Zooomr - Conquering The World (From Japan)
Kristopher Tate is a known entity in the Web 2.0 world. Both he and his startup Zooomr are frequently covered in Techcrunch, Mashable and many, many other blogs. While most articles have focussed on his age (he’s 20 19!), the part which seems to be tossed to the side is he is developing and offering Zooomr to the world COMPLETELY from Japan. Whah?!
I’ve connected with Kristopher here in Japan and unfortunately missed him at our launch in Tokyo. His amazing talent shines through even in our chats on Skype. Here are some excerpts*:
Robert: Sorry I missed you last week during the Web 2.0 conference in Tokyo.
Kristopher: Things have been busy for sure…
Robert: How long will you be staying before heading out from Japan?
Kristopher: Not heading out.
Robert: Oh. Cool.
Kristopher: I’m going to change the web industry here… It’s going to take more than a few months but I’m pretty dedicated.
Robert: I can see that!
Kristopher: Lots of big stuff is about to start happening. It’s hard to get coverage in America about Japan. Nonetheless, Japan is a different beast. For instance, we’re pushing out our first official PR release soon. Web companies in America never do that.
Robert: Through the Japanese media or directly through American ones?
Kristopher: Japanese media.
Robert: Wow!
Kristopher: My goal is simple. I’m going to make Japan the next center of the web!…
I really want to get bloggers excited in Japan. It doesn’t seem like they have much forward voice here. That needs to change. The bottom line is this: Web 2.0 is dead — the brand is. In the valley everyone is scrambling for new ideas. But Google and Facebook have sucked up core talent. There isn’t anything new or exciting happening there. It’s become a bubble. Japan holds the second largest GDP globally. It’s infrastructure is amazing. 3G is here and people know how to use technology.
Robert: True.. but the culture is what takes it in a different direction…
Kristopher: …The revolution has to start here and continue here. There is new lifeblood in Japan. The problem is the way Japanese tend to think about actions… which really isn’t a problem.
Robert: Doesn’t being a foreigner ever prevent you from anything or is it an asset?
Kristopher: No, not at all — I’m becoming a resident here.
Robert: Perhaps I’m thinking you’re permitted to break through walls usual Japanese won’t normally try.
Kristopher: Well, here’s the deal. Japanese people make insanely great hardware but they haven’t really done very well with software. Games are amazing but here’s why - Japanese people are very researched. They think before action. Software doesn’t play that game — you can learn about it. But the best way to make great software is to just start writing. ‘Go action’. Japanese people don’t immediately have ‘Go action’ — only a rare few. Games are different because they are closed systems.
Robert: Right… but little to no risk. Their thinking is VERY LOOOONG term which normally is not the timing required for startups and web technology.. wouldn’t you think?
Kristopher: I think there are two vibes going on here. The very old, very conservative group and the next generation (my generation). We get it — and want to get things going. Thankfully because the older generation put down this amazing infrastructure we can now make amazing applications to ride on top of it all.
Robert: Interesting. But do you think those people you have gathered around you at Zooomr are TYPICAL of the younger generation in Japan.. who normally just go to work after university?
Kristopher: The people I have with me are not regular in the least, but that’s ok for starters. We will lead. People have the power within to make amazing things. Amazing software, even!
I’m not trying to copy what the valley is doing… (just) things that only Japan can do.
Wow. Check out Zooomr. There’s a lot there and a lot more to come!
*Disclosure: Skype excerpts included with permission. Edited for brevity.
Tags: blognation, Japan, blognation Japan, Zooomr, Silicon Valley, startup, photo, photo sharing, photo hosting, hosting, sharing, Kristopher, Tate, Kristopher Tate, CEO, entrepreneur
Company Index: Zooomr
Comment posted by Ian Guy
at 12/14/2007 7:47:02 AM
Kristopher - Between this article and the one over on Tokyotronic, can you clarify that Zooomr has taken up permanent residence in Japan or not? By the article, it would seem that all operations have moved, the hosting, the servers, etc? Thank you
Comment posted by Global Voices Online » Japan: Interview with Kristopher Tate
at 12/9/2007 4:47:20 PM
[…] Sanzalone at Blognation Japan interviews Kristopher Tate, the 20-year-old founder of Zooomr, about the future of the web industry in Japan. Share […]
Comment posted by Tony
at 12/9/2007 7:32:05 PM
What cockiness, what arrogance! The ink on his tourist Visa stamp barely dry and already little Kris thinks he knows the Japanese market enough to shake things around. But I do wish him the best. It’s always a good thing when a fellow ex-pat does well in Japan. Good luck Kris!
Comment posted by Boomer Zooomr? « Tech Merkin
at 12/9/2007 8:05:27 PM
[…] 9 12 2007 If you know anything about the trainwreck called Zooomr, enjoy this post for a laugh. Word is the make him pay in Yen over […]
Comment posted by Jordan
at 12/9/2007 9:04:53 PM
This is news? What a cocky schmuck that kid is. Americans don’t put out press releases? What?? No wonder BlogNation is in such bad shape, the quality of this reporting is horrific.
Comment posted by Kristopher Tate
at 12/10/2007 12:38:01 AM
Robert, thanks for the discussion! I enjoyed it. Still 19, but 20 isn’t a bad age I hear, either. 
Tony, I’ve studied Japanese culture and language for the last 4 to 5 years. While that doesn’t make me an expert on everything and if what I said may look as if it’s, as you put it “Cockiness”, my sincerest apologies. We’re doing very real things here and in the months to come with the relationships we’re building, you’ll see our impact on this great nation of Japan. Thank-you for your best wishes, as it’s very welcome.
Jordan, it’s not big news just yet, but we’re getting there. About the press releases — Most “Web2.0″ Start-ups do not really use press releases as a main push to get their word out there. Instead, it’s about reaching out to the social nature of the Web and getting your voice out there. This includes blogs, forums, word of mouth and social bookmarking sites, such as digg, reddit and delicious. Press Releases are an afterthought. It’s easier to get early adopters from social networking, in my humble experience. Hope this certainly clarifies things.
If anyone wants to discuss this further with me, you’re entirely welcome to IM me on GTalk at kris.tate@gmail.com — hope to talk with you more there! 日本語、英語どちらでもOK！
kristopher
Comment posted by Tony
at 12/10/2007 12:41:08 AM
19 years old? I hate you already. Knock’em dead son.
Comment posted by Steven Veltema
at 12/10/2007 1:34:51 AM
Second that about ex-pats making good.
がむしゃらに頑張ってください！
Comment posted by Allan
at 12/12/2007 2:57:56 PM
Kristopher,
There will always be those who will put you down and as we all know, the road to success is not an easy one. I learned a long time ago that when it comes to learning and teaching what you have learned age does not matter. We all can learn and teach each other something new whether we are 19 or 76.
Having followed you from time to time I see you as an inspired young visionary that is onto afraid to go out on a limb for his ideals, win or loose. If I may use the words of Dr. Martin Luther King when he said, “I a have dream..” I envision you and you have a dream. It is individuals such as your self that take your dreams to the next level and make them a reality that allows those of us who do not have such talents to enjoy the creations of such as you self.
Sadly as often the case one must leave their homeland to make that creation work, an then again in business one must go where the opportunities lie to succeed. No matter the case i as one of the older generation wish you well. It is especially refreshing to see someone of your young age using your talents to create your future rather then sitting around moaning and groaning.
In respect to Robert Sanzalone of Blognation Japan, I for one would like to thank you for sharing this bit of incite on a this youth (Kristopher Tate) out to make a difference on his own initiative.
Comment posted by Kristopher Tate
at 12/12/2007 8:02:16 PM
Allan, thank-you for your kind words. While I don’t know if I could ever be compared to such great individuals as Dr. Martin Luther King, I certainly appreciate your understanding.
I enjoy what I do, and I think that is what matters. In other words, because I enjoy what I do, I’m doing something that will be positive. I feel that if more people were doing what they love as opposed to what they feel they have to do to make a living, perhaps this world would be an even better place.
Japan is one of these nations where most people are doing just that. And while I know that there are other nations out there that hold this true as well, it’s really welcome to see it firsthand, regardless.
Allan, again thank-you for taking the time to write your note.
kristopher
Tags: Japan, pacificIT Notes, Technology
Scan 2D / QR Code 
View blog reaction
Fatal error: Call to undefined function: wp_ffcomments() in /homepages/31/d94450667/htdocs/pacificit/wp-content/themes/connexion/single.php on line 21