Well, people who say that haven't tried to start a business in Japan.
Japan is the most difficult first world economy in which to start a new business.
Most business and technology talent resides, comfortably, in large companies. Laws and entrenched business customs are designed for large organizations to do business with each other and captive vendors. And the price of failure, both economic and societal, is high. Ironically, entrepreneurs and startups, the driving force behind the revitalization of the America and European economies, are what Japan needs most today. Neoteny's role is to assist those entrepreneurs and startups.