Turning 'Nice to Have' into 'Must Have': Silicon Valley Lessons from Customer Discovery to Scale

As AI makes it possible for anyone to build a product, this seminar looks at how founders should answer the question of why their particular business is needed. NEC's Ashida, who supported local founders at a Silicon Valley startup studio through May 2026, shares the reality of North American startups that grow rapidly on the strength of fast validation, along with how they run their businesses. A cross-talk session follows, joined by NEC's Fujimura, who leads the company's startup studio. Together they discuss the walls founders commonly hit and how to get past them, drawing on comparisons and common ground between Japanese and U.S. startups. Topics span customer discovery after a product exists, launching with a small team, and scaling, phase by phase. The venue is Tokyo Innovation Base, a three-minute walk from Yurakucho. Admission is free and capacity is 50. A 60-minute networking reception after the session gives attendees time to connect with the speakers and with like-minded participants.