3 ms·

Exaggerate much? Tokyo might not have the SV's startup "scene" but apart from funding, it has pretty much all infrastructure a software startup needs, just lik

by nandemo 11y ago

Exaggerate much? Tokyo might not have the SV's startup "scene" but apart from funding, it has pretty much all infrastructure a software startup needs, just like any large city in a developed country does: fast, reliable internet connection, a functioning legal system, and enough qualified labor. Generally speaking, Tokyo is considerably cheaper than San Francisco or NYC at the current exchange rate (rather, at the exchange rate of the past 2 years or so). Crucially, salaries are much lower, and compensation is often the bulk of expenses in software startups.

saint_fiasco 11y ago
It might be hard to find enough qualified labor because unemployment is so low and people are very reluctant to switch employers.
lmm 11y ago
> Tokyo might not have the SV's startup "scene" but apart from funding, it has pretty much all infrastructure a software startup needs, just like any large city in a developed country does: fast, reliable internet connection, a functioning legal system, and enough qualified labor. I was trying to pre-empt "San Francisco is just as expensive as Tokyo". Yes it is, but it has a lot of startup-specific infrastructure that may (or may not) be worth the excess cost. (Likewise NYC/London/Berlin). If you just want the things you list, you can go somewhere much cheaper than Tokyo (e.g. central US, northern/western Europe - as you say, any large city in a developed country will do).
- nandemo 11y ago
  > If you just want the things you list, you can go somewhere much cheaper than Tokyo (e.g. central US, northern/western Europe - as you say, any large city in a developed country will do) Right, I'm not claiming Tokyo is the best place for startups. Just that there's an investment opportunity (I was going to say "arbitrage" but that's too strong as it implies risklessness).
  - lmm 11y ago
    True up to a point, but I'd expect Tokyo to be bottom of the list for an investor, after all of the cheaper large cities in developed countries.
tptacek 11y ago
This would be a better comment without the snarky first sentence.
- nandemo 11y ago
  Point taken (though no snark was intended).

by nandemo 11y ago

saint_fiasco 11y ago

It might be hard to find enough qualified labor because unemployment is so low and people are very reluctant to switch employers.

lmm 11y ago

> Tokyo might not have the SV's startup "scene" but apart from funding, it has pretty much all infrastructure a software startup needs, just like any large city in a developed country does: fast, reliable internet connection, a functioning legal system, and enough qualified labor. I was trying to pre-empt "San Francisco is just as expensive as Tokyo". Yes it is, but it has a lot of startup-specific infrastructure that may (or may not) be worth the excess cost. (Likewise NYC/London/Berlin). If you just want the things you list, you can go somewhere much cheaper than Tokyo (e.g. central US, northern/western Europe - as you say, any large city in a developed country will do).

nandemo 11y ago
> If you just want the things you list, you can go somewhere much cheaper than Tokyo (e.g. central US, northern/western Europe - as you say, any large city in a developed country will do) Right, I'm not claiming Tokyo is the best place for startups. Just that there's an investment opportunity (I was going to say "arbitrage" but that's too strong as it implies risklessness).
- lmm 11y ago
  True up to a point, but I'd expect Tokyo to be bottom of the list for an investor, after all of the cheaper large cities in developed countries.

tptacek 11y ago

This would be a better comment without the snarky first sentence.

nandemo 11y ago
Point taken (though no snark was intended).