Interview with Shibuya Startup Visa Holder, Lim Meng Liang

Aires Investment Holdings team at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 (Photo: Aires Investment Holdings)

− Can you tell us about yourself?

I am from Singapore, which is known for being a multicultural city and financial hub… and for incredible cuisine! I graduated from the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2014 with a degree in Applied Mathematics. I started my entrepreneurial journey right after graduating in 2014. My company started as an ordinary investment company that gradually branched out into other areas like cybersecurity and Greentech.

My interest in technology startups only began during the pandemic, when the world was in lockdown and all of us were stuck at home. I picked up some research that I had left unfinished at University and continued to develop it, some time later I filed a patent application and got my first patent awarded in Japan, the USA, and Singapore.

Recently I have been researching and working on patenting a new type of environmentally-friendly 2D code (examples of 2D codes include barcodes and QR codes) and improving code scanning technology; for example, ink reduction. During my free time, I enjoy traveling, listening to music and playing the piano and video games, and watching movies.

(Photo: Aires A.T)

− Please tell us more about your business.

Aires Investment Holdings was launched in 2014 as an investment company. Our Cybersecurity startup Aires A.T launched in 2021, incubated at the National University Of Singapore ICE/BLK 71 Program and has won the Startup SG Tech Award from Enterprise SG.

Our Japanese Startup Aires Holdings G.K launched in 2023 with support from Shibuya Startup Support (SSS). In 2024 we released our greentech product, Eco Q Code, built on our proprietary 2D code that can reduce ink usage by up to 90%.

It was recently showcased at the SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 Exhibition, one of the largest startup conferences in Japan. With the support of Shibuya Startup Support, we gained more trust and impressions from potential customers in Japan. It was also great to meet startups from various countries and learn more about the startup ecosystem in Japan.

We have a talented and diverse team of staff and advisors in Singapore and Japan; it is our team that has kept us going. Although it can be challenging to find talented individuals, having great vision was the key to making it happen.

− What led you to apply for the SSS visa?

Japan is the 3rd largest economy in the world, and I saw it as an important market for our company to expand into. The markets for cybersecurity and greentech are huge in Japan. Greentech especially, which addresses climate change, will keep growing — not just in Japan, but worldwide. The presence of many large corporations and potential customers that we can work with in Japan was also a key factor influencing my decision to apply.

− What has your experience been like running a business in Japan?

Running a business in Japan is both challenging and exciting at the same time. I still remember one of the first business meetings I had in Japan. It was very formal, unlike any meeting I had elsewhere, even in Singapore. In Singapore people are usually very frank in meetings but in Japan, there is a very large emphasis on body language and gestures. Everyone was very serious and neutral in their expressions. It’s a unique cultural environment, but actually, that’s something I enjoy very much. I didn’t know whether to bow or shake hands, or when exactly to do it at first! Along the way, I learned quite a bit.

After some time, I realized that Japanese people are actually very friendly. Also, since doing business in Japan requires mastering body language, I feel that I’ve become much better at it when I have business meetings in Singapore or other countries.

− What have been the challenges?

I would say the biggest challenge is language, as business is generally conducted in Japanese. I had to read and understand many business documents in Japanese including business contracts. I use Google Translate for business documents and bring a translator to meetings, so I think it’s still going well for now. I also keep learning Japanese as it is important for business in Japan.

It’s exciting to learn a new language. The best thing about learning a new language is that we can communicate with more people. Japan has 125 million people, so I like the idea that I can suddenly talk to another 125 million people and use it for making business deals, not just ordering food or something once I master Japanese. Challenges aside, it is actually very exciting to run a business in Japan. I get to encounter new people, fresh ideas, and different perspectives, and that is something that I personally enjoy.

What message would you like to share with those interested in the Japanese market or the startup visa?

Japan is home to many large corporations and is one of the most important business hubs in Asia. The startup visa is absolutely essential for anyone considering starting a business in Japan. The startup community here is great, and SSS is a fantastic place to start your entrepreneurial journey. Through SSS, I’ve been able to meet many people—not only the staff of SSS but also many startup founders in this community. There are also numerous events to join. Let’s build a great ecosystem in Tokyo together with SSS!

If you are interested in the startup ecosystem and startup visas, please don’t hesitate to contact us, and follow us on social media to keep up-to-date on upcoming events!

More information on Shibuya’s Startup Visa program: https://shibuya-startup-support.jp/sws/

Shibuya Startup Support’s social media accounts:

LinkedIn：https://www.linkedin.com/company/shibuya-startup-support/

Facebook：https://www.facebook.com/shibuya.startup.support

Twitter：https://twitter.com/ShibuyaStartup

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