Tomotaka (Tommy) Goji began his career at Japan's METI (the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) where he helped draft the Limited Partnership Act that gave Japanese venture funds their legal footing. He later left government to co-found UTEC, building a firm under the very framework he had helped create. Two decades on, he leads UTEC as CEO, chairs the Japan Venture Capital Association (JVCA), and teaches science and technology entrepreneurship at The University of Tokyo.
In the first ever episode of Rising Edge, UTEC Partner Kiran Mysore talks with Goji about the origins, building, and future of Japanese venture capital.
Agenda:
00:00 Introduction: Rising Edge, UTEC, and guest Tomotaka Goji
02:59 Drafting Japan's Limited Partnership Act at METI
05:30 The LP Act and the TSE Mothers Market that launched the Japanese ecosystem
07:24 Studying at Stanford and betting on early-stage deep tech
11:30 Founding UTEC in 2004 and keeping it independent
16:24 PeptiDream’s IPO and diversifying exits
22:13 Taking the portfolio global and teaching the next generation
26:26 From law to a data science PhD, and AI in investing
29:48 Leading the JVCA and the outlook for the next decade
Links:
- UTEC (University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners)
- Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
- Japan Venture Capital Association (JVCA)
- Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market
- PeptiDream
Connect with the guest Tomotaka Goji and host Kiran Mysore:
- Tomotaka Goji
- Kiran Mysore
Stay tuned for more stories from the land of the rising sun!