In Episode 45 of The Generalists Podcast, we sit down with Veli Kattoulas — CEO of Lanturn, former investigative journalist, and founder of multiple companies across Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

From reporting on the Yakuza in 1990s Japan to navigating startup competition and scaling internationally, Veli shares hard-won lessons on resilience, discipline, and the art of “muddling through” when building enduring companies. His story is a masterclass in reinvention and the generalist mindset.

🚀 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How frontline journalism trains you to make decisions under pressure

• Insights into Yakuza–politics connections in 1990s Japan

• Lessons from startup failures and competitors with deeper pockets

• Real-world product validation and pricing strategies

• Why discipline and speed are key for startup growth

• Scaling a company in Singapore vs expanding internationally

👥 Hosts
Michael Smith Jr.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp
Razko Kotler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282

👤 Guest
Veli Kattoulas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/velikattoulas/

🔔 Subscribe for more founder stories, startup wisdom & intrapreneurship insights:
👉👉👉 Subscribe Now: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGeneralistsPodcast

🔗 Links & Resources

• Lanturn (company): https://www.lanturn.com/

• Obliquity — John Kay: https://www.amazon.com/Obliquity-John-Kay/dp/1846682899

• Monetizing Innovation — Madhavan Ramanujam & Georg Tacke: https://www.amazon.com/Monetizing-Innovation-Companies-Design-Pricing/dp/1119240867

• Slow Horses (TV show): https://tv.apple.com/us/show/slow-horses/

• Middlesex — Jeffrey Eugenides: https://www.amazon.com/Middlesex-Novel-Jeffrey-Eugenides/dp/0312427735

• Tokyo Vice — Jake Adelstein: https://www.amazon.com/Tokyo-Vice-American-Reporter-Police/dp/0307475298

• Techmeme Ride Home (podcast): https://www.ridehome.info/techmeme-ride-home/

• MarkMonitor brand protection (Clarivate): https://clarivate.com/markmonitor/

• Taobao marketplace: https://www.taobao.com/