Fish Out of Water: Raul Allikivi - An Estonian's Startup Journey in Japan

I spoke with Raul Allikivi, an Estonian entrepreneur based in Japan, about his experiences starting a fintech company for immigrants. We discussed the differences between Estonian and Japanese startup cultures, the challenges of doing business in Japan as a foreigner, and his vision for building a global fintech brand starting in the overlooked immigrant market.

#japanstartups #entrepreneur #fintech

Chapters
00:00 Motivation to Switch from Public to Entrepreneur
01:19 Creating Connections with Asia
05:45 Introduction to Giga
08:16 Market Opportunity for Foreigners in Japan
10:36 Differences in Founder Mindsets in Estonia and Japan
13:47 Startup Ecosystem in Japan
22:43 Competition in the Market
23:52 Learnings from Raising Funding and Working with Investors
24:30 Work-Life Balance and Time Management
26:41 Superpower and Advice to Younger Self
28:14 First Impressions of Japan and Travel Recommendations
30:54 Reading and Learning Habits