This American Founder Tried to Fix Japan’s Small Business Crisis — And This Happened (ft. Zehitomo)

In this episode of Boss Code, we sit down with Jordan Fisher, CEO and co-founder of Zehitomo — the platform that’s revolutionizing how local businesses in Japan connect with customers. Jordan shares the real story behind launching a startup in Japan as an outsider, why Japan’s small business economy was facing a crisis, and how Zehitomo is creating new opportunities for local service providers across the country. 🎥 Watch more Boss Code episodes featuring global entrepreneurs and innovators. 00:00 Intro 13:38 What was the idea behind Zehitomo that could solve a big problem in Japan? 22:23 How did Jordan find his cofounder? 23:43 What were the early days like, and how did you convince Japanese clients? 28:29 Why did Zehitomo need to raise investment? 32:34 How many customers does Zehitomo have? 38:54 Why is it so easy for Japanese companies to go public? 43:30 Is it better to build a company that serves local customers first, or go global from day one? 47:49 Do Japanese founders think big enough? 52:58 Where does a startup need to be to receive $100M+ in investment? 55:56 Will the Japanese government’s policy of inviting more foreigners to start companies work? 01:01:28 Is a risk-taking mindset something you can learn, or are you born with it? 01:06:47 How has the perception of startups changed in Japan? 01:12:05 What was the most challenging moment for Jordan when building a company? 01:15:25 When is the right moment to walk away and let a company fail? 01:17:37 Can anyone build a successful company without a tech background? 🎧 Listen to the podcast on all major podcasting platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/50UsxYq... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Audible: https://www.audible.de/pd?asin=B0BTD2... #BossCode #Zehitomo #JordanFisher #Entrepreneurship #JapanStartups #SMEcrisis #StartupLife #BusinessInJapan #SmallBusinessJapan #ForeignEntrepreneur #FutureOfWork #BuildingInAsia