two days and multiple stages, along with a whole host of other perks to boot!

The not so good news though: you’ve only got a couple of days left to decide whether you want to catch this panel at 15 percent off. The code tiatokyo15 will expire soon, on 29 July, 2359.