In an unexpected cultural crossover, Shun Sagara, a Japanese venture capitalist, has moved from his home country to settle in the heart of India’s bustling startup hub—Bengaluru.
Sagara joined Genesia Ventures in 2019. He revealed that India’s dynamic and fast-moving startup ecosystem made it an irresistible magnet when his firm started looking beyond Japanese borders.
But Why India, and Why Bengaluru, Specifically?
While Delhi was initially on the table, family considerations played a decisive role. As per Sagara, his wife expressed concerns over our capital’s air quality, spicy food, and last but not the one which can be ignored, women’s safety.
Bengaluru, with its relatively cleaner air and kinder reception to foreigners (especially children), won the day.
Are the Differences Between India and Japan Too Much to Deal With?
The contrast between Japan and India is stark in many ways—and nowhere is this more evident than in their startup cultures. In Japan, risk aversion reigns supreme. Pitch decks are thick tomes of 40 to 50 slides, addressing every possible worry that a cautious venture capitalist might have. In India, however, startups are far more cavalier, often walking into meetings with just a napkin sketch and a dream firmly in their eyes.
However, for Sagara, both approaches just work fine, and he appreciates Indian entrepreneurs’ bold ambition alongside Japanese caution.
Sagara offers a neat cultural formula for success: combine India’s famous *jugaad*—the art of frugal innovation and resourcefulness—with Japan’s *kaizen* philosophy of continuous improvement. Together, these mindsets can “deliver extraordinary results.”
Was the Shift Easy?
No, obviously not. For him and his family, the life in Bengaluru wasn’t all smooth at first.
Major Challenge: Cleanliness, he admits.
But overall, for him the city is one of the best in the world, and he praises the warmth of its people and their kindness toward foreigners, especially children. Sagara is a proud father of a 2-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son. And with time, he values the local support and excellent international schools that have made raising his children a joy for his family in India and not a struggle.
You Enjoy Other Sports in India Besides Cricket? Surprise!
Yes, Sagara was surprised to find that in India we play and enjoy other sports besides cricket.
Currently, Shun Sagara is serving as Genesia Ventures’ Country Director in India, but his journey from the disciplined world of Japanese startups to the vibrant chaos of India’s innovation scene shows the best of both worlds—serious ambition tempered with playful creativity.
One thing is for sure: Bengaluru’s startup scene just got a little more international, and a little more interesting.
