AI Startup Funding in Japan: Investor Office Hour, Stella Capital

​Explore how global VCs discover startups, what makes founders stand out, and how to build the credibility needed to attract investor attention. ​Building a strong startup is only the beginning. Global investors review countless opportunities, and many promising companies are overlooked because their positioning, traction, fundraising story, or investor outreach does not clearly communicate their potential. ​

Join this exclusive Investor Office Hour with Aizuddin Zakaria Adli, Venture Partner at Stella Capital, for practical insights into how global VCs discover, evaluate, and engage with startups. ​The session begins with a panel discussion, followed by selected startup pitches and live investor feedback.

❯ Agenda

• ​Welcome and Introduction
• ​Panel Discussion: How Global VCs Discover and Evaluate Startups
• ​Selected Startup Pitches
• ​Live Investor Feedback
• ​Startup Q&A
• ​Closing Remarks

❯ ​Featured Investor

• ​Aizuddin Zakaria Adli is a Venture Partner at Stella Capital with experience across venture investing, startup discovery, and founder ecosystems.

​His work gives him a valuable perspective on how investors discover promising companies, assess early-stage opportunities, and decide which founders and startups deserve a closer look.
​During this session, Aizuddin will share insights into what captures investor attention, which credibility signals matter, how founders can communicate their potential more effectively, and what can cause an otherwise promising startup to be overlooked.

❯ ​Moderator

• ​Erdinc Ekinci is the Co-Founder and CEO of [Openfor.co](https://openfor.co/?utm_source=luma), Founder and CEO of Co-Capital, and Managing Director of Founder Institute Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

​He is an entrepreneur, ecosystem builder, and startup mentor supporting founders with GTM, sales, partnerships, international expansion, visibility, and investment readiness.

❯ ​What You Can Expect

• ​Insights into how global VCs discover startup opportunities
• ​What makes investors stop and take a closer look
• ​The traction and credibility signals that strengthen investor interest
• ​Common reasons promising startups are overlooked
• ​Guidance on positioning and communicating your investment opportunity
• ​Strategies for building visibility before beginning investor outreach
• ​Selected startup pitches and direct investor feedback
• ​Q&A on fundraising readiness, traction, visibility, and investor fit

❯ ​Who Should Apply

• ​Early-stage startups preparing to raise capital
• ​Founders seeking international or cross-border investors
• ​Startups struggling to receive responses from investors
• ​Founders refining their positioning and fundraising story
• ​Teams building customer, partner, or market traction
• ​Startups seeking greater visibility within the global venture ecosystem
• ​Founders who want to understand how investors evaluate opportunities

❯ ​Want to Pitch and Receive Direct Feedback?
​⚠️ Pitching is available only to selected startups
​Selected founders will pitch their startups and receive personalized feedback covering areas such as:

• ​Startup positioning and differentiation
• ​Problem, solution, and market opportunity
• ​Customer and partner traction
• ​Investor visibility and credibility
• ​Fundraising readiness
• ​Stage, raise, and investor fit
• ​Pitch clarity and investment narrative
• ​Recommended next steps

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❯❯ This is a live, interactive online event, so be sure to RSVP at https://fi.co/e/405177/meetup to receive the Zoom URL to join us live!