日本語
EnglishDirectors
Chairman
Tomotaka Goji
UTEC:The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners(Managing Partner, CEO and President)
Dr. Goji is Co-founder, Managing Partner, CEO & President of UTEC (The University of Edge Capital Partners Co., Ltd.).
Since 2004, he has raised and managed five UTEC funds totaling approximately JPY 85 billion, strategized investment and value-adding in university-related startups, built the investment team, and guided UTEC’s investments and exits. 20 investees were acquired and 20 have achieved IPO until June 2023.
In his previous career at the Japanese government, he authored "The Limited Partnership Act for Venture Capital Investment" (enacted in 1998) in 1997-1998, which became the foundation of Japanese VC funds thereafter, and its related accounting/tax rules as well as VC fund performance measurement reports at the then Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI, now known as METI: the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry). He also authored "The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program" (enacted in 1999, as part of "Industrial Revival Act") at METI, "Copyright Management Business Act" (enacted in 2001) at Cultural Agency, and intellectual property-related articles of "Trust Business Law" (enacted in 2003) at Financial Services Agency. He left the government to initiate UTEC in 2004 to execute the ethos of the Limited Partnership Act.
Dr. Goji received his Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo’s School of Engineering, earned his MBA at Stanford University, and graduated from the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Law. During his doctoral research at the University of Tokyo’s School of Engineering, he modeled the success factors of startups founded on science and technology, based on data science and network analysis, and demonstrated the importance of academic papers and other factors.
At JVCA, he has been involved in policies such as the revision of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law, the revision of the Foreign Exchange Law, and the planning of public procurement for startups, as well as JVCA's Sample of Limited Partnership Agreement, as Executive Director & Section Chairman of the Policy Subcommittee since July 2015 and Vice Chairman & Section Chairman of the Policy Subcommittee since July 2022. Became Chairman in July 2023.
Chairman
Soichi Tajima
Genesia Ventures, Inc.(President/General Partner)
Soichi Tajima founded Genesia Ventures which focuses on seed-round startups in Japan and Southeast Asia, in 2016. He focuses on revitalizing the industry as a Chairman of the Japan Venture Capital Association (JVCA).
Prior to Genesia Ventures, Soichi joined CyberAgent Ventures, which is the CVC of CyberAgent in 2005, and was appointed as a CEO in 2010. He led the effort on expansion of investment area and developed the investment strategy.
Previously Soichi spent 8 years at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and experienced financial businesses such as consumer and business loans, syndicated loan, liquidation of credit receivable, etc. Soichi graduated from Osaka University with a degree in Engineering.
Senior Managing Director
Makoto Takano
D4V LLC(CEO & General Partner)
linkties Holdings Co., Ltd.(Director, Chairman of the Board and Founder of For)
Mr. Takano is CEO & GP of D4V, Director, Chairman of the Board and Founder of Forbes JAPAN, linkties Holdings Co., Ltd., and CEO of MT Partners.
Mr. Takano co-founded D4V (Design for Ventures), with IDEO in 2016. Mr. Takano’s prior experience includes work at Daiwa Securities, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, and PIMCO Japan, where he served as President for 13 years. He also founded MT Partners in 2007, joined atomixmedia Inc. (currently linkties Co., Ltd.) in 2014 to spearhead the launch of its Forbes JAPAN magazine. As of July 2024, he currently serves as Director, Chairman of the Board of linkties Holding Co., Ltd., as well as being the Founder of Forbes JAPAN. He holds an MS and BS in Science and Engineering from Waseda University.
Managing Director
Sueko Matsumoto
JAFCO Group Co., Ltd.(Corporate and Fund Planning Officer)
In 1990, joined JAFCO Group Co., Ltd. After working in investment legal affairs and portfolio company information management, involved in fund planning since 1998, and since 1999 has been involved in the planning and offering of all funds launched by Jafco, developing of reporting, registration of financial instruments business operators, legal affairs related to funds, and investor relations.
In 2017, appointed as Executive Officer (in charge of fund management and administration).
involved in all corporate operations, with a particular focus on the building the partnership model, as well as branding.
Managing Director
Ryohei Hayashi
Beta venture capital,Inc.(President & Partner)
Ryohei Hayashi is CEO partner of Dogan beta, Inc. Support local venture companies and and new businesses started by ell-established companies, being in charge of Kyushu Entrepreneur Club Fund and Challenge Kyushu Gambare Fund for Small and Medium Enterprises.
Managing Director
Kotaro Yamagishi
Keio Innovation Initiative, Inc.(CEO)
Kotaro Yamagishi serves as CEO of Keio Innovation Initiative (KII) which is Keio University's venture capital. Yamagishi is also Vice-President of Keio University. Prior to KII, he co-founded GREE and still serves as the company's board director. He was editor-in-chief of CNET Japan and editor at Nikkei Business Publications. He graduated from Keio University, Economics.
Director
Minoru Imano
GLOBIS CAPITAL PARTNERS & Co.(Managing Partner)
Minoru Imano joined GLOBIS in July 2006. Prior to GLOBIS, he worked for Arthur Andersen for 5years, where he was in charge of sales force operation turnaround, post merger integration, and long-term business planning projects.
He is the leader of IT sector investment team.
Mr. Imano received a BA in Law from the University of Tokyo.
Director
Tomoko Namba
Delight Ventures Inc.(Managing Partner)
DeNA Co., Ltd.(Founder & Exective Chairman)
Tomoko Namba founded DeNA Co. Ltd. in Tokyo in 1999 and, as CEO, built the firm into one of Japan's most prominent technology conglomerates. She stepped down from the position in 2011 while remaining an active board member and a key executive leader at the company. Namba became DeNA's Chair in June 2015. She also recently co-founded Delight Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm, and serves as one of the Managing Partners.
Director
Shinichiro Shiraki
Aizawa Asset Management Co., Ltd.(Representative Director, CEO)
AIZAWA SECURITIES GROUP CO., LTD. (Director)
Mr. Shiraki has over 25 years of experience investing in private equity, venture capital funds and hedge funds in both Japan and globally. He launched and managed several portfolios of hedge funds and private equity funds for Sanwa Bank, now part of the Mitsubishi UFJ Group. He was a founding member of Monex Alternative Investments established in 2004 and served as its CEO and CIO. He also founded Akebono Asset Management Ltd, former Aiazwa Asset Management Co., Ltd. and was appointed as CEO in 2015.
He also served on a board of directors at Aizawa Securities Co., Ltd. TSE Prime listed security broker company in 2019 and joined the board of directors at Asuka Asset Management in June 2020.
Mr. Shiraki has been a board member of the Alternative Investment Management Association of Japan (AIMA Japan) since 2001 and has been its Chairman and currently serves as its Vice Chairman.
He is also a director and committee member Japan Venture Capital Association for LP relationship committee.
He earned Masters in Finance at London Business School.
Director
Shinichi Saijo
XTech Ventures(General Partner)
After graduating from Waseda University’s Faculty of Law in 1996, Shinichi joined the financial unit at Itochu Corporation. He joined the Japanese Internet media company CyberAgent in 2000, and in 2006 became the first president of its corporate VC spinoff, Cyberagent Ventures. In 2008, he assumed the position of COO at Cyberagent itself. Shinichi acted as president of CyberAgent’s U.S. branch, managing its Silicon Valley ventures, from 2010 to 2012. He co-founded WiL in 2013 and served as general partner. He also served as a board member of Coiney, currently known as hey, from 2013 to 2017. In 2018, he established XTech Corporation and XTech Ventures.
Director
Kathy Matsui
MPower Partners Fund L.P.(General Partner)
Kathy is the former Vice Chair of Goldman Sachs Japan and Chief Japan Equity Strategist. Her groundbreaking ʻWomenomicsʼresearch 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.
Co-founded MPower Partners Fund, Japan’s first ESG-focused global venture capital fund, in 2021
Director
Masahiko Niimi
DBJ Capital Co., Ltd.(President and CEO)
After joining the Japan Development Bank (currently Development Bank of Japan Inc.), he has been in the current chief investment office since 2002. He is engaged in investment business (direct investment and fund investment), M&A finance and special situation finance. During this time, he was seconded to Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., served as an outside director of investee companies, etc., and was appointed to his current position at the end of June 2023 after working as General Manager of Strategic Finance Department.
Director
Yusuke Murata
Incubate Fund(General Partner)
Yusuke joined NIF Ventures Co., Ltd. (now known as Daiwa Corporate Investment Co., Ltd.) in 2003 where he primarily engaged in investment and fund formation management for internet startups.
In 2010, he co-founded Incubate Fund and is a General Partner.
Since 2015, he has been the General Manager of the Japan Venture Capital Association Planning Department, Chairman of the Fund Ecosystem Committee, and Chairman of the LP Relations Division. July 2023 Director of JVCA.
In these roles, he promotes efforts to strengthen relations between domestic VCs and institutional investors. He was ranked #1 on Forbes Japan's "JAPAN's MIDAS LIST" in 2017 (Japan's Top 10 Most Influential Venture Investor Ranking).
Director
Masataka Matsumoto
WiL, LLC.(General Partner & Co-founder)
A native of Kobe, Masataka established PIM Corporation in 1999,
leading the company as CEO until its merger with Yahoo! Japan.
As president of Yahoo! Japan, Masataka oversaw strategic
investments and the launch of the Yahoo! BB ISP. He also served as
senior executive of Yahoo! Shopping.
Masataka was involved in Softbank’s acquisition of Vodaphone,
served as the first director of mobile business development at
Yahoo!, and led Softbank’s mobile products and consumer unit.
In 2008, as general manager of Yahoo!’s R&D division, he managed
front-end development for Yahoo! services. Since 2011 he has led
Yahoo!’s new business development as Chief Incubation Officer.
Director
Okahashi Hiro
MIYAKO Capital(Founder, Partner)
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Director
Makiko Sato
iSGS Investment Works,Inc.(President & Managing Partner)
Makiko Sato joined CyberAgent in 2000, first working in internet advertising and then
moving on to business development in the company’s subsidiaries. Over 2006–2015,
she was directly involved in seed-stage startup investment at CyberAgent Ventures (currently CyberAgent Capital).
In June 2016, she established iSGS Investment Works, becoming its Managing
Director and Representative Partner. In Nov 2022, she become CEO.
Additionally, she served on the J-Startup＆J-Startup Impact Recommendation Committee
and the Member of the Tokyo Data Platform Council. Selected by Forbes JAPAN’s editorial team as one of
15 prominent female figures in Japan’s venture capital industry, Makiko currently
also holds positions as an External Director of Toyo Kanetsu (TYO: 6369) and a
council member of Japan’s Development Association for Youth Leaders.
Director
Tomoko Inoue
Infinite CORE Co., Ltd.(Representative Director)
She served as the CEO of Omron Ventures six years until March 2024 and was responsible for all startup investments, not only in healthcare but also AI, Robotics, Climatetech etc. Prior to Omron Ventures, she was a founding member of MedVenture Partners Inc., a unique venture capital focused on medical devices founded under Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ, the Japanese government backed investment firm). Additionally, she supported the launch of the Japan Biodesign Program (University of Tokyo, Osaka University, Tohoku University) and served as a lecturer, mentor, and facilitator for medical device-related courses at Tsukuba University, actively engaging in various fields. University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School, MBA, Stanford University, Biodesign program, Global Faculty in Training, PhD in Biomedical Science.
Director
Chiamin Lai
FIRSTLIGHT Capital.Inc(Managing Partner)
After graduating from International Christian University, Chiamin joined a major ERP vendor, working on corporate digitization and operational reforms projects across Japan and Europe. She then worked for a U.S. strategy consulting firm, Monitor Group, overseeing business strategy planning and Asian expansion projects, before joining DCM Ventures as a venture capitalist, where she was in charge of investments into startups such as freee and Coubic, etc. In 2014, she joined Happy Elements, a Chinese startup, serving as Chief Strategy Officer and in charge of their listing in Japan, before becoming the Representative Director of Japan, overseeing content development and AR/VR businesses in Japan and China. Chiamin has an MBA from IE Business School.
Director
Yuka Hattori
Inclusion Japan(CEO)
Director
Ai Koike
THE CREATIVE FUND, LLP(General Partner)
started her career as one of the startup company members when she was in college. After graduating Keio University in Japan, joined Hakuhodo, the second largest advertising agency in Japan. In 2012, transferred her career as an investor and became a member of Advantage Partners, LLP, one of the top Private Equity funds in Asia. From 2015, she has started investing in startups in Southeast Asian countries and India under Asuka Holdings Singapore.In 2020, she founded THE CREATIVE FUND, LLP, former GO FUND, LLP, with a creative firm GO inc., in Japan to invest in startups. Also served as an independent outside director of A.D.Works Group, TSE Prime listed, from 2022. At the same time, Ai is a contemporary art collector and a master of Kaiseki cuisine.
Director
Ryosuke Kimura
Lifetime Ventures(Founder/ General Partner)
Ryosuke is the Founder and General Partner at Lifetime Ventures. Prior to Lifetime, Ryosuke worked for Incubate Fund, a leading seed VC in Japan, where he was involved in supporting more than 40 startups. He has extensive management consulting experience (PwC and KPMG), particularly in the infrastructure and healthcare industry.
He is a J-Startup recommendation committee member of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and a judge for the Japan Healthcare Business Contest (JHeC) 2018-2024 of METI.
Director
Isao Niwa
Daiwa Corporate Investment Co.,Ltd.(President&CEO)
After graduating from the Faculty of Engineering at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology in 1988, he joined Daiwa Securities. Following his assignments at the Ueno and Himeji branches, he transferred to the Corporate Business Division in 1999. From 2010, as the head of the Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities Sales Department, he engaged in sales of various financial products to domestic and international institutional investors (mainly financial institutions). From 2013, he worked in investment banking as the head of the Corporate Clients Department, and later, as the head of the Broad Corporate Division, he engaged in corporate sales to business companies, regional banks, and local governments. In 2021, he was appointed as the Senior Managing Director in charge of corporate public offerings, contributing to the listing of many venture companies. After being promoted to Senior Executive Managing Director, he became the President and CEO of Daiwa Corporate Investment in 2024, a position he holds to this day.
Director
Takuro Kojima
Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd.(President)
Takuro Kojima joined The Bank of Mitsubishi (The Bank of Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.) in 1991 after graduating from the Meiji University School of Commerce. He was mainly engaged in corporate banking and worked as the general manager at Tsurumi Branch, Esaka Branch, Nakano-Ekimae Branch and Senba Branch, before promoting to the managing director, head of Business Promotion & Management Division and the executive officer. He was appointed the president of Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd. in April 2024. He is a member of the councilors of the Venture Enterprise Center (VEC).
Director
Jun Yasumoto
NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Inc.(President & CEO)
Jun Yasumoto joined NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Inc. in 2023 as President & CEO.
Since joining Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) in 1999, he was in charge of solution sales for corporate businesses for two years. Then, he was involved in the planning and development of Internet services for 10 years. Since 2018, he was in charge of new business planning and development mainly in the sports and entertainment fields at NTT DOCOMO.
Auditors
Auditor
Hiroshi Abe
KPMG AZSA LLC(Executive Officer, Partner, CPA)
KPMG Japan(Startup Management Partner,CPA)
Since joining our audit firm, I have had a wide range of job experiences such as statutory audit, IPO related service and due diligence investigation.
Currently, I support university-initiated venture companies and operate open innovation events as a head of Incubation Department, besides the audit.
Also, I strengthen identification of growth start-up companies and support them as a head of start-up in KPMG Japan Private Enterprise Sector.
Auditor
Masato Saito
Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC(Partner, CPA)
"Leads the IPO audit sector for EY Japan.
Masato Saito is leader of the Growing Enterprise Support Center and a partner spearheading IPO services for EY Japan.
He has over 20 years experience in J-SOX and IFRS auditing a diverse range of clients, including the IT software and food industries, logistics and real estate funds.
He helps clients to administer IPOs and introduce J-SOX and IFRS standards, while drawing on extensive experience in managing and providing services to solve an array of issues. His experience of assisting startups with IPOs has given him professional expertise in open innovation with major corporations and innovation sectors such as AI, IoT and Fintech.
With expert knowledge of auditing in the IT software industry, he was previously chair of EY Japan’s Software Reserch Committee. He is a frequent lecturer at seminars and a participant in joint projects with industry groups.
He has also served as EY Startup Innovation Co-Leader,EY Innovative Startup operations manager, director of The Japan Academic Society for Ventures and Entrepreneurs, and a member of the System Committee."
Auditor
Yoichi Tadakuma
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC(IPO Strategy Leader Partner CPA)
In 1994, he joined Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC. In addition to auditing in a wide range of industries, from major steelmakers to mid-sized companies, he has been involved in venture support, IPOs preparation, M&A, and business revitalization.
In 1998, he was sent on a short-term assignment to Deloitte US (Detroit), then stationed in Deloitte China (Dalian, Shanghai) from 2005 to 2010. At the Shanghai office, as the lead partner of the East China region of the Japanese Services Group, he provided one-stop services to Japanese companies in a variety of situations, including financial audits, tax consulting, M&A and business restructuring, as well as entering and exiting China.
After returning to Japan, he worked in venture support as a director of Tohmatsu Venture Support Co., Ltd. (now Deloitte Tohmatsu Venture Support Co., Ltd.), in addition to auditing the listed companies, and currently focuses on auditing IPOs preparation companies.
Advisers
Top Adviser
Soichi Kariyazono
GLOBIS CAPITAL PARTNERS & Co.(Managing Partner)
Having co-founded GLOBIS VC in 1996, Soichi Kariyazono has led internet service and software deals. In 1999, established Apax Globis Japan Fund, a joint venture with Apax Partners. His major track records are Gree, Works Applications and Netage Group. Prior to joining GLOBIS, he worked for the Management Consulting Division of Sanwa Research Institute Corporation.
He received a BA in Law from Keio University in Japan and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Business.
Special Adviser
Tohru Akaura
Incubate Fund(General Partner & Co-Founder)
In 1999, established Incubate Capital Partners, a VC fund specializing in seed stage investment. Established Incubate Fund in 2010. Established a cumulative total of over 109.7 billion yen in VC funds, and consistently operated by investment from the time of start-up and establishment. In April 2003, he assumed the position of advisor to the Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (2003-2008), and in July 2013, he became a director of the Japan Venture Capital Association. In July 2015, he became the managing director of the association. In July 2017, he became the vice chairman of the association, and in 2019, he became the chairman of the association,and in 2023, he became the special adviser of the association. 19 companies have IPO results. Cybozu, S-Pool, CARTA HOLDINGS, Media Do, Ceres, Aiming, Double Standard, Sansan, Toyokumo, jig.jp, ispace etc. Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Special Research Results Utilization Support Project Certification External Review Committee, Cabinet Secretariat Venture Challenge 2020 Advisory Board, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry J-Startup Recommendation Committee.
Special Adviser
Shinzo Nakano
ITOCHU Technology Ventures, Inc(GENERAL PARTNER)
Shinzo Nakano is President & CEO of Itochu Technology Ventures, Inc.(ITV). ITV is a subsidiary of Itochu Corporation, one of the largest trading conglomerates in Japan. He founded ITV in 2000 as a general partner and raised its first fund for $83M from Itochu Corp and other institutional investors. He was named President and CEO of ITV in 2015 and currently runs its 5th fund. ITV invests in IT related startups in Japan and abroad. He received BA in Law at Keio University and joined Itochu Corporation in 1989.
Adviser
Masakazu Masujima
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto(Partner)
Masakazu (Masa) Masujima is a partner at Mori Hamada & Matsumoto.
Masa represents various financial institutions through fund creation, private equity financing and acquisition financing as well as variety of M&A transactions involving financial institutions. In addition, Masa represents venture capital firms and help them form partnership funds and undertake venture financing. He also worked at Financial Services Agency of Japan from 2010 to 2012 as legal and compliance group head of Insurance Business Division and deputy director at Banks Division I.
Before joining FSA, Masa worked at Silicon Valley law firm of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in 2006 and 2007.
He is a member of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s Blockchain Study Group and a member of the Sharing Economy Study Group of the Cabinet Office’s Comprehensive IT Strategy Investigation Office.
Masa is admitted to the Bar in Japan and State Bar of New York. He holds LL.M in Columbia Law School and LL.B in University of Tokyo.
Adviser
Katsunari Goto
AZX Professionals Group(Managing Partner, CEO)
1993 passed the bar examination
1994 graduated from The University of Tokyo. entered Andersen Consulting (currently, Accenture) (Strategic Services Group)
1996 entered Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan
1998 entered Nagashima Ohno (currently, Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu)
2001 established AZX Professionals Group
2001- assumed office as Partner and CEO of AZX Professionals Group
Adviser
Masahiro Kotosaka
Keio University(Associate Professor)
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford(Associate Fellow)
Masahiro Kotosaka is an Associate Professor at Keio University and an Associate Fellow of Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. He is an expert in Internationalization strategy and early-stage business development, and advisor to several global start-up/multinational companies.
Before moving to Keio, he was an associate professor of multinational management at Ritsumeikan University, a teaching & research associate at the University of Oxford, and a consultant at McKinsey & Company based in Frankfurt and Tokyo. As a practitioner, he worked for strategy/marketing projects with sixteen client organizations across nine industries and nine countries and spent four years running three profitable IT/Retail businesses before joining McKinsey. He graduated from the University of Oxford with D.Phil. (Ph.D) in Management Studies and MSc in Management Research with Distinction.