What does it take to launch and grow a business in Japan as a foreign entrepreneur?

In recent years, Japan has taken steps to attract foreign entrepreneurs by relaxing its Startup Visa requirements, and expanding various support organizations that help integration into the local business ecosystems. But what does it really take to succeed in Japan’s startup landscape?

Asia Society Japan’s Startup Nation Japan returns with three non-native entrepreneurs who are making their mark in Japan’s startup scene: Oya Koc, a Turkish-born entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Oyraa, Philippe Khin, originally from Cambodia, founder of SewaYou, and Hao Tran, a Vietnamese national, CEO of Vietcetera Media.

Why Japan? What opportunities do they see in this market? Can we expect more foreign entrepreneurs in Japan in the near future?

From navigating cultural and regulatory hurdles to seizing unique business opportunities, our speakers will share their insights, experiences, and key lessons learned on their entrepreneurial journey in Japan.

Join us at Asia Society Japan to learn about this new wave of foreign entrepreneurship in Japan.

Event and Registration Details

May 28, 2025, 8:00 – 9:15 a.m. (JST)

• This event will be conducted in-person and online, and registration is required.
• In-person participation is for members and guests only. Please pay your fee by credit card (Visa or Mastercard only) or at the door.
• Online participation is open to the public and is free.

Speakers’ Bio

Oya Koc
Founder & CEO of Oyraa

Oya Koc is the Founder & CEO of Oyraa, a leading on-demand interpretation platform that empowers global communication by connecting users with professional interpreters in real-time through an app. Oyraa serves both consumers and businesses, enabling seamless communication across industries such as real estate, healthcare, and government services. With a growing focus on AI-driven translation, Oya is leading Oyraa’s expansion into next-generation language technology.

With a background in Engineering from The University of Tokyo, she previously worked as a Management & Strategy Consultant at Boston Consulting Group.

Beyond Oyraa, Oya serves as Director at Bankers Holding and actively contributes as an advisor to EXPO2025 Japan Pavilion, the Cabinet Office of Japan’s “Cool Japan” project, and other initiatives. Recognized for her leadership, she was named Woman of the Year by Nikkei BP in 2024 and featured in Forbes Japan.

Her expertise spans AI-powered language solutions, startup growth, and international business, making her a key voice in Japan’s tech ecosystem.

Philippe Khin
Founder of SewaYou

Philippe Khin is a Cambodian-born entrepreneur who grew up in France and now lives in Tokyo. He is the solo founder of SewaYou, a social network app fostering new connections with people nearby and around the world. 

After studying computer science, Philippe moved to Japan at 21 and gained permanent residency in four years. He started his career at AXA, worked at a startup, and later joined Microsoft before focusing full-time on SewaYou. Fluent in Cambodian, French, English, and Japanese, Philippe uses his diverse background and passion for technology to bring people together.

Hao Tran (Hảo) 
CEO of Vietcetera Media

Hao currently serves as the CEO of Vietcetera Media, a digital media network that he co-founded in 2016. Vietcetera's mission from day one has been to bring Vietnam to the world, and the world to Vietnam. Hao has shared on trends in Vietnam and greater Southeast Asia including and not limited to venture capital, technology startups, food and beverage, tourism, retail and trade. His insights and projects have been featured on media outlets such as Monocle, CNBC, CNN, the Washington Post, the New York Times, the LA Times, and Bloomberg. Aside from Vietcetera, he advises a number of SMEs, family offices, and Fortune 500 companies seeking expertise in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, helping strategize key decisions including long-term growth, delivery models and business expansion.