18 | FORBES ASIA MAY 2018
Japan, Singapore is more suitable for a global headquarters,” he
says, pointing to the city-state’s tax rules and Smart Nation initia-
tives to drive the adoption of digital technology, from e-payments
to autonomous vehicles. He believes that the Singapore govern-
ment has the will and the power to make change happen quickly,
while Japan’s does not.
he Mistletoe oice is in the very swank Spectrum, a technol-
ogy and innovation business club on the edge of downtown (see
box, opposite). he irm’s space is in the middle of a vast open area,
and it consists of just a long desk bookended by ile cabinets, with
room for six swivel chairs. On this day in late February one chair
is occupied by Mistletoe’s oice manager, three others are draped
with sweaters and Son’s spot is piled with edible Chinese New
Year gits he plans to take home. Mistletoe’s small work space in
Singapore belies the large workload, though there’s also an oice
in Tokyo—by far the largest with 70 stafers—and another in Palo
Alto, California. he size is immaterial, says Son. Not only are he
and his colleagues frequently away on trips, but for most projects,
he adds, space won’t be necessary, thanks to the tools of virtual
reality and augmented reality. “It will be 100% virtual.”
But for at least one project, the futuristic “Bathroom 2.0,” Son
plans to use space at Spectrum for testing. (Fund manager Golden
Equator, which owns Spectrum, is a partner.) “We are looking
for comrades,” he says, a pitch to entrepreneurs from around the
world to get involved.
Son enthuses about his collaboration with the Singapore
government, noting that it ofers special two-year startup visas for
foreign entrepreneurs well suited to relocating in Singapore. “We
will build a new town based on new technology,” he says, adding
that he’s in talks with oicials about a suitable location. “We will
create a tangible showcase here to stimulate [similar projects in]
the rest of the world.” A government spokesman wouldn’t provide
details but says the agency that develops industrial infrastructure
plans to make an announcement later this year.
Steve Leonard, founding chief executive of SGInnovate, a
government-owned irm nurturing deep-tech startups, says Son
invests in people who “dream big and get others to believe in those
dreams. Taizo, with his clear vision, credibility and kind nature, is
already making a strong impact in the Singapore ecosystem.” Son
joined what had already become a center of venture capital activ-
ity. Last year in the Lion City, venture capital investors spread $1.
billion across 112 deals, with activity this year projected to remain
robust. hat value was the highest in Southeast Asia.
Before relocating to Singapore, Son invested in two Singapore
startups: space-debris remover Astroscale (see Q&A, p. 49) and
online gamer Garena, now called SEA, which went public last
year. Since the move he has been the lead investor in a $3.5 million
round for Singapore-based Hatcher+, which enables fund manag-
ers to invest in thousands of startups using artiicial intelligence.
“Our approach is completely diferent from the traditional—bot-
tom-up and decentralized,” he explains, insisting that traditional
business plans are passé and harmful. “If you make a plan, it will
cut of new chemistries.”
Such new chemistries, he believes, happen within a thriving
“tech ecosystem.” He aims to help accelerate that in Singapore,
bringing tech players together to bounce ideas around, both virtu-
ally and at venues such as Spectrum. It’s a method that energizes
him. “I am Buddhist,” he says, “but I don’t get inspiration from
meditation; my inspiration comes from people.”
When he’s not traveling, Son rises at 6 a.m. on weekdays and
spends roughly three hours reading books, white papers and the
news, followed by one-on-one meetings and sometimes writing
either a blog for staf or a longer paper for his network of entrepre-
neurs. To maintain good health, Son prefers running and biking.
“When I’m exercising, I come up with ideas,” he says. As for sleep,
he says he gets six hours a night.
Family is clearly a priority. Weekends and late aternoons are
oten spent playing with his young son, an only child, including
trips to the park and the pool. “I’m not thinking of sending him
to high school,” says Son, who’s a strong believer in self-directedFORBES ASIA
THE NEXT THING
FRESH STARTS
TAIZO SON IS THE LATEST IN A LINE OF NOTABLE INVESTORS FROM ABROAD WHO HAVE SET UP SHOP IN SINGAPORE.INVESTOR KNOWN FOR... WHEN AND WHY THEY MOVEDBRETT BLUNDY COFOUNDING BB RETAIL CAPITAL IN 2013 FROM AUSTRALIA. NOW BUILDING A CATTLE EMPIRE IN
NORTHERN AUSTRALIA TO FEED ASIAN DEMAND FOR BEEF AFTER
SELLING HIS RETAIL AND PROPERTY INTERESTS.
RICHARD CHANDLER COFOUNDING EMERGING-MARKET IN 2006 FROM NEW ZEALAND. NOW RUNS CLERMONT GROUP, HIS
INVESTMENT FIRM SOVEREIGN GLOBAL PERSONAL INVESTMENT FUND.
ALLEN LAW HIS FAMILY’S PARK HOTEL GROUP, WHICH MANAGES IN 2005 FROM HONG KONG TO SET UP THE GROUP’S HEADQUARTERS
THE GRAND PARK ORCHARD IN SINGAPORE BECAUSE HE BELIEVED IT HELD MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPANSION.
JIM ROGERS COFOUNDING QUANTUM FUND IN 2007 FROM NEW YORK CITY SO HIS DAUGHTERS COULD GROW UP
WITH GEORGE SOROS SPEAKING MANDARIN AND LEARNING ABOUT ASIA.
EDUARDO SAVERIN COFOUNDING FACEBOOK IN 2009 TO INVEST IN COMPANIES PLANNING TO ENTER ASIA. IN 20 11
HE GAVE UP U.S. CITIZENSHIP, SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE FACEBOOK
WENT PUBLIC.
NATHAN TINKLER INVESTING IN WHITEHAVEN COAL IN 2012 FROM AUSTRALIA TO DODGE THE SPOTLIGHT AFTER A
SPECTACULAR FALL FROM GRACE WHEN THE COAL BOOM
COLLAPSED. HE’S APPARENTLY BACK IN AUSTRALIA NOW.
SOURCE: FORBES ASIA RESEARCH.