Code is here to build products
Le Wagon is often known as a coding bootcamp helping people transition into tech careers. But there is another side of learning how to code: entrepreneurship.
Over the past 13 years, more than 200 companies have been created by Le Wagon alumni worldwide, collectively raising over $1 billion USD. Some have gone through accelerators like Y Combinator and Antler, while others have quietly grown into successful businesses across different industries.
Tokyo has produced its own success stories as well, including hospitality startup Section L, whose co-founder Shinya joined the panel later in the evening.
Read the story of Matt, a music producer who went through Antler
Building is easier than ever
The keynote talk was delivered by Raphael, founder of Tokyo-based design studio nowhen, who works closely with startups and founders.
His main message is clear: AI has completely changed how products are built. Tasks that used to take weeks or months can now often be done in days or even hours. Small teams can launch products faster and cheaper than ever before. But there’s a downside to that speed.
According to Raphael, the internet has become crowded with products that all feel similar. New AI startups appear every day, making it harder for companies to stand out.
“In the past, blending in created trust,” Raphael said. “Today, blending in makes you invisible.”
He emphasized that branding, storytelling, and identity are becoming just as important as product features, and shared four key ideas for building a product:
Specificity: focus deeply on a niche audience instead of trying to appeal to everyone
Opinion: have a clear point of view or mission
Distinctiveness: avoid looking and sounding like every other startup
Alignment: make sure the experience inside the product matches the story outside of it
Supporting international founders in Shibuya
The evening also included a presentation from Shibuya Startup Support, an initiative helping international founders launch businesses in Japan.
Shibuya Startup Support provides support for startup visas, business setup, networking, and introductions to local partners. They also host regular community events and networking sessions for founders in Tokyo.
While recent visa rule changes have made the process more difficult, Tatsuya from Shibuya Startup Support emphasized that they are continuing to push for more accessible pathways for international entrepreneurs entering Japan.
Founders panel discussion: hotel business and legalTech
The event featured a panel of Le Wagon Tokyo alumni who successfully launched their companies.
Shinya Tawata, co-founder of Section L, shared how he started a tech-driven hotel business in the middle of the 2020 pandemic. Despite the lack of inbound tourists at the time, Section L thrived by focusing on operational efficiency and a unique “quirky” brand that larger hotel chains couldn’t replicate. Now, It operates 13 properties in Tokyo, has several more opening across Japan, and recently closed a fundraising round to support expansion.
Another alumni, Sam Nakazaki, graduated in late 2025, and together with classmates began exploring ideas around Japan’s labor shortage and visa challenges for foreigners living in the country.
That eventually became Kakehashi Visa, an AI-powered visa support platform. Within weeks of finishing the bootcamp, the team had already built a product and started showing it to potential users.
He described the emotional ups and downs of startup life, especially the moment when a customer finally reacted strongly to a feature they built.
According to Sam, founders should not fall in love with their ideas too early. Instead, they need to constantly test whether users truly find value in the product.
That was all. Thanks to all our speakers and attendees, we’re looking forward to welcoming you to more cool events!
Let us know if you have any questions about our coding & AI programs at tokyo@lewagon.org, or simply book a call with our advisor !
