I have rarely written about the business I’m involved in until now. Why haven’t I written much about the company until now? It’s because of fear. The sector I’m focusing on, “virtual reality” and “metaverse,” is subject to a lot of skepticism.
The very beginning of one of my favorite books, [Zero to One], asks what your “secret” is. Here, the “secret” refers to something X that I believe in, although most of the smart people around me do not agree. I strongly agree with this, as doing business based on knowledge and judgments that everyone knows limits the scope of success one can achieve.
Even in the case of AI, there have been two major periods of AI stagnation. In fact, 15 years ago, not many people would have thought AI could beat humans at Go. However, I believe that those who took a chance on their fate during this period are seeing the greatest results. Looking at smartphones, AI, blockchain, and more, I decided to walk my own path rather than jump on the bandwagon of popularity.
The “secret” that got me to start this company and withstand this crisis is “virtual reality will far surpass reality.” The current state of virtual reality, confined within PCs, smartphones, or requiring the use of uncomfortable VR devices, is considered second-rate compared to reality. While some people might agree, the majority show a negative reaction to such discussions. For various reasons, but also statistically, as seen in the fact that less than 10% of meetings resulted in investment over the past three years out of more than 300 meetings, it’s evident that the majority of smart people don’t believe in it.
My role models are Apple and Microsoft, who invented the concept of a PC at a time when owning one was unimaginable. Adler also aims to create a future where everyone has their own 3D space in virtual reality, changing the world significantly alongside many companies sharing the same dream. I have decided to invest at least 30 years, my entire life, in this “secret,” and I believe this decision played the most critical role in not giving in to last year’s crisis. Even if I end up alone, I’m determined to continue as I enter the 14th year of business.
Thankfully, bridge funding has been completed these days, and I’m constantly refining the company’s mission, vision, and culture. The company’s name is Adler, and I realized I had been unable to muster the “courage to be disliked.”
From now on, even if I’m called crazy, I intend to proudly proclaim my business. Rather than worrying about skepticism, let’s find even one more colleague who agrees with this “secret” and write even one more line of code.
