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(Founder & GP)
linkties Holdings Co., Ltd.(Director, Chairman of the Board and Founder of For)
Mr. Takano is Founder & 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.