Key insights

• ⛩️ Rakatan founded in Japan in 1997 without VC funding
• 💰 Achieved cash flow positivity early through innovative billing strategy
• 🌐 Diversified business into 38 different sectors in Japan
• 🌍 Acquired Kobo, a significant e-commerce company in Europe and Canada
• 🚀 Rocket 10 aims to support medium to small size merchants in Japan
• 🛍️ Focuses on helping small to medium-sized enterprises
• 📈 Emphasis on brand development, reward programs, and consumer database
• 🚗 Rakuten focuses on geographic and ecosystem expansion
• 🌿 Emphasis on integrating company culture before acquisitions
• ⚙️ Fostering innovation and strong operational culture for success
• 📌 Pinterest's appeal for e-commerce and buying behavior
• 🤖 Innovations in logistics, including robots and automation
• 👨‍🦯 Japanese consumer behavior in shop-centric marketplaces with professional staff
• 🗣️ Transitioning internal communication language from Japanese to English to diversify and expand recruitment
• 🌐 English became the official language to promote global communication and collaboration
• 📈 Improvement in TOEIC scores after the shift to English
• 💡 Encounter with Paul Graham showcased his entrepreneurial spirit and energy

Q&A

• Why did Rakuten make English the official language?

  Rakuten made English the official language to facilitate global communication and collaboration, improve TOEIC scores, and bridge the gap between global and Japanese expertise.

• What is Rakuten's approach to competition and hiring strategy?

  Rakuten focuses on facilitating transactions for small to medium-sized merchants and has a hiring strategy that emphasizes younger talent and transitioning to English as the internal communication language.

• What are the innovations and preferences in Japanese e-commerce and social shopping?

  Pinterest is considered the best social network for e-commerce, and there are innovations in logistics, mobile devices, and social shopping. In Japan, consumers prefer shop-centric marketplaces with professional staff, and mobile transactions are rapidly growing.

• What does Rakuten emphasize in its expansion strategy?

  Rakuten focuses on two types of expansion: geographic and addition to their ecosystem, and places emphasis on integrating company culture before acquisitions. The company also believes in fostering innovation and a strong operational culture for success.

• What is Rocket 10's primary aim?

  Rocket 10 aims to support medium to small size merchants in Japan, fostering strong communication between merchants and consumers, prioritizing organic growth and acquisitions, and emphasizing brand development, reward programs, and consumer database.

• In how many countries has Rakuten expanded its e-commerce business?

  Rakuten has expanded its e-commerce business into 13 countries, including the acquisition of Kobo in Europe and Canada.

• How did Rakuten achieve cash flow positivity early on?

  Rakuten achieved cash flow positivity early through an innovative billing strategy.

• When and where was Rakuten founded?

  Rakuten was founded in Japan in 1997 without VC funding.

• 00:00 The founder started Rakatan in Japan in 1997 without VC funding, achieved cash flow positivity early by innovative billing, and grew the company into a diverse e-commerce business across 13 countries.
• 04:33 Rocket 10 aims to support medium to small size merchants in Japan, fosters strong communication between merchants and consumers, focuses on helping small to medium-sized enterprises, prioritizes organic growth and acquisitions, and has an emphasis on brand development, reward programs, and consumer database.
• 08:33 Rakuten focuses on two types of expansion: geographic and addition to their ecosystem, and places emphasis on integrating company culture before acquisitions. The company believes in fostering innovation and a strong operational culture for success.
• 12:42 Pinterest is considered the best social network for e-commerce, and there are innovations in logistics, mobile devices, and social shopping. In Japan, consumers prefer shop-centric marketplaces with professional staff. Mobile transactions in Japan are rapidly growing.
• 17:08 The founder of the company discusses the approach to competition, focusing on facilitating transactions for small to medium-sized merchants, and the hiring strategy emphasizing younger talent and transitioning to English as the internal communication language.
• 21:14 The company made English the official language to facilitate global communication and collaboration, leading to improved TOEIC scores and international benchmarking. The decision was influenced by the need to bridge the gap between global and Japanese expertise. The speaker's initial encounter with Paul Graham highlighted his entrepreneurial spirit and energy.