Who is the 88-Year-Old Woman Venture Capitalist Known as Japan’s Mother of Startups?

I personally went to the president and asked him to hire me. He asked what kind of work I wanted to do and I told him I wanted to work on information services for people with disabilities. He hired me on the spot. (Dial Service employee Ryuichi Kawada 63)

On the evening of the 10th a ceremony was held at the Palace Hotel in Chiyoda Tokyo to commemorate the 55th anniversary of Dial Service a company that provides various consultation services across Japan using cutting-edge information and communication technology (ICT) including AI (Artificial Intelligence).

The event also celebrated the 88th birthday of the companys founder Yuri Konno. More than 600 people including Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and key figures from Japans political and business circles attended the event. The press both domestic and international showed great interest.

Kawada who is visually impaired stood on the stage to deliver a congratulatory speech on behalf of the company’s 400 employees. At the time it was commonly believed that services for people with disabilities couldn’t be a business. But President Konno started services for the visually and hearing impaired with me he recalled. For the past 55 years President Konno has continuously challenged the notion of what is ‘impossible’ and defied conventional wisdom.

As Kawada concluded his speech the audience erupted in applause.

Other attendees expressed their admiration for Konnos passionate life and conveyed their support for her ongoing work.

In her congratulatory speech Governor Koike introduced Konno as a pioneer stating By leading the way in social engagement President Konno paved the way for women to be active in various fields.

Masayoshi Son Chairman of SoftBank Group and a long-time acquaintance of Konno sent a video message saying Memories of decades ago and the many ways I was indebted to her come to mind. I wish her continued health and success for her company.

Eiki Kamimura a close supporter of Konno and former company president praised her saying She threw herself fully into paving the way for startups and creating a society where women could freely thrive. Even now despite running a large company she lives very modestly. Kamimura added The positive impact she’s had on society is beyond words.

Mother of Startups

In Japan many refer to Yuri Konno as the Mother of Startups and with good reason. She is Japans first female venture capitalist. Her life itself is a venture. Born in Mie Prefecture in 1936 she gained experience in the U.S. and Germany after graduating from university before returning to Japan to found Dial Service in 1969. At a time when childcare neurosis and infant murders were societal problems due to the rise of nuclear families she launched Baby 119 the worlds first telephone consultation service for parents.

As Kawada mentioned in his speech Konnos life has been a series of challenges. In the 1960s when she founded her company there were no female entrepreneurs. Konno faced significant difficulties due to government regulations large corporations’ exclusion of female entrepreneurs and societal prejudices. In an interview with the press she once remarked My venture life was a battle. I fought against a male-dominated society against a government that imposed countless regulations and against large corporations that pursued their own world.

Reflecting on that time she said I wanted to go against the prevailing notion that women should only make tea. On the first day of launching Baby 119 the phone lines at a nearby station crashed due to the overwhelming number of calls. Her principle as a venture capitalist—‘reading the times and never giving up’—was spot on.

The title of Mother of Startups attached to Konno is well-earned. Believing that society should enable talented individuals with new ideas to start businesses she met a young fledgling entrepreneur named Masayoshi Son in the early 1980s. Though he was an unknown young man Konno immediately recognized his vision for venture capitalism. She supported him by introducing him to influential figures in Japan and abroad.

That young man is now the chairman of Japans SoftBank and a world-renowned entrepreneur who created a massive venture fund. Konno provided the foundation that allowed Son to grow into the global entrepreneur he is today. She even developed a deep friendship with Sons mother.

Konno continues to support promising venture capitalists investing her time and resources.

Today Dial Service has solidified its place as a company offering comprehensive consultation services to individuals and corporations based on AI SNS and other advanced ICT technologies.

Konnos commitment to creating an inclusive society is reflected in her hiring of visually impaired Kawada who delivered the speech as the first male employee at a company originally staffed only by women.

Dial Service opened a new path in Kawada’s life when he was looking for work after graduating from a school for the blind in Tokyo having left his parents in Kagawa Prefecture in middle school. Today Kawada works diligently at the company developing a walking support app.

Konno is also actively involved in the repatriation of the remains of Korean forced laborers who died in Japan during the colonial period.

Despite being in her late 80s Konno remains an active entrepreneur. In 2022 she published a book titled In My 80s Life Begins Now in Japan sharing her insights on how to live a healthy and long life based on her own experiences and examples.

I don’t let age define me. I believe that ‘your age is something you decide for yourself.’ Physical age doesn’t mean anything. If you believe you’re 20 then that’s how old you are she said.

Website: : http://www.wip-news.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=25549