Success Stories Positioning Japan at the Center of AI and Next-Generation Semiconductor Design: Tenstorrent's Growth Strategy

Description:

White text reading "Bringing a next-generation semiconductor company to Japan" appears centered against a black background. The scene then cuts to an interview with Mamoru Nakano, President & CEO of Tenstorrent Japan, speaking by a window in an office located among a high-rise business district. His name, company, and title are displayed in white text on the screen.

Nakano speaks:

First, I asked if they would consider setting up a corporation in Japan. They told me that the Japan's market wasn't that interesting. They weren't interested in it. Japan is a very large market, so it would be a waste not to do it. That's why I wanted them to take on the challenge.
Japan is a world class leader in the automotive and robotics industries, and I think this country is in a good position. There is a gap there. I wanted to bridge that gap.

Description:

The screen changes to display the text "An Open Strategy to Make Japan an AI Design Hub." This is followed by the exterior of a building housing Tenstorrent, surrounded by palm trees under a clear blue sky. Next, images of high-performance computing system enclosures appear, along with AI accelerator cards that serve as their components. The latest CPU, "BLACKHOLE," is mounted at the center of the circuit board. Two high-performance computing system enclosures are then shown, both designed for advanced computational processing, featuring distinctive front panel designs. Next, three AI accelerators, "p150s," are shown side by side. Scenes of an office with multiple engineers working, followed by a discussion taking place in front of a whiteboard near a window overlooking a highway, appear in sequence.

Nakano speaks:

First, Tenstorrent is developing the world's most cutting-edge CPUs. Another is an AI accelerator. The conventional AI accelerator, the GPU. This was originally developed by a graphics processor and is now used as an AI accelerator. What we are working now is an AI-only accelerator. It's inexpensive and has fast performance.
Normally, in AI technology, the contents are mostly a black box. You can't access what's inside. It's nothing more than the act of buying something. Tenstorrent is trying to be as open as possible. For example, why do we use RISC-V? RISC-V's instruction set is all publicly available, and you can use it freely. You can see all the design content and access the data. For example, we can provide the specifications required by Japanese manufacturers, such as quality, form factor, voltage, and so on. Then, Japanese technology and our technology match well, and we delivered the best of both worlds to our customers. I think that's a big advantage.

Description:

The text "The Next Frontier as Seen by a Legendary Engineer" appears. Scenes follow of CEO Jim Keller giving a presentation in a navy-blue T-shirt, gesturing expressively, and a group photo taken in front of a wall bearing the words "Own Your Silicon Future." Next, two consecutive scenes show a lively open office where many engineers are working at dual-monitor setups.

Nakano speaks:

First, regarding Jim Keller, he shows up anywhere wearing a T-shirt. He's truly focused on what he's doing, so he doesn't care much about his appearances. He's truly dedicated to pursuing the art of the technology itself, always thinking about what the next generation of AI will look like. He's an innovative engineer. So, a lot of people have told us that if we revealed everything, the technology would be stolen. According to him, by the time you're learning through on-the-job training, it's already outdated. It's fine because in a year or two, it will be practically outdated technology anyway. He believes we should move forward.
Jim Keller often says that Japanese engineers are excellent, so hire more of them. Recently, many students have been involved in human resources development. They are excellent as well. Why not just hire recent graduates? We have plans to rapidly expand our workforce to around 100 or 200 employees.

Description:

The text "A Strategy for Scaling Japan's AI" appears.

Nakano speaks:

What we are doing now is developing a domestically produced AI chip. I believe that as Japanese-made AI chips become more widely used, they will contribute to Japan's national strength. We believe that our mission at Tenstorrent is to significantly expand this.
With the aim of establishing a semiconductor industry in Chitose, Rapidus' IIM factory is currently under construction. We are currently collaborating with an academic research group in Japan to jointly develop a chip for prototyping at Rapidus. Next year or the year after, we will be able to use their factory. I believe this will be enable us to assist Rapidus in successfully establishing their factory.

Description:

The text "JETRO's Assistance: A Catalyst for Success" appears.

Nakano speaks:

When we established the company, we were invited to various events and seminars. At that time, hardly anyone in Japan heard of a company called Tenstorrent, so we were given opportunities to explain the company. Business opportunities gradually began to emerge from the people we met during that time. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to JETRO for that.

Description:

The text "Advice for Entrepreneurs Entering Japan" appears. The video concludes with a white background showing the logos of "INVEST JAPAN" and "J-BRIDGE" side by side, followed by the "JETRO" logo displayed in the center.

Nakano speaks:

Identify what makes your business great, analyze those aspects thoroughly, and back up your claims with evidence. With that in mind, let's consider what these companies expanding into Japan can offer the country and what their greatest competitive advantage is. I think it's important to carefully consider the market fit and present it in concrete terms as a business plan.