Yosuke Sasaki

01 –

What motivates you?

I'd have to say it's the talented people that we work with—both the people who make up the Vision Fund and the founders we work with. I have an amazing opportunity to meet and collaborate with incredibly intelligent people. So I'm always learning, and that keeps me extremely motivated.

02 –

What are you trying to achieve in your work?

Really, I'm just trying to support the larger goals of the Fund, which in turn, is trying to give truly visionary founders freedom-level capital. Think about it: For a long time, entrepreneurial, disruptive companies have been told that their end goal should be the IPO. But as soon as they do that, they are 100% beholden to short-term profit. Once you're publicly traded, it’s all about quarterly returns. In contrast, we give founders the space to be bold and do the work of reinventing their categories.

03 –

What would you say to a founder who is considering partnering with the Fund?

I would say that everything you see us doing is for you. I work closely with Rajeev, and I think he’s truly a world-class leader. He sets the tone for the whole organization. We’re dedicated to supporting companies that have remarkable long-term potential. That means we want to be partners and to offer resources and connections and expertise that actually help.

04 –

What is the most important advice you've ever received?

It was from my father. He said, "You need to work globally." Most of my friends took the domestic path. They worked within Japan. I went to the Wharton School of Business for my MBA. And then, from the United States, I was able to make connections in London and work there. I think that shift in perspective, from the opportunities that I could find in Japan to the opportunities available globally, really defined my career.