~ Keeping "learning from people" alive in the age of AI ~
Building a community where we keep learning from each other.
[Curiosity] [Co-creation] [Lifelong learning]
Our Vision
Making "learning from people" the default, in an era where AI handles knowledge.
About Us
How it all started
CEO's Message
The seed for leaving my 20-year career in finance was first sown when I went through the Harvard Business Analytics Program (HBAP) in 2018. The 50 of us attended live classes and held group discussions weekly on Zoom for 9 months and yet when we finally met on campus at graduation–we bonded so naturally it was as if we had been sitting in the same physical classroom for weeks if not months. This was the first time I realized that the distinction between traditional and virtual classrooms will become increasingly blurred in the future.
In addition, all HBAP students communicate and collaborate through the program’s official Slack Workspace and stay on even after graduation. While I gained a solid knowledge foundation from the program’s world-class faculty1 and amazing curriculum, fellow students and alumni continue to support my endeavors in applying the knowledge learned and solving problems even today. This experience showed me not only the power of a safe and supportive learning community but also what “lifelong and continuous learning” looks like. Then suddenly in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we all live, work, and learn forever. “Zoom” and “Slack”, 2 words that meant nothing to most people around me when I was at HBAP, suddenly became household names for almost everyone overnight.
At the peak of the pandemic crisis, UNESCO data showed that over 1.6bn learners of all ages globally were forced out of school and studied online. Watching how all 3 of my children struggled to adapt to virtual classes and recalling my own positive experience from HBAP’s official Slack Workspace, it suddenly dawned on me what most digital learners were missing as the world hastily shifted to digital learning. After much thought and consideration, I decided to retire from Capital Group2 and start Terakoya.AI to create the same safe and supportive digital learning community to share with other learners.
A few years have passed. Generative AI is rewriting how we learn and how we work. What matters now is less “how do you acquire knowledge” and more “how do you learn alongside others.” The truth I saw during COVID — that people learn through exchange with people — has only grown more important now that AI answers almost everything. Terakoya is committed to remaining that place for shared learning.
- Faculty Chair Dr. Karim Lakhani’s Digital Strategy course and “Competing in the Age of AI” had a profound influence on me starting Terakoya.AI Co., Ltd.
- Special thanks to Capital which gave me a memorable career, lifelong friendships, and everything I needed to transition to the life of a startup
Profile
Career
Born in Taiwan and immigrated to Canada at age of 15, Paul moved to Tokyo after university and joined the M&A teams at Jardine Fleming (now JPMorgan) and then at Pacific Century Cyber Works Japan. 2 years later, Paul changed his career focus from M&A to Investment Management–spending the first 4 years at Fidelity International in Tokyo and the next 16 years at Capital Group’s Tokyo and Hong Kong offices. During his time as a publicly-traded equity investor, he covered a variety of sectors such as retail, technology hardware (e.g. semiconductors and electronic components), transportation, gaming, and education. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
Education
Paul received his bachelor of business administration from Canada’s Simon Fraser University with honors. In 2018, Paul graduated from the Harvard Business Analytics Program and completed the Data Scientist with Python Career Track at Data Camp the following year–he is currently pursuing the Data Science Graduate Program at Harvard Extension School. Paul speaks Chinese, English, and Japanese.
Others
Paul has been a member of the East Asia Advisory Council for Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth (CTY) since 2012 in Hong Kong. After returning to Tokyo in 2021, he became the Chairman of the Board for Education Beyond, a non-profit organization working on introducing the CTY’s gifted education program into the Japanese market.
Company Data
Founded and based in Tokyo but with an eye to the world
| Company name | Terakoya.AI Co., Ltd. |
|---|---|
|
Representative director |
Paul Li |
|
Head office |
3-5-22 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo |
|
Business overview |
Internet, e-commerce, and IT services |
|
Employees |
3 |
|
Incorporation date |
February 28, 2022 |
|
Initial capital |
9.5 million Yen |