Teaching Kansai entrepreneurs as part of JETRO J-StarX program

On December 2, Tobias Mathiasen was invited by Antler and JETRO to give a one-hour lecture as part of the JETRO J-StarX Local to Global Success Course. The session brought together approximately one hundred entrepreneurs, attending both on-site at SAKURA Internet’s Osaka office and online, representing a broad cross-section of the Kansai startup ecosystem.

The lecture, titled “Impressions and advice after two years in Kansai,” drew on Tobias’s hands-on experience working at the intersection of early-stage ventures, finance, and cross-border collaboration between Japan and Europe. The primary aim was to help founders better understand how foreign investors think, while also offering practical guidance for startups preparing to engage with global partners and capital.

Three recurring “if only” moments

The talk was structured around three areas where Tobias frequently sees promising teams struggle when stepping onto the global stage:

Human capital
A central message was that, from a foreign investor’s perspective, experience and team credibility often matter as much as the product itself. Founders were encouraged to more clearly anchor their narratives in their own experience and to demonstrate how their teams can convert human capital into repeatable, structural value. This point was especially emphasized for deep-tech ventures, where business expertise is often added later in the company’s journey.

Funding and exit strategy
Tobias highlighted that the vast majority of startup capital is global, and that accessing it requires a coherent and credible global strategy. Common pitfalls discussed included underestimating capital needs, presenting visions that are too narrow for international investors, and framing exits in ways that limit long-term potential. Founders were encouraged to align vision, talent strategy, funding plans, and exit thinking into one integrated global story.

How investors can help
The final section focused on the role investors can play beyond capital. Many foreign investors expect to be actively involved, contributing through networks, hiring, and market access. For this to work, startups must clearly articulate how investors can support global expansion, rather than positioning themselves as Japan-centric opportunities.

An invitation to continued dialogue

Rather than offering shortcuts, the session emphasized that building globally relevant companies and ecosystems takes time, ambition, and collaboration. The lecture concluded as an invitation to continued dialogue between founders, investors, and ecosystem builders, and to more openly bridge local strengths with global expectations.

Felage would like to thank Antler, JETRO, and all participating entrepreneurs for a thoughtful and engaged session. We look forward to continuing these conversations as part of our ongoing work supporting founders with global ambition.