Taizo Son: “We are at the start of a new paradigm shift in technology, to the Internet of Things” (#StartupAsia)

Taizo Son, the founder of startup accelerator Movida, was one of the most anticipated guests at Startup Asia Tokyo. His keynote talk addressed changing trends in technology development as well as the relationship that Japan and Southeast Asia’s respective ecosystems have.

For Son, the Internet of Things will is the next big inflection point in technological development, following the advent of smartphones. That should be good news for Japanese companies as many of them are releasing devices – smart locks, ceiling lamps, air conditioners, smoke detectors, weight scales – which can be competitive in the new industry.

The rise of connected devices will optimize the way communities and individuals work, according to Son. Wearables will optimize health care, a smart electric grid can optimize energy usage. He even explained how smart cars could reduce the number of garbage trucks (and their hazardous emissions) required to one-third of the current size.

The Internet of Things is one area where Japanese companies can take the world stage but Son wants to see a wide variety of startups coming out of Japan’s ecosystem. If startups in Japan are properly supported, the impact on the Japan economy as a whole could be enormous. In America, for instance, 20 years ago startups made up 0.2 percent of America’s GDP. Within 12 years, it reached 27 percent, he explained.

For Japanese startups to thrive, Japanese venture capital is needed. There has been a recent trend of Japanese venture capital traveling to Southeast Asia, but Son thinks that any concerns are overblown. Following his talk, he told Tech in Asia , “It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to separate Japan, Southeast Asia, or China. Talented entrepreneurs are everywhere.”

See: This is where the Saito brothers invest their money in Japan (#StartupAsia)