​If you’ve been following the news, you’ll know that Japan has been attracting a lot of interest lately from global investors and entrepreneurs. Being the world's third-largest economy, Japan offers vast personal and corporate financial assets, making it an appealing destination for investors. Moreover, the government's strong commitment to supporting startups and fostering innovation adds to its allure, with the goal of producing more "unicorns" in the market.

Our special guest for this episode is Sam Ghiotti from Habitto, a seasoned investor and serial entrepreneur from Italy. 

In this episode, Sam shares her reasons for starting a fintech startup in Japan, a country with enormous market potential. Japan boasts the third-largest economy in the world, a massive pool of savings, and a thriving insurance sector. Additionally, recent regulatory changes have opened up new possibilities for financial services across banking, securities, and insurance.

From a behavioral perspective, the Japanese have a strong cultural value of saving, but there is a reluctance towards investments, often associated with gambling. This behavior can be traced back to the “Lost Decade” (1991-2001), when the Japanese stock market crashed by 90% and Japan experienced a long period of stagnated economy. However, the young generation in Japan is keenly aware of the need to create substantial savings for their long lives, yet the market lacks comprehensive solutions to address this concern. Habitto recognized this challenge and designed a product to encourage proactive financial planning and investment.

Join us as we delve into Sam's decision to venture into the Japanese fintech market, explore the opportunities and challenges it presents, and learn from her unique experience as a foreign entrepreneur.


Highlights 🌊

🇯🇵 The unique opportunities of building fintech service in Japan
📜 A recent regulatory change has created room for fintech startups in Japan
🎲 Japanese perspective on risk: “Investment” as “Gambling”
💰 Japanese startup survival: fund secure, patiently await user's first step
💁‍♀️ How Japan's "service culture" is shaping Habitto's product?
🤝 Characteristics of Japanese users: hesitant to begin, but exhibit strong loyalty
🚀 Young Japanese increasingly accept entrepreneurship, room for more growth


＊The content of this episode is not investment suggestions. Careful research and risk assessment should be made before investing.


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