Yet his achievements belie his modesty. In 2016, Maeda was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list in the finance and venture capital category. Maeda is the managing partner of Singapore-based BEENEXT, an early-stage venture capital firm investing primarily in Japan, India and Southeast Asia.
While still a Bucknell student, Maeda met his future boss, the founder and CEO of BEENOS, who would someday hire him to lead the company’s investment division. In 2010, Maeda launched Japan’s first startup accelerator. Five years later, he founded BEENEXT, which now manages more than $200 million in investments.
“The basic idea is we find people who have ideas or people who are ambitious and can attract talent to help realize their vision,” says Maeda. “Once we find those people, we back them with funding and guidance about anything required to build a successful company.”
Maintaining an open mind is key, Maeda says: “You have to be thinking that any person or any idea has the potential to make a difference. When you have that sense about something, you pursue it.
“You also have to be curious,” he adds. “It’s definitely curiosity that has helped me to get this far.”
Budding innovators, he says, should go all in. “If there is an idea you’re gravitating toward, don’t limit yourself. Learn as much as you can about whatever it is and anything that surrounds it. Go nuts with it.”
— Patrick Broadwater
Yet his achievements belie his modesty. In 2016, Maeda was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list in the finance and venture capital category. Maeda is the managing partner of Singapore-based BEENEXT, an early-stage venture capital firm investing primarily in Japan, India and Southeast Asia.
While still a Bucknell student, Maeda met his future boss, the founder and CEO of BEENOS, who would someday hire him to lead the company’s investment division. In 2010, Maeda launched Japan’s first startup accelerator. Five years later, he founded BEENEXT, which now manages more than $200 million in investments.
“The basic idea is we find people who have ideas or people who are ambitious and can attract talent to help realize their vision,” says Maeda. “Once we find those people, we back them with funding and guidance about anything required to build a successful company.”
Maintaining an open mind is key, Maeda says: “You have to be thinking that any person or any idea has the potential to make a difference. When you have that sense about something, you pursue it.
“You also have to be curious,” he adds. “It’s definitely curiosity that has helped me to get this far.”
Budding innovators, he says, should go all in. “If there is an idea you’re gravitating toward, don’t limit yourself. Learn as much as you can about whatever it is and anything that surrounds it. Go nuts with it.”
— Patrick Broadwater