Sozo Ventures: the Japan–US venture firm that helped Twitter enter Japan

An interview in English with Rob Freelen of Sozo Ventures, a global venture firm with Japanese roots. He talks about supporting Twitter’s entry into Japan, his 17 years at SVB, “readiness” as an investment criterion, and his message to Japanese founders.

Topics include Sozo Ventures’ strategy as a bridge between Japan and the United States and Twitter’s entry into Japan through a collaboration with Lawson, his roots at Stanford and his years at SVB, which supported 60 percent of US startups, and why he encourages Japanese founders to work in English and set up a Delaware company from day one.