Tokyo, round two. Boarding ZipAir to Narita for SusHi Tech Tokyo. I'll be giving a few talks on building AI-native startups and what we're seeing across the global AI ecosystem — but honestly, the part I'm most excited about is reconnecting with some of our incredible Inception Studio Japan team members: Arisa Makihara, Natsuki Tamura, and Sae Nuruki. They are at the heart of what we're building in Japan, and every time I land here I'm reminded how lucky we are to have them. If you're going to be in Tokyo between April 26 and May 4 — at SusHi Tech, around the events, or just in town — let's connect. #SusHiTech #InceptionStudio #AI #Tokyo #Japan
Hey John! I hope to see you in sushi tech Tokyo I’ll be joining day 1!
I landed this afternoon! Let's get together at the show!
John Whaley Exciting trip ahead! Wishing you a fantastic time in Tokyo and great conversations at SusHi Tech Tokyo. The energy around AI innovation there must be incredible safe travels with ZIPAIR and enjoy reconnecting with your Inception Studio team.
Awesome John, I am in town for SushiTech as well ✌️
Welcome back, John-san! 🍣
Welcome back to Tokyo!
What often gets overlooked in AI-native startups is the translation layer. Models and architectures scale globally, but real traction happens where teams can adapt them to specific markets, users, and constraints. In a way, it’s not that different from identity systems — the core logic may be universal, but trust is always built in context. Feels like your Japan team is exactly that layer.