Session Speakers | SusHi Tech Tokyo 2025

Yuriko Koike Governor of Tokyo Public Institutions

■ Career

■Profile of the Governor
Born: July 15, 1952, in Hyogo Prefecture
Education: BA in Sociology, Cairo University (October 1976)

■Career
July 2024: Re-elected to a third term as Governor of Tokyo
July 2020: Re-elected to a second term as Governor of Tokyo
July 2016: Elected Governor of Tokyo
October 2011: Director, Committee on Budget, House of Representatives
September 2010: Chairperson, General Council, Liberal Democratic Party
July 2007: Minister of Defense
September 2006: Special Advisor to the Prime Minister for National Security Affairs
September 2004: Minister of the Environment and Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs
September 2003: Minister of the Environment
July 1993: Member of the House of Representatives
July 1992: Member of the House of Councillors

Agata Nowicka Female Foundry
Managing Partner Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Agata Nowicka is the Managing Partner of Visionaries—an AI incubator launched in partnership with Google, focused on accelerating growth of the most ambitious female entrepreneurs in Europe with AI. With 12 years of experience as a VC investor and founder across the UK and the US, Agata is also the Founder of Female Foundry, a network of 7,000+ VC investors and founders in Europe, and the author of the Female Innovation Index—Europe's largest report mapping the funnel of innovation driven by female entrepreneurs.

Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development Public Institutions

■ Career

His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi is member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), the catalyst for economic growth in the emirate. In this role, H.E. is spearheading strategies and initiatives to further enhance the soaring, diversified, smart, and sustainable “Falcon Economy”.

Akio GOTO Faeger Co. Ltd.
Chief Agriculture Officer Startups

■ Career

Chief Agriculture Officer at Faeger Co. Ltd., responsible for R&D and agri-business development.
Worked as an Expert and Advisor in agricultural projects in Africa for 10 years under Official Development Assistance. Launched Bio-stimulant business at a chemical manufacturing company. Founded and managed a farm in Japan, undertaking experiment/PoC and offering technical guidance for corporate clients. Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering.

Akio Tanaka Headline Asia
Founding Partner VCs & Investors

■ Career

Akio Tanaka is Partner at the global venture capital firm Headline based out of the Asia office. His focus is Fintech, Consumer Internet, SaaS and Blockchain. He is also partner at IVC, a leading seed stage crypto investor in Asia.

He was formerly the head of venture investment program for Adobe in Asia and was responsible for Adobe's corporate venture investment in Greater China, Japan, and India. Previous to Adobe, He held the position of CTO for Macromedia Japan working as part of the local management team as well as the position of Technology Advisor to the CEO.

Akito Arima Beyond Next Ventures Inc.
Partner VCs & investors

■ Career

Akito Arima joined Marubeni Corporation in April 2017. In the Grain Division, he was involved in all aspects of agribusiness from production to sales through the trading business. In addition, he is also involved in start-up investments by setting up an in-house investment team focusing on agri-tech.

Alexandra Beckstein QAI Ventures
CEO VCs & investors

■ Career

Founder and CEO of QAI Ventures, a company dedicated to investing in and accelerating Quantum and Quantum AI startups based in Basel and Calgary. She played a pivotal role in the >700M uptownBasel project, laying the foundation for a robust startup ecosystem. With a science background and advanced business expertise, she’s a two-time founder, including a renewable energy company in Berlin. Alexandra brings a wealth of experience across startups, SMEs, and government, and is the author of "Bossing It – The Future Belongs to the Bold."

Alissa Miky Aqua Theon Inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Born in NY in 1992, Alissa helped launch a flower brand during her time at Waseda University, growing it into Rakuten's No.1. She gained experience in a sake startup, Fujimaki Department Store, and an Israeli trading company. In September 2019, she founded Aqua Theon inc. (formerly Cashi Cake inc.) in LA, with the mission of ‘Bringing rural Japan to the world’. The company focuses on seaweed tech for food, alternative plastics, and medical capsules. Misaky.Tokyo, the marine plant-based Japanese sweets brand, has 1.4 million TikTok followers and is expanding nationwide.

Arne Rost TUM Venture Labs Management gGmbH
Managing Director TUM Venture Lab Robotics / AI Educational Institutions

■ Career

Dr.-Ing. Arne Rost is the Managing Director of the TUM Venture Lab Robotics / AI. This early-stage incubator is based in Munich, Germany, and currently supports more than 75 start-ups. The TUM Venture Labs are a joint venture of TUM and UnternehmerTUM. TUM is one of the best technical universities and is among the TOP 5 in the field of robotics / AI worldwide. UnternehmerTUM is Europe's leading center for start-ups and is ranked #1 for the second year in a row.

Ashley Grosh Breakthrough Energy
Vice President VCs & investors

■ Career

Ashley has spent the entirety of her nearly two-decade career working at the intersection of finance and climate innovation. Prior to joining Breakthrough Energy as a Vice President to lead the Breakthrough Energy Fellows program, she spent 15 years at Wells Fargo as a thought leader working across several business units, supporting overall ESG, Cleantech Commercial Banking, and Sustainable Finance strategies. At Wells she pioneered a $100 million impact fund the Innovation Incubator (IN2), focused on speeding up the path to market for early-stage clean technologies. IN2 program’s 72 portfolio companies have gone on to raise $2.3B in follow on funding from external sources.

Atsushi Deguchi The University of Tokyo
Executive Director and Vice President, Professor at Graduate School of Frontier Sciences Educational Institutions

■ Career

Dr. A. Deguchi obtained the Doctor of Engineering Degree in 1990 from Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo (UTokyo). After working as an assistant professor at the UTokyo, associate professor and Professor at Kyushu University, he has been a professor at the UTokyo since 2011. He specializes in urban planning and design, and has received numerous awards, including the Ishikawa Prize from the City Planning Institute of Japan both in year of 2015 and in 2016. He is the author of many books, including “Society 5.0: People-Centric Super-Smart Society” (co-authored, published by Springer). He has been the Secretary General of Asian Planning Schools Association (APSA) since 2015, President of the City Planning Institute of Japan in 2020-2021, President of the Area Management Network of Japan from 2024, and other academic association presidents. He has also served as President of the UDC Initiative, Director of the Urban Design Center Kashiwa-no-ha (UDCK), and General Coordinator of the Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City Consortium.

Audrey Tang Government of Taiwan
Cyber Ambassador-at-large and 1st Digital Minister (2016-2024) Public Institutions

■ Career

Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s Cyber Ambassador-at-large and 1st Digital Minister (2016-2024), is celebrated for her pioneering efforts in digital democracy. Named one of TIME’s “100 Most Influential People in AI” in 2023, Tang was instrumental in shaping Taiwan’s internationally acclaimed COVID-19 response and in safeguarding the 2024 presidential and legislative elections from foreign cyber interference.

Aya Stone Andreessen Horowitz
Partner VCs & Investors

■ Career

Aya focuses on expanding Andreessen Horowitz’s network across Asia. Collaborating with local investors and leaders, both in public and private sectors, she drives initiatives that strengthen innovation ecosystems throughout the region.

Previously, Aya worked at Blackstone Group and Wellington Management, where she served as a trusted investment adviser to some of the largest institutional asset owners in Asia, bringing over a decade of investment expertise.

She received an MBA from MIT and a BA in Economics from Kobe University and the CFA designation.

Ayaka Haga Boost Health, Inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Founder and CEO of Boost Health. Ayaka holds a degree in Social Psychology from the University of Tokyo and an MBA from IESE Business School. A former Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company, she worked on corporate strategy and organizational transformation. Driven by an aspiration to enhance employee well-being and support organizational productivity, she founded Boost Health. The company offers “BOOST,” a solution that combines AI and psychology to improve both performance and mental resilience. She is also a certified mental health counselor and mental trainer.

Ayumi Fujimoto Tokyo Metropolitan Government - Startup strategy fellow / Startup Ecosystem Association - President / A.T. Kearney - Associate Specialist Advisor Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

After graduating from university, she began her career in corporate sales at Career Design Center and Google. In 2016, she founded the non-profit organization at Will Work. She later transitioned into PR and marketing at Money Design, before joining Plug and Play Japan as Chief Marketing Officer, overseeing marketing and public relations. In 2022, she established the Startup Ecosystem Association and assumed the role of President. Since November 2024, she has also served as an Associate Specialist Advisor at A.T. Kearney. Currently, she holds several key positions, including Startup Strategy Fellow for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Entrepreneurship Ambassador for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and Specialist Member of the Cabinet Office's Startup and Innovation Promotion Working Group.

Beth Bechdol The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
(FAO) Public Institutions

■ Career

Beth Bechdol is Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). She oversees FAO’s work on Emergencies and Resilience, Resource Mobilization, South-South and Triangular Cooperation, key technical programs on land, water, and plant production and protection, as well as FAO’s Committee on Agriculture and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat.
Before joining FAO, she was President and CEO of AgriNovus Indiana and held leadership roles at Ice Miller LLP and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. She also served as Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Economist on the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Bingbin Yu Aikido Technologies
Co-Founder and Chief Engineer Startups

■ Career

Bingbin Yu is co-founder and Chief Engineer of Aikido Technologies, based in San Francisco. She has a background of Naval Architecture and 10+ years of experience in floating offshore wind foundation design, including working on the world’s first few multi-MW floating wind projects. At Aikido, Bingbin and her team are developing an innovative floating platform that enables deployment of floating wind at commercial scale. Bingbin holds a PhD. in Naval Architecture from the University of Michigan. She is a believer in renewable energy and wants to dedicate her career to be part of the solution.

Caroline Winnett Berkeley SkyDeck
Executive Director Educational Institutions

■ Career

Caroline is Executive Director of Berkeley SkyDeck, UC Berkeley's startup accelerator and incubator. Berkeley SkyDeck is recognized as one of the world's leading startup accelerators. Caroline launched the Berkeley SkyDeck Fund, a $90 million VC fund investing in SkyDeck startups that shares half of fund profits with UC Berkeley. Caroline co-founded the pioneer company in the neuromarketing industry, NeuroFocus, which was acquired by Nielsen. Before her career in startups, Caroline was a professional concert violinist. Caroline received her MBA from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley.

Chadchart Sittipunt Governor of Bangkok Public Institutions

■ Career

Chadchart was elected as the 17th Governor of Bangkok in June 2022. Previously, he served as Minister of Transport (2012–2014) and was one of three candidates for Thailand's Prime Minister for Pheu Thai Party in 2018. Before his political career, he was a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Engineering. Chadchart is dedicated to making Bangkok “a Liveable City for All” through initiatives like ‘Traffy Fondue,’ a crowdsourcing platform for urban issues, and ‘Open Bangkok,’ enhancing transparency, accountability, and innovation in city administration.

Chris Fabian Giga / UNICEF
Giga Co-founder Public Institutions

■ Career

Chris is a technology executive and co-founder of Giga, a UNICEF-ITU initiative to connect every school in the world to the internet. He focuses on leveraging technology and global policy to tackle major global issues. Chris has advised UN Secretary-Generals, led UNICEF’s Innovation Unit, and worked with world leaders on responsible tech investments. He has built and scaled tech companies, pioneered open-source projects, and co-founded the Digital Public Goods Alliance. Recognized by Time and WIRED, he has also held advisory roles in AI and global innovation initiatives.

Christophe Jurczak Quantonation
Managing Partner VCs & investors

■ Career

Christophe Jurczak, who obtained his PhD in quantum physics under the supervision of ‘22 Nobel Laureate A. Aspect, has held roles in government, energy and defense, before joining Silicon Valley pioneer QC Ware. Since 2018, Christophe is founder and managing partner of Quantonation, the first VC firm dedicated to quantum technologies, and the largest early-stage investor in the sector with 32 portfolio companies worldwide and 211m€ AUM. Christophe sits on the boards of several startups and scale-ups as well as not for profits, playing a key role in shaping the future of quantum technology.

Chua Kee Lock Vertex Holdings
CEO VCs & investors

■ Career

Mr Chua Kee Lock is the Group President/CEO of Vertex Holdings (VH), a Singapore-headquartered venture capital investment holding company. VH is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Temasek with over US$6.9B asset under management focusing on IT and healthcare sector.
The Vertex Group is a global VC network comprising Vertex Ventures (VV) Japan, VV China, VV Israel, VV US, VV SEA & India, VV HC, and Vertex Growth. Each of these funds is managed by independent and separate General Partnerships and investment teams, with VH providing anchor funding alongside significant 3rd party capital commitments.

David Ha Sakana AI
Co-founder and CEO Startups

■ Career

David Ha is the Co-founder and CEO of Sakana AI. He previously worked as a Research Scientist at Google, leading the Google Brain Research team in Japan. His research interests include complex self-organizing systems and the self-advancement of artificial intelligence. Prior to joining Google, he was a derivatives trader, serving as Managing Director and head of interest rates trading at Goldman Sachs in Japan. He obtained his undergraduate degree in engineering science from the University of Toronto, and a PhD from the University of Tokyo.

Dhanin Chearavanont Senior Chairman of the C.P. Group Business Corporations

■ Career

Mr. Dhanin CHEARAVANONT is Senior Chairman of Charoen Pokphand Group.
The CP operates businesses in Asia, Europe and North America related to agrifoods, modern trade, telecommunications, property and financial services.
The “Three Benefits Principle” describes his business outlook, namely benefits to country, to people and to company. It encapsulates the spirit and challenge of CP’s global mission.
He was bestowed The Order of the Rising Sun (Gold & Silver Star) by Japanese Government in 2023 in recognition of his contribution to the promotion of relations between Japan and Thailand.

Fernando Fabre Kauffman Fellows
CEO Startup Support Organizations,VCs & investors

■ Career

Fernando is the CEO of Kauffman Fellows, the venture capitalists' leading education and community platform.
He is a co-founder and partner (inactive) at Matterscale Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in Latin America. He also co-founded Columbia University's eLab, a fellowship for global entrepreneurs in edtech/workforce, and is an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University.
Before this, he was the president of Endeavor, a global organization that selects, supports, and invests in the world's top entrepreneurs.
He lives in New York with his family.

Gen Tsuchikawa Sony Ventures Corp.
Former Chairman VCs & investors

■ Career

Gen spent almost 20 years at Sony group corporation and retired last September. At Sony he built Sony ventures from scratch to its current form and have also run investor relations, mergers and acquisitions, business developments globally, prior to such. Gen currently is the non-executive Director to NASDAQ listed Global-e and also is the senior advisor to Deloitte Tohmatsu venture support. Before Sony, Gen worked at Merill Lynch and the industrial Bank of Japan. Gen holds a BA from Hitotsubashi Univ and MBA from Stanford University.

Hanhee Paik IBM
Director, Quantum Algorithms Centers and Quantum-Centric Supercomputing Partnerships, IBM Quantum Business Corporations

■ Career

Dr. Hanhee Paik is the Director of Algorithm Centers and Quantum-Centric Supercomputing (QCSC) Partnerships. Dr. Paik has been a quantum computing scientist for more than 20 years. Dr. Paik was elected an American Physical Society Fellow in 2021 for pioneering a novel superconducting qubit architecture that catalyzed the commercialization of superconducting quantum computing and contributing to the advancement quantum computing research in the industry. She led the IBM Quantum Japan team until March 2025 when she became the Director to lead the QCSC Partnerships in Japan and Illinois.

Hiro Nishiguchi Startup Genome Japan
President Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

He is a serial entrepreneur committed to revitalizing Japanese society by fostering innovation management in established companies and building a thriving startup ecosystem. He serves as President of Startup Genome Japan, Inc., Managing Director of GEN Japan, and Professor at Sophia University. A graduate of Sophia University and Kellogg School of Management (MBA), he blends academic insight with hands-on leadership. He is a member of Keizai Doyukai and advises national policy as part of the Green Innovation Project Subcommittee (METI) and as a Moonshot Ambassador (Cabinet Office). Certified as an Innovation Management Professional by RISE, his career includes roles at Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan, World Bank Group, Mercer, and INCJ.

Hiroki Koga Oishii Farm Corporation
Co-Founder & CEO Startups

■ Career

Hiroki Koga is the co-founder & CEO of Oishii, the world’s largest indoor vertical strawberry farm. As a vertical farming industry expert with a decade of experience in the field, he leads the innovative company that is transforming the way we grow food today. Prior to co-founding Oishii in 2016, Koga worked as a consultant, where he focused on the pharmaceutical industry and biotechnology before spearheading the firm’s entry into agriculture technology consulting. Koga earned his MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, and graduated with a B.S. in economics from Keio University.

Hiromi Okuda WizGroup, Inc.
CEO Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

President of WizGroup, Inc. Graduated from the University of Mumbai (formerly National Bombay University) with a Master's degree in Social Welfare. Founded an IT-focused conference business in 1991. Established WizGroup, Inc. in 2001. In 2013, founded Takaranoyama Co., Ltd. in a depopulated area, initiating projects to explore IT solutions for local social issues. Serves as chairman of the judging committee for the Ministry of the Environment's "Environmental Startup Award," a judge for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's "Unexplored IT Talent Discovery and Development Project," and a committee member for the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's "Medical Venture Promotion Council." Author of "Do Only What Excites You!" (PHP Publishing) and others. From 2024, serving as the overall producer of the global event TechGALA.

Hironori Kamezawa Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.
President & Group Business Corporations

■ Career

Since joining the company in 1986, Hironori “Hiro” Kamezawa has been a pioneer in financial services and a leader in crisis management, in a career marked by groundbreaking roles.
Early in his career, Hiro spearheaded the field of derivative trading and Asset-Liability-Management at the Bank, and equity secondary business at Securities. Since 2004, Hiro has developed the Bank’s credit portfolio management business, and later navigated MUFG through the global financial crisis, the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the introduction of negative interest rates, while serving as General Manager.
In 2014, he was appointed Deputy CEO of the Americas, based in New York, also assuming the region’s role of Chief Risk Officer and leading seminal risk-management enhancement projects. In 2016, Hiro returned to Tokyo to serve as Chief Data Officer; and later as Global Chief Information Officer and Chief Digital Transformation Officer, driving the transformation of existing businesses, processes, and culture of MUFG.
Hiro earned a master’s degree in mathematics, from the Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Tokyo in 1986.

Hirotaka Sahashi STATION Ai Corp.
CEO Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

After joining SoftBank Corp., he worked in the Human Resources department and later in the President's Office of SoftBank Group Corp., where he was responsible for strategic management. Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, he served as the Head of Business Planning at SB Energy Corp., overseeing renewable energy projects. From 2014, he promoted the development of an in-house entrepreneur program and hands-on support at SB Innovation Corp. Since September 2021, he has been seconded to STATION Ai in his current role.

Jessica Owens Initiate Ventures
Founding Partner VCs & investors

■ Career

Jessica Owens is a Founding General Partner at Initiate Ventures, where she funds & co-founds transformative companies at the intersection of life sciences, healthcare, and technology. Jessica is an experienced venture investor, serial entrepreneur, and scientist. She has been part of the founding team of seven start-ups, including GRAIL, where she led various business & commercial functions before the company’s $8B acquisition. She was also an investor at Kleiner Perkins. Today, she applies her experience to support early-stage startups that possess the potential to improve millions of lives.

Joshua David High Line
Co-Founder Experts

■ Career

Joshua David worked with Robert Hammond to found Friends of the High Line (FHL) in 1999, with the goal of saving the High Line elevated rail viaduct from demolition and transforming it into a one-of-a-kind public landscape. FHL partnered with the City of New York to design, fund, and build the High Line, which opened in five stages, between 2009 and 2023. The High Line now welcomes millions of visitors each year and is maintained by FHL with funds raised almost entirely from private, philanthropic sources. In 2023, David stepped down and turned leadership of FHL to Alan van Capelle.

Junko Foley Daidomon Co., Ltd.
President Business Corporations

■ Career

After graduating from Kobe College, she worked at the Osaka Prefectural Government as an interpreter for the Governor of Osaka. She then worked as a simultaneous and consecutive Japanese-English interpreter at international conferences and other events. In 1994, she founded Maid Japan Co., Ltd., an online database company. In 1998, she co-founded Silver Egg Technology Co., Ltd. with Mr. Thomas Foley. The company was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers Market in September 2016. In 2010, she became President of Daidomon Co., Ltd. She currently serves as a Standing Executive Member of the Kansai Association of Corporate Executives, a Director of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, and a Director of the Osaka Industrial Promotion Organization, among other roles.

Kathy Matsui MPower Partners Fund L.P.
General Partner VCs & investors

■ Career

Kathy is a founding General Partner of MPower Partners, Japan’s first ESG-integrated global venture capital fund. She is the former Vice Chair of Goldman Sachs Japan and Chief Japan Equity Strategist. Her groundbreaking ʻWomenomicsʼ research spurred the Japanese government to promote gender diversity, and she has advised corporations on governance and diversity best practices. She has an MA from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and an AB from Harvard.

Katsuhiko Hibino Tokyo University of the Arts
President Educational Institutions

■ Career

Born in Gifu Prefecture in 1958. He began his career as an artist in the early 1980s while studying at Tokyo University of the Arts, and his expansion of the realm of expression that combines social media and artistic activities has attracted a lot of attention. Since then, he has participated in the Sydney Biennale and the Venice Biennale, and has held solo and group exhibitions and engaged in a wide range of activities across fields both in Japan and abroad. He also continues to promote workshops and art projects that take advantage of the characteristics of local places. He is currently the director of the Gifu Prefectural Museum of Art and the Contemporary Art Museum, Kumamoto, and has been engaged in education and research at his alma mater, Tokyo University of the Arts, since 1995, and has served as the president since 2022. He has launched the Art Future Research Center, pursues further possibilities for art in the modern world, and actively collaborates with companies and local governments, continuing to research and practice "art is the power to live."

Keiko Okano Keio University Global Research Institute
Project Professor Educational Institutions

■ Career

Keiko Okano is an experienced research development professional, which is a relatively new type of occupation in Japan. Keiko received her Ph.D. from UC Berkeley and worked in a pharmaceutical consulting venture, InfiniteBio. Those experiences made her aware of the importance of clear and concise writing and presentation. After returning to Japan, Keiko developed her core skill in grant proposal development, where she keeps post-award research management, technology transfer, and exit strategy in scope for the sake of innovation.

Ken Shigematsu inspiring dots inc. Founder, CEO/
Laguarda.Low Experts

■ Career

Ken Shigematsu is redefining urban planning and architectural design by fostering collaboration with experts from diverse backgrounds. With 20 years of experience, he has led projects from master planning to mixed-use developments in 25+ countries. His focus is on enhancing quality of life by creating "places for creativity"—spaces where people can freely explore and express their curiosity. Beyond architecture, he develops cutting-edge technologies, including infrastructure systems, software applications, and AI-powered Smart City Digital Twins.

Kenichiro Hara Coreline Ventures
Co-Founder & General Partner VCs & Investors

■ Career

Ken is a Co-Founder and General Partner at Coreline Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based venture capital and invests in seed/early stage startups in the US and Japan. Prior to Coreline Ventures, Ken was a partner at DCM Ventures, a global VC firm investing in US, China and Japan, an analyst at Orbis Investments and a consultant at McKinsey & Company.
Ken earned a BA and MPP from the University of Tokyo and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Major portfolio: CADDi, enechain, Linc’well, 10X, Eversteel, HERP, M2X, XYZ etc.

Kuniyoshi Mabuchi XinobiAI
Co-CEO Startups

■ Career

He has served in executive roles in foreign companies in Silicon Valley.
A technology global business leader connecting Japanese industries with the rest of the world.
After graduating from college, he worked at an agency in the USA before starting a digital agency. After expanding his business and buying out, he became the Japan representative of a U.S.A mega-agency group. He has served as CEO at four companies.
After working as an executive officer at META, PwC Consulting Partner, and Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting Partner, he assumed his current position.
Representative Director, Metaverse Japan
Director, Generative AI Japan
Expert Member, Japan Deep Learning Association
Books:
2013: Learning from Data Scientists' Analytical Skills Nikkei BP
2016 Blockchain Shock: Nikkei BP
2022: University of Tokyo Students Learn Textbook of "AI Management" Toyo Keizai Shimpo, Inc.
2022 Web 3: A New Frontier in the New Century Digital Economy Nikkei BP
2023 Impact of Generative AI: Nikkei BP
2023: Venture Governance in the AI Era Nikkei BP

Kyoji Nakao EF Polymer K. K.
CMO Startups

■ Career

Originally from Osaka, Japan. Graduated from Doshisha University with a degree in Economics. Gained experience in public relations and marketing at major domestic electronics and automotive manufacturers, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), and a U.S.-based marketing research firm. Currently leads communication strategy, marketing, branding, and DtoC (Direct-to-Consumer) initiatives at EF Polymer.

Ladi Delano Moove
Co-CEO and Co-Founder Startups

■ Career

Ladi Delano is a British-born Nigerian entrepreneur and the Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Moove, leading its expansion into 19 cities across six continents since 2020. Under his leadership, Moove is building the world’s largest fleet and best-in-class technologies that power mobility platforms. Its flagship Drive-to-Own (DTO) product democratises access to vehicle ownership with a revolutionary revenue-based financing model. To date, Moove’s customers have completed over 50 million trips in Moove-financed vehicles.

Lisa Lambert Quantum Industry Canada (QIC)
Chief Executive Officer Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Lisa Lambert is CEO of Quantum Industry Canada (QIC), the country's industry-led quantum technology consortium. She leads QIC's mission to transform Canada's quantum capabilities into global business success and national prosperity. A recognized leader in innovation strategy, Lisa champions collaborative approaches to addressing complex challenges. Her career spans pioneering initiatives at the intersection of science, technology, and society, where she has successfully united diverse stakeholders to drive transformative change.

Maja Andjelkovic World Bank Group
Senior Private Sector Specialist Public Institutions

■ Career

Maja has led World Bank innovation and entrepreneurship teams at for over a decade, supporting R&D and startup capabilities in client countries in Africa, Asia and Europe. Her experience includes building an NLP company, advising policymakers on the links between sustainability and technology, and fundraising. She has led raises totaling over $1B from institutional and private investors. Maja holds a PhD from the University of Oxford on entrepreneurship ecosystems, an LLM from the University of Kent on Internet governance and a B.Comm from Queen’s University.

Mamoru Kamemoto MUFG Bank, Ltd.
Head of Business Co-Creation Division Business Corporations

■ Career

Mamoru Kamemoto joined the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd. in 1999.
He had main two kinds of experience at his early career, marketing and planning for Japanese corporate banking business in Tokyo and Osaka.
He had led various projects and marketing business for Asia & Oceania region in Singapore and been responsible for overall strategies for Japanese corporate banking business in Tokyo.
In 2024, he was appointed as Head of Business Co-Creation Division, leading both business co-creation and contribution to society with our customers.
He has also led various open innovation initiatives at MUFG, such as creating startup ecosystem at TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY with JR East and promoting Venture Client Model in Japan.

Mari Kogiso SDG Impact Japan
Co CEO VCs & investors

■ Career

Mari is a sustainable finance expert with extensive background in inclusive business, sustainable finance, and entrepreneurship. Mari founded the SDG Impact Japan to promote ESG and impact finance in Japan and Asia and serve as CoCEO. Before the SDG Impact Japan, She was the global head of diversity and human rights of the Fastretailing Group. Before FR, she led the establishment of the Asia Women Impact Fund, USD 100 million Impact Fund at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, with the objective to catalyze capital to improve the lives of women and remove gender barriers in Asia. Mari held various senior positions at the World Bank Group in Washington DC and Tokyo including the representative of the MIGA Tokyo.

Mariko Nishimura HEART CATCH Inc.
CEO, Producer Business Corporations

■ Career

Started as an IT engineer at IBM Japan, with roles at Adobe and Bascule before co-founding HEART CATCH (Tokyo) in 2014 and HEART CATCH LA (Los Angeles) in 2020. Leveraging expertise in technology and creativity, supports startups in Japan and the US through investment, growth, and operations, while collaborating with Japanese companies and municipalities on new business initiatives. Serves as a J-Startup supporter, member of the Expert Committee for Japan Open Innovation Awards (Cabinet Office), instructor at Art Thinking Collective (ESCP), Guest Professor at Musashino Art University, Forbes Japan columnist, and Fellow for Hamamatsu and Shizuoka.

Masataka Osaki NVIDIA
Japan Country Manager, VP Worldwide Field Business Corporations

■ Career

Joined Texas Instruments Japan in 1991. After gaining experience as an engineer and in sales, he engaged in various management roles for over 20 years, working with products such as DSP, analog, and DLP.
In 2014, he joined NVIDIA. He has been leading the market expansion of products and solutions such as graphics for PC gaming, industrial design, scientific computing workstations, and supercomputers, focusing on the popularization of AI computing.

Masayoshi Terabe Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting LLC
Chief of Quantum Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

He has worked as a quantum project leader for an automotive manufacturer and a trading and investment company. He led numerous world-first demonstrations and the largest number of overseas startup investments in the quantum field in Japan, and has a broad global network.
He also serves as an advisor to venture capital, overseas quantum startups and the chairman of the national quantum project. He has served as a visiting associate professor at Tohoku University.

Miki Tsusaka Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd.
Representative Director and Business Corporations

■ Career

Miki Tsusaka is the Representative Director and President of Microsoft Japan. Under her leadership, she focuses on enabling the acceleration of Japan's digital transformation through Microsoft’s global and local expertise of our leading productivity and platform solutions. She will also build and reinforce Microsoft’s reputation in Japan as a trusted partner for individuals, organizations, and governments.
She is a former Senior Partner and Managing Director at Boston Consulting Group.
Tsusaka holds a Bachelor of AB from Harvard, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She was recognized by Fortune as among the 100 most powerful women in the world and in Asia in 2024.

Miyuki Iiyama Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS)
Program Director, Information Program Public Institutions

■ Career

Originally trained as an economist, Miyuki spent her earlier professional career in Africa to do the evaluation of socio-economic and environmental viability of natural resource management, including agroforestry, within smallholder systems. She later joined JIRCAS where she has been engaged in research on the role of science, technology and innovation in driving global food systems transformation as Program Director of Information Program. She was selected as an expert for WGIII, IPCC AR7 Scoping Meeting.

Nick Kline New Enterprise Associates (NEA)
Partner - LP Relations VCs & Investors

■ Career

Nick is a Partner at NEA where is he responsible for maintaining relationships with existing Limited Partners and introducing new investors to the firm on a global basis. Since joining the firm in 2019, Nick has been involved in raising $10 billion across NEA’s early-stage venture capital and venture growth equity platforms. Nick is based in NEA’s Menlo Park headquarters. Prior to joining NEA, Nick was a Director in the Institutional Client Business at BlackRock in San Francisco. Nick holds a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a CFA Charterholder.

Nobutake Suzuki MUFG Innovation Partners Co., Ltd.
President and CEO Business Corporations

■ Career

Nobutake has joined MUFG Bank in 2018 as a managing director in charge of open innovation of MUFG Group, and he has been the President and CEO of MUIP since January 2019. Before joining MUFG, he started his career as a venture capitalist at Global Brain, an independent venture capital firm in Japan, in 2002, and had experiences of investing in both Japanese and overseas startups and managing corporate venture capital funds.
Nobutake started his career as a banker at MUFG Bank, where he was in the Industrial Research Division in New York Branch, and other divisions.

Nobuyuki Akimoto AT PARTNERS, Inc.
Co-Founder and General Partner Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Nobuyuki Akimoto is Co-Founder and General Partner at AT PARTNERS, Inc., a Tokyo-based Fund of Funds investing in top global VC firms. He began his career at NTT in 1987, leading telecom projects across Asia. He later joined NTT DOCOMO, serving in executive roles including COO of DOCOMO Labs USA and CEO of DOCOMO Capital, spending nine years in the U.S. leading R&D and startup investments. After returning to Japan, he launched NTT DOCOMO Ventures and managed investments for DOCOMO and NTT Holdings. He is a former JVCA board member and now a Fellow.

Noriyuki Kojima Kotoba Technologies, K.K.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Earned a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Cornell University. Awarded the Best Paper Award at EMNLP 2022, one of the leading conferences in AI. Specializes in natural language processing and computer vision, with a particular focus on large language models. Currently a co-founder of the LLM Fugaku project, a cross-organizational initiative involving Japanese universities and companies, utilizing Fugaku (then the world's second-fastest supercomputer).
Previously worked at Facebook and Hugging Face, a leading company in open-source AI models and data infrastructure. Also a recipient of the Masayoshi Son Foundation Scholarship.

Patrick Newell Shizenkan University
Professor Educational Institutions

■ Career

Patrick has been a social entrepreneur in Japan since 1991. With his expertise in education, design, strategy, technology, and global communication, he strives to connect Japan with the world. Patrick co-founded Tokyo International School in 1995 and TEDxTokyo in 2008, sparking the global TEDx movement, Japan’s first SingularityU Summit in 2017, and is a professor at Shizenkan University. He also advises major Japanese organizations to expand their global strategy, branding, and merger integration.

Phil Wickham Sozo Ventures
Executive Managing Director VCs & investors

■ Career

Phil Wickham is Co-Founder and Executive Managing Director of Sozo Ventures, a $1.7-billion venture fund with offices in Redwood City and Tokyo. Sozo has, for over 15 years, invested in disruptive data science start-ups with global ambitions, specifically supporting them with early, intelligent engagement with Japanese markets. Notable successes include Palantir, Twitter (X), Square, MongoDB, Coinbase and Zoom. Sozo is also an early investor in Applied Intuition, Anduril, Saronic, Grammarly, Deel, Chainalysis, Need and Carbon Robotics. Of the 78 companies in Sozo’s portfolio, 22 are unicorns.

Rie Okubo Deloitte Tohmatsu LLC
Partner Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

She has over 25 years of consulting experience in a wide range of industries and subjects. Extensive experience in Operating Model Transformation consisting operation, organization and IT. Her support of technology adoption is not limited to implementing IT system but also extends to technology talent development, COE organization design, global deployment, building roadmap for digital transformation across different industries. In recent years, she is also leading Women In Tech, which provides new view of technology to the nexts generation, aiming at increasing female representation in technology fields. She has also been selected for Forbes JAPAN's 'Women In Tech 30' in 2024.

Sabrina Maniscalco Algorithmiq Inc
CEO and cofounder Startups

■ Career

Sabrina Maniscalco is CEO and co-founder of Algorithmiq Ltd, a startup focusing on quantum algorithms and software, and a Professor of Quantum Information and Logic at the University of Helsinki.
Sabrina Maniscalco has been working for over twenty years on quantum science and technology.
She has published over 250 scientific publications on quantum science and technologies in international refereed journals, receiving over 10000 citations.

Saikiran Reddy BOMMAREDDY Lincore
Co-Founder & CEO Startups

■ Career

Saikiran is the Co-founder & CEO of Lincore, a spin-off from the National University of Singapore (NUS), focused on recovering Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, and Manganese from battery waste and processing them into low-carbon precursors for manufacturing new batteries.
As a Breakthrough Energy-SEA Fellow based in Singapore, Saikiran is advancing sustainable, low-cost, and modular solutions for critical materials refining to enable circular battery supply chains. He holds an MSc in Chemical Engineering from NUS and a B.Tech from India.

Shery Ahn Bloomberg
Anchor Media

■ Career

Shery Ahn is the anchor of “Bloomberg: The Asia Trade,” airing weekdays from 7am-9am HKT.

Ahn was raised in Bolivia and speaks Spanish, English and Korean. As an Emerging Markets Correspondent, she has also interviewed top political leaders such as the Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Colombian President Gustavo Petro, among others. Ahn has also sat down with some of the developing world’s top economic policymakers such as Bank of Korea’s Governor Rhee Chang-yong and Chile’s Central Bank President Rosanna Costa.

Before moving to New York, Ahn was based in Hong Kong where she covered key events including the G20 summit from Hangzhou and BOJ policy decisions from Tokyo. Her conversations with Asian business leaders and policymakers include Baidu’s Robin Li, former Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda and Tokyo’s Governor Yuriko Koike.

Prior to Bloomberg, Ahn was based in Tokyo as an anchor for Japan’s public broadcaster NHK World, where she reported live on the 2011 earthquake and Fukushima nuclear disaster. Ahn began her broadcast career in Seoul as a Diplomatic Correspondent covering North Korea and the Six-Party Nuclear Talks in Beijing.

Ahn graduated from Seoul National University and is currently earning an MS in Global Affairs from New York University.

Shinichi Takamiya GLOBIS CAPITAL PARTNERS Co., Ltd.
Managing Partner VCs & Investors

■ Career

Shin leads Globis’s investments in digital, and healthcare area. Ranked Forbes Japan’s Midas List #1 in 2018, #7 in2015, and #10 in 2020. BA in Economics from University of Tokyo (graduation thesis with Honors), Harvard Business School MBA (Second Year Honor).

His track record includes: IPO iStyle, Aucfan, Kayac , Pixta, Mercari, and Lancers; M&A Shimauma Print System, nanapi, and Coubic. His active portfolio includes, Timers, Mirrativ, FastDOCTOR, TANP, Alu, Alp, Josys, AnotherBall, Medii, and newmo etc.

Shinji Okuyama Google Japan G.K.
President Business Corporations

■ Career

Shinji Okuyama has been the President of Google Japan since 2021. He leads Google Japan, overseeing
business growth and site operations to deliver on Google's mission for users, customers, and partners.
Prior to Google, Shinji worked for 30 years in the consumer goods and food business as an executive.
Previously, he was Senior Corporate Officer of Marketing at Ezaki Glico, a daily food manufacturer in
Japan/Overseas. Shinji was responsible for the total Japan P/L and Marketing organization, on top led to develop mid-long term company strategies. Shinji also worked at Procter & Gamble for 26 years, starting from a Marketing career. He became president of P&G Korea in 2008, and appointed as President of P&G Japan in 2012. Shinji graduated from Waseda University with a bachelor's degree of English Literature and Linguistics.

Shunsuke Aoki Turing Inc.
Co-founder, Director Startups

■ Career

Holds a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. In the U.S., he was engaged in the development and research of autonomous driving systems, including the creation of cyber traffic signals and the development of autonomous driving functions for major automotive manufacturers. Since 2021, he has been serving as an Assistant Professor at the National Institute of Informatics, where he leads the Aoki Lab. He also holds concurrent positions as a Visiting Associate Professor at Nagoya University and a JST PRESTO researcher. Selected as one of Japan's Innovators Under 35 by MIT Technology Review Japan.

Simone Severini Amazon Web Services (AWS)
General Manager, Quantum Business Corporations

■ Career

Simone leads the Quantum Technologies program at AWS, where he launched Amazon Braket, the first cloud service to integrate quantum processors, and helped establish the AWS Centers for Quantum Computing (with Caltech) and Quantum Networking (with Harvard). As a UCL Professor of Physics of Information, he initiated collaborations with Google, Lockheed Martin, and Siemens. He co-founded pioneering quantum startups like Cambridge Quantum (now Quantinuum) and PhaseCraft and has advised research organizations and major venture capital firms globally.

Takanobu Ikeda Fukuoka Growth Next Executive Director Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Born in 1977 in Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, he graduated from the Faculty of Education at Fukuoka University of Education. Following graduation, he began his career as an instructor at a civic gymnasium, working as a sports coach for a public foundation. He later transitioned to the real estate industry, gaining experience in commercial facility management at Laforet Harajuku Kokura and Mori Building Co., Ltd. (Omotesando Hills).
In 2008, he joined Fukuoka Jisho Co., Ltd., where his career spanned multiple roles and departments, including the Commercial Business Division, President’s Office, and Fukuoka Realty, where he contributed to the Canal City Hakata redevelopment project. He also gained experience in roadside commercial development within the Development Business Division.
In 2017, he played a key role in launching Fukuoka Growth Next, initially serving as Deputy Secretary-General. Since August 2022, he has been serving as Secretary-General.
Drawing on a diverse career that spans sports coaching, real estate development, and startup support, he continues to leverage his broad expertise to drive the creation of new value and opportunities.

Talitha Amalia Solve Education Foundation
Co-founder Startups

■ Career

Talitha Amalia is the co-founder of Solve Education! Foundation, a social impact organisation empowering young people through educational technology. She leads its operations, expanding access to quality education for underserved youth in Asia-Pacific via an AI-powered learning platform. Beyond Solve Education!, Talitha is a research consultant and writer for think tank organisations. Her expertise lies at the intersection of digital technology and social impact, exploring strategies to harness innovation for meaningful, systemic change.

Taro Shimada Toshiba Corporation
Representative Director, Corporate Business Corporations

■ Career

Taro Shimada started his career at ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd., and after working at Siemens K.K., he joined Toshiba in October 2018 as Corporate Digital Business Chief Strategy Officer.
In April 2019, he became Chief Digital Officer, responsible for Toshiba’s digital transformation and for strategic business creation and promotion. He was appointed CEO & Representative Director of Toshiba Data Corporation in February 2020, and President and CEO of Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation in April 2020. In March 2022, Mr. Shimada was appointed to take the reins at Toshiba, as President & CEO.
In May 2022, he was appointed Chairman of Q-STAR (Quantum STrategic industry Alliance for Revolution), a consortium that promotes business creation with quantum technologies.

Teruo Fujii The University of Tokyo
President Educational Institutions

■ Career

Dr. Teruo Fujii is the 31st President of the University of Tokyo (UTokyo). Prior to taking the President’s office in April 2021, he was Executive Vice President in charge of finance and external relations for the university. He also served as the Director General of the Institute of Industrial Sciences (IIS) of the university from 2015 to 2018. He received his Ph.D. in engineering from UTokyo in 1993 and held research positions at IIS and RIKEN prior to becoming a professor of IIS in 2007.
Dr. Fujii was an advisor to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) from 2005 to 2007, co-director of LIMMS-CNRS/IIS, a joint research laboratory between CNRS of France, and IIS, from 2007 to 2014, and the President of the Chemical and Biological Microsystems Society (CBMS) from 2017 to 2019. From March 2021 to February 2024, he held the position of an Executive Member (part-time) of the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan. Since 2019, he has served as the Chair of the Subdivision on Ocean Development of the Council for Science and Technology (MEXT).
Dr. Fujii’s research specializes in applied microfluidics systems and underwater technology.

Tomoko Namba Keidanren / DeNA Co., Ltd.
Vice Chair, Keidanren / Founder & Executive Chairman, DeNA Co., Ltd. Business Corporations

■ Career

Tomoko Namba joined McKinsey & Company in 1986. Received MBA from Harvard Business School in 1990 and became a partner (executive officer) at McKinsey in 1996. She founded DeNA Co., Ltd. in 1999 and currently serves as its representative director and chairwoman. She has been the owner of the Yokohama DeNA BayStars since 2015. She founded Delight Ventures in 2019 and became its managing partner. She is the author of "Fugaku Keiei" (Uncool Management).

Toshiaki Higashihara Hitachi, Ltd.
Executive Chairman, Representative Business Corporations

■ Career

As Executive Chairman of Hitachi, Ltd. after serving as Executive Chairman & CEO since 2021 and President & CEO since 2016, Higashihara leads a global organization of over 500 companies and approximately 270,000 employees.
Prior to his current position, Higashihara has held several executive leadership positions in Hitachi, including President of Hitachi Power Europe GmbH, President of Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
Higashihara holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from Tokushima University and a Master of Science in Computer Science from Boston University.

Will Prendergast Frontline Ventures
General Partner VCs & investors

■ Career

Will is a General Partner at Frontline, and co-founded the firm in 2012 with an ambition to build a more collaborative approach to funding globally ambitious founders.
He has led over 30 investments at Frontline, backing founders in a range of industries and geographies
He was a director and first cheque investor in companies including Pointy (acquired by Google), Britebill (acq. Amdocs), and AMCS (>$2bn valuation). Will’s sectoral focus is on fintech and he represents Frontline on the boards of Finbourne and Appital.
Will is a Kauffman Fellow and a professionally trained chef.

Wui Liang HENG BLOCK71, NUS Enterprise, National University of
Singapore Educational Institutions

■ Career

Wui Liang is an experienced business leader passionate about leveraging technology to solve business needs. He has a track record in leading regional multi-disciplinary programs in fintech, banking and insurance. A builder at heart, he has grown ideas from scratch into businesses. Having started 2 companies and helping a Series C company expand regionally, he is now focused on supporting the startup ecosystem at BLOCK71, NUS Enterprise.

Ynse Deinema Roboat
CEO & Co-founder Startups

■ Career

Ynse Deinema is co-founder & CEO for Roboat. He is an experienced sailor and also a robotics enthusiast. Together with his team in Amsterdam they work hard to optimize waterborne logistics and mobility in the urban environment. “Autonomous navigation will lower costs and also introduce a safer and more flexible operation”.

Yoshinori Abe Ubie, Inc.
MD. Ubie, Inc. CEO Startups

■ Career

Dr. Yoshinori Abe earned his M.D. at the University of Tokyo with residency experience at Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Medical Center.

Meeting a patient who passed away at the age of 48 due to neglecting bloody stool was the trigger that prompted him to dive into the world of data science. He co-founded Ubie in 2017. Since 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for the Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. He was appointed as a board member of the Japan Medical Venture Association in 2023.

Yuka Hata Japan Investment Corporation
Senior Managing Director, Head of Fund Investments VCs & Investors

■ Career

Ms. Hata joined JIC in July 2020 in order to build and support Japan’ private equity / venture capital ecosystem as well as to provide the risk capital with the investment funds which bring Japan’s industry to the next stage. Prior to joining JIC, as a co-head of private equity, Ms. Hata worked for Nissay Asset Management where she was mainly responsible for European small-mid buyout, GP stake investments, secondary and Japan’s VC funds. She also worked for Nomura Asset Management (or Nomura Private Equity Capital) and managed fund of funds focused on Asia market as a member of Investment Committee.

Ms. Hata is a Chartered Member of the Security Analysts Association of Japan., and received a B.A. in Environmental Information from Keio University and an M.B.A. from Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales-HEC in Paris.

Adeline Phua The Ascott Limited
Managing lyf Partner and Vice President, Business Development, The Ascott Limited Business Corporations

■ Career

As Managing lyf Partner, Adeline champions the development and growth of the lyf (pronounced ‘life’) brand, an experience-led social living concept designed for the next-generation traveller to ‘live your freedom’. Leading the strategic growth of the lyf brand globally, she spearheads brand development, collaborations and partnerships, and drives commercial and operational excellence of the properties. Adeline’s global experience in hospitality development, strategy, planning, investment and asset management spans close to 20 years, across China, Asia Pacific, Europe and the USA.

Ahmed Elzaher Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA)
CEO Business Corporations

■ Career

Ahmed Elzaher is the CEO of Egypt’s ITIDA. He has 28+ years in IT, excelling in IT Services, go-to-market, leadership, and business development internationally. Known for building organizations and developing talent regionally and locally. Formerly IBM's VP for Cybersecurity in MEA, based in Dubai, leading the setup and delivery of strategic solutions. Holds a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Ain Shams University.

Ahmed Tantawy Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
Advisor to Minister of CIT in Egypt and Founding Director of the Applied Innovation Center Public Institutions

■ Career

Dr. Ahmed N. Tantawy is a lifelong learner and educator, an engineer, an inventor, a scientist, and a former senior business executive. He enjoys conceiving, planning, structuring, and managing innovation ecosystems and effective organizations that are centered around people and purpose.

Since 2013, Dr. Tantawy has been serving as an expert advisor to multinational corporations, the World Bank, the UN and various government agencies. He is currently a senior advisor to the Egyptian Minister of Communications and IT and the Founding Director of the Applied Innovation Center, where national challenges are addressed through the application and adaptation of emerging technologies. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of various nationalscale initiatives in the Middle East, a member of the Board of Directors of Telecom Egypt’s Data Services company, and a Trustee of two Not-for-Profit Organizations working in the fields of Education and Sustainable Social Development of underprivileged communities. He was a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the Egyptian National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, a member of the Executive Committee for the Development of the Suez Canal Region, a senior advisor to various cabinet ministers, the Executive Director of an international Nanotechnology initiative, and a principal investment advisor of a Venture Capital fund operating in the US and the Middle East.

Ai Kawahara ORYZAE inc.
Director of the R&D Division Startups

■ Career

Born in Fukuoka Prefecture in 1995, Ai Kawahara studied Nutrition at　the university and pursued Microbiology in graduate school, earning a Ph.D. in Environmental Symbiosis and a registered dietitian license. After working as a freelance marketer in the fields of nutrition, veganism, and fermentation, Ai joined Orize Co., Ltd. in 2024. Through the development of rice koji-derived fermented sweeteners as sugar alternatives, Ai aims to create a demand for rice and promote the culture of fermentation and rice koji globally.

Aiko Hibino Hirosaki University
Professor Educational Institutions

■ Career

Dr. Aiko Hibino is a professor, social psychologist, and science and technology studies researcher in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Japan’s Hirosaki University. Her research focuses on user–technology relations in emerging life sciences. She has led a research project on ethical and social issues related to cultivated meat, examining issues that influence public perceptions, politics, and cultural practices in the Japanese context.

Aimi Sekiguchi MUSOU Co.,Ltd.
CEO Business Corporations

■ Career

Since 2016, he has been working as an artist who paints 3D pictures in VR space.

Aissata M.B. Camara City of New York
NYC Mayor’s Office for International Affairs/Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Staff Public Institutions

■ Career

Aissata M.B. Camara is a global connector and NYC’s Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Staff for International Affairs. She drives policies linking local action to global solutions, advancing sustainability, equity, and economic development. An award-winning innovator, her initiatives have shaped global diplomacy, empowered communities, and positioned cities as leaders in international engagement.

Ajibike Jimoh Isopa Consulting Limited
Impact Investment Program Manager Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Ajibike Jimoh is an Impact Investment Program Manager with a proven track record in scaling innovation through access to funding for start-ups across sectors like health, agriculture, fintech, logistics, edtech and cleantech. She has successfully led large-scale initiatives in partnership with global organizations such as JICA, develoPPP Ventures, GIZ, VC4A, UNFPA, and NITDA, helping businesses access over €1 million in funding and form strategic partnerships. She is passionate about catalyzing change and fostering growth in Africa.

Akihiro Kaneko YOUTRUST, Inc.
Executive Director / Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) Startups

■ Career

After graduating from the School of Law at Waseda University, joined CyberAgent, Inc. in 2012. Began career in the creative field, then held specialist roles in data, technology, and media. Subsequently served as head of strategic planning, marketing, and new business development. Joined YOUTRUST, Inc. in October 2021, and was appointed Executive Director in October 2023.

Akihiro Nakamura M Service JSC
Senior Director of Strategy Startups

■ Career

With over two decades of experience in retail banking, both in Japan and internationally, Akihiro brings deep expertise in financial services and fintech innovation. After joining Mizuho Bank in 1996, he earned an MBA from Babson College and held leadership roles in mortgage product development, credit risk, digital channels, and workplace-based sales. From 2012 to 2017, he was seconded to Vietcombank, top commercial bank in Vietnam, contributing to the growth of Vietnam’s retail banking sector. Since 2022, he has been seconded to M-Service, where he plays a key role in driving corporate value at MoMo, one of Vietnam’s leading fintech platforms, while actively engaging in the evolving digital finance landscape.

Akiko Iwamoto 01Booster Inc.
Leader Startups

■ Career

After graduating from university, Akiko began her career at a BPO company, where she worked in sales within the human resources outsourcing division. She was responsible for matching temporary staff with client companies, providing follow-up support, and managing on-site operations for outsourced projects.
She later joined a company supporting the launch and management of membership organizations, where she planned and executed events and special benefits for high-net-worth individuals, and directed the production of various materials.
At 01Booster, she is involved in open innovation support, in-house new business development, and startup support, contributing to the growth and expansion of the startup ecosystem.
A mother of one, she works full-time alongside her husband, continuously seeking ways to balance her professional and family life.

Akiko Murakami Sompo Japan Insurance Inc.
Executive Officer, Chief Data Officer／General Manager of Data Management Department Business Corporations

■ Career

Akiko Murakami is the Executive Officer and Chief Data Officer of Sompo Japan Insurance Inc and the Executive Director of the Japan AI Safety Institute.
Akiko delivers DX of P&C insurance utilizing digital technologies and AI for the purpose of innovation challenges with digital.
Prior to joining Sompo Japan in 2021, Akiko was a researcher of Natural Language Processing, social analysis and text mining at IBM Research for 16 years. After this, Akiko represented Watson development as an architect at IBM for 5 years.

Akio Isowa Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Senior Managing Business Corporations

■ Career

Joined SMBC in 1990. After gaining experience in corporate banking, legal affairs, corporate planning, and human resources, he led the launch of the Retail Marketing Department and the IT Strategy Office (at that time) as General Manager. He was involved in initiatives such as issuing debit cards and improving the UX of internet banking applications. Later, as Head of the Transaction Business Division, he oversaw the development and business planning of online payment services such as Bank Pay and Kotora.
Since 2023, he has been serving as Senior Managing Executive Officer, Group CDIO, and Director in charge of startups, leading digital transformation and startup support initiatives across the SMBC Group.

Akira Sakano Zero Waste Japan
Representative Director Startups

■ Career

Contributed to the building of the 1st Zero Waste Town in Japan – Kamikatsu, and now co-building the zero waste policies in various municipalities and local communities across Japan. Co-founded Green Innovator Academy to foster more than 1,000 innovators in green transformation by 2030. Joined ECOMMIT Co.,Ltd. as Chief Sustainability Officer in 2023 to create infrastructure for the circular economy. Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2019. Nikkei Women of the Year 2022.

Alexander C. Lembcke OECD
Deputy Head of Division Public Institutions

■ Career

Alexander C. Lembcke is the Deputy Head of the Economics Analysis, Data and Statistics Division of the OECD’s Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities where he is also responsible for the Economic Analysis Unit. His role is to provide analysis and empirical evidence that supports the development of policies for cities, regions, rural areas, SMEs and entrepreneurs. In this capacity, he works with his team to improve policies that help foster innovation, reduce inequalities and boost growth and well-being in all regions.

Alice BALLÉ Tsunagaru Inc.
Scientific Director - Relationship Designer Startups

■ Career

Dr. Alice Ballé is a French researcher specializing in cultural heritage and relationship design—the intentional creation of meaningful human connections. Having lived and worked in Brazil, Poland, and Japan, she has explored how people from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds can build trust, learn together, support one another, and co-create shared value. As Scientific Director at Tsunagaru, she designs and implements inclusive, participatory tools, educational programs, and dialogue-based workshops that connect digital nomads and local communities across borders. She believes that human connection is the foundation of a better future.

Alisaun Fukugaki tonari KK
Founding Member & Head of Sales Startups

■ Career

Alisaun is a founding member of tonari and a nimble operator, overseeing various customer relations, research, and business development efforts. She is also community builder and co-founder of Straylight, a Tokyo-based makers collective, and moshimo, a Hayama-based cooperative and event space. Born and raised in Tokyo, she flits between being Japanese and American (whenever it's convenient). She led past lives as an equity broker and techno party organizer, and is now exploring and building a new life and community outside of the city.

Amr S. Talaat Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
Minister Public Institutions

■ Career

Dr. Amr Talaat, Egypt’s Minister of ICT since 2018. With over 40 years in the ICT sector, Dr. Talaat has played a pivotal role in shaping and driving the amitious “Digital Egypt” Strategy, focusing on ICT upskilling, digital inclusion, AI, and digital government transformation. Under his leadership, Egypt has seen significant advancements thereby positioning Egypt as the leading digital hub in the MENA region. His expertise is complemented by degrees from institutions in Egypt, France, and the United States.

Anas Bataw Zacua Ventures
Partner, Middle East

■ Career

Dr. Anas Bataw is a seasoned ConTech leader, investor, and ecosystem builder. Playing a pivotal role in propelling Sustainability, Advanced Technology and Modern Methods within the MENA construction industry. His significant impact has contributed to the development and deployment of disruptive ventures and businesses across MENA, the UK, and Singapore. Demonstrates exceptional leadership in establishing and managing impactful open innovation programs and venture funds at both corporate and national levels. His unique ability to build robust business cases, develop ecosystems, and value realization has set him apart in the industry.

Dr. Anas has been recognised through numerous prestigious accolades that underscore his influence and expertise. His notable awards and recognitions include Global Innovations Leader (2022), Technology Strategist of the Year (2020), and Best Contribution to Global Innovations by the Singapore Government (2019). Beyond his corporate endeavors, Dr. Anas actively participates in non-profit task groups such as the United Nations and World Economic Forum driving innovations, technology, and sustainability. His commitment to these causes is complemented by his academic contributions at esteemed universities, where he engages in research and publications that further the field of technology and innovation in the built environment.

Anjana Aravind Blusink
Co-founder, COO Startups

■ Career

Anjana Aravind is Co-Founder/COO of Blusink, a startup focused on marine carbon removal and ecosystem restoration. She has expertise in blue carbon, climate risk assessment, and climate modeling. At Blusink, she manages operations, fundraising, and partnerships with industry, government, and academia. Her background includes climate research at the Potsdam Institute, Climate Change Research Centre, Sydney, and she was part of an Atlantic ocean research expedition onboard the Polarstern.

Ann Shi Pony.AI
Vice President, Strategy and Business Development Startups

■ Career

Ann Shi is Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, responsible for aligning strategic partners to jointly build a safer and more reliable mobility for societies with autonomous driving technology. She joined Pony.ai in early 2018 and is the first non-tech full-time employee in China. Before joining Pony.ai, she worked for UK’s largest trade publisher Haymarket Media Group, covering two flagship financial media brands from its HK bureau. She holds a dual degree in economics and finance from University of Hong Kong.

Anna Kreshchenko Flora Co., Ltd.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Anna graduated from the Faculty of International Relations, Odessa National University of Ukraine. In 2017, she came to Japan as a MEXT scholar and enrolled in Kyoto University, Faculty of Law. Anna founded Flora in December 2020 to improve women's physical and mental wellbeing with the help of cutting-edge technology.
Anna was awarded the Special Award as the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2023, selected as Forbes Japan “Next 100” and Forbes Asia & Japan 30 under 30 in 2024.

Anna Nakayasu Globis Capital Partners
Investment Professional VCs & Investors

■ Career

Born in Yamaguchi Prefecture and raised in the US and Japan, Anna Nakayasu started her career as a physician and pivoted into venture capital after pursuing her MBA. She led healthcare investments at Sozo Ventures in Silicon Valley and worked as Lead Partner on Portfolia's Active Aging and Longevity Fund before joining GLOBIS Capital Partners in June 2023. Currently, she also leads the nonprofit Japan Healthcare Innovation Hub, creating an ecosystem to accelerate innovation in the industry.

She holds an MD from the University of Tokyo and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Aoi Kobayashi TRICKLE　.inc
CEO Startups

■ Career

Born in 2004 and raised in Tokyo. Currently studying at the School of Political Science and Economics at Waseda University.

Until October 2024, she served as a Director at Uravation Inc., where she was engaged in a wide range of activities including generative AI consulting for businesses. She founded and currently leads Waseda AI Kenkyukai, one of Japan’s largest student-led generative AI research organizations.

She has led multiple successful projects as the head of a generative AI development team, and is recognized as the most-followed woman in Japan in the field of generative AI and development.

She is currently the CEO of Trickle, a newly established company that develops generative AI tools and provides training programs.

Arisa Ema Tokyo College, The University of Tokyo
Associate Educational Institutions

■ Career

Arisa Ema is an Associate Professor at the University of Tokyo and Visiting Researcher at RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project in Japan. She is a researcher in Science and Technology Studies (STS), and her primary interest is to investigate the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence by organizing an interdisciplinary research group. She is a board member of the Japan Deep Learning Association (JDLA). She is also a member of the Council for Social Principles of Human-centric AI, The Cabinet Office, which released “Social Principles of Human-Centric AI” in 2019, and also a member of the Japanese government's AI Strategy Council launched in May 2023. She is also a member of the Tokyo AI Strategy Council. Internationally, she is an expert member of the working group on the Future of Work, GPAI (Global Partnership on AI). She obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo and previously held a position as Assistant Professor at the Hakubi Center for Advanced Research, Kyoto University.

Atsuo Nakayama Re entertainment
Entertainment Sociologist/ President, Experts

■ Career

Entertainment Sociologist & Consultant, METI adviser, Cabinet office media strategy adviser, guest lecture at Keio univ. and Waseda/NTU univ. Based on the 15yrs career as a marketer/business development in Recruit Staffing, DeNA, Deloitte, Bandai Namco, Bushiroad, he has initiated character business creation into various field: Game, Anime, Trading Card, Musical, Music Live, Sports. Published book: “Creator　Wonderland“（2024）“Entertainment Business History” “Entertainment Guru”(2023), “Stan Economy”(2021), “Otaku Economy Genesis”(2019 Nikkei BP) “The Third Wave of Japanese Games”(2015)
www.reentertainment.online

Atsushi Alex Mazawa Rhinoflux Inc.
Co-founder & CEO Startups

■ Career

Co-founder & CEO of Rhinoflux, an energy startup from Kyoto University. He has solid experience in Mitsubishi Corporation, Japan's largest conglomerate, as a commodity trader & corporate venture capitalist specializing in the mineral resources industry. In CVC, he led investments and strategic collaboration with a NASDAQ-listed startup, unicorns and global VCs in the mineral resources & energy sectors.　Leveraging his expertise and networks, he co-founded Rhinoflux as the first Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) at Kyoto University.

Atsushi Okada Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Partner Experts

■ Career

Mr. Atsushi Okada is a partner in Mori Hamada & Matsumoto’s office in Tokyo. His principal practice areas are intellectual property, information technology, data protection and cybersecurity. He is co-head of the firm’s IP, Data Security, Fintech, Healthcare and AI/IoT practice groups. He was educated at the University of Tokyo and Harvard Law School. He serves as a member of the AI Strategy Council for the Japanese government (Cabinet Office); the Committee for Intellectual Property Rights in the Age of AI (Cabinet Office); and the Working Group on AI Guidelines for Business (METI).

Atsushi Takata SpaceData Inc.
Executive Vice President, Global Strategy & Space Utilization Startups

■ Career

At a trading & investment company, he (1) managed a procurement projects for products for satellites and other spacecraft from overseas, (2) exported domestically produced space equipment overseas, and (3) made business investments. He also attended the Creator's Leadership Program at Tama Art University, where he learned the know-how of design x new business creation.

Atsuya Momikura POCKET RD Inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

In 2024, received the Tokyo Metropolitan Venture Technology Encouragement Award as the only entertainment company in Japan. Since its establishment, it has developed alliances with many companies. He is pioneering the future of communication and entertainment around the world with his state-of-the-art AI-based avatar technology and blockchain. A serial entrepreneur, his motto is to always move forward with a smile. Recently, he has been offering “AVATARIUM Portable”. Anyone can easily become an avatar by simply standing in front of the device and enjoy a variety of worlds, such as performing with their favorite idols and celebrities, exploring unexplored regions, and dressing up as historical figures.

Aya Spencer Chai Ventures
Investment Fellow

■ Career

Aya Spencer leads global startup programming for CTOs at AWS, where she builds communities and strategic initiatives to support early-stage technical founders. With a background in VC, including roles as an investor and board observer, she specializes in cross-border innovation between the U.S. and Japan. Aya is a Fellow at Chai Ventures and a contributor to Forbes, where she writes about the intersection of technology, policy, and personalized innovation. Bilingual in English and Japanese, she is passionate about building global ecosystems and supporting the next generation of unicorn CTOs.

Aya Suma Sakai City
Public Institutions

■ Career

2020,Joined Sakai City Government. Assigned to the Disability Policy Promotion Division. Engaged in social participation and employment support for people with disabilities.
2024,Assigned to the Tokyo Office. Engaged in city promotion in the Tokyo metropolitan area and solving regional issues through corporate collaboration.

Ayame Osanai Fermecutes,Inc.
Co-owner Startups

■ Career

Osanai Ayame
Senior researcher at Keio University SFC Research Institute.
Works on recreating dishes especially with the theme of the Meiji era, the most singular point in the history of Japanese food culture.
Conducts sustainable food culture research activities that connect “what you should eat” and “what you want to eat” to the next generation.

Ayuko Nakamura eiicon co.,ltd
Founder・CEO Business Corporations

■ Career

Graduated from Tokyo Gakugei University. In 2015, he independently conceived and founded the "eiicon" business, which was released as a new business within the Persol Group. In April 2023, he completed an MBO and is currently the CEO of eiicon, where he operates "AUBA," Japan's largest company search and matching platform with over 34,000 registered companies from all over the country, and "TOMORUBA," a business revitalization media with over 20,000 members. He currently serves as a speaker and commentator at more than 60 events a year, and is also active as a mentor and judge for many accelerator programs. In December 2023, he founded XSprout Inc. as a joint venture with the Spiral Group and became a director.

Ayumu Mitera MITSUFUJI CORPORATION
CEO Startups

■ Career

After graduating from university, he worked for Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and　some foreign IT companies such as Cisco Systems and SAP before joining MitsuFuji Textile Industries (currently known MITSUFUJI) to rebuild the family business which was on the verge of going out of business. He became CEO in 2014 and shifted to a new business model specializing in AGposs, in-house silver-plated conductive, high-performance fiber. Combining the inherited fiber technology with his IT knowledge, he launched a smart-wearable platform utilizing AGposs as a sensor that can acquire ECG data to monitor people’s health conditions by using an algorithm. His efforts to transform its business from a Nishijin textile factory were highly evaluated, he won the 1st Forbes JAPAN SMALL GIANTS Grand Prix in 2018 and the Kyoto Creator Award in 2021. Currently, he’s been focusing on two fields that can take advantage of characteristics of AGposs, wearable products that utilize conductivity and economic security-related products that utilize electromagnetic shielding performance to solve various social issues.

Ayuri Ofuchi Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd
Manager, Promotion and Ecosystem Building Innovative Communities Department Business Corporations

■ Career

Graduated from university, Ayuri Ofuchi joined a railway company and spent over 10 years developing new businesses within the company using railway assets. She then joined Mitsubishi Estate in 2022. She work at the secretariat of TMIP, an open innovation platform in the Marunouchi area, where She plan and execute the TMIP Innovation Award (an awards program for new business creation by large corporations) and support the business growth of members.

Barak Salomon Red Dot Capital
Managing Partner

■ Career

Barak has over 20 years of experience as an investor and operator, with significant expertise in the tech and industrial sectors.
Prior to joining Red Dot, Barak represented Japan-based NTT DoCoMo Ventures and the NTT group in Israel and led investing and business development activities on their behalf. Earlier, Barak was a Principal in Israeli-based an Israeli based growth stage fund, and Apax Partners, an international Private Equity firm.
Barak has held independent Board member positions at public and private Israeli companies, including Gaon Holdings Ltd., Amir Marketing Ltd., MaxQ.Ai and Albert.Ai.
Barak holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science (cum laude) from Bar Ilan University in Israel.

Bayu Seto Living Lab Ventures / Sinar Mas Land
Partner VCs & Investors

■ Career

Bayu Seto is a Partner at Living Lab Ventures (LLV), the corporate venture arm of Sinar Mas Land. He leads investments in visionary entrepreneurs, driving innovation and market impact. With over a decade of experience in business development and strategic investment, Bayu has forged key partnerships and accelerated growth of the portfolio. Since LLV’s founding in 2021, he has shaped its four pillars: Investment, Venture Building, Advisory, and Global Partnerships. LLV helps companies enter Indonesia by becoming their go-to-market partner.

Brandon Ge Alpha Square Group
Director Experts

■ Career

Brandon Ge is Director at Alpha Square Group, a New York–based family office investing in companies and fund managers in AI, Enterprise SaaS, Fintech, and Crypto/Web3. He leads strategic relationships with institutional and family-office partners across North America and Asia, overseeing sourcing, diligence, and value-add for direct and fund investments. Previously, Brandon held roles at Silicon Valley Bank and CFLD International, focusing on cross-border tech deals. He holds a B.A. and an M.S. from New York University.

Brett Mock Nasdaq Private Market
Chairman

■ Career

Brett Mock is the Chairman of NPM International at Nasdaq Private Market, leading the company’s expansion efforts for its secondary liquidity solutions worldwide. He is responsible for creating new distribution partnerships with financial institutions in key strategic growth markets across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East. Previously, Brett was a Senior Vice President and the Head of Global Capital Markets at Nasdaq Private Market (NPM), managing the broker-dealer, Capital Markets team, marketplace technology, and SPV product. He has 30 years of industry experience. Prior to NPM, Brett was a Senior Vice President and Head of Sales at Capital Markets Gateway (CMG), between 2017 and 2020. CMG completed a Series B funding round in 2020. Previously, he was a Partner and Managing Director at JonesTrading, where he covered large mutual funds and hedge funds. Earlier in his career, Brett was a Managing Director and Senior Institutional Equity Sales Trader for seven years at BTIG, where he helped build out the firm’s institutional business.

He was also a Director and Senior Institutional Sales Trader at Wachovia Securities, and a Principal Nasdaq Market Maker and Sales Trader at Banc of America Securities/Montgomery Securities. Brett began his career with Spear, Leeds and Kellogg (acquired by Goldman Sachs). He was the National Chairman of the Security Traders Association in 2010 and board member between 2005 and 2011. In 2005, Brett was President of the San Francisco Security Traders Association and a board member from 2002 to 2006. He earned his undergraduate degrees from the University of Washington.

Can Sun Backpack
Co-Founder Startups

■ Career

Can Sun, J.D., Ph.D., is a co-founder of Backpack Exchange. Prior to Backpack, Can served as General Counsel at FTX International, where he oversaw the former exchange’s legal operations and regulatory strategies across all non-US jurisdictions. Prior to FTX, Can co-chaired the Blockchain Practice Group at Fenwick & West LLP, where he played a pivotal role in advising hundreds of token projects, stablecoins, and major exchanges in their compliance and regulatory matters. Can holds a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University.

Chandra Firmanto Indogen Capital
Founder & Managing Partner

■ Career

Coming soon

Chang Li Fintech Association of Japan
Director Public Institutions

■ Career

10+ years insurance related experience. Joined hokan inc in 2024. Before joining hokan, she built the insurtech ecosystem to connect Japan and other golbal insurtech hubs in Plug and Play Japan as VP of Insurtech/Fintech and experienced investment investigation, cross-border M&A and profit management in a major life insurance company in Japan. Led investment in Frich in 2019. Graduated from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (BBA, 2012), The University of Hong Kong (MBA, 2018).

Chiamin Lai FIRSTLIGHT Capital
General Partner VCs & Investors

■ Career

Chiamin is a General Partner at FIRSTLIGHT Capital, supporting early-stage tech companies with deep operational insight and strategic value, backed by her startup leadership, investment expertise, and cross-border experience.Chiamin began her career at a major ERP vendor, driving digital transformation across Japan and Europe, before advising on business strategy and Asian expansion at Monitor Group. At DCM Ventures, she backed early-stage startups including freee, a leading Japanese fintech. She later served as CEO of Happy Elements Asia Pacific, launching and scaling its XR business across Japan and China. Chiamin also serves as a Director at the Japan Venture Capital Association (JVCA).

Chih-Han Yu Appier Group
Chief Executive Officer & Co-founder Startups

■ Career

He has over 20 years of experience in AI, having a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Harvard University and a Master’s degree from Stanford University’s AI Lab. Dr. Yu specializes in applying AI technologies to machine learning and empowering business decision-making through data analysis. In 2012, he founded Appier to democratize AI by making software intelligent and transforming AI into measurable investment returns to drive business growth. Appier is now listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's Prime Market. Appier was recognized as one of the Top 50 revolutionary AI companies by Fortune Magazine.

Chika Yamamoto CROSSBIE GmbH
CEO Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Following her roles as a strategic planner at an advertising agency and UX development and business development for the European market at Nokia, she built a mobile ad platform from scratch. As CPO of an EdTech startup in New York, she achieved a successful exit to a Hong Kong company. After working at Nokia/HERE Technology in Berlin, she founded several companies. In 2020, she established CROSSBIE to promote open innovation between Japan and Europe.
She serves as a board member of Asia Berlin Forum e.V., honorable ambassador of Japan to the Berlin Senate, and Global Ambassador for Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI), contributing to the development of the Japanese-German startup ecosystem.

Chloe Takahashi Cosme Hunt / Techstars Tokyo
Founder of Cosme Hunt / Program Manager of Techstars Tokyo Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Chloe Takahashi is a Japanese entrepreneur and investor. After studying engineering in Silicon Valley following her graduation from college, she founded Cosme Hunt in 2018 — a San Francisco–based platform dedicated to making Japanese cosmetics more accessible, particularly for minority Asian consumers in the U.S.
She grew the startup to serve over 10,000 Japanese beauty enthusiasts globally and raised venture funding from both U.S. and Japanese investors. In 2025, Cosme Hunt was acquired by Trenders Inc., (listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market)

Chloe is now part of Techstars, one of the leading accelerator VCs in the U.S., where she is currently investing in 12 startups for the upcoming Techstars Tokyo program launching in August.

Chris Wade Isomer Capital
Co-Founder & Partner

■ Career

As the co-founder and Partner of Isomer Capital, he co-leads fund investments and leads Isomer's co-investment program. In addition, he leads Japanese and Korean LP relationships and Isomer's corporate investor program. Before Isomer, he was a venture partner at Octopus Ventures, leading Asian business development and during the inception of Entrepreneur First. He is an active value-added non-executive director and has mentored 20 companies to successful seed funding. Chris co-founded Cambridge Positioning Systems, which was sold to a global semiconductor firm in 2007, before which he worked for 15 years in technology operations at US-based DSC, where he assisted in its $4bn sale to Alcatel and 14 years at North American-based Nortel.

Cindy Ngiam Enterprise Singapore
Director, Startup Ecosystem & Community Public Institutions

■ Career

Cindy began her career at the Singapore Tourism Board in marketing roles to promote Singapore as a top destination. She later took on various government roles, including driving enterprise development in the retail sector and shaping policies to support quality and standards. Currently, she is Director for Startup Ecosystem & Community, leading efforts to build a vibrant startup ecosystem by connecting stakeholders and fostering a supportive environment for growth.

Clement Aglietta Edda
Co-founder and CEO Startups

■ Career

As Co-founder and CEO of Edda, I combine design expertise with advanced technologies to develop innovative tools for venture capital and private equity. Leading a talented team, we created an AI-driven platform integrating deal flow management, portfolio tracking, and LP relations. Edda manages $170 billion in assets across 40 countries. Before Edda, I contributed to FJ Labs, one of the most active venture capital firms globally, with over 1,000 portfolio companies. Earlier in my career, I worked on advanced technology projects at CERN in Geneva.

Colin Rowat Rakuten Institute of Technology
Senior Research Scientist Business Corporations

■ Career

Colin (BA Psychology, Carleton; PhD Economics, Cambridge) is an economic theorist working, most recently, in explainability and interpretability, and building economically-informed neural networks. He has written for the Economist Intelligence Unit, submitted evidence to the UK House of Lords, given a TEDx talk, founded a fintech company, and helped develop the world's cheapest brain-computer interface.

Daisuke Nojima Yokogawa Innovation Switzerland
Managing Business Corporations

■ Career

Joined Yokogawa Electric Corporation in 2018 and engaged in the development of microbial testing systems for food and beverages. In July 2020, was appointed to Yokogawa Innovation Switzerland, whish was established to build a foundation for the bioeconomy business. Serving as Managing Director from January 2024, he will be involved in creating new bio R&D themes and promoting R&D and partnerships through global open innovation. Holds a Ph.D. in Life Sciences.

Daisuke Tokunaga SUSHITOP MARKETING Co., Ltd.
CEO Startups

■ Career

After working in advertising sales and book editing at a publishing company, I went independent. I have developed a marketing business centered on NFT x advertising, and has supported the digital initiatives of over 150 companies. My strengths lie in NFT-utilizing initiatives using LINE and television.

Daniel Seidel LiveEO
Co-founder and CEO Startups

■ Career

Daniel Seidel is a German Space Engineer and Co-CEO of LiveEO which he founded in 2018 together with Sven Pryzwarra. LiveEO is a leading earth observation company that monitors critical infrastructure from space. Today, backed by more than €50 Million in venture capital LiveEO employs more than 140 employees and is used on five continents to monitor more than 100000 kilometers of powerlines, pipelines and railways. Their investors Nordic Ninja and Kyuden play a stragegic role in entering the Japanese Market.

David Milstein Eight Roads Ventures
Managing Partner & Head of Japan

■ Career

David Milstein is the head of Eight Roads Ventures Japan, the venture capital and principle investment business for Fidelity in Japan. Early in his career, David worked for Asahi Glass and then was a founder of Japan Transaction Partners. He then joined Fidelity Ventures to set up the operations in Japan. In 2005, he joined the Walt Disney Company Japan where as VP of the Interactive Media Group, he was responsible for building and launching the Disney Mobile MVNO service. This business drove the division to its largest revenue and profit ever. He earned an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a BS in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dian Guan Patsnap
Co-founder & APAC General Manager Startups

■ Career

Guan Dian is a visionary leader who transformed Patsnap into a global AI-powered innovation intelligence leader, building its SaaS business in Asia and expanding it to serve over 15,000 customers across 50 countries. Under her leadership, Patsnap revolutionised how IP and R&D teams innovate, empowering trailblazers such as NASA, Tesla, and Disney. Securing funding from investors such as SoftBank and Sequoia, she drove Patsnap’s valuation beyond US$1 billion. Guan also made the Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 list and received the NUS (National University of Singapore) Outstanding Young Alumni Award.

Diana Kam Venturebeam
CEO, Singapore Markets & APAC Region

■ Career

Coming soon

Dom Taylor Uber
Regional General Manager, Uber, Asia Business Corporations

■ Career

Dom is the Regional General Manager of Uber's mobility business across the Asia Pacific, leading the company’s operations across nine key markets. He joined Uber in 2014, managing driver growth in Sydney before embarking on a number of broader roles across the region. Prior to Uber, Dom worked in investment banking at Morgan Stanley and Macquarie Group.

Dr. Harvey Karp Happiest Baby Inc.
CEO, Co-Founder, Chief Medical Officer Startups

■ Career

Dr. Karp is CEO of Happiest Baby, a US company protecting the wellbeing of children and parents through science-based innovations and content. Dr. Karp is a pediatrician and author of the Happiest Baby/Happiest Toddler books/videos (20+ languages). He invented SNOO, a smart bassinet. It boosts sleep through gentle womb-like sensations. SNOO calms fussing by responding with more motion/sound. SNOO has given 750 MM hrs of safe sleep. FDA authorized, it secures babies on the back (a way to reduce SIDS) and is studied to lessen maternal depression. SNOO is in 150+ hospitals and the Smithsonian.

Ekaterina Almasque BlankPage Capital
Co-Founder and Managing Partner

■ Career

Ekaterina, a founding partner of BlankPage Capital, is one of Europe’s most experienced venture capitalists who has been investing in breakthrough technology companies in AI, cloud and data infrastructure, energy efficiency, quantum computing, and cybersecurity for almost two decades.

Previously, as a General Partner at OpenOcean VC and a Managing Director at Samsung Catalyst Fund, she has led investments and served on the boards of numerous companies such as GraphCore (acquired by SoftBank), IQM Quantum Computers, AIMotive (acquired by Stellantis), and Binalyze. In addition, she was deeply involved in strategic initiatives to create $20B+ business opportunities for Samsung, EMC/Dell and Siemens. Passionate about building a strong technology ecosystem, she has invested in other deep tech Venture Capital funds across Europe.

She has co-founded European Women in VC network, is serving as an expert at the European Commission since 2003, and is a Mentor at Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) for the Next Generation Compute, AI and Quantum chapters since 2019. Ekaterina has been named among Europe’s most influential women in the startup and venture capital space.

Elizabeth Myrta Attorney - Business Director for Southern Europe - Strategic Advisor Experts

■ Career

Ms. Myrta is an Attorney at Law in Italy and Albania, advising businesses on expanding into international markets. With 15 years of experience, she has worked with universities, startups, ministries, NGOs, and the private sector, focusing on empowering communities, promoting social inclusion, and advancing human rights. She played an active role in Albania’s EU transition, leading projects to empower women and youth. She is committed to fostering positive transformation and believes collaboration is key to a more inclusive, tech-driven future.

Emi OHBA City of Sendai
Director in Charge of Promotion in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area Public Institutions

■ Career

Coming soon

Emiri Grimes Yuimedi, Inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Graduated from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Kyoto University and became a licensed pharmacist. Started a career in clinical development at Takeda Pharmaceutical Company. Motivated by a desire to improve Japan’s healthcare system through collaboration across government, academia, and industry, went on to earn a Master’s degree in Medicinal and Industrial Pharmaceutical Sciences from ETH Zurich. Later worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, gaining experience in business strategy and management. In November 2020, founded Yuimedi Inc. to build digital solutions that harness the power of data to transform healthcare.

Eric Anderson Scale Venture Partners
Partner

■ Career

Eric is a Partner at Scale Venture Partners, where he focuses on investments in cloud infrastructure and security. He is a Board member at Scale portfolio companies QA Wolf, Cortex, Datastax, Permit.io, and Upsolver, and a Board observer at AppOmni, BigID, Expel, Honeycomb, and Matillion.

Before Scale, Eric led early Google Cloud and Amazon Web Services product teams. At Google, he was a Product Manager in the Data Analytics and Machine Learning group. He led the team that launched Cloud Dataprep and key components of Cloud Dataflow. Previously, Eric built aircraft engines in General Electric’s Operation Management Leadership Program. He’s a contributor to open source projects including Alluxio, where he is on the Project Management Committee, and Apache Beam.

Eric holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from University of Utah and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is the creator and host of Contributor, an interview series detailing the origin stories of open source projects.

Erika Lewis Connected Places Catapult
Chief Executive Officer Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Erika Lewis joined the Catapult from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in March 2024 as Chief Executive Officer.
In July 2023, Erika was appointed the CEO of the AI Safety Summit. This was a world first event and brought together international governments, leading AI companies, and experts in research to consider the risks of AI. In the past Erika worked for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the Competition and Markets Authority, and she was a part of the set-up team for the London Development Agency.

Erina Nishi yugyo.inc
Staff Startups

■ Career

Born in Fukuoka, she currently works full-time at an IT company while embracing a digital nomad lifestyle that integrates travel and daily living. After returning to her hometown, she began supporting both domestic and international nomads and travelers. She is also a staff member of “Colive Fukuoka 2025.” She completed the Community Manager Academy organized by the Japan Digital Nomad Association.

Eyal Niv Pitango Venture Capital
Managing Partner

■ Career

Eyal joined Pitango in 2015 as a Managing Partner and currently serves on the board of directors of AI21 Labs, Komodor, Finout, Optibus, Lumigo, Graphcore, OpenEyes and Speedata. With a primary focus on AI, Eyal’s investments include: Logz.io, CallApp, XtremIO (acquired by EMC), CrossWise (acquired by Oracle), Pebbles (acquired by Facebook), Oplus (acquired by Intel), Cyota (acquired by RSA & later acquired by EMC), Odysii (acquired by Gilbarco Inc.), Altair Semiconductors (acquired by Sony), AdExtent, Lucid (acquired by Google) and Iguazio (acquired by McKinsey).

In addition to his role at Pitango, Eyal is co-founder of The Public Knowledge Workshop, a leading nonprofit for freedom of information.
Prior to Pitango, Eyal was Managing Partner at Giza VC, where he led the fund operations and focused mainly on IT infrastructure, semiconductors & internet.

Eyal holds a BCom in Corporate Finance from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. Outside of work, he’s passionate about mountain biking, photography, basketball, snowboarding and gaming. When he's not chasing the next tech unicorn, Eyal is focused on his passion project, ICF—a nonprofit empowering Israeli children who have lost their parents to acts of terrorism.

Fadly Haley Tanjung Head of Envirnment Planning, Regional Development and Planning Agency Public Institutions

■ Career

Responsible for formulating regional long-term development plans, regional mid-term development plans, and regional government project plans under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Agency and the Urban Parks and Forests Agency.

Fara Taraie NewNorm Design
CEO, Founder Startups

■ Career

As an architectural designer, I work on commercial spaces and interior design, while also dedicating efforts to supporting startups that tackle social issues. I have a strong interest in sustainable architecture, innovation in socially impactful materials, and carbon footprint measurement. With over ten years of experience in sustainable design and a track record of managing socially oriented programs such as the Nippon Foundation’s “Social Change Makers,” I aim to create positive change in society.

Fariza Abidova Trusted Corporation
Co-founder & CEO Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Fariza Abidova is a serial entrepreneur passionate about fostering global business collaboration to accelerate technological innovation.
In 2016, she founded Trusted Corporation, which helps Japanese and European enterprises innovate by exploring new business models, technology applications and market opportunities involving all key ecosystem members.
She is also a mentor for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s women’s acceleration program, a commentator on J-Wave Radio and Abema TV, a columnist for Nikkei Business Daily and a lecturer at Kobe University.

Fujimura Tetsu Aalto Entrepreneurship Society (Aaltoes)
Vice President / Head of Brand Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Born in Tsukuba in 2004. After earning an IB Diploma at a Japanese high school, enrolled in the School of Electrical Engineering at Aalto University in Finland, majoring in Digital Systems and Design as a Japanese Government Scholar. Gained experience in event operations as a volunteer at Slush, Junction, and STRIVE. Appointed Head of Brand on the Board of Aaltoes in January 2025, and Vice President in March.

Fukumi Matsuyama Aichi Prefectural Government
manager Public Institutions

■ Career

After graduating from the Faculty of Bioresources at Mie University, she worked in the quality control office of a food company in Aichi Prefecture. Through various experiences, she transferred to Aichi Prefectural Government in 2020 and, during the first three years, was in charge of industrial land management and accounting works including construction order. From 2023, she joined Startup Division, where she operates women entrepreneurs support program and other programs relating to STATION Ai.

Fumiha Branscombe Fleurinary,Inc.
CEO Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Fumiha Branscombe joined 01Booster after launching DisneySea at Oriental Land, working as a CFO secretary at Culture Convenience Club, and serving as a Financial Advisor at Nomura Securities. Involved in managing "Yurakucho SAAI," supporting female entrepreneur development programs, and providing entrepreneurship education for high school students, she excels in creating communities that transcend gender and age. Became independent in April 2024. She is dedicated to maximizing the potential of individuals and creating environments for "moments of blooming." She is the head of the Japan branch of Prospera Women, which supports female entrepreneurs globally. She also serves as an outside director of All Bridge Inc. and holds an MBA from Globis University.

Fumiko Ichikawa Re:public, inc.
Co-founder, Managing Director Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Fumiko Ichikawa is the Co-founder and Managing Director of Re:public Inc., a pioneering “think and do” tank dedicated to designing sustainable innovation ecosystems for cities and regions. With a background in human-computer interaction from Keio University’s Graduate School of Media and Governance, Fumiko has built her career at the intersection of research, urban innovation, and citizen engagement.

After a successful tenure in digital media research and business development, Fumiko co-founded Re:public in the aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, recognizing the need for new approaches to urban resilience and collaborative innovation. Under her leadership, Re:public has partnered with municipalities, universities, and industry to co-create innovation hubs, foster civic participation, and address complex challenges such as circular economies, policy design, and inclusive technologies.

Fumiko’s work is characterized by her expertise in ethnographic research, participatory design, and the cultivation of local talent and resources to drive continuous, citizen-led innovation. She has been instrumental in launching programs like Innovators 100 Hiroshima and Satsuma Future Commons, and serves as a guest lecturer at leading Japanese universities.

Fumio Adachi United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Investment and Technology Promotion Office Tokyo
Head Public Institutions

■ Career

Joined Ministry of International Trade and Industry (METI) in 1991. Developed and performed policies and management to foster start-ups at New Business Division of the ministry and Division of University Corporate Relations, University of Tokyo. Served as Director for Energy and Natural Resources at Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Senior Knowledge Management Officer at International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and worked in Low Carbon Business Division, Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, UK Government, carrying out numerous international cooperation projects related to energy. Currently working at UNIDO Tokyo Office, which supports Japanese companies including startups to expand business to overseas, mainly to African countries. Ph.D. in Engineering.

Fumiya Yoshino SHIMIZU CORPORATION
Design Div., Strategy Planning Office, Strategy Planning Dept. Business Corporations

■ Career

Coming soon

Fumiyo Harada Development Bank of Japan Inc.
Managing Executive Officer VCs & Investors

■ Career

Fumiyo Harada serves as General Manager, Structured Finance Department of the Development Bank of Japan, and is responsible for DBJ’s infrastructure finance including energy, transportation and PPP/PFI projects worldwide, with a particular focus on the renewable energy sector. She has a long and powerful career as a development banker including cross-border corporate and infrastructure finance. She is currently involved in the Japanese government policy making process for renewable energy as a specialist of infrastructure/energy finance, such as offshore wind power and hydrogen. Prior to the current position, she worked as a Deputy CEO for DBJ Singapore Ltd. which covers corporate and structured finance deals in the Southeast Asia and the Pacific regions. She also had been seconded to Infrastructure and Natural Resource Department (East Asia) of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) as a Senior Investment Officer. She holds a BA (Economics) degree from the University of Tokyo.

Garrett Winther Newlab
Chief Product Officer Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Garrett Winther is Chief Product Officer of Newlab, a venture platform for critical technology startups, where he leads Newlab’s global businesses including startup membership, industry advisory and investments.
Garrett was previously a Partner at SOSV, a deep tech venture firm with $1.5B AUM and portfolio of 100+ early stage startups. Before joining SOSV, Garrett led global programs at IDEO leading to client products generating $80B annually.
Garrett is a former founder, active startup investor and holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Gen Tatara Tsubame BHB Co., Ltd.
Executive Officer, General Manager of Finance and Accounting Division. Startups

■ Career

Joined Nippon Oil Corporation (now ENEOS Corporation) in 2004.
Involved in in domestic business, seconded to Vietnam, finance and accounting for oversea projects (North Sea, Malaysia and Canada) for oil/gas exploration and production including debt finance, asset acquisition and crossover M&A)
Joined Tsubame BHB in 2021 and Present position since July 2024

Genki Oda JVCEA
Chairman Experts

■ Career

I founded BITPoint, a cryptocurrency exchange, in 2016. I currently serve as chairman and representative director of the Japan Cryptocurrency Business Association, a certified self-regulatory organization for cryptocurrencies, and make recommendations for amending various regulations related to cryptocurrencies.

Grace Park Prospera Women
Cofounder Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Grace Park is CEO of Nuleep and cofounder of Prospera Women, with 20 years of global leadership in strategic planning, innovation, and impact. She has led initiatives across 100+ countries for Fortune 500s, governments, and VCs, and managed $2.8B+ in portfolios at Disney and TPG. Her work spans AI, Biotech, Cleantech, ESG, and CPG sectors. As Co-Chair of LA Venture Association’s GREEN division and a champion for women entrepreneurs at Prospera Women, Grace advances leadership, scales global innovation, and amplifies community voices.

H.E. Mohammed Alariefy Ministry of Communications & Information Technology of Saudi Arabia
Assistant Deputy Minister for Digital Entrepreneurship

■ Career

H.E. Eng. Marwan is a prominent leader in Dubai’s government and real estate sectors. With extensive experience across key industries, he has held major leadership positions in several prestigious entities.
Currently, he serves as the Director General of the Dubai Land Department (DLD) and the Acting Director General of Dubai Municipality (DM). He has played a pivotal role in advancing Dubai’s position as a leading global real estate investment hub. With a strategic vision and deep expertise, he has significantly contributed to the development and implementation of real estate laws and investment strategies in Dubai.
Government Positions and Memberships
His Excellency holds influential positions within the Government of Dubai, including:
• Member of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai
• Member of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy
• Member of the Dubai Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management

Additionally, he has held several key leadership roles, including:
• CEO of the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA)
• First Deputy Speaker of the Federal National Council
• President of the UAE Football Association
• Chairman of Al Nasr Cultural and Sport Club
• Vice President of the Arab Gulf Football Federation
• Vice President of the Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Humaid Al Nuaimi Foundation

Harshal Chokhawala ZymoChem, Inc.
CEO & Co-Founder Startups

■ Career

Harshal Chokhawala is Co-Founder and CEO of ZymoChem. Harshal is a dynamic leader in the field of biotechnology, renowned for his groundbreaking work in decarbonization and sustainable manufacturing practices. Harshal is at the forefront of accelerating the real-zero economy by championing bio-based alternatives to petrochemicals for everyday products. With a Ph.D. in Chemistry from UC Davis, Harshal conceptualized ZymoChem as an idea on paper with the intention of revolutionizing the global chemicals industry. He navigated ZymoChem's evolution from a startup to a well-funded entity, securing backing from venture capital, government grants, and collaborations with Fortune 500 companies.

Haruna Nochi newmo, Inc.
Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer Startups

■ Career

Haruna Nochi, Co-Founder & COO at newmo, Inc., is a business leader with high energy and an operation expert, as well as a thought leader in last-mile logistics and mobility. With a unique combination of leadership in a global environment and an experience to empower local communities, Haruna led the Japan business at Wolt as Country Manager from 2020 to 2024. Prior to Wolt, she headed the Operations team at Uber Eats since its launch in Japan in 2016. Haruna has been passionate at promoting a diverse, inclusive leadership. She serves as an Independent Board Member at Foodison, Inc. (a TSE Growth-listed company; 7114). She earned an MBA from University of California, Berkeley.

Hasen Kuniyama FOXUNION.inc
CEO Startups

■ Career

Born in 1991 and raised in Tokyo, he graduated from the Faculty of Commerce at Chuo University.

In April 2013, he joined TBS Television, where he served as an assistant and presenter on information and variety shows such as "Akko ni Omakase!" and "Osama no Brunch". He later became the main host of the morning infotainment program "Good Luck!" and, from August 2021, served as a news anchor on the evening news program "news23".

After covering numerous on-site reports, he became independent in January 2023 and joined the business video media platform PIVOT. As a producer and host, he created and delivered content focused on "learning"—including topics such as English, asset management, and education—to help business professionals enhance their skills, distributing the content via apps and YouTube.

In April 2025, he relocated to the United States and launched a YouTube channel under the mission of "connecting Japan and the world through video," sharing global updates with Japan and showcasing the beauty of Japan to the world.

Hayato Asazawa Out Loud Inc.
CEO, Founder Startups

■ Career

Out Loud Inc., CEO and founder. which provides AI agent of hypothesis proposal for enterprise sales "Pocta".
Hayato Asazawa has work experiences in Google, VMware and Itochu's IT group company. He led AI and DX enterprise sales. In addition, he led Google Earth for enterprise service with map and data and a retail media business in Google as business development and alliance manager. Based on over 20 years enterprise sales and digital IT expansion experience, Hayato drives AI transformation in enterprise as a AI startup founder.
Out Loud Inc. has been adopted AlchemistX and global brain's acceleration program in US and Japan both. Also, they was adopted Japanese VC hosted pitch events like B Dash Camp and Incubate Camp.

Hayato Takesue Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd
Manager, Bussiness Creation Department Business Corporations

■ Career

Hayato Takesue joined Tokyu Corporation in 2016 and was seconded to Its Communications Inc., a group company. After working in corporate sales, he participated in two new business launch projects, primarily focusing on building operations. Upon returning to Tokyu Corporation in 2019, he was responsible for the Tokyu Alliance Platform (TAP) and Shibuya Open Innovation Lab (SOIL). From 2022, he took on the role of operations manager, promoting open innovation. In 2024, he joined Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd., where he is responsible for BRICKS FUND TOKYO, a corporate venture capital initiative.

Hiroe Miki Sportsnation Co., Ltd.
Vice president Startups

■ Career

Hiroe Miki, from Aichi Prefecture, engaged in PR and marketing for Japanese tea in 7 countries during university, She later founded a Japanese tea brand in Peru, garnering 200,000 SNS followers and hosting the largest online Japanese festival in South America.

She returned to Japan and joined Sports Nation Co., Ltd. in 2022, becoming Vice President in 2024. Currently, she's working on business development to make Japan a top global presence again through community revitalization using the power of sports and youth. She's also leading the NEO ACADEMIA project in Fukuoka, which supports local companies to develop future regional leaders.

Hirokazu Mashita SGgrow
Director VCs & investors

■ Career

Hiro is one of the most active Japanese investors in the Indian startup ecosystem. He has dealt with over 170+ startups, including Razorpay, Ninjacart, Silverpush, Cashify, and so on.
Currently as a director of SGgrow Pte. Ltd; he is actively investing in India and Nigeria. He has global investment & business experiences, especially in Japan, the U.S., China, India, Nigeria, and Southeast Asia.

Hirokazu Udagawa Gaiax Co., Ltd.
Startup Studio Division Community Manager Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Born in 1997. Graduated from International Christian University. After launching an HR business at Gaiax Co., Ltd., he joined Cookpad Inc. in 2022 to work on a personal cooking coaching service. Since 2023, he has been serving in his current role as a project manager for TIB JAM in the Startup Studio Division, where he organizes events and builds communities to broaden the base of entrepreneurship. He also used to run a curry restaurant in Shinagawa, Tokyo.

Hiromi Blomberg Japan Business & Innovation Hub
Head

■ Career

With over 20 years of experience working in the south of Sweden, Hiromi Blomberg has proven expertise in fostering innovative business relationships between Sweden and Japan. Today she leads the work at the Japan Business and Innovation Hub in Malmö with the mission of increasing cooperation between our two regions within business and innovation.

Hiromichi Akimoto Albatross Technology Inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

He completed his doctoral course at the University of Tokyo Graduate School (Naval and Ocean Engineering) and is a PhD in Engineering. He has been engaged in education and research as a university instructor in Japan and Korea. In the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear power plant accident in 2011, he established a limited liability company with the aim of commercializing marine renewable energy, working part-time in that position until 2019. In 2022, the company was restructured to Albatross Technology Inc., and he became its CEO. He is currently working with multiple power companies, shipping companies, and heavy machinery manufacturers to prepare for small-scale offshore experiments of floating vertical axis wind turbines. He aims to commercialize low-cost, domestically produced large-scale floating vertical axis wind turbines.

Hirotaka Tanaka UnlocX & Co.
CEO / SKS JAPAN Founder Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

With experience at Panasonic and McKinsey & Company, Hiro has dedicated 8 years to growth strategy formulation and execution, M&A, business development, and venture collaboration primarily in the high-tech and telecommunications industries. In 2017, he joined SIGMAXYZ and launched the global food tech summit “SKS Japan”. Through his involvement in business development and community building in food innovation Hiro established UnlocX in October 2023 with the aspiration to create a food ecosystem. Co-authored “Food Tech Revolution” (2020/Nikkei BP). Director of the General Incorporated Association Space Foodsphere / External Board Member of Basefood Co., Ltd. / External Board Member of TechMagic, Inc./ Representative director of the General Incorporated Association Next Prime Food.

Hiroyuki Nojiri Tochigi City Tokyo Satellite Office
Director Public Institutions

■ Career

Born in Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture. I joined the agency in 2010. I have working experiences in “youth education" and "town planning" at the Board of Education Secretariat, the Tourism Promotion Division, and the Regional Policy Division. I have served as an staff of the Tochigi City Regional Policy Division and the director of the Tochigi City Tokyo Satellite Office since April 2025. The branch is located at CIC Tokyo in the Toranomon Hills Business Tower in Minato-ku, Tokyo. My main tasks are to raise awareness of Tochigi City (the birthplace of the Tochigi Prefecture), to attract tourists by leveraging its easy accessibility from Tokyo, and to promote two-regional residence in order to increase the flow of people to the Tochigi area. Based on the experience with natural disasters in our city and the support for shelter operations after the Noto Peninsula earthquake, I believe that it is important to regularly increase our readiness.

Hitomi Yamazaki Ms.Engineer Inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Born in Tokyo, she began her career at CyberAgent in 2007, serving as the founding producer of "Ameba Pigg" and Editor-in-Chief of the women's media "by.S." After going independent in 2015, she founded HINT Inc. (now Atarashiihi Inc.). She also led "C CHANNEL" as Editor-in-Chief. Since 2021, she has been the founder of Ms. Engineer, an IT education program that empowers women and develops high-value engineers to support Japan's tech industry.

Ibrahim Neyazmuhammed National Technology Development Program (NTDP)
CEO

■ Career

Coming soon

Iklima Musa National Information Technology Development Agency
Special Assistant to the Director General Public Institutions

■ Career

Iklima Musa is a strategic leader and innovation expert specializing in policy development, digital inclusion, and tech-driven economic growth. As Special Assistant to the Director General on Strategy and Innovation at NITDA, she shapes national digital policies. With over five years at NITDA, she helped develop SRAP 1.0 & 2.0, driving Nigeria’s digital transformation. She has led initiatives in digital literacy, cybersecurity, and startup ecosystem growth, collaborating with global partners. Passionate about women’s digital inclusion, she advocates for policies that bridge the digital divide.

IKUMI NARUI INTER HOLDINGS inc
CEO Startups

■ Career

Ikumi Narui
CEO, Inter Holdings Co., Ltd.
Born in Fukushima, Japan in 1987. Graduated from Tokyo Woman’s Christian University. After gaining experience in sales and PR at DeNA and Trenders, she founded media company JION at age 28 and successfully exited the business for ¥300 million within one year. She later served as CEO of Smart Media before founding Inter Holdings in June 2022. Currently leading the company as CEO, she is driving innovation in climate-tech with a patented ultra-high vacuum technology that reduces food waste and promotes sustainability.

Ikuo Hiraishi GoGlobal Catalyst Pte. Ltd.
CEO & Co-Founder Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Serial Entrepreneur, Angel Investor, and Professor based in Tokyo. Started Internet startups in the late 1990s and made two successful exits: one IPO & One M&A Exit.
He also co-founded a Seed Accelerator based in Tokyo and Silicon Valley. His portfolio spread in US, Europe, and Japan. Such as Infarm, a Vertical Farming startup originally from Berlin became a Unicorn. AnyRoad, Experiential Marketing Management, based in San Francisco, backed by a16z and Black Rock. WHILL, powerful and stylish automotive wheelchair startup, originally from Japan, but expanded in US, Europe, and Australia and a lot more.
In 2025 January, co-founded GoGlobal Catalyst Pte. Ltd. in Singapore to develop a co-founder matching platform to connect Japanese & foreign visionaries.
He is also one of the founding members and Professor at the Department of Entrepreneurship of Musashino University.

Innovation Dept., JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) Public Institutions

■ Career

At the Innovation Dept., JETRO, we lead various initiatives to support startups and create open innovation. At the stage session, we introduce support programs for aims such as overseas expansion of Japanese startups, foreign direct investment into Japan (Invest Japan), creating open innovation through collaboration between Japanese companies and overseas companies.

Isaac Ng MTR Lab
Associate Head of Investments Business Corporations

■ Career

Isaac is Associate Head of Investment for MTR Lab, where he focuses on venture investments across mobility, proptech and climate. Prior to his current role, Isaac was CFO to Beyondcars, an online used car platform that was acquired by Carro. Previously, Isaac was a venture capital professional focusing on seed to Series A investments. Isaac is an avid scuba diver and is passionate about climate and social inclusion.

Issei Takino Mujin, Inc.
Co-Founder and CEO Startups

■ Career

Issei Takino is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Mujin Inc, and is responsible for leveraging Mujin's automation technology to fundamentally change the landscape of manufacturing and logistics. Before founding Mujin, he served as an Award-Winning Sales Manager at the Japanese branch of Iscar, one of the most profitable precision tool makers in the world.

Ivan Lopez Freedom Trail Capital
GP

■ Career

Coming soon

Jason Zhao Kleiner Perkins China
Partner VCs & Investors

■ Career

Jason Zhao is a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers China. Since joining the team in 2013, he has focused on investments in internet, mobile, media and consumer services. Jason works closely with entrepreneurs including JD (NASDAQ: JD), Arrail (HKG: 6639), Rong360, Ximalaya, TanTan (acquired by NASDAQ: MOMO), Miaozhen Systems, and OMI as board director or advisor.
Jason holds a M.B.A from Harvard Business School. He also received a M.S. and B.S. with high honors in electrical engineering with a minor in computer science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Jean Alfonso-Decena In Silence AI
Founder & Executive Director Startups

■ Career

Jean Alfonso-Decena is the Founder of In Silence AI, a spirit-tech virtual ashram exploring the convergence of deep tech and spirituality. She has led global teams at Silicon Valley startups and media giants like Starbutter AI and Avid Technology. Certified in yoga, meditation, and Ayurveda, she’s also a community builder in Manila and Kansai. Jean speaks at global tech events including TEDx Japan, serves as AI advisor for Singularity Earth, and is on the founding team of a stealth AI/Web3 startup based in Mexico.

Jerry OCHE Zowasel
CEO Startups

■ Career

Jerry OCHE is a Nigerian entrepreneur, economist, and agricultural technologist.　He is a second-time founder and CEO of Zowasel, an agricultural company leverages data science, technology, and nature-based solutions to enhance smallholder farmers' productivity, sustainability, and profitability across the value chain. Please visit
https://wikitia.com/wiki/Jerry_OCHE
to learn more.
Zowasel primarily works with big corporates and smallholder farmers across supply chains.
Jerry mentors across Founder Institute, AFD Social Inclusive BootCamp, and the Nigeria Climate Innovation Center.

Jess Yu studio rabbiko G.K.
Company Director Startups

■ Career

Jess Yu, also known as pank0, studied Computer Science at UC Berkeley and worked as a software engineer at Red Hat, SUSE L inux, and Duck Duck Go. As a game developer and a graduate of the Google Indie Games Accelerator 2024, she combines her expertise in programming, art, and animation to create innovative gaming experiences. In March 2025, she founded studio rabbiko, an indie game studio in Tokyo. studio rabbiko's mission is to create cute and soothing games that allow players to take a break from the stresses of everyday Life. Her first title, Usagi Shima, was released in September 2023 and has been downloaded over 2 million times worldwide. Japan and Asia are one of her strongest user bases, and she decided to focus on and expand in the Japanese market.

Jim Tamura ElevenLabs
General Manager

■ Career

Hajime (Jim) Tamura has over 35 years of experience helping companies enhance performance through business applications. A pioneer in Japan’s cloud computing landscape since the late 2000s, he has consistently led the advancement of operational efficiency through SaaS solutions.
His past roles include Vice President of Marketing at SAP Japan, President of NetSuite Japan, Director of Business Applications at Microsoft Japan, and General Manager of Asana Japan. After serving as COO of the virtual office platform ovice, he assumed his current role at ElevenLabs Japan in 2025.

Jingo Kikukawa Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Director-General, Innovation and Environment Policy Bureau Public Institutions

■ Career

Mr. Jingo Kikukawa, Director-General, has led the Innovation and Environment Policy Bureau and Startup Policy at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) since July 2024. His profound passion stems from a desire to revitalize Japan through groundbreaking innovation.
Prior to his current position, he devoted himself to policymaking regarding global warming issues, trade negotiations (WTO, TPP), SME finance and tax systems, and economic national security (5G, Semiconductors, AI, DX) at the Government of Japan, especially at METI, for over 30 years.
Mr. Kikukawa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from Kyoto University and a Master of Public Affairs (MPA) from the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Mr. Kikukawa holds U.S. CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license and is passionate about education, serving as a Visiting Professor at the School of Social Informatics, Aoyama Gakuin University.

jiwon bang Moty
CEO Startups

■ Career

Bachelor's in Automotive Engineering, Kookmin University (Minor in Electronics Engineering)
LG Scholarship Student (Industry-Academia Program)
Master's in Automotive Engineering, Motor Control Laboratory, Kookmin University
Former Engineer, Vehicle Motor Development Team, LG
Current CEO and Founder of Moty

Joanna Drake Magnify Ventures
Founder & Managing Partner VCs & investors

■ Career

Joanna Drake has built and invested in next-generation technology companies from Silicon Valley for over 20 years. She was the Co-Founding COO of Current TV, then COO of DeNA West, before becoming a venture capitalist. As GP of Core Ventures Group, Joanna oversees global category leaders in fintech, big data and cybersecurity. As Founding Managing Partner of Magnify Ventures, she is pioneering a new category of venture startups bringing technology innovation to the $6 Trillion Care Economy, from pregnancy through to end of life.

John Kojiro Moriwaka Silicon Valley Ventures
CEO

■ Career

John Kojiro Moriwaka, widely known as Crazy John, is a multi-faceted Japanese entrepreneur, columnist, visiting professor, public speaker, rapper, and painter — your trusted partner in innovation.

As CEO of Silicon Valley Ventures, he empowers fast-growing startups, multinational corporations, VCs, CVCs, accelerators, universities, and government agencies worldwide.

He serves as a strategic advisor to startups across diverse industries including fusion, space tech, quantum computing, fintech, Web3, blockchain, AI, healthcare, sales tech, and food tech, etc.

John collaborates closely with global venture capitals:
1. Advisor, Arka Venture Labs (AI, Deeptech | Silicon Valley–India)
2. Advisor, CV VC (Blockchain, Web3 | Switzerland–Africa)
3. Venture Partner, BE Health Ventures (MedTech, MedAI | Taiwan)
4. Venture Partner, Mendoza Ventures (AI, Cybersecurity, Fintech | US)
5. Operating Partner, 1982 Ventures (Fintech | Southeast Asia)

John is the Director of Startup Grind Tokyo, Nagoya, and Fukuoka, leading startup events across Japan.
Startup Grind is a global community in 600+ cities and 125 countries, connecting and empowering entrepreneurs worldwide.

He is a columnist for Forbes JAPAN, authoring the widely read series “Inside the Innovation Ecosystem.”

John Whaley Founder Inception Studio,Adjunct Lecturer at Stanford VCs & investors

■ Career

John Whaley is a serial entrepreneur and renowned expert in compilers, cybersecurity, and machine learning. He founded three cybersecurity companies一Moka5, UnifyID, and Redcoat AI. He also started Inception Studio, a nonprofit accelerator for AI-native founders. He is an Adjunct Lecturer in Computer Science at Stanford University in Program Analysis and Optimizations and in Building Applications with Large Language Models. He has received numerous accolades and recognition for his work in compilers, entrepreneurship, and AI, including being named to the Forbes AI 50.

Jonas Michanek Minc, the startup house of Malmö
Chairman of the Board

■ Career

Jonas Michanek is an entrepreneur who has worked in the global innovation world for the past 25 years on all five continents, with everything from small to large companies as well as with the public sector. He has written books about innovation and entrepreneurship, helped start Minc in Malmö and was also the first company to sit there. In recent years, he has worked as a manager at UNOPS Global Innovation Center Sweden. Jonas is at present VP of national incubation development at the industry organization SISP, Swedish Incubators and science parks.

Jonathan Rezneck Geodesic Capital
General Partner & Head of Investment Team

■ Career

Coming soon

Jonathan Schulhof New York City Economic Development Corporation
EVP and Head of Innovation Industries Public Institutions

■ Career

Jon has 20 years of investment experience in venture capital and private equity serving as co-founder and CEO of FootPrint Coalition Ventures, a VC firm with 26 investments in sustainable technology companies; and GTI Capital Group, an India focused private equity firm. He previously started and monetized several VC backed sustainable tech companies. In addition to his cleantech work, Jon is a technology angel investor. He serves on the Board of Saturn Technologies, FootPrint Coalition Ventures, and GTI Capital Group. Jon holds a law degree from Stanford and attended Dartmouth College.

Jongwoo Kim Seoul Business Agency
General Manager Public Institutions

■ Career

Mr. Jongwoo Kim has worked for over 20 years at Seoul Business Agency (SBA) to support small and medium-sized enterprises growth and global competitiveness in Seoul.

He has led R&D and technology commercialization efforts for SMEs and now heads the Startup Division. He manages major hubs among Seoul’s 23 startup centers, supporting incubation, global expansion, open innovation with corporations, and investment.

Mr. Kim continues to drive ecosystem innovation and global collaboration to help Seoul become a top global startup city.

Julien MARIEZ Embassy of France in Japan
Space Counsellor Public Institutions

■ Career

Julien Mariez is a graduate of the University of Paris-Saclay and holds a Master’s degree in International Law and European Law and a Master’s degree in Space and Telecommunications Law. He started his career at CNES, the French space agency, in 2004, as a lawyer in charge of space law and international cooperation. In 2012, Julien Mariez was appointed Head of the Legal Department. In September 2021, Julien Mariez took up the position of Regional Counsellor for space affairs at the Embassy of France in Japan. He is responsible for the cooperation with Japan, Korea and South East Asia.

Julien Piwowar REAL MADRID NEXT
Head of innovation Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Dr. Julien Piwowar is the Head of innovation at REAL MADRID NEXT for 5 years. RMNext is the hub of technology of REAL MADRID CF, which is at the forefront of sports innovation. With a Ph.D. in Systems Optimization and Dependability, specializing in stadium and airport systems, Dr. Piwowar brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role. His career includes creating several successful startups in the sports industry and pioneering advancements such as 3D ticket sales and blockchain technologies in Europe.

Jun Tosabayashi AT Partners
Co-Founder & GP

■ Career

Coming soon

Junik BAE Innovation Dojo Japan LLC
Program Manager Startups

■ Career

He earned his degree in International Management in Japan. With extensive experience in global business, he has led multiple new business development projects at a major HR corporation. He also managed corporate partnerships at an accelerator operated by a global venture capital firm. Currently, he is leading a business support program in collaboration with Kobe City, designed to help global startups expand into the Japanese market. He has been dedicated to supporting international startups by facilitating connections with Japanese companies and driving business development initiatives.

Junji Takaoka UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd.
Incubation Partner Educational Institutions

■ Career

In 2023, Junji Takaoka, Kevin, joined UTokyo IPC as an Incubation Partner. He established Deep Tech Founders and assumed responsibility for various key aspects, including the Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) program, EIR community design, entrepreneurship development, and the commercialization of technology seeds from researchers, ultimately fostering the creation of startups from the ground up. In 2005, immediately following his university graduation, he embarked on a startup journey in Shanghai. By 2007, he had returned to Japan and commenced work at the strategic consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton (now Strategy&). In 2009, he became a part of Alibaba Japan's President's Office, actively contributing to the development of numerous new ventures as Alibaba experienced rapid growth, transforming into a global IT giant. In 2016, he served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) at Draper Nexus in Silicon Valley (now DNX USA). Then, in 2017, he founded UsideU, focusing on remote customer engagement and AI as the business domain. In 2020, he achieved a successful exit through the sale of the company. Currently, he holds positions as a board member at Komehyo Co., Ltd. Kevin holds degrees from the University of Tokyo Faculty of Law, an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, and a Master's in Design Innovation from Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Junya Hara Sketch Communication
Owner Startups

■ Career

While working for a heavy industrial manufacturer, I am concurrently involved in the Sketch Communication business, which visualizes ideas.

After completing graduate school in shipbuilding engineering, I worked for 14 years in shipbuilding design, new business development of rolling stock, and autonomous robot business development at a heavy industry manufacturer, and am currently involved in new business creation support at the company.

At Sketch Communication, I am providing services to organize and diagram ideas and visions using my expertise in engineering, business development, and coaching, as well as facilitation using diagrams.

Kaiya Mahiro Tokyo Office,Yamagata City
Administrative Officer Public Institutions

■ Career

Originally from Yamagata City. Joined Yamagata City Hall after graduating from a junior college in Yamagata Prefecture. After working in the Contract Division of the Finance Department, has been based at the Tokyo Office for the past three years. Currently engaged in city promotion, showcasing the appeal of Yamagata through product fairs, tourism PR events, and migration seminars in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Kameyama Satsuki PUTCHU inc.
President & CEO Startups

■ Career

At the age of 12, I experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake, which sparked my passion for disaster preparedness. Since then, I’ve participated in over 50 disaster-related activities, including tsunami sign installations and storytelling. I have also conducted disaster preparedness education for local communities in Minato and Nerima wards. I received the Excellence Award at the Disaster Prevention Koshien and have spoken at major events such as the UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and the High School Disaster Prevention Summit. At 20, I started my own business, and by 23, I founded my company. Today, I lead a web advertising business, marketing consulting, and disaster preparedness initiatives, aiming to spread self-help awareness and disaster education. I’m now focusing on expanding my efforts nationally and internationally, accelerating my social contributions.

Kanako Inoue NEXTBLUE General Partner VCs & investors

■ Career

After graduating from Keio University, Kanako worked in investment banking. In 2013 she graduated from Kellogg School of Management and joined BCG, where she developed new business development, M&A strategy, overseas expansion strategy, and product strategy.
In 2016, Kanako joined D4V as a founding member. As Portfolio Director, she developed investment strategies and made investments for the fund.
In 2020, Kanako founded NEXTBLUE with her 2 partners. NEXTBLUE’s second fund, which launched in 2023 is dedicated to female wellbeing and female entrepreneurs.

Kanako Tsuji Creww Inc.
Office of the President / Public Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Kanako is a public relations specialist, who provides strategic PR and communications support to various startups in Japan, including Creww. After starting her career at LVMH Group - Louis Vuitton Japan, she joined ecbo, a Tokyo-based luggage storage startup as a founding member. After establishing its PR function, following roles in brand management at another tech startup, she became an independent PR consultant.
She is a graduate of Waseda University (LL.B.).

Kaoru Ogata Fukui Prefectural Government
staff member Public Institutions

■ Career

Joined the prefectural office in 2010

Kathy Liu Plug and Play Japan
VP, Director of Energy & Smartcities Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

After earning a Ph.D. in Law from Kyoto University, Kathy worked at several global consulting firms before joining Plug and Play Japan. With over 12 years of experience in the energy industry, she has supported major energy companies in developing mid-term strategies, evaluating new business opportunities, assessing business feasibility, and launching or revitalizing business operations. Since joining Plug and Play Japan, Kathy has launched the Energy Vertical and focused on decarbonization and the Climate Tech sector. She leads startup investment and acceleration efforts and facilitates business collaborations between startups and large corporations.

Katsunori Shimomura Enowa Co.,Ltd.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Born into a farming family in Toyama Prefecture, he joined a systems company where he worked as a system engineer, primarily developing production management and purchasing systems for assembly and processing. After gaining experience in mainframe business system operations and building internet-based supply chain management (SCM) systems, he founded E-NOU Inc. in 2013. In 2017, he launched the smart rice paddy service "Paditch," utilizing agriculture and IoT. Currently, he attracts attention through appearances in various media and also serves as the representative director of the Japan Agricultural Information Systems Association.

Kay Makishi Lupoff/Stevens Family Office
Vice President VCs & investors

■ Career

Kay Makishi is Vice President at Lupoff/Stevens Family Office, a NYC based single family office, advising investments as LPs into impact-oriented early-stage VC funds and founders. She is also an Ambassador for Invest Tokyo, US-Japan Council Member, Board Member of Oxford Alumni Association of New York, Advisor to Mount Sinai Innovation Partners, and Advisor to various startups/VCs mainly in the US and Japan. Kay is a former founder, operator, and VC turned LP based in NYC.

Kay-Mok Ku Gobi Ventures
Senior Partner

■ Career

Kay Mok is Senior Partner at Gobi Singapore. He joined Gobi in 2010 and has led investment in over 30 tech startups, including Amity (unicorn), BaBe (acquired by TikTok) and Carsome (unicorn). Prior to his career with Gobi, Kay Mok was Vice President at Xinya Media and MediaCorp. He was also part of the team that managed a $500 million fund at the Media Development Authority, and co-founded Private Express, a cybersecurity startup based in Silicon Valley. He started his career with the Infocomm Development Authority, and has a Computer Science degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MBA from San Jose State University.

Kaz Shimizu KDDI Corporation
Group Leader Business Corporations

■ Career

Kaz joined KDDI in 2007, working on new services with Google. In 2011, moved to San Francisco to lead KDDI Open Innovation Fund investments in startups and support their Japan entry. Now leads global VC relations and LP investments, promoting Japanese startups’ global expansion.

Kazuhide Sugiyama Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
General Manager, Open Innovation Dep. Business Corporations

■ Career

Joined Mitsubishi Electric, Defense and Space Systems Division. He experienced B2C business for 15 years. Since 2014, he engaged global business for defense and space. He gained deep understanding of global markets, extensive expertise and networking with clients and partners across various countries. In 2025, he has been assigned the head of the Open Innovation Department, with a mission to drive corporate growth and enhance competitiveness through business development and Corporate Venture Capital activities.

Kazuya Kurihara General Incorporated Association Protean Career Association / 4designs Inc., Chief Growth Officer (CGO) Experts

■ Career

In 2011, he joined a foreign-affiliated comprehensive IT services company as a new graduate system engineer. He participated in core system development and business process reengineering (BPR) projects for major trading companies. In 2017, he transferred to the Human Resources Department, where he led the recruitment of 50 to 300 new graduate engineers annually. Through dialogues with over 5,000 students, he explored recruitment approaches that satisfy both companies and candidates. Since October 2022, he has held his current position, supporting corporate career and organizational development, while also serving as a trainer and seminar speaker.

Kei Ikegami Planet Savers, Inc.
Founder and CEO Startups

■ Career

Kei is an serial entrepreneur with energy infrastructure background. He launched Japan's first Direct Air Capture startup ""Planet Savers"" in 2023 with Kenta Iyoki, Associate Professor at the University of Tokyo. Previously, he founded an education startup, MIRAIing; achieved 600+ paid users in 2 years (exited in 2024).
Engaged in power and energy infrastructure development/policy support at JICA, and in global business expansion at SoftBank Robotics.
Education: Cambridge University (MBA), Kyoto University (MA - Public Policy)

Kei Tanaka Investor, Author of 'Those Who Make Their First 100 Million' VCs & investors

■ Career

Born in Yokohama in 1982, he graduated at the top of his class from the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Sophia University. After leaving the university's graduate program, he joined Goldman Sachs in 2007 as a new graduate. Amid the global financial crisis, he worked in the highly volatile investment division, handling a wide range of assets including listed and unlisted equities, non-performing loans, and real estate. He served as Co-Head of Japan as a Managing Director before leaving the firm in 2024. He currently leads real estate investments at an investment firm managing several hundred billion yen in assets. He has collaborated with over 300 ultra-high-net-worth individuals. In his personal life, he rises at 3:45 a.m. every morning and has completed ultra-distance triathlons and desert marathons.

Keiko Sainowaki Asuiku Co.,Ltd
CEO Startups

■ Career

After working at Bungeishunju and NHK, Keiko founded her own business inspired by her personal experiences with childbirth and parenting. Driven by the vision of creating a society where both parents and children can thrive, she launched several innovative childcare services. These include Asuiku, a matching platform for searching and booking temporary childcare; Ekiiku and Tan-iku, hands-on childcare programs offering unique and exciting experiences for children during their short stays; and Hapiiku, a concept that combines shopping centers with temporary childcare. She is also a mother of three.

Keiko Sydenham LUCA Japan Co., Ltd.
Co-Founder CEO Startups

■ Career

Keiko is Co-Founder & CEO of LUCA Japan, the first digital platform for alternative investments in Japan. With over 20 years of experience in alternative investment, she consulted and raised capital from institutional investors for diverse private investment strategies, including private equity, real estate, infrastructure, private credit, and venture capital. She served as Head of Alternative Investment Strategy at JPMorgan AM and as Managing Director at Blackstone. Keiko holds a Master’s from Johns Hopkins SAIS.

Keiko Yanai Trade and Investment Queensland, Queensland (Australia) Government Japan Office
Director, Research Partnerships Public Institutions

■ Career

Keiko joined the Trade and Investment Queensland Japan Office in October 2022. Her role is to further strengthen TIQ’s strategic engagement with the Japanese government and industry including R&D activities. Prior to joining the TIQ, Keiko was a diplomat, building a long-standing career in international relations and diplomacy. She served in various overseas posts including the USA, Geneva, the Netherlands and Singapore. She also served as Consul General of Japan in Brisbane, Australia, and Ambassador to the Republic of the Maldives.

Keisuke Ito Elephantech Inc.
Board Director & CFO Startups

■ Career

Keisuke Ito was appointed Board Director & CFO of Elephantech Inc. in April 2025.
Before joining the company as Executive Officer and CFO in 2023, he served as COO of APB Corporation from 2019, where he led business development for its lithium-ion battery operations.
Keisuke started his career at McKinsey & Company as a management consultant in 2013, advising manufacturers and investors on growth strategy, operational transformation and M&A, and managing investment portfolios.
He holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Tokyo.

Ken Yasunaga Global Hands-On VC
Founder & Managing Director

■ Career

Coming soon

Kengo Horiuchi Carbide Ventures
GP

■ Career

After working for a consulting firm and a securities company, he participated in the launch of Treasure Data's Japan business in 2013. As Marketing Director, he is in charge of everything from PR to project development for the customer data platform in the digital marketing field, which is Treasure Data's flagship service. He supports data collaboration in the marketing domain that connects the value chain from financial institutions and consumer goods manufacturers to major media outlets and retailers.
In August 2021, he founded Carbide Ventures with the founding members of Treasure Data and others. With offices in Silicon Valley and Tokyo, he is a partner in a venture capital firm that invests in enterprise SaaS and other startups, mainly in Japan and the United States.

Kentaro Hoshiba fukubekaji
CEO Startups

■ Career

Born in Noto Town in 1980. Studied business administration at university and joined Noto Town Hall, where he was involved in revitalizing local industries and supporting the inheritance of traditional culture. 12 years later, following the death of his mother from illness, he took over his family's blacksmithing business, which has been in business for over 100 years, as the fourth generation. He developed "Pochispa (a knife sharpening delivery service)," which allows customers to easily order professional knife sharpening craftsmanship, and repairs over 20,000 knives a year. After the earthquake, he launched "DAIJINI," a repair platform for traditional industrial products that utilizes the system, and has sold the SAAS system to overseas knife retailers, with plans to expand to America by 2025.

Kentaro Machii ERIA / JETRO
Program Manager on Startup Ecosystem, ERIA Public Institutions

■ Career

Kentaro Machii joined ERIA in February 2024 as a Program Manager in the Startup Ecosystem. Since 2013, he has worked for JETRO in various roles, including at JETRO Jakarta. During this time, he facilitated collaborations between Japanese companies and Indonesian conglomerates and invited a leading Indonesian corporate venture capital to Japan.
Additionally, he spent two years at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, working on free trade agreements. He also developed and published a digital tool to help SMEs utilize FTAs effectively.

Kentaro Nagao SHIMIZU CORPORATION
Civil Engineering Technology Div. Manager Business Corporations

■ Career

Coming soon

Kento Hatase MEMORY LAB, Inc
CEO Startups

■ Career

After graduating from high school, he moved to the United States and completed his studies in neuroscience and psychology at the State University of New York at Albany. Upon returning to Japan, he worked as a visiting researcher at RIKEN before becoming a research fellow at Keio University. In 2021, he founded MEMORY LAB with the goal of creating a world where anyone can access academic paper information—traditionally limited to researchers—easily and quickly, by leveraging big data from the collective knowledge found in scientific literature.

Kento Izumiya IVRy Inc.
VP of Marketing Startups

■ Career

Graduated from Chuo University. Managed advertising and promotion for B2C products at a PC-peripheral manufacturer (2012 – 2016). Joined freee K.K. in 2016, serving as Marketing Manager for small-business products and later as Head of New Business Development until 2022. Joined IVRy Inc., a conversational voice-AI SaaS company, in 2023. As Head of Marketing, supported roughly ten-fold growth over two years and became VP of Marketing in July 2024. Enjoys saunas. Born in 1989 in Iwate Prefecture. Father of two; resides in Gunma.

Kento Kuno ITAMAE
Core Member Others

■ Career

Born in 2002, currently a fourth-year student at the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Keio University, conducting research on natural gas pricing mechanisms. Having spent a third of his life in North America (Canada and the U.S.), he is a returnee with a global perspective. During his first and second years of university, he participated in the Japan-America Student Conference (JASC), serving as the Executive Committee Chair in his second year, where he led planning and operations with students from both countries.

Since his third year, he has taken part in various programs including the Energy Career Academy hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the U23 Summit, and Identity Academy. He also interned at e-dash Inc., a climate tech company under the Mitsui & Co. Group. Currently, he is a member of “ITAMAE” at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2025, where he helps organize talk sessions and various other events.

Kento Tokumaru Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Associate Expert, Corporate Venturing & Investment Business Corporations

■ Career

In 2007, he joined Marubeni Corporation, a major general trading company, where he gained extensive experience in project development and management in the railway sector, primarily across Asia. He has broad practical experience in areas such as engineering, legal affairs, accounting, and taxation. Since 2017, he transferred to the government-private fund, Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport & Urban Development (JOIN), he has been involved in large-scale infrastructure projects as well as venture-related investments and M&A. He has also engaged in developing businesses in the digital and decarbonization fields in Canada. He started a new career in Mitsubishi Electric’s Corporate Venture Capital in 2025.

Kimiko Hong-Mitsui The Good Food Institute Japan
Managing Director Educational Institutions

■ Career

After working in brand development, new business creation, tech sourcing, and regulatory affairs at a Japanese beauty and wellness company, she served as Director of Corporate Strategy at a startup developing cultivated meat production systems. In 2024, she launched the Japan affiliate of the Good Food Institute, a global think tank promoting alternative proteins to address global challenges including climate change, food security, global health, and animal welfare. She is committed to building a just and sustainable food system.

Kiyoko Hashiba Startup Strategy Promotion Headquarters, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Director for Global Promotion Public Institutions

■ Career

Ms Kiyoko Hashiba joined the Startup Strategy Promotion Headquarters (former Office for Startup and Global Financial City Strategy) in 2024, the division in Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) responsible for planning and implementing strategies to develop Tokyo as an International and Innovative Startup Hub. She promotes TMG’s initiatives for startups such as SusHi Tech Tokyo and Tokyo Innovation Base to attract overseas startups to expand business in Tokyo. Prior to joining TMG, she was the Head of Investment Promotion (Invest Hong Kong) at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Tokyo.

Kodai Yamada ModelingX Inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Certified VR Engineer by the Virtual Reality Society of Japan. Born in 1996 in Toyama, Japan. Graduated from the University of Toyama, Faculty of Economic. After two years at a bank, founded ModelingX. Released MELIFE, a housing exhibition app, in 2023 and MetaKit, a mobile metaverse platform, in 2025.

Koga Nakai Cross Medicine Inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Founded a university-based startup while still a student, and graduated from medical school this year. Moved to Tokyo to focus fully on the business, now based in Shibuya and Otemachi, leveraging deep learning and generative AI technologies to drive digital transformation in the parenting and childcare industry.

Developed awababy, the world’s first AI trained on over 40,000 infant data samples to estimate emotions from baby cries. The system can distinguish 11 different emotional states with up to 87% accuracy. Launched in March as a corporate welfare service, awababy has already been adopted by four companies, including major corporations. As legal reforms promote male parental leave, the startup is gaining increasing attention.

Recognizing that baby cries are a universal language, the company is also eyeing global expansion and conducted market research in three countries this year.

Kohei Hayashi Liberaware Co.,Ltd.
Director Startups

■ Career

Kohei Hayashi Joined Nippon Steel Corporation in 2009 and was responsible for supply chain management and demand forecasting of steel products for the automotive industry. In 2011, seeking a career abroad, he joined Toray Industries, Inc. After working in domestic sales for water purifiers, he moved to business planning for the Chinese market. He was responsible for the sales strategies, the production transfers from Japan to China, and the product development of water purifiers in China. In 2016, he was transferred to Toray Hong Kong, where he was involved in production management of the sewn products for major apparel companies in Japan. In 2020, he joined Raksul Inc. to challenge himself in business development. In 2021, he joined Liberaware.

Koichi Sakamoto Persefoni Japan G.K.
Japan Country Manager Business Corporations

■ Career

I joined Apple as a new graduate in 2009, a year and a half after the iPhone was released in the US. I have been involved in Sales & Partnership roles such as Market Development, Account Management & Partnership for about 14 years. I also has experienced the product launch of iPad and Apple Watch in the Japanese market. In 2019, I was appointed as Senior Manager in charge of Japan's leading mobile carrier. I felt passion about the potential and challenges in the field of decarbonization, which is attracting a great deal of attention globally, he joined Persefoni in 2022. He was appointed Account Director as Global Strategic Account Lead. He will be appointed Country Manager at the company in July 2024.

Koji Kawaguchi FUJI CORPORATION
General Manager Business Corporations

■ Career

I have over 20 years of experience in developing electronic component mounting robots, FUJI Corporation’s core business. I later established a new business development division centered on open innovation, leading numerous co-creation initiatives with startups and academic institutions. Currently, I focus on bridging internal and external technologies and talent to generate new value and contribute to social implementation.

Kosuke Nakahira Mankind Games Inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Graduated from Waseda University with a degree in Law. After gaining experience in corporate sales at GMO Internet Group, co-founded the company with Director Harima, focusing on creating new businesses utilizing cutting-edge technologies based on game technology.

Kristopher Tate ConnectFree Corporation
CEO Startups

■ Career

Coming soon

Lauren Ha Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology
Associate Vice President for Technology Development and Innovation Educational Institutions

■ Career

As Associate Vice President of the Technology Development & Innovation at OIST, Lauren Ha is responsible for the Center’s operations and strategic direction, overseeing programs to commercialize research at the university, with the goal of making an impact on society and contributing to the self-sustaining development of Okinawa.

Prior to Joining OIST, Lauren was Vice President of Administration at the Molecular Sciences Institute in Berkeley, California where she played a key role in securing its designation as a Center of Excellence in Genomic Sciences by the U.S. National Institute of Health. B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of South Carolina.

Lauren Nham MetaCap Ventures
Principal

■ Career

Lauren Nham is a Venture Investor and Product Leader focused on the Future of Work, Business Enablement and vertical solutions with a past life in Startups, Management Consulting & Banking. She currently runs Product Strategy on next-gen mobility solutions and smart cities for Woven by Toyota, a division of Toyota Motor Corporation.

She previously led new AI/ML product development and strategic partnerships for a global customer experience agency serving Fortune 500 clients. Prior to this, founded an online travel marketplace for direct air charter booking. She’s a firm believer in design thinking, jobs-to-be-done, agile and lean startup methodologies.

Li Li BASF Venture Capital
Senior Investment Manager VCs & Investors

■ Career

Li Li joined BASF Venture Capital in 2018, managing investments and portfolios in the Asia region from Hong Kong. She oversees portfolios in India and two agri-tech portfolios in China, with other areas under evaluation. Li began her career at PwC China, providing transaction services to top investment firms like Warburg Pincus and Sequoia. She then established the corporate strategy and M&A department for Voith Group in China, completing their first M&A transaction there. At SABIC Ventures, she helped close their first fund and first direct startup investment in China, displaying a strong venturous spirit in the corporate world. A Fudan University graduate with a major in Economics, Li is interested in deep-tech, material science, process innovation, digitalization, and sustainability investments aligning with BASF's future.

Lina Sakai Fermenstation Co., Ltd.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Lina started her career in financial institutions (Fuji bank and Deutsche Bank) in Tokyo and spent more than 10 years in finance, corporate planning & M&A.
Lina's curiosity to make use of the resources that have not been effectively utilized drove her to study fermentation and biotechnology and founded Fermenstation in 2009.
Lina holds a degree from the Department of Brewing and Fermentation Science at the Tokyo University of Agriculture. She has also graduated from the International Christian University.
Lina’s achievements include VIVA Technology 2022 Japan X France Startup Pitch Winner, Japan X France Startup Pitch Winner, Morning Pitch Special Edition 2023 etc.

Ludwig Pierre Schulze Alumni Ventures
Managing Director

■ Career

Coming soon

Maika Hishida General Incorporated Association ZEROGATE
Representative Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

In September 2024, I became the representative of ZEROGATE, a general incorporated association. With the mission of "contributing to the creation of an ecosystem in the medical field and serving as a starting point for innovators," I am engaged in planning and organizing a variety of events that expand participants’ career options, managing a platform for healthcare students in Japan and abroad, and collaborating with sponsoring companies. By fostering an environment where young people can take on challenges, I aim to create a foundation for the continuous circulation of healthcare innovation.

Maiko Kojima Crafter Co. Ltd.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Maiko is the founder of Crafter, which offers the innovative AI Assistant “Crew” for referencing internal documents and the marketing chatbot “CraftChat.” Crafter was acquired by Monex Group in July 2022. She also founded the Women AI Initiative, serves on the council of GUGA, and is a Pro Picker at Newspicks. Featured in Forbes JAPAN’s Women In Tech 30, Maiko mentors aspiring leaders in business development at the NPO Waffle.

Makiko Kawabe SOMPO Digital Lab Silicon Valley
Senior Researcher Business Corporations

■ Career

After obtaining a Master's degree in Medical Science, she joined Mitsubishi Research Institute, where she has over 15 years of experience in policy formulation support, primarily for the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. She has extensive knowledge in the long-term care insurance system, the senior market, care management, and Age Tech. Following her tenure as a visiting researcher at Stanford University's US-ATMC, she is currently at SOMPO Digital Lab Silicon Valley, where she is responsible for linking innovations in healthcare and well-being to new businesses in Japan. Additionally, she serves as a Specially Appointed (Visiting) Professor in the Tohoku University's Advanced Graduate Program for Future Medicine and Health Care and co-leads the Japanese Women's Initiative in the Bay Area (JWIBA).

Makiko Nakamuro Keio University
Professor at the Faculty of Policy Management 教育機関

■ Career

Professor at the Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University. After graduating from Keio University, she worked at institutions including the Bank of Japan before assuming her current position. She holds an MPA and Ph.D. from Columbia University. Her field of expertise is the economics of education.

She serves as an expert member on various national government councils, including the Council for Digital Administrative and Fiscal Reform and the Regulatory Reform Promotion Council. Her recent book, Evidence-Based Parenting, sold over 78,000 copies within three months of its release. Since September 2021, she has also served as a Senior Expert at the Digital Agency of Japan.

Makoto Asai Arclev, Inc./Keio University
Chief Executive Officer / Project Professor Educational Institutions

■ Career

Born in 1981. Earned a Ph.D. in Engineering from Keio University in 2009. After completing his doctoral studies, he conducted research in New York as a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University. In 2021, he was appointed as a Specially Appointed Professor at Keio University in his 30s, where he launched a pioneering project on integrated soft matter systems. As the research director, he leads one of Japan’s largest research communities with over 500 members. He co-founded a global network of top early-career researchers in collaboration with peers from Columbia University and actively promotes academic collaboration both domestically and internationally as its lead representative. He also serves as an advisor to overseas venture capital firms and contributes widely as a government expert in science, technology, and education policy.

Makoto Shiono Industrial Growth Platform, Inc. (IGPI)
Managing Business Corporations

■ Career

Makoto Shiono
Partner, CLO at IGPI Group
Executive Director at JBIC IG Partners
Group Head, Emerging Technologies at Institute of Geoeconomics
With over 20 years of experience in investment and consulting in the technology sector both domestically and internationally, he is the founder of the Nordic VC firm NordicNinja. In recent years, he has been conducting research on emerging technologies at the Institute of Geoeconomics and has served as a member of various government committees.
He previously worked at Goldman Sachs, Bain & Company, and Livedoor before assuming his current position.
His publications include “The Dynamics of Digital Technology and International Politics”, among others.

Mana Saza SWiTCH Association of Sustainability
Founder Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Born in 1995. BSc from University of British Columbia. Graduated University College London, MSc Sustainable Development. Served as Global Ambassador to Mock COP26 that successfully started the “Education Ministers Summit” with UNESCO, UNICEF, the UK and the Italian Government to push for climate education in over 20+ countries at COP26, 2021. Established SWiTCH Association of Sustainability the same year. Named 2023 Forbes’ Japan 30 Under 30 for contribution in climate activism. Serves as COP28 and COP29 Japanese youth representative.

Manabu Tauchi Social financial educator, The author of "Who Is Your Money For?" Experts

■ Career

Graduated from the Department of Mechanical and Information Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, the University of Tokyo in 2001, and completed a Master’s degree at the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology in 2003. In the same year, he joined Goldman Sachs Japan, where he worked as a trader in Japanese government bonds, yen interest rate derivatives, and long-term foreign exchange. He left the firm in 2019.

Currently, while raising children, he is engaged in financial education for junior and senior high school students as well as working adults.

His publications include:

There Are People Behind the Money: An Intro to Economics Without Prior Knowledge by a Former Goldman Sachs Interest Rate Trader

Who Is Your Money For?—The Mysteries of Money and How Society Works, as Taught by My Boss

A New Guide to Money You Should Know From Age 10

Mandy Hon ImpacFat
CEO and Co-Founder Startups

■ Career

Mandy is the CEO and Co-Founder of ImpacFat, Singapore. She has led the company to win various prestigious awards and was featured by multiple international medias and conferences.

Being an EX-director of established F&B companies internationally for the past 10 years, she currently holds a position of “World Certified Sensory Judge” for the prestigious World Coffee Championship.

On top of that, Mandy served as Associate Lecturer in Republic Polytechnic, Singapore. She is also a well-established coach for Financial Education and Entrepreneurship.

Marcel Rasinger YOKOHAMA CONNÉCT
Community & Program Manager Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

From 2011, he served as Deputy Commercial Counsellor(Technology) at the Commercial Section of the Austrian Embassy in Japan for eight years, where he was in charge of technology and innovation, supporting technology companies and start-ups in entering the Japanese market. In May 2019, he established genten LLC and became its representative. He has worked as a mentor and coach in collaboration with organizations, local governments, and companies active in the open innovation field. He regularly holds lectures and workshops on entrepreneurship at Bunkyo Gakuin University and Sophia University. Leveraging his strong ties and networks with Austria, located in the heart of the EU, we will hold YOKOHAMA CONNÉCT on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday every month at TECH HUB YOKOHAMA, a new facility in Yokohama City that opened in Yokohama Minatomirai in November 2024. Through this event, he is participating in building an open innovation ecosystem that is connected globally.

Mari Matsuzaki BLACKBOX
Community Manager Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Core team member of Slush Tokyo, one of the world’s largest startup events, responsible for leading marketing and PR, and serving as the main stage host. Since 2019, has worked with SUNRYSE, a global startup information platform, where contributed to forming over 50 strategic partnerships. Since 2020, has been involved with Shibuya Startup Support, developing PR strategies and building partnerships to facilitate collaboration between government agencies and international startup communities.

Mari Yoshitaka Virtue Design
Representative Directer Business Corporations

■ Career

After working for an IT company and a US investment bank, she engaged in environmental finance consulting such as carbon credit business for many years. She holds a Master of Science from the University of Michigan Graduate School of Environment and Sustainability, and a PhD from the Graduate School of Media and Governance at Keio University. She currently conducts research and advice on sustainability business and ESG investment to institutional investors, government ministries, business companies, local governments, financial institutions, etc. She conducts research on visualization of regional sustainability economy. She is a Tokyo Metropolitan Councilor, a member of the Financial Services Agency Sustainable Finance Expert Council, a member of the GX Acceleration Agency Steering Committee, and a number of government committees related to sustainability. She is a visiting professor at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of the University of Tokyo and a special visiting professor at Keio University.

Mariana Carvalho SAF Botafogo
Head of People, Performance & Projects Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Mariana de Carvalho is Head of People, Performance & Projects at SAF Botafogo, where she designs and implements strategic project management models, leading people & culture initiatives, and drives inovation and operational excellence to boost team engagement and performance in Brazil’s football market.

Mariko Yazawa Yazawa Ventures
Founder and CEO VCs & Investors

■ Career

After graduating from the State University of New York, she worked as a consultant and engineer at a BI/ERP software vendor, where she was involved in credit research, risk management, and the development of personal credit assessment models for both domestic and international companies.

She later joined Samurai Incubate, where she led investments in over 70 startups and supported their value creation and exits. Following that, she played a key role in launching the Japan branch of Plug and Play, a global innovation platform, where she served as COO and supported the selection and growth of over 150 world-class startups.

After giving birth, she founded Yazawa Ventures in 2020, marking her next chapter as an independent venture capitalist.

Masaaki Hamada Asuene APAC Pte. Ltd.
Managing Director, Asuene APAC Startups

■ Career

15 years of experience in Asia Pacific business expansion and leadership working at renowned companies such as Google and Meta, managing mid-market teams. Masa spearheads Asuene’s operation in APAC.

Masaaki Kawamura Teikyo University
Associate Professor Educational Institutions

■ Career

Born in Fukuoka Prefecture. After completing my doctoral course in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics of the University of Tokyo, I became a researcher in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, Faculty of Science and Rngineering at the Teikyo University . While engaged in research of re-entry into the atmosphere of the Earth or the Mars, I led the university's satellite development project, its name was "TeikyoSat Project." This was the first successful launch of a micro-satellite carrying living organisms in Japan, and the first successful launch for the micro-satellite size in the world. I used this experience and know-how to establish a university-based venture company.

Masafumi Yonazu General Incorporated Association cross U
Secretary General Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Focusing on community building in Nihonbashi, Tokyo to expand the base of businesses that utilize space as a venue. Company owner and university professor. Formerly with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Skills: Cross-industry-academia-government. Worked on startup x urban development at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and disaster prevention/mitigation x information (space) at the Cabinet Office.

Masahide Sakishige JETRO London
Deputy Director General Public Institutions

■ Career

As of 2021, Masahide has led investment and innovation operations at JETRO London, his responsibilities include facilitating open innovation between Japanese corporates and European start-ups/academia. Additionally, he also focuses on promoting foreign direct investment into Japan from companies based in the UK and Nordic region, as well as supporting Japanese startups to expand their businesses in the UK. He holds a master’s degree in International Politics from the Graduate School of Political Science at Waseda University.

Masahiro Baba Utsunomiya City
Deputy Director of Development and Promotion, Policy Department Public Institutions

■ Career

Masahiro Baba joined Utsunomiya City Hall in 1995 after graduating from university. He took a leave of absence in his 30s, studied abroad as an exchange student, and obtained an MBA. He worked in the planning and management department for over 20 years, and was responsible for all aspects of city administration as the Head of the Planning Department, including planning and drafting important policies such as the comprehensive plan and promoting administrative reform. From April 2023, he was the Head of the Tokyo Office, promoting open innovation with startups and new business divisions of companies. From April 2025, he takes in charge of tackling special issues as the Deputy Director of Development and Promotion, Policy Department.

Masaki Umeda SORA Technology
Vice CEO Startups

■ Career

After completing his graduate studies at the University of Tokyo, he joined SORA Technology as its first full-time employee and currently serves as Vice CEO and Director. He leads the development and implementation of drone- and AI-driven infectious disease control initiatives across countries such as Ghana and Sierra Leone, overseeing strategic collaborations with partners including JICA and Gavi.

Masaki Yoshida Givery, Inc.
Executive Officer, CMO / COO of the Business Corporations

■ Career

Masaki Yoshida began his career at a long-established research firm before founding Arrange Base, a company specializing in OEM marketing research services. He later joined Givery, Inc. as an Executive Officer, where he led the Marketing DX division and drove revenue management initiatives. Within the company’s Salesforce environment, he spearheaded the implementation and operation of Sales Cloud, Account Engagement, and Service Cloud, while also driving AI-powered business transformation using tools such as Einstein and Agentforce. Currently, he oversees AI initiatives in the marketing domain, supporting business growth through technology-driven solutions.

Masako Eguchi-Bacon Ocean Bridge Management
CEO Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

A cross-border business specialist, focusing on fostering UK-Japan innovation, business partnerships, and investment deals in the energy, manufacturing, and sustainability sectors.
Masako was instrumental in establishing a regional relationship between the UK and Japan. She has actively led this relationship over the last 10 years as the Head of Japan Desk at the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce.
With extensive experience driving government-industry-academia partnerships, serving as a Director at a Japanese company’s European subsidiary, and as an advisor to Japanese government agencies, Masako specialises in bridging the gap between the UK and Japan.
In 2023, she was honoured as a finalist in the Entrepreneur category of the Asian Women of Achievement Awards.

Masao Kawano Tokyo Contents Incubation Center (TCIC)
Program Director, Tokyo Contents Incubation Center(TCIC)/Program Manager,Into Global Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

I started my career at a global advertising agency and moved to a US creative agency in 2001.
I then learned management as the representative of a subsidiary of a listed venture company in 2004. Since 2006, I have been in charge of overseas business, video business, management strategy, planning and production, and overseas subsidiaries at KADOKAWA Corporation.Since 2020, I have been in charge of Tokyo's content industry startup support project at Tsucrea Corporation. I am currently the program director of the Tokyo Content Incubation Center and the program manager of Into Global, an overseas expansion support project.Starting in 2022, I will be in charge of the startup program at Meiji University.

Masaru Nagura CIC Japan Innovation Services G.K.
Director Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Holding a PhD in Energy and Materials, Masaru has a rich background in policymaking related to deep tech startups, having worked at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT). He later pursued research on startup ecosystems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and gained valuable experience in management consulting and venture capital. Oversaw the launch of CIC Tokyo, providing comprehensive support to startups.

Masashi Sato Beyond Next Ventures
Future Science Lab / Space Tech Advisor, Investment Division

■ Career

Future Science Lab / Space Tech Advisor, Investment Division, Beyond Next Ventures
Masashi Sato spent 16 years at Nomura Research Institute, providing wide-ranging consulting services from policy planning to corporate strategy in areas such as space business, startup support, and open innovation. In June 2019, he joined ispace, a space startup focused on lunar exploration, where he contributed to Japan’s first space startup IPO. He currently serves as Space Tech Advisor at Beyond Next Ventures.
He is also a Co-Founder, Director, and COO of SPACETIDE, Japan’s first private-sector-led space business conference.
He holds a B.Sc. in Earth and Planetary Physics (2001) and an M.Sc. in Earth and Planetary Science (2003) from the University of Tokyo, and an MPP (Master of Public Policy, 2013) from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Masashi Shimanuki ENEOS Holdings, Inc.
General Manager, CVC Office, Business Corporations

■ Career

Masashi joined Japan Mobil (now ENEOS) in 1999 and has held various roles in business development, sales, and marketing, including an overseas assignment in Singapore. From 2019 to 2022, he was involved in the establishment of ENEOS's corporate venture capital (CVC) activities within the Emerging Business Development Department, the predecessor of the current Corporate Planning Department's CVC Office. There, he worked on direct investments in startups to support the achievement of the ENEOS Group's long-term vision. After overseeing a hydrogen supply chain development project for Japan at ENEOS Australia, he assumed his current position in April 2025.

Masayuki Kimura Deloitte Tohmatsu Venture Support
COO / Partner Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

He co-founded Deloitte Tohmatsu Venture Support as a second venture, expanding it to a team of 200 across five global locations and successfully devising business plans for over 200 companies annually, resulting in 15 successful financings.He provides consulting services for new business development through open innovation and supports the establishment and operation of corporate venture capital (CVC).In 2015, he opened an office in Silicon Valley and has since been driving collaboration and digital strategy formulation for automotive-related companies, insurance companies, financial institutions, and major home appliance companies with Silicon Valley startups.He is a member of D-Lab, which disseminates information on Silicon Valley sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and is invited as an expert to the Future Innovation WG established by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, among other activities.

Mashairo Chaen Digirise Inc
CEO Startups

■ Career

CEO of Digirise Inc., which provides AI training programs for corporations and develops custom ChatGPT solutions for businesses, as well as CEO of several other companies. He also serves as an advisor to GMO AI & Web3 Inc. and multiple other firms.

After a one-year study abroad experience in an English-speaking country during his student years, he moved to Shanghai and launched a video-based job recruitment platform. Upon returning to Japan, he developed a number of AI-related services, including the AI chatbot “AideX” and the AI language learning tool “AI Kaiwa.”

Currently, he shares AI-related insights on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), where he has over 150,000 followers. He is recognized as an AI expert and has made multiple appearances on media outlets such as TBS Television and ABEMA.

Matthew Boyer AMATELUS
Global sales director Startups

■ Career

Matthew is a bilingual sales director at Amatelus, leading the global expansion initiatives of their video tech, Swipevideo. He grew up in a Japanese immersion public school program in the US, where he began learning Japanese. After graduating from Cal Poly and Waseda University, he started his career in selling back office software before moving to Japan to work in international business.

Matthijs van Leeuwen Sunway
Chief Innovation Officer VCs & investors

■ Career

Matt is the Chief Innovation Officer at Sunway Group and CEO of Sunway iLabs, an innovation ecosystem by Sunway Group and Sunway University. Since 2018, iLabs has grown its ventures portfolio to 85 startups through direct investments and a fund-of-funds approach.

Previously, Matt was a commercialisation specialist at PlaTCOM Ventures and co-founded three startups across the UK, Singapore, and Malaysia. He also worked as a consultant for the Cambridge-MIT Institute and as an analyst at Imperial Innovations, one of Europe’s top tech transfer offices (now part of IP Group).

Maya Seto Ishikawa Prefectural Government
Senior Staff, Industry Policy Division, Department of Commerce, Labor and Industry Public Institutions

■ Career

Originally from Ishikawa Prefecture, joined the Ishikawa Sunrise Industries Creation Organization in 2019. Has been engaged in supporting local small and medium-sized enterprises through public relations, human resource development, and management consulting. Since April 2025, has been seconded to the Ishikawa Prefectural Government and is involved in initiatives to promote startup development. Dedicated to contributing to the revitalization of the regional economy and the creation of next-generation industries, with a strong commitment to serving the local community.

Mayu Suganari Tokyo Office, Kure City
Assistant senior staff Public Institutions

■ Career

Graduated from a University in Hiroshima

Employed at private company

Joined Kure City Office（April 2020）
・School Education Division, Board of Education（April 2020 - March 2023）
In charge of General affairs and Budget

・Tokyo Office（April 2023 - Current）
　Engaged in City promotion and Supporting the mayor and senior management during Tokyo visits

Meiji Fujita Nara Women's University
Specially appointed professor Educational Institutions

■ Career

Born in Omishima-cho, Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture. Graduated from the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tokyo. Completed the doctoral course at the same university and received a PhD in Engineering. His specialty is the history of medieval Japanese housing, and his greatest research achievement was uncovering the origins of the Japanese-style room, but he also conducts broad research on history, culture, and art from the perspective of the relationship between people around the world, architecture, and space. After working at the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Nagoya University of Art and Design, and Hiroshima International University, he became a professor at Nara Women's University in 2016. He served as the dean of the Faculty of Engineering, the first to be opened at a women's university in Japan, from 2022, and retired last year. He is currently a specially appointed professor. His co-authored books include "Praise of the Japanese Room" (Shobunsha), "The Homes and Forms of the Dreams" (Kenchiku Shiryo Kenkyusha), "The Study of the Japanese Room" (Heibonsha), "History of Japanese Architectural Styles" (Bijutsu Shuppan), and "Complete Collection of Japanese Art" Vol. 5 and 9 (Shogakukan).

Micael Nord Business and External Relations
Director

■ Career

The Malmö region hosts a variety of support systems for food startups, including access to POC-facilities and an extensive network of food related businesses and innovation ecosystems. The region of Skåne where Malmö is located also accounts for 50% of Swedens food related R&D investments and produces 30% of all the food consumed in the country. We look forward to introducing entrepreneurs from Tokyo into this environment and together work toward a more sustainable future.

Michael Philips Alumni Ventures
COO & Chief Legal Officer

■ Career

Coming soon

Michio SEITA New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization
Director, Startup Support Department Public Institutions

■ Career

He has engaged in SI, BPO, venture investment, etc. in Japan, the US, the UK and so on at ITOCHU Corporation for over 20 years. Since 2019, he has been in charge of cross-divisional business development including the World Expo business at the Osaka headquarters, before assuming his current position in 2024.
Currently at NEDO he supports deep tech startups developing innovative technologies that contribute to solving global economic, social, and environmental issues, and promotes their global expansion.
Graduated from WASEDA University School of Law.

Midori Ogino BROWN SUGAR 1ST CO., Ltd.
Founder CEO Startups

■ Career

In 2011, while pregnant, Midori questioned the safety of food in Japan and founded her company with a simple yet powerful principle: “Would I feed this to my own child?” Since then, she has built a food brand that carefully selects ingredients, collaborates with local welfare facilities, and works alongside producers in Southeast Asia. Her organic product line is now available in over 3,000 stores across Japan. Today, she is taking her mission global — aiming to replace 5% of the world’s butter consumption with her company’s vegan alternative, BETTER THAN BUTTER. With a newly established U.S. subsidiary and a long-term vision rooted in what kind of food legacy we pass on to future generations, she is now working toward an IPO in 2029.

Miki Omori Nocnum Inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Representative Director of Nocnum Inc. Completed Master's Dregree at the Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University. Together with the Co-founder and CTO Watanabe, established Nocnum Inc. in November 2022. With the mission of "Overcoming water and sanitation challenges through the power of people and technology to enrich both the planet and humanity," the company is working to realize environmentally and socially friendly water treatment solutions. Currently, engaged in the research, development, proof-of-concept testing, and provision of IoT sensors and water quality analysis technologies specifically designed for decentralized wastewater treatment facilities ("jokaso") in Japan. Selected for programs such as Hiroshima Prefecture's "Sakigake Project," the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' "ICT Startup League," and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's (METI) "NEDO Entrepreneurs Program."

Minami Suwa Simplee Inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Graduated from Keio University after attending a boarding school in Cambridge, UK, where she gained early exposure to diversity. While in university, she founded and sold a women-focused marketing business. After starting her career at a global consulting firm, she founded Simplee Inc., a childcare startup supporting both inbound families and urban residents. She is promoting childcare as essential urban and tourism infrastructure in collaboration with major corporations and local governments. Also active as a NewsPicks Pro Picker, sharing insights on parenting and startups.

Mio Asatani Curina Inc.
Founder/CEO Startups

■ Career

Mio Asatani is the CEO and founder of Curina, a fine art rental subscription company making buying art more accessible, affordable and inclusive. Launched in 2019, Curina offers art rental service to individual users as well as corporate clients that include Suntory, Prime Video, Paramount Pictures, Disney, and Cushman & Wakefield. Mio graduated from Tokyo University (Law Department) and received an MBA from Columbia Business School. She has also worked at Deloitte as a management consultant.

Mitsuru Igarashi Simplex Holdings
Co-founder Business Corporations

■ Career

Co-founder of Simplex Holdings. He graduated from the College of Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley in 1989. He began his career on the trading desk of a U.S. investment bank and later became involved in several Silicon Valley startups in the financial technology sector, gaining experience with IPOs.

In 1997, he co-founded Simplex Inc. with a few business partners. The company went public on JASDAQ in 2002, completed a management buyout (MBO) in 2013, and was re-listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market in 2021, where it continues to grow today.

Miwa Tanaka Waris Co. Ltd.
Co-Founder and Co-CEO Experts

■ Career

After graduating from Keio University with a law degree, Miwa began her career as an editor and journalist at Nikkei BP, where she listened to the voices of over 30,000 women through Nikkei Woman magazine.
In 2013, she co-founded Waris Inc., a company dedicated to supporting women's careers. It connects freelancers with job opportunities, facilitates career shifts through reskilling programs, and promotes women’s leadership by introducing female executives and managers.
Over ten years, Waris successfully grew and later became part of the Benesse Group through M&A. Since its founding, the company has embraced remote management as a core strategy.
Miwa is widely recognized as a specialist in women's career development and has been featured in major media such as NHK and Nikkei Newspaper. She is also the author of 39 Tips for Working Your Way (KADOKAWA).
Beyond her professional work, she is also a mother to a young child.

Miyuki Kawarada Ricecurry Inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Born in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture. Graduated from the Faculty of Engineering and Graduate School of the University of Tokyo. After joining LINE Corporation, she received the “Best Rookie Award” for outstanding new employees. She achieved strong results in marketing, advertising operations consulting, and data analysis.

In 2022, leveraging connections from her time on the university American football team, she was appointed CEO of RICE REPUBLIC Inc., which operates the onigiri specialty store TARO TOKYO ONIGIRI, at the age of 27. The company currently runs five stores in Tokyo.

In 2025, she founded Rice Platformer Inc. as an independent venture, aiming to bring Japan’s soul food, onigiri, to the world.

Mo Batran xMap
CEO Startups

■ Career

Mo Batran is an AI scientist and entrepreneur specializing in geospatial analytics. He earned an MSc and served as a research fellow at the University of Tokyo. With experience as a Senior Data Scientist at Rakuten Japan, he co-founded and now leads xMap—a generative AI location intelligence platform—and holds four patents in spatial analysis.

Mototsugu IKARI Floating Offshore Wind Technology Research Association (FLOWRA)
General Manager - International Alliance Business Corporations

■ Career

General Manager of International Alliance Department, “FLOWRA”: Floating Offshore Wind Technology Research Association. Green Economy Evangelist, engaged in Business Development, now focusing Floating Offshore Wind development as well as Green Fuel. Established a broad and global network with a large number of friends and cohorts, to encourage materializing Green Economy together. Utilizing approx. 30 years’ experience in Energy service industry under multi-cultural and multi-organizational business environment, launched several industrial groups and events.
Studied at Keio University and HBS AMP program, worked at Sumitomo Corporation by June 2024.

Mr. Ernest Layman Rekosistem
CEO and Co-Founder

■ Career

CEO and Co-Founder of Rekosistem, a Climate-Tech Startup
that offers waste management and recycling services to optimize the waste value chain.

Murat Aktihanoglu Remarkable Ventures Climate
Managing Partner VCs & investors

■ Career

Murat Aktihanoglu is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Remarkable Ventures, Remarkable Ventures Climate and ERA. A venture capitalist since 2011, Murat has invested in over 350 early-stage tech and climate companies with a combined market cap of $10+ billion. He previously founded Centrl and the nonprofit Entrepreneurs Roundtable, fostering New York's startup community through monthly investor meetings. Murat co-authored Location-Aware Applications in 2011 and has held engineering roles at Sony and Silicon Graphics. He holds an M.S. in Computer Science from Bilkent University.

Mutsuki Kameyama PIE with Films. LLC
Director, Producer, CEO Experts

■ Career

Born in Tokyo, she is a film director and producer. After graduating from the Department of Film at Nihon University College of Art, she directed and wrote films and dramas, and created projection mapping visuals for commercials, TV shows, music videos, and stage productions. Her sci-fi film Kai of 12 Months, produced during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, won Best Sci-Fi Feature at the Phoenix Film Festival and the International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival in the U.S., and received 13 awards at other international film festivals.Her major works include Kai of 12 Months, My Life, Mama Life, and Films Fighting Across the World.In July 2025, The Pregnant People, a film she produced, will be released at Shinjuku Musashino-kan and other theaters.

Nana Aizawa iiba inc.
CEO Business Corporations

■ Career

Originally from Kyoto, the mother of two children. After graduating, I started a sales position at a bridal company. After gaining experience in sales at Recruit Co., Ltd., I founded iiba Inc., driven by her awareness of the challenges of child rearing. With a vision of "building a new child rearing infrastructure to create a society where it is easy to raise children," I develops and operates the child rearing-specific map platform "iiba."

Selected as one of Toyo Keizai's "100 Amazing Ventures" and Nikkei Cross Trend's "100 Companies Shaping the Future." I have also won EY Innovative Startup 2024 and Forbes JAPAN's "RISING STAR AWARD 2025."

Nana Hori Tensor Energy Inc.
Representative Director Startups

■ Career

Graduated from International Christian University, then gained experience at Recruit and in film distribution and publicity. In 2011, transitioned into the renewable energy sector as a strategy consultant, handling battery storage, solar power, and electricity projects. Contributed to launching a renewable power generation company, led its business development team, and established a global, end-to-end framework for project origination, development, construction, operation, and management.
Founded Tensor Energy with the goal of delivering sustainable energy when and where it’s needed for the generations to come. Possesses over 13 years of experience in renewable energy finance and business development, recognized as an entrepreneurial energy professional dedicated to fostering innovation, global collaboration, and a sustainable future.

Nao Fuwa Japan International Cooperation Agency
Expert on Public Institutions

■ Career

Nao FUWA launched and leads activities related to the enhancement of African startup ecosystems at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). As a JICA Expert for Innovation, Competition and Incubation, he supports the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation and the National Center of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (under the Nigerian government) to enhance regional startup ecosystems in Nigeria, and also organized the JICA NINJA Business Plan Competition in response to COVID 19 across 19 countries in Africa. He began his career in the capital markets division of an investment bank, then as a managing director of a tech start-up, before moving to Uganda as a husband to join JICA in Uganda and Ethiopia. He holds a M.A. in Financial Mathematics from Boston University.

Naoko MATSUDA (Ph.D.) bestat Inc
Founder and CEO of bestat Startups

■ Career

After graduating from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Tokyo, I began my career at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, where I was involved in innovation and trade policies. During my studies at Columbia University, I was introduced to the field of data science, which inspired me to pursue a doctoral degree as a working professional at the Laboratory of Professor Yutaka Matsuo in the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo. Recognizing the societal value of implementing algorithms in real-world settings, I founded bestat Inc. in 2018.

Naoko Yoshie The University of Tokyo
Vice President Educational Institutions

■ Career

Dr. Naoko Yoshie is Vice President and Professor at Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo.
After she received her MS (1990) in Polymer Science from Tokyo Institute of Technology (TokyoTech), she began her academic career as a research associate at Department of Biomolecular Engineering, TokyoTech. In 2001, she joined Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo as an associate professor and promoted to full professor in the same institute in 2010. She is a polymer scientist especially focusing on environmentally conscious materials such as biodegradable, self-healing, and/or tough polymers. She also served as Vice Chairperson for Japan Inter-Society Liaison Association Committee for Promoting Equal Participation of Men and Women in Science and Engineering, Chairperson for Polymer Chemistry Subcommittee of Chemistry Committee for Science Council of Japan and Vice President for Society for Polymer Science, Japan.

Naomi Kurahara Infostellar
CEO Startups

■ Career

Naomi Kurahara is the Co-Founder and CEO of Infostellar, a newspace communications technology company based in Tokyo that provides flexible and scalable ground station services enabled by our cloud platform, 'StellarStation', the ground station platform for modern space businesses. After a one-time setup, satellite operators can access any ground station across our global network. StellarStation also enables ground station owners to monetise their unused capacity by sharing it with satellite operators.

Prior to founding Infostellar, Naomi worked as a System Engineer at Integral Systems Japan and received her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the Kyushu Institute of Technology. During that time, she conducted ion engine and space plasma environment research with JAXA. She was also a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Tokyo, where she led development of satellite operations and ground systems for the Small Satellite Project.

Naomi Takegoshi FinCity.Tokyo
Senior Relationship Manager Public Institutions

■ Career

Naomi Takegoshi joined JIAM and FinCity.Tokyo in 2019, following 25 years of export and investment promotion activites at the UK Embassy in Tokyo, in order to support the internationalisation efforts by Tokyo and Japan. At FinCity.Tokyo she is responsible for discovering overseas asset management and fintech firms which could be expanding into Tokyo and supporting their entry.

Naoyuki Masuda Fermelanta Inc.
Head of Bussiness Development Startups

■ Career

Naoyuki Masuda is Head of Business Development at Fermelanta, Inc. He began his career at Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical (now Astellas Pharma Inc.), where he was engaged in early-stage drug discovery research. He later served as an associate professor at the Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation at Kobe University, promoting the commercialization of academic technologies. He also has entrepreneurial experience and joined Fermelanta in 2023. He holds a Ph.D. in Engineering from Waseda University and an MBA from the Graduate School of Management, GLOBIS University.

Natsuki Tamura GLOBIS
eam Leader, Venture Support Team / Investment Professional, KIBOW Social Investment Fund Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Graduated from the School of Human Sciences at Waseda University and earned an MBA from the GLOBIS University Graduate School of Management.

Started her career at Nikon Corporation, where she worked in the New Business Development Division and later joined the Corporate Strategy Division's CVC (Corporate Venture Capital) team. There, she was engaged in new business planning and building frameworks for open innovation.

She then moved to Recruit Co., Ltd., where she worked in the HR Planning Division and was involved in the development of HR tech products. In October 2019, she joined the President's Office at GLOBIS, specifically the Venture Support Team.

Currently, she serves as the Team Leader of the Venture Support Team, overseeing GLOBIS’s accelerator program “G-STARTUP” as well as managing three venture funds. In addition, she supports social entrepreneurs through investment and hands-on support via the KIBOW Social Investment Fund.

Neil Cameron Emerald Technology Venture
Partner

■ Career

Coming soon

Nicolas Morin-Forest GOURMEY
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder Startups

■ Career

Nicolas Morin-Forest is CEO and co-founder of GOURMEY, European leading cultivated proteins company based in Paris, creating sustainable foods from state-of-the-art cell cultivation techniques combined with culinary arts. Nicolas has a background at the crossroads of consumer goods companies (L'Oréal) and the nonprofit sector (several environmental organizations) as he was involved in several development aid missions, particularly in Latin America around the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices. Nicolas is a Science Po Paris graduate.

NICOLE SCOBLE-WILLIAMS DELOITTE
GLOBAL FUTURE OF WORK LEADER Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Nic is a lawyer, futurist, and passionate pioneer, unlocking new opportunities and aspirations to make work better for humans and humans better at work. With over two decades of cross-industry and global experience in Information Technology Services, Total Talent Management, Culture Transformation, Change Management, Leadership Development, Human Capital Advisory, and Mergers & Acquisitions, Nic collaborates with businesses, governments and civil society to reimagine the future. She inspires business, technology, and workforce strategies to adapt to the ever-evolving realities of work, unlocking new value through the rapid advancements in AI and technology.
Based in Tokyo, Nic is Deloitte’s Global Future of Work Leader. Her work focuses on helping clients understand and explore the 'art of the possible' in today's world of perpetual disruption. By harnessing global capabilities, experiences, and relationships, she unleashes untapped opportunities to drive sustainable transformation. Nic’s holistic approach aligns work, workforce, and workplace strategies—alongside organization structure, operating models, and culture—to enable and accelerate future focused visions and business strategies.
Nic is especially passionate about multilateralism and the imperative for collective action across governments, the private sector, and civil society, to create a more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive world of work.
Leading eminence activities around the Work Agenda is central to Nic’s mission. Through her research and publications on the Future of Work, including Deloitte’s Global Human Capital Trends Report and Generative AI and the Future of Work, Nic continues to shape and influence global discourse. As a regular keynote speaker at conferences and a facilitator of board and executive strategy workshops, she inspires and guides transformative conversations on the Future of Work, consistently driving forward the global conversation.

Nikita Kent AltX Research
Analyst Startups

■ Career

Nikita applies algorithms and game theory to real-world market design. She holds a Master’s from the University of Tokyo, where she wrote a thesis on patent platforms and social welfare. A former analyst at Elevation Capital and UN intern, she has spoken at forums including APEC 2021 and NZ Parliament. She’s also led media partnerships with Blockchain NZ, Easy Crypto, and others.

Nobuaki Kawahara Salesforce Japan
Regional Sales Director, Commercial Business Corporations

■ Career

Started the career at a Recruit agency, then served as a sales executive at a startup before joining Salesforce in 2010. With 16 years of experience, led inside and field sales teams across diverse markets, including regional, mid-sized, and high-growth companies. Supported hundreds of clients, collaborating with them to develop business strategies and assisting in the implementation of IT as a practical tool for execution. Now leading field sales management efforts with a mission to revitalize Japan through startups and strengthen the competitiveness of Japanese businesses.

Noriya Tarutani JETRO
Head of JETRO Startup

■ Career

Coming soon

Oliver Hall Nordic Asian Venture Alliance (NAVA)
Co-Founder & Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Co-Founder of the Nordic Asian Venture Alliance (NAVA) a comprehensive alliance of the Nordic-Baltic tech ecosystem, the capital cities, the investment & trade promotion agencies, start-ups & venture capital funds, the cluster organisations and the university incubators.
Oliver works at the award-winning inward investment agency Copenhagen Capacity, which supports many Japanese & foreign companies in Copenhagen. He is a Japanese speaker with Kobe as his 2nd home, and also hosts Europe's largest Sakura Festival.

Osamu Aruga Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, Cabinet Office
Director for Innovation Policy Public Institutions

■ Career

ARUGA Osamu is Director, Office of Global Startup Campus Initiative at the Cabinet Secretariat, and Director for Innovation Policy, Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy at the Cabinet Office, Government of Japan. He is responsible for Japan’s innovation and startup policies including Startup City Project Japan, Startup/Small Business Innovation Research, and Global Startup Campus Initiative.

Before being assigned to his current position in July 2023, Osamu served as Director for International Affairs at the Secretariat of STI Policy, and at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for three years. He spent 6 years engaging in nuclear safeguards as Director of the Japan Safeguards Office in Nuclear Regulation Authority, and as a Senior Expert at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Prior to the IAEA, Osamu worked for 12 years in the fields of science, technology and education policy at the MEXT, Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech), the Cabinet Secretariat, and the Science and Technology Agency.

Osamu holds a Ph.D. in economics, and MAs in economics and public policy from the University of Michigan, an ME in nuclear engineering and a BE in metallurgical engineering from Tokyo Tech.

Oscar Moralez Boomerang Ventures
Founder & Managing Partner

■ Career

Oscar Moralez is the Founder and Managing Partner of Boomerang Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm and venture studio based in Indianapolis, located in the Midwest United States, and focused on the “Connected Future of Healthcare”. He invests in AI- and tech-enabled solutions addressing global healthcare challenges—driven by an aging population, rising polychronic disease, increased mental health needs, and a growing shortage of healthcare professionals. With over two decades of experience in healthcare and venture capital, Oscar brings deep operational insight and a global perspective to the companies he supports. He previously founded BioStorage Technologies, a life sciences company acquired in 2015 by Brooks Life Sciences, now Azenta Life Sciences.

Pablo Riveros Manabu Hubs & Fukuoka Startup Collective
Mr. Pablo Riveros Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Global ecosystem builder and Architecture, Founder of Manabu Hubs (Australia, Japan and Taiwan) and Fukuoka Startup Collective. Connecting founders & tech talent across borders to drive growth & collaboration.

Per Christer Lund Royal Norwegian Embassy in Tokyo
Energy and Technology Counsellor Public Institutions

■ Career

Per Christer is Counsellor for Energy and Technology at the Norwegian Embassy in Tokyo. In this role he supports Norwegian companies for growing cooperation and market opportunities in Japan and Korea. Per Christer has held similar roles at Norwegian embassy in Tokyo, Singapore and Dubai since 2006. With an PhD in chemical engineering from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, his engagement in the maritime and energy industries spans over 30 years in Norway, Canada, US, Japan, Singapore and Middle East.
His main interests now is Offshore Wind, Hydrogen and Energy Markets.

Philip Lu Accenture Managing Director
Accenture Alpha Automation, Representative Director and President Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Philip Lu is Managing Director of Industry X group at Accenture, a global leader in digital-centric enterprise transformation services. He also serves as the President of Accenture Alfa Automation, which drives physical AI initiatives. Prior to joining Accenture, he held positions such at trading company and as Executive Vice President at a global U.S. company. Since joining Accenture, he leads large-scale DX projects in the real estate, construction, and manufacturing and distribution industries primarily in Japan, focusing on the Asia-Pacific region.

Phillip Vincent Plug and Play
Managing Partner of APAC & CEO of Japan

■ Career

Phillip is serving as the Managing Partner of Plug and Play APAC and CEO of Plug and Play Japan. With a career spanning over a decade in the innovation space, Phillip has been instrumental in driving Plug and Play’s expansion and impact across the East Asia region.
Phillip’s journey with Plug and Play began in Silicon Valley in 2014, where he spearheaded the IoT and Mobility divisions before establishing Plug and Play Japan in 2017. Under his leadership, Plug and Play Japan has evolved into the premier innovation platform in Japan, connecting startups and corporations globally through hubs in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.
In his current role as co-head of the Asia Pacific region, Phillip leads strategic initiatives and management across all locations, with a particular focus on Japan and Korea.

Prisca DALLE ONLYLYON Invest
Head of the Sector Hub Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

A science graduate, Prisca holds a doctorate in Health Instrumentation. She continued her career with the LEYTON consulting firm for 10 years as an innovation finance advisor, covering the fields of health, environment, agri-food, chemistry and materials. She helped companies of all sizes to obtain public funding for their R&D projects and to structure their projects, before she moved on to managing teams of advisors. In 2022, she joined ONLYLYON Invest as head of the sector development team, promoting, identifying and supporting high-impact relocation projects in the region.

Qin Wan Chiral Ltd
CEO Startups

■ Career

Previously, Qin Wan worked as project manager, serial entrepreneur and a senior algorithm engineer in the fields of cheminformatics and bioinformatics. The project is about accelerating and parallelizing molecular computing using GPUs.

Qiyong Cao ADB Ventures
Senior Investment Specialist VCs & Investors

■ Career

Ms. Cao has 20 years of engineering, consulting, and venture capital experiences in the US and China across various environmental and climate tech fields. Ms. Cao also has deep knowledge and extensive experience in technology transfer, technology incubation and commercialization.
She is currently the Senior Investment Specialist at ADB Ventures with primary responsibility including deal sourcing, due diligence, deal negotiation and execution. She also leads the strategic analysis and partnership development in China.

Rainer Seider The Governing Mayor of Berlin - Senate Chancellery
Head of International Department Public Institutions

■ Career

Rainer Seider has been serving as head of the International Department since July 2022.
Before he was heading the Unit for International Cooperation at the Senate Department for Economics responsible for International Economic Policy, Development Policy, and European Affairs (Internal Market, State Aid) for twelve years.
He holds the two German law degrees (Staatsexamina) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Sciences.
Rainer Seider is an international bridge-builder for Berlin with a focus on startups.

Ravi Narayan Startup Genome India
President Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Building Innovation Ecosystems across the world including actors from Industry, Government, Academia, Investors, Startups and innovators.

Rebecca Takada Women In Tech Japan
Marketing Director Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Rebecca Takada is a marketing strategist with 20+ years of experience driving growth and global expansion. As Founder of Outfoxr, she helps organizations enter North American and Japanese markets with strategic precision. She’s held leadership roles at Numentum, F-Secure, and Sprinklr, leading channel marketing and alliances with Microsoft, Twitter, SAP, and IBM. A member of Women in Tech Japan and Forbes Communications Council, she splits time between the U.S. and Japan with her husband and two cats.

Rebekah Wilson-Lye Japan Craft Sake Company Co., Ltd. Export Manager
Aramasa Shuzō International Business Development Business Corporations

■ Career

Rebekah is one of Japan’s leading sake professionals. Her diverse work portfolio includes: organising Japan’s largest sake culture event, CRAFT SAKE WEEK; sake consultancy; brand management; product development; and oversight of the world’s first -5ºC sake export system that is secured with Sake Blockchain technology. Rebekah is an IWC Sake Judge, WSET Sake Educator, JETRO Ambassador, and regularly appears in Japanese media. She is also one of the three main subjects of the movie “Kampai: Sake Sisters”. In May, 2025, Rebekah became an executive officer at Akita brewery, Aramasa Shuzo.

Reza Khaj, Ph.D. Plug and Play Tech Center
Director and Ventures Investor Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Reza Khaj, PhD, is an engineer and venture investor passionate about advancing innovation in deep tech and climate tech. Reza began his career as a consulting engineer working on infrastructure projects before transitioning to cutting-edge research in AI, robotics, and automation. Through projects supported by the NSF and DOE at Texas A&M University and the University of Illinois, Reza contributed to advancements across industries like energy and mobility, including leadership roles in connected and autonomous vehicle research initiatives.
Today, Reza serves as a Director and Venture Investor at Plug and Play Tech Center, a globally recognized innovation platform headquartered in Silicon Valley, California. Plug and Play is celebrated for its early-stage investments in over 30 unicorns, including PayPal and Dropbox. The platform connects top startups with Fortune 500 companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Walmart, and Visa, fostering impactful partnerships that drive innovation and industry transformation.

Richard (Rickie) Koo DNX Venture Partners
Partner

■ Career

Coming soon

Rieko Tagawa Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Director

■ Career

Coming soon

Rike Wootten inQs Co., Ltd
Executive Director and Chief International Officer Startups

■ Career

Rike Wootten is a seasoned expert in Japan’s financial and business sectors with nearly 40 years of experience. He is the Executive Director and Chief International Officer at inQs and President of Vantage Capital Markets Japan. He has served on the Board of Governors of the Osaka Securities Exchange and the Japan Securities Dealers Association. Beyond finance, he played a key role in establishing the Tokyo American Club’s Nihonbashi facility. Fluent in Japanese and English, he continues to drive international business success in Tokyo.

Riran Kawakami Oobli
Product Development and Innovation Startups

■ Career

Riran is a principal product developer at Oobli, a biotech company unlocking happiness from sweets with the world's first protein-based sweetener: sweet proteins. She leads the formulation and manufacturing of Oobli products, leveraging novel sweet proteins to dramatically reduce sugar content while maintaining exceptional taste. Riran specializes in characterizing sweet proteins for food applications, and collaborating with industry to develop sugar-reduction solutions. She studied Biology at UC Berkeley, and previously worked at House Foods America in ingredient and production optimization.

Rob Chapman BLACKBOX
Content Manager Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Originally from the UK, Rob studied at a Japanese university from 2004 to 2008. He joined Queue in 2020 as a front-end developer, while also drawing on his background in editing and writing to lead content editing for Blackbox and contribute to various startup support projects in collaboration with local governments. Currently based in Kobe.

Rob Freelen Sozo Ventures
Managing Director & Investing Partner

■ Career

Rob Freelen is currently Managing Director and investing partner at Sozo Ventures. He is also a co-founder of LA-based FinTech company, Turbine Finance, a former SVB executive, and a Kauffman Fellow (Class 29).

Currently Rob serves on the boards of Carbon Robotics, Haus Labs by Lady Gaga, Mercy Bioanalytics, Turbine Finance, and Atomic Machines.

Immediately prior to joining Sozo Rob helped co-found Turbine Finance and before that was Silicon Valley Bank's Head of Venture Capital Relationship Management where he served as the bank's principal advisor to SVB Capital’s Fund-of-Funds and primary relationship manager for many of the top US Venture Capital firms. During his SVB career Rob led teams in both healthcare and technology, opened the Santa Monica office, led the Los Angeles region to record growth/profit, helped reorganize the sales organization as Chief of Staff, and did deals with hundreds of technology companies that accounted for hundreds of millions in loans and billions in deposits.

Rob has a B.A. in Psychology from Whitman College and has lectured at UCLA, USC, and Stanford on venture capital and venture lending.

Rob was born and raised on the Stanford University Campus and maintains his allegiance to the 49ers, Warriors, and Giants despite a decade long love affair with Southern California that began in 2015. On the weekends Rob and his wife can be found hiking and biking with their three daughters.

Robert Stephenson Cloud Cycle LTD - Chief Financial Officer
Chief Financial Officer & COO Startups

■ Career

Chartered Accountant and Expert in large projects, financial reporting, governance and financial modelling. Previously Shell and Anglo American. Engineering enthusiast

Roger Luo Embedding VC
Founder & Managing Director

■ Career

Roger Luo is the Founder and Managing Partner of Embedding VC, an early-stage venture fund based in Silicon Valley focused on backing Generative AI startups. A seasoned entrepreneur, he co-founded two AI SaaS startups and previously led machine learning teams at leading technology companies including Niantic, Snap, and Yahoo! Labs. He earned his PhD in machine learning from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in 2011. Prior to founding Embedding VC, Roger was an active angel investor and venture scout/partner, with over 30 startup investments—resulting in 7 successful exits and 3 unicorns.

Roma Priya Burgeon Law
Founder Experts

■ Career

Roma Priya, the Founder of Burgeon Law, is a distinguished entrepreneurial lawyer, mentor, and start-up enthusiast. Under her visionary leadership, the firm has evolved from a boutique practice to a global law firm renowned for its expertise in corporate law, transactional practice, fundraising, and dispute resolution. Passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship, she fosters long-term client relationships with her collaborative, solution-oriented approach. Roma’s commitment to mentoring entrepreneurs and contributing to social initiatives reflects her dedication to shaping India's future.

Rui Nagamori Leaflow Inc. / EmpowerHER Initiative
Founder and CEO Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Rui is the CEO of Leaflow Inc. After graduating from Keio University, she began her career in international logistics at Maersk Line before launching her first startup. Following a successful M&A exit from a children’s clothing resale platform, she founded Leaflow, a CBD beverage brand. With expertise in e-commerce, PR, and sustainability, she is also dedicated to mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs. Rui is an active contributor to Venture Café Tokyo and serves as a community manager at Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB), where she supports global entrepreneurial network building.

Ryo Iwamoto TeaRoom Inc.
Founder&CEO Startups

■ Career

Iwamoto graduated from Waseda University majoring in Political Science and Economics. Having cultivated his expertise in the art of Japanese tea ceremony in the Urasenke Tea Association since childhood, he now carries the honorific tea name “Souryo Iwamoto” and is active as a professor. At the age of 21, he founded the company TeaRoom. In an effort to address the structural challenges within the tea industry, he acquired multiple factories and tea gardens across Japan to have a vertically integrated model spanning from tea cultivation to distribution. This led him to establish a corporation known as THE CRAFT FARM, recognized as an agricultural land-owning entity. Awarded as Forbes JAPAN 30 UNDER 30 2022, Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2023, Global Shapers at the World Economic Forum. Holding the role of executive director at Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten Co., Ltd. and representative chairperson at Cultural Capital Lab, further attesting to his multifaceted achievements on a global scale.

Ryo Osera yugyo Inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Born in 1983 in Nagasaki, Japan. After graduating from the University of Tsukuba, Ryo started his career at Dentsu Inc., where he gained extensive experience in promotions and public relations. He later served as Social Media Director for the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office and as an Urban Development Advisor for Tsukuba City. In 2019, he co-founded HafH, a subscription-based travel service, before establishing Yugyo Inc. in 2022. Currently, he also serves as an Associate Professor at the Frontier Institute of Tourism Sciences, Kanazawa University.

Ryoichi Moriya 3DC Inc.
CFO Startups

■ Career

Ryoichi Moriya holds an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master’s in Chemical Engineering from Kyoto University. He began his career at SMBC Nikko Securities in investment banking, followed by McKinsey & Company, where he led strategy and transformation projects in the energy and manufacturing sectors. He currently oversees corporate strategy, fundraising, and strategic partnerships at 3DC Inc.

Ryoko Manabe Alchemist Japan LLC
Managing Director Startups

■ Career

Ryoko is a managing director (MD) of Alchemist Japan and based in Tokyo. Before Alchemist, she worked as MD at Endeavor Japan. Endeavor is a global non-profit organization that helps build startup ecosystems all over the world. She started her career as a strategy consultant but also built experience that covers a wide range: from startup co-founder to a manager of the big corporations and from consumer goods to tech companies. Currently, she also serves as a committee member of JST START program where she evaluates and selects R&D based tech pre-seed startups.
BS in Engineering, BS in Agriculture and Life Science (Dual degree) at Cornell University

Ryosuke Himeno WAKU Inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

He began his career at JXTG Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation (now ENEOS Corporation), where he was involved in corporate sales of petrochemical products and led initiatives in new business development.
He then served as a Project Manager at SWAT Mobility Japan, overseeing mobility solutions projects.
In July 2022, he founded WAKU Inc., a company focused on transforming the future of agriculture through biotechnology.

Having traveled to nearly 40 countries, he is deeply committed to addressing social injustices and systemic inequities he has encountered across the globe.

Ryusei Adachi Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.
Senior Managing Executive Officer, Co-Head of Retail & Business Banking Company Business Corporations

■ Career

1990 Joined the company
2002 Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd
2013 Mizuho Bank, Ltd.
2019 Executive Officer, Officer in charge of Sales Department and Branch
2020 Managing Executive Officer, Sales Officer and Area Manager
2021 Managing Executive Officer Area Manager (Corporate Area 1)
2023 Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. Group Executive Officer, Deputy General Manager of Retail & Business Corporation Company
Mizuho Bank, Ltd. Managing Executive Officer, Joint General Manager of Retail & Business Corporation Division
2025 Current Position

Ryusei Kurata PoliPoli Inc.
Director Startups

■ Career

Ryusei Kurata (Director and Executive Officer, PoliPoli, Inc.) Born in 1998 in Nara Prefecture and raised in Kanagawa Prefecture. Graduated from Keio University. In 2018, he co-founded PoliPoli, Inc., and until January 2025, he served as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), leading the development of "PoliPoli" and "PoliPoli Gov." He organized the Japan-ASEAN Generation Z/Future Generation Business Leaders Summit (2023, 2024), dedicating himself to promoting discussions and policy recommendations between Japan and ASEAN nations. He also has experience speaking at events related to blockchain and open governance. Currently, he is engaged in ASEAN business development and corporate affairs.

Ryuta Tosaki EY Tax
Associate Partner

■ Career

Coming soon

Sachie Abe Bosch Corporation
Manager, Business Development Dept. Business Corporations

■ Career

Sachie Abe is a business development manager in Bosch Japan. She commits to building new businesses by fostering open innovation with external enterprises including startups. In addition to the above, her new role is building new startups by matching and leveraging assets externally and internally. Before this, she began her career as an overseas sales in Bosch Japan and was responsible for automotive marketing areas there.

Sachiko Habu HABU PRO
CEO of HABU PRO, Author & Media Producer

■ Career

Founding Editor-in-Chief of Nikkei xwoman（2019‐）, Founding Editor-in-Chief of Nikkei ARIA（2019‐20）, Founding Editor-in-Chief of Nikkei DUAL（2013‐18）, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Nikkei MONEY(2005-12). Ms. HABU has creates many websites of the Women Carrier Sectors. Now in charge of a member of government experts meeting of ‘Selected Future2.0’ with Minister for Economic Revitalization, a member of the Cabinet Office’s Committee for Countermeasures against Declining Birthrate, and so on.She has many lectures about woman empowerment at Universities. Worked at the Editorial Engineering Research Institute with Mr. Matsuoka Seigow, edited “Senya-Sensatsu” Website. Graduated from Kyoto University (the Faculty of Agriculture and the Integrated Human Studies). In private, mother with 2kids.

Saeko Seno Shibuya City
Chief of Global City Promotion Section Public Institutions

■ Career

At the Shibuya City Office, I have gained experience in public relations, foreign resident registration (at that time), elderly welfare, human resources, and the systems department. Since April 2021, I have been assigned to the Global Hub City Promotion Office. Since joining this office, I have been involved in supporting startups, including conducting proof-of-concept experiments with startup companies, supporting female entrepreneurs, and creating a startup-friendly environment. Leveraging my extensive network within the Shibuya City Office, I aim to bridge the gap between startup companies and various departments within the city office.

Samah Aziz Atia Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
Director of International Relations Public Institutions

■ Career

Samah Aziz is the Director of International Relations at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in Egypt. She leads and mentors a team of professionals, providing all possible ways of raising their capabilities and awareness to well represent Egypt in regional and international arenas. She has been participating in the overall strategic planning and management of the Division since 2007. She worked in coordinating successful project implementation with government offices and civil organizations.

Samuli Siren Redstone.vc
CEO & Founder

■ Career

Coming soon

Sandeep Casi Antler
Partner VCs & Investors

■ Career

Sandeep Casi is a Partner at Antler in Japan, where he works to build transformative startups. His commitment extends beyond individual founders to Japan’s broader startup ecosystem, and he is also part of Antler’s Ibex team. He serves as a bridge between global corporations and startups, driving collaborations that foster innovation and address key industry challenges. As a VC, he raised millions from Japanese investors to help Silicon Valley startups enter Japan. As a founder, he spun off 30 patents from Fujifilm, raised $7M for a video AI platform, and successfully exited via M&A in 2021.

Sarah Fleischer tozero
CEO & Co-Founder Startups

■ Career

Sarah Fleischer is the co-founder and CEO of tozero, Europe’s first lithium-ion battery recycling startup. tozero is building the ultimate lithium-ion battery recycling machine, recovering essential materials like lithium and graphite.

Sarah Liu TDC Global
Founder & Managing Director Experts

■ Career

Sarah Liu, named one of Australia's 100 most influential women, is the founder of TDC Global, APAC's Top 10 DEI consultancy with a strong presence in Japan. She advises major Japanese international companies on DEI strategies and program development, and has published 3 DEI books in Japan. A recognized global leader, Sarah has presented at UN Women, Women in Tech Global Summit, and Global Australia, and advised the Japanese Prime Minister's Cabinet. She also sits on the udging panel for the Forbes Women's Awards and UTS Vice-Chancellor's Advisory Board.

Satoru Naito Co-founder & CEO of Anyplace Startups

■ Career

Steve Satoru Naito is the co-founder & CEO of Anyplace. After graduating from university, he moved to the United States and is currently based in San Francisco. He founded Anyplace, a hospitality company offering accommodations optimized for remote work. The company has received investment from notable figures such as Jason Calacanis, an early investor in Uber, and Steve Chen, co-founder of YouTube. He was selected for Forbes 30 Under 30 Japan.

Satoshi Hidaka Teraform, Inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Education
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology (2016)
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology (2019)

Professional Experience
2019–2024: Joined Hitachi, Ltd., engaged in new business development at the Social Innovation Business Division, with a focus on DeepTech sectors.

Awards & Achievements
2024: Grand Prize, TechPlanter AgriTech (hosted by Leave a Nest Co., Ltd.)
2025: Excellence Award, TOYOHASHI AGRI MEETUP (hosted by Toyohashi City)
2025: Grand Prize and VC Award, NEDO NEP-Lab
2025: Excellence Award, TechPlanter Tokyo (hosted by Leave a Nest Co., Ltd.)

Satoshi Tanabe Economic and Labor Affairs Bureau, Kawasaki City
Director General of the Economic and Labor Affairs Bureau, Kawasaki City Public Institutions

■ Career

Joined Kawasaki City Hall in 1990. After serving in various roles, including Section Manager of the Industrial Promotion Division and Section Manager and Director of the Next-Generation Industry Promotion Office and the International Strategy Promotion Division of the Coastal Area International Strategy Headquarters, he was appointed Director of the International Economic Promotion Office of the Economic and Labor Affairs Bureau in 2019. In 2021, he became Director of the Innovation Promotion Office, followed by Director of the Innovation Promotion Department in 2022. Since April 2025, he has been serving as Director General of the Economic and Labor Affairs Bureau (current position).

Saya Koyama Norinchukin Capital
Vice President VCs & Investors

■ Career

Saya Koyama is a venture capitalist at Norinchukin Capital, the investment subsidiary of Norinchukin Bank.
She is responsible for startup investments and support activities as part of the JA Group’s open innovation program, focusing on sectors such as agriculture, food, healthcare, finance, and climate change.
Prior to joining Norinchukin Capital, she worked as an equity analyst covering the food and healthcare sectors at an insurance company, and later gained consulting experience at a global consulting firm.

Sayaka Abe Co-creation Promotion Office
Chief Staff Public Institutions

■ Career

Originally from Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture. After graduating from Utsunomiya Girls' High School in Tochigi Prefecture, I advanced to Waseda University's School of Human Sciences in the Department of Human Environmental Sciences, specializing in clinical psychology (cognitive-behavioral therapy). I joined the Utsunomiya City Hall in fiscal year 2017. After joining, I worked for two years as a front desk employee at the District Citizens' Center, followed by six years as a caseworker in the Living Welfare Section, before assuming my current position in April of this year. I am currently a mother of two children. Utilizing my many years of front desk experience and my inherent communication skills, in my current role in the Co-creation Promotion Office, I am dedicated to advancing 'collaborative community development.' This initiative aims to improve citizen services and create new value by allowing the main actors in community development—citizens, businesses, organizations, and government—to incorporate each other's strengths and flexible ideas.

Sayaka Okumura for Startups, Inc.
Human Capitalist Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

After graduating from Waseda University, began a career as a supervisor at an apparel manufacturing company. Then transitioned to building official e‑commerce platforms for fashion brands and providing solution‑based sales support, helping clients overcome their business challenges.
Following the birth of her child, developed a strong desire to pursue work that is both meaningful and socially impactful. This led me to join For Startups, Inc., a company dedicated to supporting the growth of emerging industries and building a better future for Japan.
With a personal mission to make the combination of startups and parenting a more positive experience, specialize in career development around life events and in creating systems, cultures, and frameworks that enable diverse talent to thrive in startup environments. In personal life, I'm a single mother raising a three‑year‑old daughter.

Sayuri Nonaka Panagea Ventures
Director of Asia

■ Career

Coming soon

Seina Fujiwara Nikkei Inc.
SYNC25 Project Leader, Event & Project Planning Unit, Media Business Media

■ Career

Born in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture. Graduated with a degree in International Relations from Goldsmiths, University of London. During my university years, I participated One Young World Summit 2014 in Dublin as a delegate of Japan, known as the youth version of the Davos conference, engaging in dialogues with global leaders of the next generation on refugee education and other global challenges. After joining Nikkei Inc. in 2017, I worked in the advertising sales division, handling advertising for companies in the materials, chemical, and information communication sectors. Since 2022, I have been in charge of dessiminating solutions to solve social issue and global agenda in the events and planning division. Currently, I am involved in DE&I-related initiatives such as the SYNC25 Accountability Summit aimed at promoting disability inclusion in business, and the Nikkei Women's Empowerment Project advocating for gender equality in corporate management.

Shailesh Lakhani Peak XV Partners Investment
Managing Director

■ Career

Coming soon

Shantanu Jain Varaha ClimateAg Private Limited
Director, Strategy Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Shantanu is the director of strategy at Varaha, among Asia's leading carbon removals companies. He oversees the company’s strategic agenda across product, operations, partnerships, and finance to drive critical initiatives — whether it’s evaluating new market opportunities, refining unit economics, supporting fundraising, or orchestrating org-wide priorities. He is passionate about building institutions that work towards solving the climate crisis and strongly believes that markets, if steered thoughtfully, can be powerful levers for environmental change.

Shiho Fueki Bureau of Waterworks, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Director Public Institutions

■ Career

Director for Technology Section, Water Resources Administration Office, Bureau of Waterworks, Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Born in Tokyo, she joined TMG in 2005. In the Waterworks Bureau, Sewerage Bureau, and Construction Bureau, she has been in charge of infrastructure projects for Tokyo, such as the maintenance and management of facilities and earthquake resistance and renewal. She has been in her current position since April 2024. She is currently involved in managing the water resource forest that spreads upstream of the Tama River, which is one of the water resources for over 14 million Tokyo residents, and the Ogouchi Reservoir, which is exclusively for water supply. With a new perspective based on safety and efficiency, she will continue to protect water sources, including the water source forest that has existed for over 120 years, and secure the water source for Tokyo residents.

Shiho Takai QXLV
Associate

■ Career

Engaged in business development at IT companies, including new businesses at Yahoo! JAPAN and setting up a Japanese team for a US startup. In 2017, he joined an AI startup with about 10 employees and simultaneously changed his career to PR and marketing. After gaining experience at several AI startups from Series A to C, he joined QXLV (Quantum Leap Ventures), an independent VC firm, in February 2022. Focusing on investment operations, he also provides PR support to investee companies.

Shiho Watabe Shibuya Startups KK
CEO

■ Career

Shiho has held roles at Morgan Stanley Investment Banking Division (2006–2008), Google (2008–2017), Mercari US (2017–2019), ELSA Speak (2020), and several other startups. She holds degrees from Stanford University and ICU. Since 2021, she has served as an advisor to Shibuya City—her hometown—and became CEO of Shibuya Startups KK in February 2023.
As CEO, Shiho has supported or invested in over 40 startups across Japan and around the world, particularly in sectors such as the Care Economy, the Fandom and Creator Economy, and other innovative fields shaping the future of Japan and the broader global society. With professional experience spanning Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa, Silicon Valley, and Washington D.C., she brings a truly global perspective to startup investment and the growth of Shibuya City’s tech ecosystem.

Shinichi Nakasuka University of Tokyo
Professor Educational Institutions

■ Career

Prof. Shinichi Nakasuka graduated from Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo and received Ph.D in 1988. He has been working for Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, University of Tokyo as a lecturer, an associate professor and became a full professor in 2004. He is a member of JSASS (President in 2024), SICE, and IAA, and the former Chairperson of IFAC Aerospace Technical Committee. He founded UNISEC and UNISEC-GLOBAL as a domestic and international university community for space activities. He developed and launched 16 micro/nano/pico-satellites successfully including the world first CubeSat launched in 2003. He contributed to establishment of several space start-ups, and to the education based on micro/nano-satellites to Asian and many other countries. He was also a member of Space Policy Committee of Japanese Cabinet Office in 2012-2022, and now is chairperson of many other ministries’ space programs.

Shinichiro Yanagawa ENEOS Holdings, Inc.、ENEOS Corporation
Deputy General Manager, Carbon Neutral Strategy Department Business Corporations

■ Career

Shinichiro joined Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. (now ENEOS) in 1999, where he was mainly engaged in process and catalyst development. Later, as a manager in the R&D Planning Department, he formulated technology strategies with a focus on future energy trends. Since 2022, he has been in his current position, leading the formulation of group-wide targets and strategies for carbon neutrality and the circular economy at ENEOS. He also drives and executes projects related to carbon neutrality, including the creation of carbon credits through CCS and natural absorption, aiming to achieve sustainable enhancement of corporate value.

Shino Tsuchiya Google for Startups
Head of Google for Startups Japan Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Launched an international NGO's Japan branch, developed new businesses/funds (emerging/ESG) at a think tank. Founded and led a Tokyo coworking space & accelerator (12 yrs). In 2024, joined Google for Startups, overseeing Campus Shibuya and Japan's startup programs. Experienced in supporting regional, female, and young entrepreneurs, connecting impact startups with resources. University of Tokyo (MA), Oxford (Diploma). Supervised "Design for the Real World" translation (Eiji Shuppan).

Shinpei Kato TIER IV, Inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Shinpei is the founder and CEO of TIER IV and co-founder and chairman of the Autoware Foundation. He is also a project associate professor the University of Tokyo. A pioneer in open-source software for autonomous driving, Shinpei served as an associate professor at Nagoya University from 2012 to 2016, where his team created Autoware, the world’s first open-source software for autonomous driving. He was also a postdoctoral scholar at Keio University, the University of Tokyo, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of California.

Shiori Fukuda City of Kobe
Innovation Specialist Public Institutions

■ Career

Shiori Fukuda began her career at Mizuho Research & Technologies, Ltd., where she was engaged in research and consulting in the fields of social welfare and employment. She then joined the U.S.-based D2C startup Bokksu, taking on roles in corporate planning and product management. In 2023, she joined the City of Kobe, where she supports the global expansion of Japanese startups, facilitates business partnerships between international startups and domestic companies, and promotes collaboration with overseas startup ecosystems. She holds a B.A. and M.A. in Education from the University of Tokyo, and an MBA from GLOBIS University.

Shizuka Umehara Square Up New York
CEO Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Shizuka is the founder of Square Up New York, established in New York City in 2022, where she supports the U.S. market entry of overseas companies. Prior to founding the consulting firm, she worked at Deloitte Tohmatsu Venture Support Co., Ltd. in Tokyo, leading initiatives for the global expansion of Japanese startups and empowering women entrepreneurs. Earlier in her career, she provided tax compliance and advisory services to large Japanese corporations with U.S. subsidiaries at Ernst & Young in New York and PricewaterhouseCoopers in Los Angeles. She holds a Master’s degree in Financial Accounting from California State University Los Angeles.

Shogo Otani OOYOO Ltd.
Representative Director, CEO Startups

■ Career

With 18 years of experience at Marubeni Corporation in power and energy business development, including 14 years of overseas postings in Asia and the Americas. Transitioned into venture capital in 2023 to support startups, where a connection with OOYOO’s technology led to joining the company. Appointed Representative director in 2024.

Shogo Shimbo VLEAP.inc
CEO Startups

■ Career

Born in 1997, he spent his early childhood in France, Russia, and South Africa, growing up immersed in diverse cultures and values. While studying at the School of Social Sciences at Waseda University, he became fascinated by the potential of the metaverse. After receiving the highest evaluation in the Waseda GAPFUND project, hosted by Japan’s Ministry of Education, he founded VLEAP Inc. in 2020.

Since then, he has led projects such as the development of Virtual Dotonbori in collaboration with NTT DOCOMO, and the creation of metaverse systems for Waseda University and Tokyo Science University (formerly Tokyo Institute of Technology). To further expand the potential of the metaverse, he launched a WEB3D business and was officially recognized as a pioneer in new business fields after being commissioned by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to build a WEB3D/metaverse website.

Shohei Hayashi Global Brain Corporation
Partner, Investment Group VCs & investors

■ Career

Shohei joined GB in 2018, focusing on investment activities in various fields. He is also a Value Up Team member, supporting many portfolio startups. Before joining GB, Shohei worked for JPMorgan Securities Japan, JICA and Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting. He was engaged in rates trading at JPMorgan, investment/lending to emerging countries' private sector and infrastructure projects at JICA, and was responsible for cross-border M&A strategy and PMI consulting at Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting.

Shoma Ando RENATUS ROBOTICS Inc. COO
VCs & Investors

■ Career

COO of RENATUS ROBOTICS, a U.S.-based logistics robotics startup, and COO of TRUST SMITH, an AI startup originating from the University of Tokyo. General Partner at TRUST SMITH & CAPITAL, a seed-focused VC and incubator. Winner of IVS2024 LAUNCHPAD.

Shotaro Sasa LivCo Inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Graduated from the Faculty of Law at Chuo University. During his first year of university, he visited the Philippines—his first time abroad—and was deeply moved by the warmth of the people, sparking an interest in the potential of developing countries. In his final year, he was selected as a 6th cohort scholar of the MEXT-sponsored Tobitate! Study Abroad JAPAN program, and stationed in Myanmar as the local director of the NPO e-Education. While promoting video-based education, he co-founded Live the Dream Co., Ltd., Myanmar’s first career and university guidance media platform, with local youth. The service grew to over one million users and was later sold. After graduating, he joined Recruit Co., Ltd. as a new graduate and worked on a SaaS business for hotels under the Jalan brand. Following the military coup in Myanmar, he founded ASEAN HOUSE Inc. (now LivCo), where he currently leads a global HR business. His motto: “It’s normal to fail. If you succeed, you’re a badass.”

Shuhei Koike Beyond Japan
Founder & CEO Startups

■ Career

He is currently enrolled at a community college in the United States. During his teenage years, he struggled with a lack of direction and a sense of not belonging. However, a short-term study abroad experience in Canada became a turning point in his life.

Through the challenges he faced in a foreign country, he came to realize that “taking on challenges can transform your life.” Based on this formative experience, he launched Beyond Japan, a study abroad support initiative.

He is now working to create a society where young people—especially those facing academic or environmental difficulties—can change their lives through studying abroad.

Shuhong Chen Dondon Technologies
Founder

■ Career

Coming soon

Shuichi Ichimura KDDI CORPORATION
Senior Expert Strategy Lead of Space Business and Technology Business Corporations

■ Career

Shu is the strategy lead of space business and technology at KDDI Corporation. He is currently overseeing lunar navigation and communication projects including 3GPP technologies on the Moon. Before joining KDDI, he was engaged in research with regards to lunar base structures at JAXA Sagamihara Campus, and also served as a JAXA Flight Director of the International Space Station and led the flight controller team in the human space program.

Shuichiro Suzuki WasteBox, Inc.
President Experts

■ Career

Born in Saitama Prefecture, Japan in 1975, Shuichiro graduated from Waseda University. After working at a business company, he joined Recycle One, Inc. (now Renova, Inc.) in 2004, specializing in environmental consulting, where he was mainly engaged in environmental due diligence for real estate. In February 2006, he founded Wastebox, Inc. as an independent entrepreneur. As a professional in environmental impact and carbon accounting, he is well-versed in a wide range of carbon accounting methodologies required by companies. Drawing on his extensive experience and knowledge in climate change measures, including SBT target setting and CDP/TCFD disclosure, he established the Carbon Accounting Advisor Association in July 2022, serving as its founding representative director, with the mission of promoting accurate carbon accounting practices and integrating them into financial information.

Shuma Goko WithblueDMC.inc
CEO Business Corporations

■ Career

Shuma has been involved in cross-border marketing support and working on various cross-industry projects across more than 30 cities over 16 years. Since 2018, he started engaging in supporting startups, and has been responsible for attracting and expanding startups as part of the Okinawa Startup Ecosystem Project for the past 3 years.
In 2023, he established Withblue DMC Inc. in Okinawa, focusing on inbound tourism projects for the region. Additionally, he organizes annual global conference "Asia New Travel Bootcamp," aiming to build an innovator community across Asia.

Shun Ono Zero-Ten Park Inc. / Global Business Support
Director Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Originally from Philadelphia. Trilingual in English, German, and Japanese. After graduating from Temple University, he worked in a general trading firm handling sales and PM in automotive, aerospace, and construction. He led market entry in West Asia for renewable and biotech ventures, later relocating to Fukuoka to launch startups. Following the exit of a flour milling venture, he supports global founders at Fukuoka City’s Global Business Support and handles overseas projects at Zero-Ten Park.

Shunki Kubo ABABA Co., Ltd.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Originally from Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture, he founded the scout-based job matching service ABABA during his fourth year at Okayama University, inspired by observing his friends go through the job-hunting process. He has raised a total of 1.8 billion yen in funding and became the youngest entrepreneur to join Keidanren (Japan Business Federation). He was selected for Forbes JAPAN 30 UNDER 30 in 2024 and also serves as a commentator on Tokyo MX’s Live Junction with Jun Hori.

Shunsuke Naka NK SkyTech Solutions, Inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Born in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture. Currently studying law at Doshisha University. Launched a pesticide spraying business using agricultural drones, providing services to JA and local farmers to improve agricultural efficiency. In October 2023, founded NK SkyTech Solutions Inc. and now serving as CEO. Developed a flight log support service called “Touch de Hikou Nisshi” (meaning “Flight Log” in Japanese), utilizing NFC technology to enhance regulatory compliance.Selected for Toyama Prefecture’s T-Startup and METI’s J-StarX programs. Participated in an entrepreneurship training program in Silicon Valley with co-founder Asano. Aiming to build a drone fleet management service from Japan.

Sille Pettai SmartCap
CEO VCs & investors

■ Career

Sille is the CEO of SmartCap, Estonian state investment company focused on venture capital and growth investments with total assets exceeding EUR 400 million.
She is leading the investments of three funds - SmartCap Venture Capital Fund to contribute to capital market development and diversify capital supply, SmartCap Green Fund dedicated to green transition and SmartCap Defence Fund to strenghten Estonian defence industry.
She has been an investment executive for 18 years while managing alternative investment portflios and serves as a board member of the Estonian Venture Capital Association.

Simon Hirtzel IQ Capital
GP & COO

■ Career

Simon is a General Partner and Chief Operating Officer of IQ Capital. He participates in the development and execution of strategy, responsible for the management of IQ Capital’s operations, and in communications with investors and providing deal-level support to IQ’s portfolio companies.

Simon has over 30 years of management and financial experience. Prior to joining IQ Capital, he was general partner and COO at Kreos Capital, the pioneer European growth debt provider which grew to over £1bn of assets under management, investing over €2.5bn in some 600 investments in 16 countries.

Previously he was group CFO of the PA Group, a $500m global consulting and technology business with strong focus on commercialising tech spin-offs. Before PA, Simon worked in professional services, including Arthur Andersen in London and Frankfurt. Simon has an MA in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University.

Siu Rui Quek Carousell Group
Co-founder and CEO Startups

■ Career

Siu Rui is responsible for setting the overall strategy and direction for Carousell Group. Since the launch of Carousell in August 2012 together with co-founders Marcus Tan and Lucas Ngoo, Siu Rui has been deeply involved in product strategy, international expansion and growth. He is passionate about technology and its ability to make a meaningful impact at scale globally. This has been a driving force behind Siu Rui’s commitment to building a product-focused company, focused on Carousell’s mission to make secondhand the first choice for everyone.

Sonoko Harada HiJoJo Partners
Deputy Head of Investment Management Department

■ Career

Ms. Harada joined HiJoJo Partners in 2019 after working at Lehman Brothers and Mizuho Securities. The company focuses on the formation and management of funds that invest in overseas unicorn companies as well as domestic and international middle/later-stage private equity. It was the first in Japan to establish a fund that invests in U.S. unicorn companies like SpaceX, providing domestic investors with new investment opportunities. At the same time, the company offers hands-on support to its portfolio companies while assisting in their growth.

Sonoko Yasuhira The Japan Research Institute, Limited
New business development manager Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

I graduated from the Faculty of Design, Kyushu University, and completed a Full-time MBA Program (masters program) at the Graduate School of Business Administration, Keio University. After engaging in new business development and marketing at a private company, I joined the Japan Research Institute, Limited, where I belong to the Center for the Strategy of Emergence, responsible for market creation and new businesses, and I work as a project manager. My expertise lies in regional transportation and logistics, advanced mobility (such as MaaS, autonomous driving, and drones), and the Asian business environment (urban development, transportation, logistics). I contribute to solving social issues using cutting-edge technology through Social DX and conduct social impact assessments of business activities. In recent years, I have focused on projects that involve industry-academia-government collaboration.

Sorato Ijichi Creww Inc.
CEO Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Born in 1983. Moved to the United States alone at the age of 15. In 2005, at the age of 21, founded a business while studying at California State University. The company launched in the U.S. was sold to a major American corporation in 2010. Another company founded in the Philippines in 2009 was sold within three years.
Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, returned to Japan and founded Creww in 2012, operating an open innovation platform.
Currently involved in various organizations and projects related to the startup ecosystem and open innovation.

Spyridon Mentzas HiJoJo Partners
Founder & Co-CEO

■ Career

Coming soon

Stephy Deng Adofaer
CEO Startups

■ Career

Stephy Deng is the founder and CEO of Adofaer, a next-gen toy platform that helps companies transform concepts into collectibles through AI innovation.

Sudesh Thevasenabathy Manulife Hong Kong
Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Asia Business Corporations

■ Career

Sudesh is currently Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Asia at Manulife based in Hong Kong responsible for driving the DEI agenda across the region for employees and customers. At Manulife, he focusses his efforts on the workforce, workplace, community and the business to ensure inclusion is embedded across the organisation and beyond. He has been recognized as one of the top 20 Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kong through the 2024 Diversity List by the Zubin Foundation. He is a true believer and advocate of diversity and inclusion and actively supports inclusion of all forms be it disability, race, gender, sexuality and multi-generational employees. Sudesh is an Electronics and Computing engineering graduate and is Six Sigma, Lean and Human Centered Design trained.

Suno Nishiyama komham Inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Born in Hokkaido, I joined PARTY Inc., a creative firm, in 2016 after working at a PR agency following my university graduation. Since becoming a freelancer in 2018, I have been involved in PR and branding for startups such as VALU and ONE MEDIA, in addition to projects with PARTY Inc. I assumed my current position in 2020.

Swati Bhargava CashKaro & EarnKaro
Co-Founder Startups

■ Career

Swati Bhargava, Co-founder of CashKaro & EarnKaro, is a trailblazer in India’s e-commerce space & one of the top women entrepreneurs in the country. She graduated from the LSE & started her career at Goldman Sachs, London. She launched CashKaro, India’s largest cashback platform in 2013, followed by EarnKaro, India’s largest affiliate marketing app. The Company generates $500m in sales every year, and has raised over $30 million in funding. Swati is a TEDx speaker, social media influencer & has been featured in Fortune 40 Under 40, LinkedIn’s Top 10 Voices & various distinguished media.

Sébastien Richard Village by Crédit Agricole
CEO Village by Crédit Agricole 31 Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Sébastien Richard is the CEO of Village by CA 31, part of the largest startup acceleration structure in Europe founded by Crédit Agricole Bank. Holder of a PhD in sociology of innovation, he studied strategies for the adoption of new technologies in Canada before joining the Desjardins group and the team of their Innovation Lab in 2015. After developing the Cooperathon, the largest open innovation competition in Canada, he joined the Village by CA in Toulouse in 2020, to support startups in their national and international growth and advise companies on strategic innovation schemes.

Takahiro Ito EY Legal
Partner

■ Career

Coming soon

Takahiro Kato 01Booster Inc.
Director Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

I worked for a major manufacturer, researching and developing mobile communications.
Next I joined an Internet venture company in its early stages of establishment and was instrumental in expanding the business to a company with sales of 1 billion yen and 70 employees.
After that, I worked for GLOBIS Corporation. where I was responsible for multiple business launches, including the launch of the digital content business.
Since 2011, I have also served as a faculty member at the Graduate School of Management, Globis University.

I currently sit on the board of directors of Zero One Booster Inc. and on the faculty of the Graduate School of Management, Globis University, as well as serving as an outside director of CORES, Inc.

Takako Kotake Cookpad Inc.
Director General of the Public Relations Department Expert Member of the Food Education Promotion Council, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan Business Corporations

■ Career

Born in 1972 in Ishikawa Prefecture. Graduated from the School of Sociology, Kwansei Gakuin University. After working as a web director at Hakuhodo i-studio Inc., she joined Coin Ltd. (later Cookpad Inc.) in 2004. She was appointed Head of the Editorial Department in 2006 and Executive Officer in 2008. In 2009, she received the “Woman of the Year 2010” award from Nikkei WOMAN. After leaving Cookpad Inc. in 2012 to work independently, she returned to the company in April 2016 and continues in her current role.

As a culinary expert, she has authored cookbooks such as "With Just a Little Memorization, You Can Make Restaurant-Level Meals" (Nikkei BP), and serves as the host of Cookpad’s podcast "We All Eat" where she shares the joy of cooking.

Takanari Ono VALT JAPAN Co., Ltd.
CEO Startups

■ Career

After graduating from university, he worked for 3 years as a medical representative (MR) for a pharmaceutical company. In 2014, he started VALT JAPAN, developing “NEXT HERO,” a DX platform for people with difficulties in employment.

TAKASHI HADA SAKAI CITY GOVERMENT
Tokyo Office Director Public Institutions

■ Career

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Takashi Sugiyama Gigi Inc.
Board Member / CBDO Startups

■ Career

With 15 years of experience at Andersen Consulting and Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting, he was involved in managing large-scale development projects and formulating IT strategies for local governments at global consulting firms. Later, inspired by his pro bono work, he shifted his focus to grassroots IT community activities in Fukuoka. He spearheaded initiatives such as Daimyo Now—an early example of community revitalization through Twitter—AIP Café, the cradle of Fukuoka’s tech community, and the social media strategy for Takeo City. Currently, he continues to lead multiple projects under the motto “Transforming Japan from the Regions, ” while living and working between Fukuoka and Tokyo.

Takashi Ueda Nikkei inc.
Editor, Commentary Center, Editorial Division Business Corporations

■ Career

Takashi Ueda is a journalist at Nikkei Inc., covering startups, new business development, innovation, SDGs, and social entrepreneurship. He has deep knowledge of the fund industry, including venture capital and private equity. He has covered major global tech events on-site, including CES in Las Vegas, Viva Technology in Paris, and DLD Tel Aviv. Ueda serves as a judge for startup competitions such as Startup World Cup and various Tokyo Metropolitan Government contests. He has planned and managed events such as FIN/SUM (co-hosted by Nikkei and Financial Services Agency) and Nikkei Innovation Meetup. He has also organized and spoken at talk sessions, including TechGALA in Nagoya. Ueda has lectured at Tokyo Institute of Technology, Doshisha University, Waseda University, and others. His publications include "French Tech" (co-authored, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs).

Takayuki Nishikawa Ashirase Inc.
Accessibility Partner Startups

■ Career

He is a person with a visual impairment caused by a retinal disease. His vision is around 0.1, and his visual field is about the size of a softball. After spending about 15 years managing internal systems at a major telecommunications company, he worked on improving the accessibility of smartphone apps at a global IT firm. In May 2024, he joined Ashirase, where he draws on his own experiences as a person with low vision to help create better services.

Takeru Kawashima 01Booster Inc.
Executive Director Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

After graduating from Waseda University, Kawashima worked in business development for a Japanese Medical Device company in the EMEA region, then transitioned to Product Marketing at a Global Medical Device company. Joining 01Booster, Inc., a Japanese Accelerator, in 2017, he managed several accelerator programs and developed international partnerships with accelerators outside Japan. He also founded "InnoScouter, Inc.," focusing on enterprise SaaS startups, and later successfully exited to 01Booster. Now he is in charge of new business developments and global projects as the executive director of 01Booster.

Takeshi Chino Binance Japan Inc.
General Manager for Japan Startups

■ Career

Takeshi Chino joined Binance as General Manager for Japan in July 2022, and he has been working collaboratively with regulators, policymakers, and industry leaders since then. His focus will be to develop business opportunities for Binance and grow the firm’s operations in Japan in a responsible and compliant manner to build a sustainable web3 ecosystem in Japan. In 2021, he served as the Vice Chairman of the Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association (JVCEA) and in 2023 he was a board member of the Japan Cryptocurrency Business Association (JCBA). Prior to joining Binance, Takeshi held senior roles as Managing Director and Head of Japan at Kraken Japan where he played an instrumental role in successfully obtaining Kraken’s JFSA registration. Prior to that, he held roles at PwC Japan, Tokyo Stock Exchange, and Japan Securities Clearing Corporation. He is a graduate of Keio University and the Said Business School, University of Oxford.

Takuya Sakamoto MOL PLUS Co., Ltd.
Chief Executive Officer VCs & Investors

■ Career

Joined Mitsui O.S.K. Lines in 2012. After working in the Iron & Steel Raw Materials Department, a Singapore subsidiary, and the Car Carrier Department, he proposed the establishment of a “shipping version of CVC” under the in-house entrepreneurship system. In April 2021, he established MOL PLUS and became its representative.

Tamaki Hiroi Videory / Faculty of Entrepreneurship, Musashino University
Founder Startups

■ Career

I studied abroad in Hawaii for one month during her second year of high school, where I developed her English skills and gained exposure to diverse cultures. This experience profoundly influenced my worldview and served as the foundation for mine current initiative—“Videory,” an English learning service designed to empower learners through daily video diaries.
In 2023, she was accepted as a third-cohort student in the Entrepreneurial Mindset Course (EMC).
I was selected as a finalist in the 2024 EMC SUMMIT, participated in a training program on the East Coast of the United States in the same year, and was named a finalist in the Global Division at the 2025 EMC GLOBAL SUMMIT.

Tarun Sharma Nokia Ventures
Partner & COO VCs & Investors

■ Career

Tarun Sharma is an experienced venture leader serving as Partner & COO at Nokia Ventures. With over 20 years of expertise in venture investments, venture building, fund management, and driving high-growth businesses, Tarun actively contributes to the startup ecosystem, including accelerators and incubators. His experience includes leadership roles in Fortune 100 companies like Microsoft, IBM, and Nokia. Tarun is Executive-In-Residence at Aalto University supporting corporate venturing, a trusted advisor to startups and scale-ups, serving as a board member, mentor, and angel investor.

Tatsuya Noda PLUM KNOT
Co-founder/Chef Experts

■ Career

Born in Fukuoka in 1985, he transitioned from a semiconductor engineer to a chef.
After training at restaurants in Tokyo and Paris, he became the director of kitchen space nôl, leading it to earn a Michelin star.
In 2024, the restaurant was also awarded the Michelin Green Star, a symbol highlighting commitment to sustainable gastronomy.
He is the only chef in the history of Japan’s largest young chef competition, RED U-35, to receive the Semi-Grand Prix three times (2015, 2019, 2021).
With a focus on creating new forms of deliciousness, he works across disciplines—connecting food with medicine, art, and technology.

Teng Lip KHOO ST Engineering Ventures
Head VCs & investors

■ Career

Teng Lip is Head of ST Engineering Ventures (“STEV”) – the corporate venture capital and venture building unit of Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (SGX: S63) - a global technology, defence and engineering group with businesses across the aerospace, smart city, defence and public security segments. Headquartered in Singapore, ST Engineering reported revenue of US$8.5B in FY2024 and it ranks among the largest companies listed on the Singapore Exchange.

Teppei Yasuda TelaAxon, Inc.
Chief Executive Officer Startups

■ Career

Coming soon

Terry Tsai Lime
Japan Country Manager & Regional Director of Asia Pacific Startups

■ Career

Head of Lime in Asia Pacific. Previously served as executive in IT companies such as Apple and Netflix. Tri-lingual and multicultural executive with a singular minded mission of enriching people’s lives with technology and innovation.

Tiffine Wang Inception Studio & Onsen Global
Advisor, VP - Inception Studio, Managing Partner - Onsen Global Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Tiffine Wang is an advisor/Venture Partner at Inception Studio and CEO, Managing Partner of Onsen Global. Tiffine advises boards, LPs, corporations, government entities, and funds across the US, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, the EU, UK, and Israel.

Previously, she led partnerships and worked on strategic investments at Singtel Innov8 (US$200M AUM) and was a Partner at MS&AD Ventures, across 4 funds (US$300M AUM). She is recognized as one of Silicon Valley’s 40 Under 40, a Woman of Influence, and GCV’s Top Emerging Leader.She has been featured in Nikkei Women, Modern Insurance, Commonwealth. Tiffine is also an Industry Fellow at UC Berkeley, as well as an Advisory Board member at UC Santa Cruz, Center for Financial Analytics

Ting Wen With U
Founder Startups

■ Career

Started my career as an engineer at Rakuten, Inc. in 2011, then joined LINE Yahoo Corporation in 2016 as a product manager. Led development across payment, reservation, and account systems, and spearheaded multiple new business initiatives. My turning point came in 2021, when my second child was born with Down syndrome. Facing the challenges of developmental support firsthand, I made it my mission to change the system with technology. I launched a project with professionals, engineers, and parents to leverage AI for visualizing child development and delivering truly personalized support. In 2023, the project was selected for NEDO NEP, followed by J-StarX and MassChallenge. I continue to push forward to bring personalized developmental support to every child who needs it.

Tommy Tjiptadjaja Greenhope
Co-Founder & CEO Startups

■ Career

A social entrepreneur dedicated to creating a net-positive social and environmental impact through viable business. Selected by the Schwab Foundation and a Harvard scholarship recipient, he was named in Asia Tatler’s Impact List 2020. He also serves as part of Indonesia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Circular Economy, as well as regular attendees at WEF and COP. As Greenhope Co-Founder & CEO he drives innovation in patented bio-based and biodegradable techs like Oxium (natural minerals) and Ecoplas & Naturloop (Fair For Life-certified cassava/tapioca-based solutions).

Tomohiko Morikawa Shochiku Ventures, Inc.
Director and Management Executive Officer, Shochiku Ventures, inc. Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

He joined Shochiku Co., Ltd. as a new graduate in 2010. After working in the theater business and serving as the president’s secretary, he moved to the Corporate Planning Department, where he was seconded to Drone Fund, a VC fund specializing in the drone and air mobility sectors, engaging in startup support activities.In 2022, he launched Shochiku Ventures, the corporate venture capital (CVC) arm of Shochiku, where he now manages an accelerator program and supports and invests in co-creation projects with startup companies.

Tomohiro Okada KAERU, Inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

As a new graduate, in charge of corporate sales and business development at Net Protections, then joined a startup in Southeast Asia. He was involved in service growth at LINE, from the launch of the LINE Pay to business strategy planning, product planning, etc. In 2020, he founded KAERU, inc.

Tomoko Arai Gaiax Co., Ltd.
Corporate culture Promotion Office Manager Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

After completing her studies in Sustainability at the University of Tokyo Graduate School, she joined Gaiax as a new graduate in 2013. She was involved in sales and helped establish the President’s Office. In 2016, she launched a food service initiative, which became a formal business in 2017 under the name tiny peace kitchen.

In 2020, she joined Gaiax’s executive management team. After taking her second parental leave, she became Head of Brand Promotion in 2022, and assumed her current position in 2024. She is now responsible for Gaiax’s overall branding, public relations, recruitment, and organizational development.

Tomoko Ishikura Kicker Ventures
Managing Partner VCs & Investors

■ Career

Tomoko is a Managing Partner at Kicker Ventures. Tomoko has extensive experience across various sectors of healthcare in many different countries and business cultures.
Before founding Kicker Ventures, she served as Business Development Advisor to Nipro, worked for Axios International in France, UNICEF in Rwanda, and PwC’s PRTM and Aqumen Biopharmaceutical in Japan. Tomoko is a trained pharmacist and molecular biologist, holding an MBA from INSEAD and an MS from Kyushu University.
A strong advocate for women in venture, Tomoko is active in the U.S. female VC community, speaks at major global conferences, and mentors in leading accelerator programs — guiding the next generation of healthcare entrepreneurs and investors.
In addition to her role at Kicker Ventures, Tomoko teaches meditation classes in San Francisco and brings thoughtful and practical approaches back to her work in fostering a valuable, authentic community in the healthcare industry.

Tomosaku Sohara NordicNinja VC
Managing Partner VCs & investors

■ Career

Managing Partner at NordicNinja VC. Over 10 years experience of international finance and investment especially mobility and energy related projects in Europe and Latin America region. In 2019 founded NordicNinja VC and has been leading several investments into early stage companies. Focus areas are ClimateTech, Deep Tech and so on. Superadvisory member of Nordic Asian Venture Alliance.

Toshihiro Obata Synspective Inc.
Board Director & Head of Technology Strategy Office Startups

■ Career

Toshihiro joined Synspective in April 2019 as a member of the Board of Directors and the General Manager of Satellite System Development. Toshihiro oversees the development, manufacturing, and operations of Synspective's small SAR satellites. Currently as the Head of the Technology Strategy Office, he drives efforts to formulate the company's technology roadmap, form strategic partnerships, and conduct relevant research.

Prior to joining Synspective, Toshihiro worked at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation for more than 19 years, first leading the team working on attitude control subsystems for Earth observation satellites, then as the manager of systems engineering for Earth observation satellites. Toshihiro also worked for TerraSAR-X in Astrium (now Airbus DS) in Friedrichshafen, Germany as an exchange engineer in 2004. Toshihiro holds an MS in Engineering from the University of Tokyo. In 2016, he joined the University of Tokyo to work on the system design of small SAR satellites, which has since become the basis for Synspective's demonstration satellites.

Toshiya Watanabe Institute of Science Tokyo
Vice President Educational Institutions

■ Career

Completed a doctoral program at Tokyo Institute of Technology and earned a Ph.D. in Engineering. After working in the private sector, served as Professor, Executive Director, and Vice President at the University of Tokyo’s Center for Global Commons. Currently Vice President of Institute of Science Tokyo, Visiting Professor and Advisor at the University of Tokyo, Advisor to RIKEN, and President of the Japan Association of Intellectual Property.
His areas of expertise include innovation and intellectual property policy. He led the University of Tokyo’s investment initiatives and was involved in the establishment of three major funds totaling approximately 40 billion yen.

Tsukasa HONDA Geocreates, Inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

After working on a research project that won an Architectural Institute of Japan award at a graduate school, HONDA founded Geocreates Inc. in 2012, a company specializing in digital design for architecture. He has been involved in over 150 domestic and international urban planning, architectural, and interior design projects with major design firms. In 2018, as a VR startup, he launched ToPolog, a VR SaaS that quantifies spatial experiences with the mission of "democratizing spatial design." In the fields of real estate, disaster prevention, and retail, he has developed a number of services that sustainably link VR and AI data gained by gaze and brainwave analysis. In the field of disaster prevention, he is currently developing an AI smartphone app for home fire safety and disaster prevention , jointly with the Tokyo Fire Department, and a virtual evacuation drill using VR, jointly with Nikken Sekkei.

Una Softic Intertangible
Managing Director Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Una Softic is the Managing Director at Intertangible, a professional services firm specializing in AI and fintech, and Strategic Advisor to Coinpost, Japanese Web3 media. Previously, she led global innovation programs at Nikkei, specializing in AI applications in fintech. She serves on boards and advises emerging tech ventures, drawing on 15+ years of experience in international business development and product strategy, which began at Intel and General Motors across Europe and the U.S.

Vaibhav Vardhan Inc42 Media
Cofounder & CEO Media

■ Career

Vaibhav Vardhan saw India’s startup landscape grow from a scattered hustle to a $100B+ force—and built Inc42 to drive that momentum. As Co-founder & CEO of Inc42, he has shaped how India engages with startups, venture capital, and emerging tech.
With Vaibhav at the helm, Inc42 is reaching 50M+ users monthly, publishing 50K+ stories, tracking 30K+ startups, and running 8 parallel courses that are shaping the next generation of founders. From breaking stories that move markets to hosting conversations that set industry agendas, Inc42 has become the nerve center of India’s digital economy.

Vijayalakshmi Karuppasamy FOX Academy KK , Sapporo
Founder & CEO Startups

■ Career

Founder & CEO @FOX Academy, Startup Visa Graduate - Hokkaido. FOX Academy is an EdTech startup providing online AI courses in Japanese & English, empowering Japan’s youth with skills for a future-ready workforce.

Vik Kashyap Toi Labs
CEO Startups

■ Career

Vik Kashyap is the Founder & CEO of Toi Labs, whose AI-powered toilet seat, TrueLoo, transforms ordinary toilets into a source of valuable data. Funded by top global bathroom brands, Toi Labs is pushing the boundaries of science to deliver healthcare at home. Vik developed a new treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), co-authored a paper in Science, and his journey has been written about in two books. He holds multiple issued patents and is a graduate of Harvard University.

Vincent Poizat Studio 2050 Ventures, Snowball Innovation Advisory
Head of Venture Investments / Partner

■ Career

Vincent’s areas of expertise are venture investments and acquisitions, and the strategic design of such functions. He currently leads Venture Investments for Studio 2050 Ventures, a global Climate Tech venture studio with a dedicated venture capital arm, and is a partner at Snowball Innovation Advisory, where he assists large corporations in their venture investment and acquisition efforts.

He previously worked for Mach49, a Silicon Valley-based company, where he designed and worked as Partner-in-Residence on several Corporate Venture Capital funds, with a focus on sustainability. Past clients include BHP Ventures, Vale Ventures, Anglo-American, Hines Global Ventures, Callon Petroleum, SLB, Xerox PARC, and Baker-Hughes.

Prior to this, Vincent spent 21 years in Asia (15 years in Japan and 6 years in Singapore), where he focused on investment banking and cross-border M&A advisory at outfits such as Shinsei Bank, ING Bank, and Deloitte, before focusing on corporate venture capital at Deloitte Japan. He worked across all sectors, with an emphasis on natural resources.

Vincent holds an MSc in Geological Engineering (Liege University, Belgium) and an MBA (Bayes Business School, London).

He is based in Barcelona.

Vivart Rangari Choira
Co-Founder & CEO Startups

■ Career

Vivart Rangari is the Co-Founder & CEO of Choira, an AI-powered MusicTech startup incubated at SINE, IIT Bombay. Choira is India’s largest studio network with 350+ creative spaces, now expanding globally with a focus on cross-border music collaboration.
A trained Indian classical singer and certified Electronic Music Producer from the School of Audio Engineering, Thailand, Vivart has worked with over 100 artists worldwide, garnering 10M+ cumulative streams.

He led Choira to Sushi Tech Tokyo 2024, where the startup received a Global Startup Award, and was recently selected among the Top 16 global pitchers at TechGALA Nagoya 2025. He is also part of Musashino University’s EMC Global Initiative, deepening his engagement with Japan’s creative and tech ecosystem.

Vivart’s vision bridges art, technology, and global cultural exchange—making him a passionate advocate for how creative innovation can empower the next generation of creators in Japan and beyond.

Vy Le Hoang Uyen Do Ventures
General Partner VCs & investors

■ Career

Vy is the Co-founder and General Partner of Do Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm that focuses on making investments in technology companies in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Vy has invested in 40 companies across diverse sectors.
Vy serves as Chair of the Vietnam Private Capital Agency, where she drives initiatives to strengthen the private capital ecosystem in Vietnam, and as Vice President of the Vietnam E-commerce Association, where she plays a key role in advancing the local e-comme.

Wataru "Watts" Mizote for Startups, Inc.
Executive Officer Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

After beginning my career at Recruit Co., Ltd., I joined GREE, Inc., where I contributed to launching the company's smartphone business and establishing its European office. I subsequently led global business expansion at AOI Pro. Inc. and Metaps Inc., focusing on developing new global markets and partnerships. At 17LIVE, I was responsible for launching the Japan operation and played a key role in growing the global live streaming market. In 2022, I joined "for Startups, Inc.", where I initially focused on talent development and organizational design within the Talent Agency Division. I now lead the strategic planning division, leveraging my experience to drive core business growth, empower emerging leaders, and support the evolution of Japan's startup ecosystem.

Wayne Shen Agora
Conversational AI Product Lead，Agora Lab. Startups

■ Career

Wayne Shen holds a Master of Science from the University of Illinois. As the product owner of Agora’s conversational AI engine, he drives long-term growth and platform excellence to support client success. With deep expertise in industry-specific AI solutions, he has delivered measurable impact in education, customer service and entertainment. Passionate about leveraging conversational AI to accelerate business growth, he believes in building the future through collaboration.

Wei Zhou Sharkey Technologies (Pre-startup)
CEO Candidate Startups

■ Career

Dr. Zhou received her Master's degree from Tsinghua University (China) and a Ph.D. in Medical Sciences from Ehime University (Japan). Her doctoral research earned her the Young Investigator Award from the Japanese Biochemical Society. She has held research and academic positions at Hebei Normal University (China), the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Kyoto University, and Ehime University. She is currently dedicated to launching Sharkey Technologies, a biotech venture developing next-generation therapeutics based on shark-derived antibodies.

William D. Chilton FAIA, RIBA Pickard Chilton
Co-Founding Principal Experts

■ Career

Based in Connecticut, USA, Pickard Chilton is a globally recognized architecture studio renowned for designing innovative buildings and transformative environments that foster community and create value. William Chilton has led landmark projects worldwide, including The Linkpillar I, the newly completed 460,000 m² centerpiece of East Japan Railway Company’s Takanawa Gateway City—a visionary 13-ha. transit-oriented development adjacent to Tokyo’s Shinagawa Station and, Tokyo Midtown Yaesu, a 240-m., 290,000 m² mixed-use high-rise for Mitsui Fudosan, redefining Tokyo Station’s urban landscape.

XIAOYAN ZHOU I.W.G Inc
Co-founder Startups

■ Career

Since 2017, engaged in the AI healthcare sector. As the Managing Director of the Japan subsidiary of a Chinese medical AI company, led collaborations with university hospitals and supported regulatory approvals. Scaled the startup from 20 people to a Pre-IPO stage. Founded I.W.G in 2021, developing a cloud-based medical platform powered by AI. Experienced in partnerships with domestic and international healthcare institutions and companies. Skilled in team building and strategic business planning and execution.

Yamato Nakamoto STARTUP HOKKAIDO
Global Manager Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

After moving from a financial institution to Sapporo City, he has been in charge of providing management support for SMEs and startup support for numerous startups.
He participated in the launch of “STARTUP CITY SAPPORO,” a startup development project, and has experience in planning and managing demonstration projects between the local government and startups.
As a bridge between the local community and startups, he is also involved in Global startup conference held in Sapporo city.

Yap Eai-Sy JTC
Director of New Estates Business Development & Marketing Division and Info-comms, Media & Startup Cluster Public Institutions

■ Career

As the Director for New Estates Business Development and Marketing, Ms Yap Eai-Sy leads the development of JTC's new estates in Singapore such as one-north and Punggol Digital District, JTC’s first smart and sustainable district. She is concurrently the Director of InfoComm, Media & and Start-up Custer, where she spearheads the planning, development and marketing of JTC’s industrial facilities to advance these sectors in Singapore.

Yasuhito UTO BULL Co., Ltd.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Born in Aichi Prefecture. After graduating from the School of Law at Waseda University, he joined the Ministry of Defense (National Public Service, Law), where he was involved in planning and drafting operations of the Self Defense Forces, Japan-U.S. Alliance policy, and joint training. During his tenure at the Ministry, he earned a Master's degree in International Politics from Stanford University Graduate School of Law, and was in charge of river-related administrative regulations when he was transferred to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. After retiring from the Ministry of Defense, he worked as an Associate Manager at Industrial Growth Platform, Inc. for consulting services such as business revitalization. Then, he joined ALE, a space start-up company, as Head of Space Environment in charge of atmospheric data business and space debris mitigation business.

Yinglan Tan Insignia Ventures Partners
Founding Managing Partner VCs & Investors

■ Career

Tan Yinglan is the Founding Managing Partner of Insignia Ventures Partners, a Southeast Asian early-to-growth stage venture capital firm that debuted in 2017 and manages capital from premier institutional investors including sovereign wealth funds, foundations, university endowments and renowned family offices from Asia, Europe and North America. Portfolio companies include GoTo (IDX: GOTO), Appier (TSE: 4180), Carro, Ajaib, and many other technology market leaders.

Yohei Kawabata Toyama Prefecture
Assistant manager Public Institutions

■ Career

In office since April 2025. In Toyama Prefecture, through support for founder fundraising, the establishment of startup support facilities, and support for businesses aiming to become startups, we are working to create an environment where anyone, regardless of age or career, can challenge themselves to start a business, aiming to achieve the highest growth in the number of startups in Japan and creating an exciting new Toyama.

Yohei Nishiyama TENCHIJIN, INC.
Executive Officer, VP of BD with expertise in New Business and GTM Strategy Startups

■ Career

Mr. Nishiyama is leading the global expansion of "KnoWaterleak" (the Space Water Bureau) and the rollout of renewable energy solutions. He has driven the growth of Techstars, Y Combinator, and Vision Fund-backed startups, with successful market entries across Japan, the U.S., and Southeast Asia. He now promotes infrastructure optimization and innovation in the renewable energy sector through satellite data and AI-powered solutions.

Yoichi Ito Faculty of Entrepreneurship, Musashino University.
Dean Educational Institutions

■ Career

Specialist in fostering the next generation of leaders who embrace entrepreneurship and work to make the world a better place, he established the Faculty of Entrepreneurship at Musashino University (Musashino EMC) in 2021 and became its dean.
In June 2023, he opened Musashino Valley, a start-up studio. He supports all those who want to take the "next step". In addition, as President of LINE Yahoo! Academia, he develops the next generation of leaders. His bestselling book, "Speak in One Minute" has sold over 670,000 copies.

Yoichi Morimoto HiJoJo Partners
Executive Officer & Head of Business Development

■ Career

At Goldman Sachs Securities, I oversaw three divisions: Institutional Investor Sales, Corporate Sales, and Corporate Access, directing strategies to enhance the corporate value of publicly listed companies and manage IPO and PO sales strategies. Since June 2024, I have been serving as the Executive Officer in charge of new business development, focusing on supporting the sustainable growth of our portfolio companies. Our company is involved in the formation and management of funds that invest in overseas unicorn companies as well as domestic and international middle/later-stage private equity, while simultaneously providing capital policy and business growth support to our portfolio companies. In 2024, we established a capital business partnership with Nasdaq Private Market, the world's largest secondary market. Additionally, I was involved in the relaxation of regulations as a member of the Japan Securities Dealers Association's Regulatory Relaxation Committee in 2021, contributing to the easing of the Type 1 Financial Instruments Business License requirements.

Yoshimi Imada Takeoff Tokyo
PR / Marketing Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Since her time as a university student, she has been involved in public relations and marketing for global startup initiatives such as the Takeoff Tokyo conference and Shibuya Ward’s startup support project Shibuya Startup Support. She has supported startups aiming to expand overseas as well as international startups seeking entry into the Japanese market.

Yoshitaka Tabuchi Zebras and Company Inc.
Co-CEO VCs & Investors

■ Career

After leaving Nissho Iwai Corporation (now Sojitz Corporation), Yoshi has been involved in domestic and international impact investing at LGT Venture Philanthropy (an impact investment institution founded by the princely family of Liechtenstein), Social Investment Partners, Social Innovation and Investment Foundation, and others. He specializes in business conceptualization, management support, and overseas partner formation based on his global experience and industrial-academic network. Yoshi is also the East Asia Community Activator of The Cartier Women's Initiative.

Yoshiya Amanai EAST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY
Manager Business Corporations

■ Career

In 2001, Mr. Amanai joined EAST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY. He accumulated his professional career in shopping complex development and operation about for 5 years. After earning his MBA at Washington University in St. Louis in 2010, he has been engaged in several real estate development projects in Tokyo metropolitan area. Since then, he has led TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY project over 15 years and covered a wide range of tasks such as concept, master plan, date infrastructure, key tenants leasing, start-up investment, and community development. TAKANAWA GATE WAY CITY just opened March 27th in 2025.

Yosuke Maeda WOTA Corp.
Representative Director & CEO Startups

■ Career

Born in Tokushima, Japan. Yosuke graduated from the University of Tokyo, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering. He also complated the Master's Program in Architecture, Graduate School of Engineering, at the University of Tokyo. He began researching biology and chemistry in elementary school, and his interest in water issues in junior high school led him to conduct research on water treatment in high school. He studied urban infrastructure and the living environment of slums in developing countries at university, and housing facilities (water supply, drainage, and sanitation) at graduate school. While in school, he worked on sensor and control development at the world-renowned digital art collective teamLab, among others. He later started his own business and sold the business. He received The University of Tokyo President's Award for Students, the GOOD DESIGN GRAND AWARD from Japan Institute of Design Promotion, and others. As CEO of WOTA, he aims to provide structural solutions to water problems.

Yota Takakura Innoqua inc.
CEO Startups

■ Career

Graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo and conducted research on practice support systems for musical instruments using machine learning at Professor Junichi Rekimoto's laboratory in the university's graduate school.In April 2019, founded Innoqua Inc.In 2025, selected for "J-Startup," a startup support program promoted by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).Utilizing proprietary "environmental transfer technology" that recreates marine ecosystems such as coral reefs in aquariums, he collaborates with major corporations to create new businesses centered around biodiversity.He also founded the Setouchi Nagisa Forum, working toward balancing regional nature conservation and economic development.In October 2021, he was appointed Director of the Rohto Kodomo Mirai Foundation, and in the same year, was selected for Forbes JAPAN's "30 UNDER 30."Since April 2024, he serves as a Director of the Shiodamari Foundation, an intiative to preserve natural ocean ecosystems.

Youko Miyoshi The Bureau of Sewerage
Director for Drainage Guidance Section Public Institutions

■ Career

Director for Drainage Guidance Section, Facilities Management and Maintenance Division, Bureau of Sewerage, Tokyo Metropolitan Government.I joined the government in 2003 after master’s degree. I have worked in the Sewerage Bureau, the Waterworks Bureau, and the Environment Bureau. Since April 2024, I have been in my current position. In addition to working on improving the water quality of industrial wastewater to maintain stable sewage treatment, I have recently been addressing the new challenge of dialysis wastewater management.

Yu Shinagawa An-Nahal Inc.
Founder & CEO Startups

■ Career

Yu is an entrepreneur passionate about diversity and inclusion to create collaborative and innovative society through embracing individuals differences.
She founded An-Nahal Inc. in 2019 and provides consulting and talent development within companies with the themes of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, as well as international entrepreneur’s support through partnerships with industry, government, and academia.
She has been involved in global talent development, education projects with the World Bank and other international organizations, as well as NPO as a job assistant for asylum seekers. She is also a fellow of Japanese Women's Leadership Initiative in 2019 by Fish Family Foundation in Boston.

Yuichiro Murai Bio’c Co., Ltd./Kojiyasanzaemon
President/29th head of Business Corporations

■ Career

After graduating from Keio University Yuichiro Murai joined Kojiya Sanzaemon, a 600-year-old family business producing koji starter, and its research company Biok. As the largest koji starter manufacturer in Japan, he involved in technology, sales, and management equally. In 2016, he became the 29th CEO of the company. Since then, he has worked on creating new value with koji starter technologically and culturally. He serves as a Director of Brewing Society of Japan since 2020. He earned MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management and MA (MFA) from Kyoto University of the Arts. He recently wrote a book titled "Fermentation as Liberal Arts."

Yujin Gen HERALBONY Co., Ltd
Chief Legal Officer Startups

■ Career

Spent 8 years at Nishimura & Asahi, specializing in real estate finance, project finance, FinTech, ESG investments, impact investing, startup support, and NPO support services. While practicing, studied at New York University School of Law, exploring the essence of the rule of law and the application of moral philosophy to business. Further education at the University of Edinburgh Business School focused on research into safeguarding individual dignity through business ethics practices. Since September 2024, has served as Head of Legal Department at HERALBONY Co., Ltd., implementing decision-making strategies that maximize stakeholder interests from both legal and business ethics perspectives. Qualified attorney in Japan and New York. New York University School of Law (LL.M.), The University of Edinburgh Business School (MSc in Global Strategy and Sustainability with Distinction).

Yuka Fujiwara Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC
Pathner, Certified Public Accountant Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Certified public accountant. Responsible for multiple engagements such as IPO audits and audits of listed companies, launched the women entrepreneur community EWW, built and conducted 10 sessions for EY Women Entrepreneur Accelerator in 2018, served as a recommendation committee member for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Jstartup and Tohoku Jstartup, and participated as a judge in various startup events.

Yuka Kayama Ashirase Inc.
Director COO Startups

■ Career

Joined Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance in 2005, gaining diverse experience with a focus on B2B sales. In 2018, she joined a healthcare startup, where she led business development from the ground up and drove growth through Series A as Executive COO. Since 2023, she has been leading the launch of services at Ashirase, a company developing navigation devices for the visually impaired.

Yuka Maruyama Matilda, Inc
CEO Startups

■ Career

A graduate of Kyushu University, began career in corporate sales at Uzabase, Inc., working on SPEEDA. Later joined the launch of the sales organization for INITIAL, a startup database platform. After the birth of a daughter, recognized key challenges in the parenting experience and launched a meal-sharing service for families in 2019, which later pivoted in response to market needs. Founded what is now Mathilda Inc. in January 2021 and currently leads the company, focusing on better solutions for today’s families.

Yuka Tanimoto Forbes JAPAN
Executive Director and Managing Editor, Forbes JAPAN Web Media

■ Career

After working as a financial and economic anchor at a securities company and Bloomberg TV, obtained an MBA in the U.S. Served as a newscaster at Nikkei CNBC and became the company's first female commentator. Has interviewed over 4,000 VIPs, including Taiwan’s Digital Minister Audrey Tang, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.
Currently serves as a regular economic commentator on ABEMA TV’s” FOR JAPAN” and TOKYO MX’s “Oharina”, among other programs, while also holding executive positions in companies. Additionally, serves as a researcher, lecturer, and advisory board member at Rikkyo University’s Graduate School of Social Design Studies. Joined Forbes JAPAN in February 2016 and assumed the current position on January 1, 2022.

Yuki Kamimoto N.Avenue Inc. (CoinDesk JAPAN)
CEO Startups

■ Career

Yuki joined the Japan’s largest internet portal ,Yahoo Japan Corporation, in 2013, where she was involved in business development for the media and advertising sectors.
In 2018, Yuki founded N.Avenue Inc., a Web3 information service under the Yahoo Japan umbrella, and became its CEO. She later led the company to become independent, overseeing the official Japanese version of CoinDesk, the world’s largest Web3 media platform, and managing N.Avenue Club, Japan's largest Web3 business community for enterprises.
Yuki also serves as a director of the Blockchain Promotion Association (BCCC).

Yuki Nakagawa RT Corporation
President/CEO Startups

■ Career

In 2005, she founded RT Corporation, which is involved in the development, sales and training of service robots, and became its representative director. With the mission of “Life with Robot” and “Work with Robot”, RT is developing an educational business that trains highly skilled personnel in AI and robotics, as well as a business that promotes the automation of light work using AI and robots. She is also the executive director of the New Technology Foundation, which hosts the maze analysis robot contest “Micromouse”, and is also a director of the general incorporated association ROSConJP (Japan) and Open Robotics (USA), both of which are related to ROS (Robot Operating System).

Yuki Shimizu Incubate Fund
PR & Communications Director VCs & Investors

■ Career

As the PR&Comms Lead of Incubate Fund, I'm in charge of developing the Platform team of our firm, which we manage over 825 million USD and have 700+ investments, making us one of the biggest Seed-Stage VCs in Japan. Before that, I have 5+ years of experience as the Community Manager/Director of the fund, running events + community with over 1,000 ecosystem players attending in a year, focusing on identifying startups in the early stages. My mission is to accelerate outstanding entrepreneurs and Japan's ecosystem through community building and PR from day Zero.

Yuki Shirato Techstars Tokyo
Managing Director

■ Career

Coming soon

Yuki Soga Penrose Japan
CEO

■ Career

Coming soon

Yukihiro Maru Leave a Nest Co., Ltd.
Group CEO Startup Support Organizations

■ Career

Earned Ph.D. (Agriculture) from University of Tokyo Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences. In 2002, while attending graduate school, Leave a Nest was established with his fellow science and engineering undergraduate and graduate students. He is pioneering and commercializing the “Cutting-Edge Science Workshop” to be delivered to schools in Japan. Classes”“Cutting-Edge-Science Delivery Lab Classes”. With his leadership, Leave a Nest currently runs “Knowledge Manufacturing” to create new business by combining technologies and knowledge in different fields. Also, he is the instigator of Tech Planter, one of Asia's largest deep tech ecosystems. He is trying to solve various Deep Issues around the world for “Global Happiness”. His major publications include “Deep Tech: Sleeping Technology' that opens up the future of our world (Nikkei BP) and “A New Era of Knowledge Manufacturing” (Leave a Nest Publishing).

Yuko Tomosue Makaira K.K.
Executive Officer

■ Career

Coming soon

Yumi Sato Uzabase, Inc.
NewsPicks for WE　Community Manager Media

■ Career

After working in public relations at a major manufacturing company and an IT startup, she joined NewsPicks.
At the IT startup, she managed a wide range of PR activities—including media relations, internal branding, and recruitment communications—as a solo PR lead, supporting the company from its founding through to its IPO.
At NewsPicks, she has served as a community manager, leading communication with Pickers (users) and Pro Pickers (official commentators), and launched "NewsPicks for WE," a community focused on empowering women.
She is currently involved in business planning at NewsPicks, contributing to the company’s strategic growth initiatives.

Yumiko Oka Antler Japan
Program Manager

■ Career

Yumiko is a Program Manager at global venture capital firm Antler. Responsible for the design and execution of the Antler Residency in Japan. She focuses on portfolio management and building relationships with investors, with a mission to support early-stage
startups and help Japanese-born startups grow into globally impactful companies. Born in Thailand and raised in Japan, Switzerland, and the UK, she brings a unique multicultural perspective to guiding companies toward growth and success. She has over nine years of project management experience at global companies such as L'Oréal, Estée Lauder, and Rakuten.

Yusaku Izumi KOKUA inc
CEO Startups

■ Career

Born in Kobe, Japan, and personally affected by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in childhood. Inspired by the Great East Japan Earthquake, which occurred just before entering university, began volunteering for disaster relief through an NPO. In 2019, joined the accelerator program of the General Incorporated Association “Bousai Girl” to work on launching a disaster preparedness business. With a strong belief that disaster preparedness should be addressed not individually but through cooperation, founded the company “KOKUA,” a name that embodies the spirit of mutual support. Currently responsible for business planning and overall decision-making.

Yusuke Enomoto toggle holdings Inc.
Head of Corporate Finance Startups

■ Career

2012:Joined Daiwa Securities. At the Investment Banking Division, dedicated to IPOs of about 20 companies, mainly Internet sector. Handled everything from the establishment of corporate internal management systems and institutional investor marketing and valuations.
2020:Joined GMO Financial Gate. As Head of Corporate Strategy Department, responsible for M&A, disclosure/IR, business planning, business management (planning, forecasting, and KPI), and public relations.
2025:Joined Toggle Holdings.
University of Massachusetts MBA

Yusuke Hasegawa Trim Inc.
FOUNDER / CEO Startups

■ Career

After graduating from university, I worked at an advertising agency for 10 years as a Creative Director, Planner, and Copywriter, receiving numerous advertising awards both domestically and internationally. Following the passing of my mother, my interest shifted towards socially impactful work, leading me to transition to a healthcare venture company where I served as CIO (Chief Information Officer) and Head of New Business Development. In this role, I was involved in the development of several applications, including a hospital search app and a stress check app. In November 2015, I founded Trim Co., Ltd. and assumed the position of Representative Director.

Yusuke Noguchi Gorlem Inc
Sustainability Consulting Division Manager Startups

■ Career

Coming soon

Yusuke Takezawa Progmat, Inc.
Chief Strategy Officer Startups

■ Career

After 6 years experience in SMBC (Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation), joined Boston Consulting Group in 2018. As a project leader, worked primarily in the financial and public sectors, and was involved in tasks such as developing mid-term business plans, enhancing and advancing operations through DX, and contributing to policy formulation and government project management. In 2023, became a founding member of Progmat Co.,Ltd. As a Chief Strategy Officer, engaged every aspects of buiness development such as corporate strategy development, new business development corporate system building etc. In 2024, launched new global stablecoin settlement infrastructure project "Project Pax" with SWIFT, and leading the project with regulators and governments in many countries. In 2025, launched a few global projects aims harmonize different stablecoin systems in global with leading stablecoin issuers in global.

Yuta Hayashida Japan External Trade Organization
Innovation Department, Startup Support Division Public Institutions

■ Career

Involved in global expansion of Japanese startups and is in charge of acceleration programs in US, Europe, and Asia. Also supports strengthening of ecosystem cities in Japan.

Yuta Shimono Emuni Inc
CEO Startups

■ Career

Graduated from the Department of Applied Science, Graduate School of Energy Sciences, Kyoto University.
Worked for 3 years on social implementation of AI for the manufacturing industry at ORIO Research Institute Co.
As a PM, he worked on abnormality detection and cause identification using IoT sensors, automation of visual inspection, and optimization of production planning.
He also has experience in AI projects at several major companies including Preferred Networks, DeNA, and Recruit.
On the business side, he was engaged in consulting sales at Matsuo Labs for one year.
While managing the company as a representative, he is responsible for a wide range of activities including sales, coding and management of demo development, etc.

Yutaka Matsuo Department of Technology Management and Strategy, Graduate
School of Engineering / Artificial Engineering Research Educational Institutions

■ Career

Graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1997 and earned Ph.D. in Engineering in 2002. He has held research positions at AIST and served as visiting researcher at Stanford University. Since 2007, he has been an associate professor, and since 2019, a professor at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Engineering. His research specializes in AI, deep learning, and web mining. He has been the chair of JDLA since 2017, an outside director for SoftBank Group since 2019. Since 2021, an expert member of Council for achieving new capitalism and since 2023, the chair of AI strategy conference.

Yuzuru Fukuda Fujitsu Limited
Corporate Executive Officer, Senior EVP Business Corporations

■ Career

Born in 1975, in Aichi Prefecture, and raised in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture. After graduating from university in 1997, joined SAP Japan. After working as a corporate sales representative for major chemical and petroleum manufacturers, became Head of Sales, and was appointed President in 2014. Joined Fujitsu in April 2020 as EVP, CIO (Chief Information Officer), and Deputy CDXO (Chief Digital Transformation Officer). From April 2023, served as CIO and CDXO. From April 2025, serving as SEVP and Enterprise Business CEO (current position).