It's all too easy to forget that what makes money is not just the barebones offering but also the value-added services that inspire or stimulate the customer.

It's tough being a foreign businessperson in Japan. Unlike our Japanese colleagues, we don't have a support network that stretches back to High School or University, and thus we're often left in a lonely and uninformed position.

Noto Peninsula is a wonderful part of the country, with dramatic cliff roads, forests, and fishing villages facing the crashing surf on the western side, and quiet bays, oysters farms, orchards, and retirement homes on the eastern side.

It's amazing how things have changed in the last 20 years, and now the average young Japanese changes jobs 3 times before they are 30 (an unofficial industry statistic).

I'm writing today's Terrie's Take from the coffee lounge of the Yashio onsen in Wajima, Noto peninsula (Ishikawa-ken). Outside are wind gusts of over 100km/hr causing the floor-to-ceiling windows to flex and yet not break.

The thing is, 500 Startups does have a SET methodology, so unless you fit their template and have the personality for the hype and chaos of an accelerator, they may not be able to help you.

The concept began in Sonoma Valley, with rides and food experiences called Gourmet Centuries. These are immensely popular, bringing in up to 300 riders per event.

I went to TechinAsia thinking this would be a good chance to see if the street talk I'd been hearing about how we're now in the "golden age" of Japanese venture investing was true or not.

Awajishima is popular with cyclists because it has a road system that mostly hugs the coastline, offering great views of Osaka's Kansai International Airport, and flaming red sunsets in the late afternoons.

Asken is a dieting assistant that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help the user figure out how what they are eating, and what exercise they are doing, will affect their weight and health.