Hiroshi Mikitani at Startup School 2012

Summary

Hiroshi Mikitani, founder of Rakuten, discusses his journey in starting and growing the company, emphasizing the importance of creating a cash flow system and being cashflow positive. He highlights the unique aspect of Rakuten's business model, focusing on helping small to medium-sized businesses. Rakuten has achieved organic growth and made strategic acquisitions to expand globally. Mikitani emphasizes the need for alignment in culture and mission before making acquisitions. He also discusses the importance of graphical and appealing content in e-commerce, the rise of digital and online sales, and the significance of mobile in the future of the company. Mikitani shares his perspective on competition and the differences between starting a startup in Japan and the US. He also talks about the importance of hiring younger people and converting the company's internal communication language from Japanese to English.

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