Skip Navigation

Japanese Unicorn SmartNews failing in the US because the CEO went down the QAnon Rabbit Hole

restofworld.org Japan’s SmartNews was growing fast in the U.S. What went wrong?

Former SmartNews employees point to failed product launches and far-right obsession of former CEO.

Japan’s SmartNews was growing fast in the U.S. What went wrong?

The investors might want a refund after seeing what the money were used for.

Notable quotes:

Several employees pointed to Suzuki’s research into the American far right, which included him presenting on QAnon during a company wide all-hands meeting and attending Donald Trump rallies using company funds.

This mission would, at times, lead Suzuki down far-right rabbit roles, according to several former employees. “[He] really wanted to get inside QAnon and figure out what’s going on there,” one former employee told Rest of World, saying Suzuki’s interest in its conspiracy theories only heightened during the Trump administration. “We were worried for him.”

The trips often included visits to rallies for Donald Trump, multiple employees said. “Why would I want to give up one week of my life showing some guy from Tokyo around a Trump rally?” recalled one employee who declined an invitation to join the road trip in 2020. “The whole premise of the idea was very bizarre.”

Yeah, not exactly a good working environment.

7

You're viewing a single thread.

7 comments
You've viewed 7 comments.