Business & Operations Founder (Japan)
Pragmatike · Tokyo
Location: Japan
Work setup: Remote
Start date: ASAP
Languages: Fluent English required; Japanese highly preferred
Industry: HealthTech / MedTech / AI
About the Role
Pragmatike is recruiting on behalf of a YC-backed, fast-growing health technology company expanding into Japan and opening its local operations.
We are looking for a Business & Operations Founder to take ownership of the company's launch and early growth in Japan.
This is a highly entrepreneurial role for someone scrappy, hungry, and comfortable figuring things out from zero. You will be the person on the ground building the business, establishing operations, developing local relationships, and turning the Japan market into a functioning operation.
This is not a traditional corporate country manager role. We are looking for someone who can roll up their sleeves, make things happen, and operate with founder-level ownership.
Your Responsibilities
Own the launch and day-to-day business operations in Japan
Build the local presence from the ground up, including partners, vendors, and operational processes
Identify and develop commercial opportunities and strategic partnerships
Navigate the Japanese market, healthcare ecosystem, and relevant regulatory or operational requirements
Work closely with the global leadership team to adapt the business for Japan
Represent the company with customers, partners, healthcare organizations, and other local stakeholders
Identify what needs to be built next and independently drive execution
Act as the local point person across business, operations, and market development
Required Qualifications
Proven experience building, launching, or operating a business, team, or new market in Japan
Strong entrepreneurial mindset with a scrappy, hands-on approach
Comfortable working with significant autonomy and ambiguity
Strong business development, operations, and stakeholder management skills
Excellent understanding of the Japanese business environment
Fluent English is required
Strong communication and relationship-building skills
Willingness to be deeply hands-on and own whatever needs to get done
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in MedTech, HealthTech, healthcare, medical devices, or digital health
Existing network across Japanese healthcare, medical, or technology ecosystems
Experience launching a new country, office, product, or business from scratch
Startup or founder experience
Experience working with international teams or US-based startups
Why Join Us
Be the first key operator on the ground in Japan for a YC-backed company
Own the launch of a new country from the ground up
Work directly with an international founding team and have significant decision-making autonomy
Build partnerships and operations in one of the world's most important healthcare and technology markets
Opportunity to shape the Japan business as an early, founder-like member of the team
Pragmatike is committed to a fair, transparent, and inclusive recruitment process. We do not discriminate based on age, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
In accordance with GDPR, your personal data will be processed lawfully, fairly, and securely, and used solely for recruitment purposes, including sharing it with our client(s) for employment consideration.