Shusaku Hayakawa is the co-founder and Director of SECAI MARCHE, a supply chain platform that links Japan’s farmers with food businesses to bring farm fresh produce to SEA. 

Earlier this year, they raised $1.6M in a Series A round led by the Agribusiness Investment and Consultation Co., Spiral Ventures Asia Fund I and Beyond Next Ventures.

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👋🏼 How would you explain your job to someone outside tech?

I am building a new supply chain infrastructure for food e-commerce in SEA.

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🧐 What's something about you or your job that would surprise us?

By connecting you directly with all food producers in the world, you can encounter unprecedented quality and products at fairer prices.

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🏆 What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

My career has been very varied. Always imagining the impact on society, I started as an aerospace engineer, then the CEO of an agricultural corporation, and now as the CEO of SECAI MARCHE, I am creating a new supply chain in Southeast Asia.

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🔍 What's a startup trend or space you're watching this year?‍

Now I am interested in financial services. Because when all producers are connected to consumers, they have the opportunity to grow regardless of size, vested interests or existing distribution. 

In the future, we plan to not only create a place where everyone can grow, but also develop services that can support growth.

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💼 What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry? 

In the product supply chain business, there are many areas that have not been updated at all because existing players are strong in product production, distribution, consumption, and settlement.

It is also a field that is rapidly changing due to technology, regardless of whether it is in developed or developing countries. Therefore, I think it is a very interesting field to challenge as a global startup.

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🗣 What's one thing you can keep talking about for hours? 

I like to talk about food and wine for hours

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🎥 What's your favorite movie/TV show? 

I don’t have a time to watch movie/TV.

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🍨 What's your go-to ice cream flavor?‍

Vanilla.

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FYI. We’ve edited this interview for clarity.