Why This Chilean Founder Chose Fukuoka Over Tokyo for His Startup Hub 🇯🇵🌏

In this episode of The Startup Vagabond, I sit down with Pablo Riveros, founder of Manabu Hubs, an international startup incubator based in Fukuoka, Japan. Originally from Chile, Pablo shares his fascinating journey from running a kayaking company in South America to building tech communities in Australia, and now empowering international founders in Japan.

We dive into:

Why Pablo chose Fukuoka over Tokyo or Osaka

The real advantages of launching a startup in a compact, affordable city

Manabu Hub’s cross-border startup support between Japan, Taiwan, and Australia

The rise of international founders in Japan and changes in Japan’s startup visa

How founders can expand globally and build networks across Asia

Advice for early-stage entrepreneurs navigating global business and culture

💡 Manabu Hubs hosts regular startup events like Bento Lunch Club and Demo Day Live Talks—plus helps members access Taiwan’s Gold Card Visa.