Purely annecdote, but... Many engineers I've met in the US and Europe were at least business curious. Like "would be cool to start my own company/site" even if their idea is sometimes not feasible.
Almost all of the "raised in Japan" Japanese engineers I talk to end up being very tech focused, to a fault. Like really focused on the tech and almost never looking at the business end of things. Some even don't think about product dynamics (usability) and are basically one step away from researchers in terms of awareness about what "matters" in a business environment.
Meanwhile you have these people taking business classes being very "oh I would really like to start a block chain business", which... I mean I get it but why do you think any customer cares about the block chain-ness of your business???
You have technical people uninterested in business and business people who don't show real passion in product, just in the idea of running a business. There's probably an opportunity to bridge the gap but so far in Tokyo I've only seen stuff on the business end of things.
Engineering talent here seems rarely prodded to know their own worth or to explore the business end of things. Instead you have a lot of things for the business types to talk to other business types. The gap needs to be bridged and no one is doing it despite all the money in "startup incubation"
I feel in general people who have this thought process of "it would be cool to start my own company/site" are generally the ones that don't succeed. A business or startup should always come from a thriving problem that you, or someone else has. Or a passion for something you truly care about [if its in a competitive space]. Not having a business model from the get-go is destined for failure
Business needs should always drive the demand for new software innovation, not the other way around. Unless the "WHY" (the core issue) is specified the "HOW" (comp sci knowledge) and "WHAT" (fullstack you will be using) is pretty much pointless.
Do you have any experience starting businesses? Building businesses takes a set of skills that can be learned and practiced.
Your argument could also be turned around to say that you can’t be a successful programmer if you’re the kind of person who goes out and says “I want to build an app”
That's not true. You just need more examples of leaders who are engineering focused but can also get business stuff done.
Unfortunately, the US has been taking Japanese talent to big companies and startups over here. Hopefully some of that talent stays there to BUILD and sell stuff.
Almost all of the "raised in Japan" Japanese engineers I talk to end up being very tech focused, to a fault. Like really focused on the tech and almost never looking at the business end of things. Some even don't think about product dynamics (usability) and are basically one step away from researchers in terms of awareness about what "matters" in a business environment.
Meanwhile you have these people taking business classes being very "oh I would really like to start a block chain business", which... I mean I get it but why do you think any customer cares about the block chain-ness of your business???
You have technical people uninterested in business and business people who don't show real passion in product, just in the idea of running a business. There's probably an opportunity to bridge the gap but so far in Tokyo I've only seen stuff on the business end of things.
Engineering talent here seems rarely prodded to know their own worth or to explore the business end of things. Instead you have a lot of things for the business types to talk to other business types. The gap needs to be bridged and no one is doing it despite all the money in "startup incubation"