In this episode, I sit down with Naman Garg, Founder & CEO of Youthyatra, an organization helping Indian students and young founders gain the skills, mindset, and opportunities they need to succeed on the global stage—starting with Japan.We talk about:- Why Naman chose Japan over the U.S. or Europe- How Youthyatra prepares students with startup bootcamps and real customer validation- The untapped opportunities in Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem- Why combining Indian speed with Japanese quality creates powerful co-founder partnerships- How Youthyatra is shaping future unicornsWhether you’re a student, founder, or curious about the India–Japan startup bridge, this episode will inspire you to think bigger and start messy.🔗 Connect with Naman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naman-garg-119662106/🌐 Learn more about Youthyatra: https://youthyatra.com/#Startups #IndiaToJapan #Entrepreneurship #Youthyatra #GlobalStartups #FounderJourney #ProduckPodcast

In this episode, I sit down with Maki Ozer, Community Manager at Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB), to explore how she’s breaking language barriers, fostering inclusion, and pushing Tokyo’s startup hub to become truly global.We dive into her journey from co-working spaces to cosmetics to leading one of Tokyo’s most important innovation communities. Maki shares how she connects Japanese and international founders, builds partnerships, and creates a sense of belonging that goes beyond business.If you’ve ever wondered how to grow a global-ready ecosystem, this conversation is full of insights on community building, cultural challenges, and the future of Japan’s startup scene.🔗 Connect with Maki on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maki-%C3%B6zer-14a6a0253/🌐 Learn more about Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB): https://tib.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/#TokyoStartups, #GlobalCommunity, #EcosystemBuilding, #StartupJapan, #Innovation, #CommunityBuilding, #TIB, #Entrepreneurship, #Networking, #Founders #community #produckpodcast #japan #tokyo

In this episode of the Produck Podcast, I sit down with Makoto Kern — founder of IIImpact, UX/product strategist, and host of the Make an IIImpact Podcast.We dive into:- How Makoto went from robotics and engineering to UX design and product strategy- Why most enterprise software fails without real user research- The “AI Competence Mirage” and why executives often misjudge AI’s true impact- How to de-risk product launches with the right processes- The role of UX in startups, innovation, and education in the AI era🔗 Connect with Makoto:🎙️ Make an IIImpact Podcast → https://open.spotify.com/show/43NxDthLmfF1NFjwedNTmv💼 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/productuxdesigner/📌 About the Produck Podcast:The Produck Podcast gives founders, product managers, and product teams a place to share real struggles, wins, and lessons from the front lines of building products.👉 Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/produck-podcast/👉 Follow us on Instagram: @produckpodcast#UXDesign, #ProductStrategy, #MakotoKern, #AI, #ProductManagement, #ProduckPodcast, #Startups, #DesignThinking

Entrepreneurship isn’t all glamour and billion-dollar exits—it’s sleepless nights, tough calls, and sacrifices no one talks about.In this episode of the Produck Podcast, Jordan Reiss shares the raw reality of startup life: going deep into debt, facing painful layoffs, selling his company (twice), and ultimately finding a path to success. From Wall Street to Astro Gaming to building a new life in Japan, Jordan reveals the lessons every founder needs to hear about conviction, traction, and when to pivot—or persevere.🎧 Tune in if you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to build and survive as a founder.Connect with Jordan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanreiss/Follow the Produck Podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/produck-podcast/Follow us on Instagram: @produckpodcast#startup, #entrepreneurship, #founder, #startuplife, #pitching, #venturecapital, #business, #JapanStartups, #founderstory, #productmanagement, #produckpodcast, #scaling, #pivot, #persevere

In this episode of the Produck Podcast, I sit down with Sofian Meguellati, founder of DePitch Academy, three-time entrepreneur, and Solana enthusiast. Sofian has helped hundreds of Web3 founders refine their pitches and collectively raise over $1M+ in just months.We dive into:How Sofian built the first pitch academy for the Solana ecosystemThe unique challenges of pitching in Web3 and cryptoWhy storytelling, empathy, and preparation matter more than everLessons on serendipity, adaptability, and building communities abroadThe art of turning a pitch into a teaser that makes investors want to meet you againAs a fellow pitch coach, I loved this conversation. It was inspiring to trade insights, share best practices, and learn from someone who’s coaching founders at such a high level.🔗 Connect with Sofian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofianmeguellati/📌 Book me for pitch coaching and get a FREE audit call: stan.store/omnieltIf you’re a founder preparing to pitch investors, this episode is packed with actionable tips you can apply immediately.#startups, #pitching, #fundraising, #storytelling, #solana, #web3, #crypto, #entrepreneurship, #produckpodcast

In this episode of the Produck Podcast, host Lee Jean sits down with Maryam Fallah, the founder of Buddy, to explore her inspiring journey from Iran to Japan.Maryam shares how her own relocation experience led her to identify the struggles foreigners face when settling in Japan—and how she transformed those challenges into solutions. Backed by Mitsui and supported through Moon Creative Lab, Maryam is building a platform that bridges the gap between companies, HR teams, and international employees, making life in Japan smoother for newcomers.We discuss her transition from corporate life to intrapreneurship, the unique challenges of being a founder in Japan, and her vision for helping foreigners not just survive, but thrive.Connect with Maryam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryam-fallah-123180b1/Follow for early updates on new episodes: IG @produckpodcastConnect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/produck-podcast/#ProduckPodcast, #StartupJapan, #FounderJourney, #Intrapreneurship, #FemaleFounders, #ExpatLifeJapan, #GlobalTalent, #DiversityAndInclusion, #JapanStartups

What separates founders who ship, sell, and scale from those who stall? In this episode, former 500 Global leader and author of "The Funding Framework", Vijay Rajendran breaks down a practical system for building startups that last—from validating with customers (not code), to crafting investor-ready stories, to running a tight 10–12 week fundraise.

We also dig into why teams really fail (spoiler: trust and communication), how to shift from Chief Everything Officer to Chief Enablement Officer, and the mindset that turns early traction into durable momentum.

What you’ll learn:

The Funding Framework: systems (not serendipity) for raising capital with confidence

How to use the hero’s journey to make your customer the hero—and your product their superpower

Founder-led sales: listening for value cues that write your pitch for you

When “customer education” is a trap—and what to do instead

The three CEO phases: Everything → Enablement → Executive

Links & resources:

Vijay’s website: https://www.mystartupsystem.com/

Ask Vijay’s AI Twin anything: https://askwizly.ai/vijay-rajendran

Book — The Funding Framework: https://tinyurl.com/hmvetnfj

Vijay’s Substack: https://startupsystem.substack.com/

Free bonus for Produck Podcast listeners — Vijay’s Founder-Led Sales presentation: https://www.sierraventures.com/ascend/founder-led-sales

Vijay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijayarajendran/

If you'd like to work on your storytelling, then book a FREE pitch audit call on my Stan Store at stan.store/omnielt. You can also download a FREE pitch deck template I created to help you get your pitch deck ready faster!

Want to be featured on the show? Email [email protected].

Follow for early drops and clips: Instagram: @produckpodcast

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/produck-podcast/

#startupfunding, #founderstory, #venturecapital, #entrepreneurship, #pitching, #storytelling, #productstrategy, #foundercoach, #startuplessons, #produckpodcast, #founders, #scalingstartups, #fundraising

In this episode of the Produck Podcast, we sit down with Lindsay Liu — UX designer at a leading FinTech company and founder of the rapidly growing Tokyo Design Community.Lindsay shares her inspiring career journey from architecture to UX, the challenges of designing for Japanese users, and how she uses tools like Claude and Lovable to streamline the product development process. We also talk about the importance of product thinking, building community, and the future of design in the age of AI.🔥 Topics Covered:Transitioning from architecture to UX designWhat it means to design with purposeNavigating cultural nuances in user research in JapanBuilding MVPs using no-code tools and AIHow Tokyo Design grew from 3 to 600+ membersThe merging roles of UX, PM, and engineerDesigning products your mom would love ❤️🔗 Connect with Lindsey & Tokyo Design:Lindsey’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lin-uxpedia/Tokyo Design Community: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tokyo-design-community/posts/?feedView=all💌 Subscribe to podcast.todayA free weekly newsletter curating the world’s best podcast episodes in tech, business, culture, and more.👉 https://podcast.today📱 Follow us on Instagram for early episode drops & behind-the-scenes content:@produckpodcast👍 Like, Comment & Subscribe to support the show!🛎️ Hit the bell icon to never miss an episode.#UXDesign, #ProductDesign, #DesignThinking, #TokyoTech, #WomenInTech, #NoCode, #AIandDesign, #ProductManagement, #Hackathons, #TechCommunity, #CommunityBuilding, #StartupJapan, #DesignWithPurpose, #ProduckPodcast, #podcasttoday

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