Hiroki Kato: Leaving Corporate Japan, Exposing Fraud in Vietnam & Building Asia’s Expert Knowledge Network – E670

Hiroki Kato: Leaving Corporate Japan, Exposing Fraud in Vietnam & Building Asia’s Expert Knowledge Network – E670

Author: Jeremy Au February 16, 2026 Duration: 29:18

Hiroki Kato, Founder of Arches and Jeremy Au discuss how leaving a safe Japanese corporate career pushed Hiroki into Southeast Asia’s faster markets, where exposure to fraud, cultural contrast, and insider truth reshaped his view of risk and opportunity. They explore how Vietnam’s optimism expanded his ambition, why public data often hides reality, and how expert conversations became the foundation for building Arches. The discussion connects personal courage with business execution, showing how disciplined hiring, focused delivery, and human trust systems built a competitive expert network.

02:30 Leaving corporate Japan felt like social betrayal: Hiroki chose impact over security despite family pressure to stay inside an elite lifetime career track.

09:10 Vietnam rewired his ambition: A young, optimistic workforce expanded his belief in growth, risk, and personal upside compared to mature Japan.

12:45 Fake books exposed the limits of public data: Insider voices revealed hidden accounting manipulation and misuse of investor funds no spreadsheet showed.

15:05 Two expert conversations changed his life: Direct interviews overturned the company narrative and proved people beat reports in emerging markets.

18:10 Arches began as survival entrepreneurship: Freelance work funded the company while he built the expert network in parallel.

20:10 Overdelivery created early market wedge: Deep service to a few clients built trust and defensibility in a crowded expert industry.

26:00 Crisis permanently lowered fear of risk: Surviving near collapse reframed failure as damage, not death, unlocking bolder decisions. 

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Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/hiroki-kato-inside-market-truth


#SoutheastAsia #StartupJourney #FounderStory #EmergingMarkets #VietnamBusiness #ExpertNetworks #EntrepreneurMindset #CorporateToStartup #RiskAndGrowth #BRAVEpodcast




There’s a unique energy building across Southeast Asia, a sense of possibility that’s palpable from Singapore’s skyscrapers to the bustling streets of Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur. BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech captures that momentum by going beyond the headlines and funding announcements. Host Jeremy Au, a venture capitalist and serial founder with a background from Harvard and Berkeley, steers these conversations with a distinct perspective-one that balances the hard metrics of growth with the very human elements of leadership and personal development. Each episode feels like a candid, in-depth dialogue, whether he’s speaking with a first-time founder navigating early traction or a seasoned investor mapping regional trends. You’ll hear genuine stories about building companies, the tough lessons learned from failures, and the often-overlooked journey of staying grounded while scaling rapidly. This isn’t about presenting a polished facade of success; it’s about the real work of creating something meaningful. With over eighty thousand regular listeners, this podcast has become a key resource for anyone invested in the region’s tech ecosystem. Jeremy brings his own experiences as a sci-fi enthusiast and a father into the mix, often exploring how broader perspectives on the future and empathy shape better leaders. Tune in for practical insights on venture capital, entrepreneurship, and management, all framed within the vibrant and complex tapestry of Southeast Asia. New conversations arrive every Monday, offering a thoughtful pause to reflect on how we build what’s next.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech: Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand & Malaysia Startups, Founders & Venture Capital VC (English)
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