Journey to become a better investor

My path to becoming an investor

Entering 2024, I decided to transition to become more involved in innovation other than being an entrepreneur. A startup takes 10 or so years to become a solid business. With my remaining life, I would be able to do 1 or 2 more successful startups. It would make more sense to share my experience, knowledge and skills for the greater good.

But while working with more than 30 startups, I realized that I was lacking something.

I need to have more skin in the game. I need to show more commitment.

Finding Material Change Institue

Finding a way to achieve my goals seemed complicated. I had very little investment experience. Also, I wanted to have a large portion of my investment in climatetech, but I didn't have much experience in the industry. So, I went out to seek advice. I talked to my friends who were either in startup investment or in the climate change industry. After talking to many helpful friends who extended their help by introducing me to more people, I met Alex and he introduced me to Material Change Institute.

Material Change Institute is a unique organization that provides a fellowship program to prepare people with diverse backgrounds for early-stage investing. I would like to utilize this program to find a way to provide resources to climatetech startups so that they can focus on positive climate impact more than increasing their valuation.

Let me answer a few questions about why I decided to enroll in the program.

Why do I want to invest?

I want to support as many climatetech companies as possible to maximize the true positive impact to ensure a safer world for the future generation

Support innovation: True innovation oftentimes does not lead to a great business. But those challenges should be rewarded to derisk future challenges which we desperately need.

Provide resources: Many startups can't progress with their vision due to a lack of resources. Decreasing the cost of finance will keep them focused on their goals.

Show commitment: To prove that I am not advising irresponsibly and that I fully support them.

Take sacrifice and risk for the common good: To cope with the current climate situation everyone needs to find their capacity to sacrifice and to take risks.

Why I am a good investment?

GRIT: I have a great work ethic and commitment. I have many achievements that people said were impossible. I may be a bit stubborn but I will get the job done.

Changemaker: I have changed the way people work through my startup. I have changed the Japanese Banking Act twice through building an association. If it does not exist, I build it. If it needs change, I change it.

Out-of-the-box-thinker: I have applied factory quality management to office work. I have creatively financed my startup to rescue it from the verge of bankruptcy.

I will keep you updated on how the journey goes! (And hopefully will make journalling my habit.)