In this episode of the Produck Podcast, I sit down with serial entrepreneur, former product manager, angel investor, and Founder Institute mentor Jet Son Tan to explore what it really takes to build meaningful products across cultures and continents.Jetson shares his journey from Malaysia to Silicon Valley, from launching a startup in Taiwan to navigating corporate innovation in Japan. We talk about:Why great companies are built around people, not just ideasThe unique challenge of building for Japan instead of trying to disrupt itWhat Japanese founders can learn from global startup ecosystemsHow to find the right co-founder and avoid early team breakupsWhy building something meaningful requires stepping into the unknownWhether you're a founder, product manager, or curious builder, this is your chance to hear unfiltered insights from someone who's helped shape ecosystems from Asia to America.🔗 Connect with Jetson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jetsont86/#produckpodcast #startups #japanstartups #productmanagement #founderjourney #serialentrepreneur #globalmindset #cofounders #startupwisdom #angelinvestor #crossculturalbusiness

In this episode of the Produck Podcast, we sit down with Evan Burkosky — serial entrepreneur, startup mentor, and CEO of Kimaru AI — to unpack the concept of Decision Intelligence and how it’s transforming the way businesses make high-impact decisions.Evan shares his journey from commercial fishing to founding multiple startups in Japan and the U.S., his insights from mentoring hundreds of founders, and how Kimaru is helping supply chains make smarter, faster, and more scalable decisions using AI.We dive into:What decision intelligence really means (and why dashboards are outdated)Japan’s late-mover advantage in AI and manufacturingHow Evan is building a global-first company from TokyoThe biggest mistakes founders make (and how to avoid them)Why "permission" might be the missing link in Japan’s startup ecosystem🔗 Connect with Evan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanburkosky/🌐 Learn more about Kimaru AI: https://www.kimaru.ai#ProduckPodcast, #DecisionIntelligence, #SerialEntrepreneur, #StartupMentor, #KimaruAI, #SupplyChainAI, #AIinBusiness, #StartupJapan, #GoGlobal, #TechLeadership, #StartupMindset, #B2BSaaS, #AIForDecisionMakers, #FoundersJourney, #StartupWisdom

What if your startup could enter new global markets without spending a fortune on consultants, lawyers, or endless research?In this episode of the #ProduckPodcast, we talk with #femalefounder and global operator Karen Onuma-Mielke, COO of GlobalDeal. She’s building an AI-powered platform to help startups scale smarter—not harder—across borders.From writing her thesis on tech in low-income countries to co-founding a company tackling #globalexpansion challenges head-on, Karen shares how she’s turning vision into reality. We explore:🌍 The reality of scaling a startup into foreign markets🤖 How #AIforbusiness is transforming go-to-market strategies👩‍💼 What it’s like being a female founder in Japan’s still male-dominated startup scene🌐 The power of #localization and cross-cultural communication🧠 The leadership challenges of managing a #remoteteam across bordersKaren also opens up about her multicultural upbringing (German-Japanese), her thoughts on #techforgood, and why she believes there’s never a perfect time to start—so just start.🔗 Learn more about Karen & GlobalDeal:🌐 www.globaldeal.io🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-onuma-mielke/#startup #entrepreneurship #leadership #scalingstartups #japanstartups #businessstrategy #aiinnovation #founderstory #internationalbusiness #crossculturalcommunication

In this episode of the Produck Podcast, I sit down with Dan Ring, founder of Elevate, to explore the real people strategy startups need—not just when scaling, but from day one.From London to Singapore to Tokyo, Dan’s journey through corporate HR and into startup advisory work has given him a unique lens on leadership, hiring, and organizational design. We dive deep into:✅ The hidden cost of a bad hire (and how to avoid it)✅ Why founders should think in systems, not roles✅ The rise of fractional leadership and what it means for startups✅ How to build company culture before your first HR hire✅ What great leaders do differently—especially in the early stages✅ Modern org design and talent retention strategies that actually workIf you’re a startup founder, HR leader, or just obsessed with building better companies, this episode is packed with practical insight and real-world stories.🎧 Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations with product leaders, founders, and startup builders.📍Guest: Dan Ring🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danpring/📌 Check out Elevate: https://www.elevate.help/#StartupHR #OrgDesign #FractionalLeadership #LeadershipTips #Founders #StartupAdvice #CompanyCulture #HiringStrategy #ProduckPodcast #HRTech #PeopleOps #StartupScaling

In this episode, I sit down with Egil Østhus, the CEO and co-founder of Unleash, the leading open-source feature management platform. Egil shares his journey from a developer hacking computers in the 90s to scaling a global SaaS business serving hundreds of companies worldwide.We dive into:✅ Why culture starts with leadership✅ How to build products that solve universal problems✅ The challenges of scaling visibility against well-funded competitors✅ The future of software development in the AI era✅ What authentic leadership really meansWhether you’re a startup founder, engineering leader, or someone passionate about the future of software, this conversation is packed with insight and inspiration.👉 Connect with Egil Østhus on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/egilconr/👉 Learn more about Unleash:http://getunleash.io/💡 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with global entrepreneurs and product leaders.#Leadership #Startups #DevOps #SoftwareDevelopment #Entrepreneurship #FeatureFlags #SaaS #OpenSource #PersonalBranding

🎙️ In this episode of the Produck Podcast, I sit down with Nick Cawthon, a trailblazer at the intersection of UX design, technology, and product strategy. With over 20 years of experience working with Adobe, IBM, and the San Francisco Giants, Nick shares raw insights on staying relevant in a world being reshaped by AI.We explore:✨ The evolving definition of success in design and freelancing⚡ Why perfection is a trap that holds you back🤖 How AI is changing UX—and why you should be excited, not afraid🎯 The hard truth about staying adaptable when the ground keeps shiftingIf you’ve ever wondered how to thrive as a designer or entrepreneur in an era of rapid change, this episode is for you.🔗 Connect with Nick Cawthon on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickcawthon-ux-digital-agency-product-design-leadership/👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more conversations with innovators shaping the future of work.#UXDesign #ProductStrategy #AI #Freelancing #DesignLeadership #ProduckPodcast

In this episode of the Produck 🦆 Podcast, I sit down with Addo Bari, a Product Manager at Virtusize, to talk about his unconventional path into product management — from mechanical engineering in Indonesia to building product in Japan.We explore how Addo transitioned into tech, the communities that helped him grow, and the rising influence of AI on the role of junior PMs. He shares deep insights on trust, communication, learning in public, and why product managers might need to think more like entrepreneurs moving forward.💡 Whether you're a student curious about product roles, a junior PM trying to break in, or a founder navigating AI disruption, this episode will give you fresh perspective.🧠 Topics We Cover:How Addo discovered product managementThe difference between engineering and PM thinkingSkills every product manager needs in 2025Why trust is everything for juniorsThe future of PM roles in an AI worldBuilding a PM portfolio without a jobProduct Tank Japan & the power of communityGlobal product expansion and localization challenges📍 Connect with Addo:https://www.linkedin.com/in/addobari/📍 Connect with Lee:🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-jean-61288087/🛍️ Coaching + Courses: https://stan.store/omnielt🎧 Follow the Produck Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/produck-podcast/✅ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you found value in this episode!📤 Share it with someone who’s thinking about becoming a PM or founder.

Everyone talks about co-founders, funding, and product-market fit...But no one talks about this one powerful hack: accountability partnerships.In this episode of the Produck Podcast, I sit down with my long-time accountability partner and friend Son Tra, who I met during the Antler program. While I didn’t walk away from Antler with funding, I did walk away with something far more valuable: a weekly partnership that’s helped me stay focused, energized, and sane on the entrepreneurial journey.🎙 What we cover:How our accountability partnership has worked for 18+ monthsWhy it’s helped us more than some co-founding relationshipsOur simple goal-setting structure (and how the “coffee fine” system kept us honest)What it really feels like to build solo, and how to avoid the emotional burnoutThe startup Son Tra is now building to help freelance English teachersWhy you might need an accountability partner, tooWhether you're bootstrapping, building alone, or trying to figure out what’s next—this conversation is for you.👇 Let’s connect:🔗 Lee Jean on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-jean-61288087/✅ Follow Produck Podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/produck-podcast/If you’re enjoying the podcast, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with a friend who needs this!#startup #founderlife #accountability #entrepreneurship #antler #produckpodcast #buildinpublic #founderstory #startupjourney #solopreneur #foundersupport #mentalhealth #startuplife #productivity #freelancer

In this episode, I chat with Kei Watanabe, the co-founder of Glasp, a company on a mission to democratize knowledge on the internet. From humble beginnings and co-founder challenges to building a Chrome extension that went viral, Kei shares his incredible journey—from launching a startup in San Francisco to growing Glasp into a product with millions of users worldwide, including in the U.S., Japan, and more.We dive deep into:How Glasp started as a web highlighting toolHow they created the world’s first YouTube summary extension using ChatGPTThe power of curiosity and experimentation in entrepreneurshipWhy distribution matters more than just building a great productWhat it takes to go global as a Japanese founderHow being surrounded by international founders helped Kei gain the confidence to build abroadThis episode is especially inspiring for Japanese entrepreneurs thinking about expanding beyond Japan. Kei’s story proves that with the right mindset, tools, and community, you can build a global company from anywhere.🔗 Follow Kei on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kei-watanabe/🔗 Learn more about Glasp: https://glasp.co🔗 Glasp Talk Podcast: https://read.glasp.co/podcast#produckpodcast #glasp #founderstory #japanesestartups #AItools #startuplife #globalfounders #curiositydriven #entrepreneurship #knowledgeeconomy #webhighlighting #youtubeAI

In this episode of the Produck Podcast, I sit down with Nick Pittoni, Product Lead at Mercari, to explore his journey from gaming enthusiast to driving AI innovation at one of Japan's few unicorns.Nick shares how his background in economics led him into product management, how he discovered the power of LLMs while leading cross-border initiatives at Mercari, and what it’s like working on AI products that shape the future of e-commerce. We dive into topics like:How AI is transforming the product management roleThe rise of agents and the future of prompt engineeringWhy Japan hasn’t seen more unicorns (and what could change that)The risks of AI monopolies and what developers should prepare forWhat life in Japan is like from the eyes of a foreign tech professional🙏 A big thank you to everyone who continues to watch, like, and share these episodes—it truly means the world to me and helps the channel grow. If you’re new here, please consider liking, subscribing, and sharing this episode with anyone interested in product, AI, or startups in Japan.📬 Connect with me (Lee Jean) on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-jean-61288087/📡 Follow the Produck Podcast on LinkedIn for new episodes and behind-the-scenes content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/produck-podcast/💼 Want to reach out to Nick? Connect with him here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickpittoni/#ProductManagement #ArtificialIntelligence #EcommerceInnovation #StartupsJapan #ProductLeadership #TechCareers #FutureOfWork #AIDriven #Mercari #ProduckPodcast