Secrets of Startup Recruiting in the US AND Japan! (feat. Sho Takei) | E2233

Secrets of Startup Recruiting in the US AND Japan! (feat. Sho Takei) | E2233

Author: Jason Calacanis January 13, 2026 Duration: 52:02

This Week In Startups is made possible by:


Northwest Registered Agent - www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist


Caldera Lab - http://calderalab.com/TWIST


Pipedrive - http://pipedrive.com/twist


Today’s show: 


TWiST is coming to you all from TOKYO as we launch Japan’s first-ever Founder University! That’s right, a full week of key insights from Japan’s top founders, investors, and tech visionaries… when we can pull ourselves away from our favorite izakaya spots, that is.


First up, Jason welcomes HyreSearch.com co-founder Sho Takei, a veteran of Uber and CloudKitchens who now helps startups recruit top talent from around the world.


Together they discuss the massive changes AI is bringing to every facet of the hiring process, Sho’s experiences working for infamously “super-pumped” Travis Kalanick, his tips for for establishing a corporate culture when hiring your first few employees, why being a co-founder is just a bit like getting married, and LOTS MORE.


Timestamps:


(00:00) We’re in TOKYO JAPAN for Founder University with Hyre co-founder (and Uber vet) Sho Takei.


(03:13) The challenges of early Uber recruiting in Asia


(05:22) Are Japanese workers motivated by stock-based compensation? Or is cash still king?


(08:24) Why tax rates give Singapore and Dubai a competitive advantage.


(09:17) Do in-person startups have an edge against entirely remote companies?


(11:50) How Jason thinks Hyre could grab their ultimate domain name…


(13:26) Northwest Registered Agent: Get more when you start your business with Northwest. In 10 clicks and 10 minutes, you can form your company and walk away with a real business identity —  Learn more at www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist


(15:32) Just because a startup tactic works in the US… doesn’t mean it will work in Japan


(17:39) Travis Kalanick and Uber’s unique “super pumped” approach to recruiting


(20:01) It’s hard to fire someone in Japan! The high stakes for hiring mistakes.


(23:35) Sho’s tips for establishing a culture and hiring your first few employees (“hiring is guessing, and firing is knowing”)


(25:33) Why being a co-founder is kind of like getting married


(27:46) Caldera Lab: Whether you’re starting fresh or upgrading your routine, Caldera Lab makes skincare simple and effective. Head to  http://calderalab.com/TWIST and use TWIST at checkout for 20% off your first order.


(28:59) How AI is revolutionizing the hiring process, and why you still need a human in the loop


(34:02) How do you win over amazing talent that’s already happy at another company


(39:47) Pipedrive: Bring your entire sales process into one elegant space. Get started with a 30 day free trial at http://pipedrive.com/twist


(43:19) How Hyre operates as an agency and also an in-house recruiter


(44:57) The surprising importance of “candidate experience” when hiring in Japan


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Thank you to our partners:


(13:26) Northwest Registered Agent: Get more when you start your business with Northwest. In 10 clicks and 10 minutes, you can form your company and walk away with a real business identity —  Learn more at www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist


(27:46) Caldera Lab: Whether you’re starting fresh or upgrading your routine, Caldera Lab makes skincare simple and effective. Head to http://calderalab.com/TWIST and use TWIST at checkout for 20% off your first order.


(39:47) Pipedrive: Bring your entire sales process into one elegant space. Get started with a 30 day free trial at http://pipedrive.com/twist


Every week, Jason Calacanis dives headfirst into the swirling vortex of Silicon Valley and global tech with This Week in Startups. It’s a direct line to the conversations shaping our digital future, moving far beyond surface-level news. You’ll hear Jason’s unfiltered analysis on everything from market shifts and media trends to the underlying mechanics of building a business, all delivered with a blend of enthusiasm and seasoned skepticism. The core of this podcast, however, lies in the guests. Jason sits down with the very people driving change-founders who have scaled impossible heights, operators managing daily chaos, and investors who spot trends before they become obvious. These conversations are less like formal interviews and more like insider debriefs, pulling back the curtain on real strategies, painful failures, and unexpected successes. For anyone curious about how technology is built, funded, and ultimately changes the world, this series offers a front-row seat. It’s the context behind the headlines, providing a deeper understanding of the forces at play in startups and technology. Tune in for a consistently engaging and insightful look at the ecosystem, straight from someone who lives and breathes it.
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