Bridging Vietnam, Japan & the World! Huong-Ly Le - Startups, Soft Landings & Cross-Border Innovation

In this episode of The Startup Vagabond, Grant Watkins sits down with Huong-Ly Le (Lee), a cross-border startup ecosystem builder who has worked with Plug and Play Japan, and 01Booster. Originally from Hanoi, Vietnam and now based in Tokyo, Le shares her journey of supporting international startups—especially from Korea, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia—as they enter Japan’s complex but opportunity-rich ecosystem.

💡 Key Topics Covered:

– Lee’s journey from Vietnam to Japan and her early career in corporate + startup support

– The difference between Japan’s startup ecosystem and others around the world

– Inside look at Plug and Play and 01Booster’s corporate accelerator models

– Okinawa, Sapporo, Nagoya and the rise of regional innovation in Japan

– Soft landing tips for foreign startups expanding to Japan:

➤ Be patient

➤ Build trust with corporates

➤ Come prepared with a long-term collaboration roadmap

– A peek at Japan’s emerging industries: smart cities, mobility, sustainability, semiconductors, and space tech