2025 Volume 28 Pages 1-9
The purpose of this paper is to conduct a preliminary exploration on how Japanese entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia advance their entrepreneurial processes. Research on Japanese entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia is still in its early stages. In this paper, we utilize social capital as a theoretical framework and review the relevant prior research. In addition, interview data from six Japanese entrepreneurs is analyzed to explore the mechanisms through which they advance their entrepreneurial processes. The analysis reveals those Japanese entrepreneurs progress through their entrepreneurial processes by integrating their human capital, social capital, and venture strategies. Furthermore, it was found that they utilize three different types of social networks depending on the stage of the entrepreneurial process. This exploratory study contributes to the theorization process in a research area with limited prior studies.
