Directors
Chairman
Tohru Akaura
Incubate Fund(General Partner & Co-Founder)
August 7, 1968:Born March 1991:Graduated from the School of Engineering(control engineering), Tokai University April 1991:Joined Japan Associated Finance Co., Ltd.(now JAFCO Co., Ltd.) and engaged as investment professional at Tokyo / Hiroshima office for eight and half years October 1999:Established as independent venture capitalist. Since then, he has raised JPY 27.5 billion through 11 VC funds and consistently engaged in the seed-stage focused investment and incubation April 2003:Councilor of Information-technology Promotion Agency (2003-2008) May 2005:Got the 2nd IPA Award(commercialization support dept.) July 2013:Director of JVCA July 2015:Managing Director of JVCA
Chairman
Shinzo Nakano
ITOCHU Technology Ventures, Inc(President)
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.
Senior Managing Director
Shigeyuki Tsuchida
INCJ, Ltd. (INCJ: Innovation Network Corporation of Japan)(Co-Chief Investment Officer, Member of the Board)
Shigeyuki Tsuchida joined INCJ (Innovation Network Corporation of Japan) in 2009 as Executive Managing Director and has been Senior Executive Managing Director since 2013. He has driven and led many venture investment projects that promote innovation in Japan. He also now puts efforts to promote growth investment in Japan as a Head of Venture Capital & Growth Investment Group.
Previously he was Executive Officer at the Aozora Bank, Ltd., Deputy General Manager at The Norin-Chukin Bank and Deputy General Manager at the Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan (currently known as Shinsei Bank). In these positions, he primarily focused on investments as an institutional investor for approximately 20 years. He received a B.A. in Law from Waseda University.
Senior Managing Director
Makoto Takano
D4V LLC(Founder & CEO)
Mr. Takano is Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes JAPAN (linkties Co., Ltd.), Founder & CEO of D4V (Design for Ventures, a joint venture capital firm with IDEO) and CEO of MT Partners. Prior to joining Forbes JAPAN in 2014, he was Managing Director and President of PIMCO Japan Ltd. Before joining PIMCO in 2001, he was head of marketing at Goldman Sachs Asset Management.
Mr. Takano's prior experience also includes work at Daiwa Securities where he was head of the strategist team at Daiwa Institute of Research. Mr. Takano has published extensively on the capital markets. In 1992, he was awarded Securities Analysts Journal Prize by the Securities Analyst Association of Japan. He holds master’s and undergraduate degrees in engineering from Waseda University.
Managing Director
Tomotaka Goji
He co-founded UTEC in 2004 to focus on guiding its investments into seed/early stage startups, built the team, and raised four funds totaling over JPY 54 billion since its inception. 10 of his portfolio companies were acquired and 9 went public. The funds are established on the premise of the Japanese law called ""The Limited Partnership Act for Investment,"" which he authored in 1997-1998 at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (now known as METI) of Japan.
He graduated from The University of Tokyo (UTokyo)’s Faculty of Law, and earned MBA at Stanford. He is currently a Ph.D. student at UTokyo’s School of Engineering, researching on data science regarding academic start-ups.
Mr. Goji was selected to speak on panels in Davos, Switzerland for Japan's Prime Minister Office in February 2018, and in Geneva, Switzerland for United Nations UNCTAD World Investment Forum in October, 2018.
Managing Director
Shinsuke Sakamoto
Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd(President)
Shinsuke Sakamoto joined MUFG Bank, former Sanwa Bank, in 1987. He led various strategic initiatives of Corporate Banking Division of the bank and served as General Manager of Naha Branch, General Manager of Operation Planning Office, Corporate Banking Business Planning Division, General Manager of Fukuoka Branch and General Manager of Credit Division (Osaka). In 2017, he joined Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Corporation as Representative Director and Deputy President. He was appointed as President of Mitsubishi UFJ Capital in June, 2019.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws from Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan.
Director
Fujio Yanagihara
Daiwa Corporate Investment Co.,Ltd.(President)
Mr. Fujio Yanagihara joined Daiwa Securities in 1983. He took a position of the Executive Officer in 2010 after engaging in corporate finance at the Corporate Clients Banking Division and serving as the Branch Manager and the Managing Director at the head office. After acting as the Senior Executive Managing Director in charge of the divisions of planning and human resources at Daiwa Securities Business Center, he served as the director positons supervising various divisions including the asset management from 2014 at Daiwa SB Investments which is an asset management firm of Daiwa Securities group. He was appointed as the President at Daiwa Corporate Investment in 2017.
Director
Gen Isayama
WiL, LLC (World Innovation Lab)(CEO and Co-Founder)
Gen is the CEO and Co-Founder of WiL, LLC (World Innovation Lab), an organization dedicated to accelerating and promoting open innovation in large corporations across Japan. Funded by enterprises from various industries, WiL provides investment capital and strategic guidance to Japanese startups entering the global market as well as overseas ventures entering the Japanese market. In addition, WiL incubates new businesses by leveraging unused IP and resources in large corporations, facilitating innovation and entrepreneurship. Born and raised in Tokyo, Gen joined IBJ (now Mizuho Financial Group) after graduating Tokyo University and moved to Silicon Valley in 2001 to attend Stanford Business School. After graduation, Gen joined DCM Ventures, one of the top-tier Silicon Valley venture capital firms, and worked as a partner until the summer of 2013.
Director
David Milstein
Eight Roads Ventures Japan(Managing Partner, Head of Japan)
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 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.
Director
Soichi Tajima
Genesia Ventures, Inc.(President)
Soichi Tajima founded Genesia Ventures in 2016.
Prior to Genesia Ventures, Soichi joined CyberAgent Ventures, which is the CVC of CyberAgent in 2005 and was appointed CEO in 2010.
He led the effort on expansion of investment area and developed the investment strategy.
Previously he 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. He graduated from Osaka University in Engineering.
Director
Haruhiko Uchiyama
DBJ Capital Co., Ltd.(President and CEO)
Haruhiko Uchiyama joined DBJ (then the Japan Development Bank) in 1992. Since 1996, when the bank launched the venture capital division that was to become DBJ Capital, his work has focused on providing startup and growth investment to venture firms and assisting in the establishment of independent venture capital funds. In 2015 he was appointed General Manager of DBJ Capital’s Investment Division and in June 2019 assumed his current position as President and CEO. Since 2016 he has also served as General Manager of the Growth & Cross Border Investment Department at DBJ.
Director
Ryohei Hayashi
DOGAN beta,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.
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. 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
Anri Samata
ANRI(General Partner & Co-Founder)
Anri Samata is a founder and general partner at the venture capital firm ANRI, one of the largest seed stage funds in Japan.Prior to founding ANRI in 2012, Anri Samata had worked for Recruit and East Ventures.ANRI, currently managing a 9.4B fund, has invested in over 100 companies in internet and deep tech areas, and its portfolio companies include: Raksul, hey, UUUM, Mirrativ, SmartDrive, Crowdworks, mamari, etc.He has a B.A. in Economics from Keio University.
Auditors
Auditor
Yoshihide Todoroki
KPMG AZSA LLC(Partner, CPA)
Since joining our audit firm, I have experienced a wide range of work including statutory audit, IPO related services, and advisory services for public interests and governments.
Currently I’m interested in supporting startup companies and new industries such as ICT and life science. Aside from audit and advisory services, I’m also in charge of several initiatives such as implementation of eco-systems and promotion of open innovation events.
Auditor
Shinichiro Suzuki
Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC(Senior Partner, CPA)
Joined EY Japan in 1985 and belong to International department to audit the pre-SEC listing companies.
Transferred to EY New York office in order to handle auditing Japanese companies in the US from 1991 to 1995.
After the repatriation, engaged in multi-international listing companies simultaneously IPO. Also appointed to the committee of JICPA to prepare the accounting standards generally accepted in Japan such as ‘Collectability of Deferred Assets’ and ‘the Extent of Consolidation’.
Engaged in auditing the listing companies as well as the pre-IPO engagements and appointed to the director of EY ShinNihon Integrity Assurance after the promotion to partner in 2000.
In addition, involved in Asia listing audit as Asia market listing support office deputy leader in 2010 and Cross-border listing office leader in 2012.
As of 2012, appointed to Growing Enterprise Support Leader as IPO responsibility leader for Japan and Japan IPO leader for EY Global.
Auditor
Kyoji Takino
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC(Partner, CPA, Tokyo Region Audit & Assurance)
Takino Kyoji joined Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Tokyo Office (Now: Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC) in 1998 and mainly engaged in providing consulting and audit for companies preparing for IPO. He also involved in the Companies Act audit and the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law audit for listed companies.
Takino Kyoji specializes in services related IPO such as extensive IPO consulting, internal control introduction and IPO audit. He has successfully supported many companies to go public in Japan.
Involved IPO projects in the past
CyberAgent,Inc., ALLIED TELESIS HOLDINGS K.K., SEMI-TECH, INC., Relia, Inc., Tokyo Individualized Educational Institute, INC., Infomart Corporation.,CROOZ, Inc., Kenko.Com.Inc., Startia,Inc., Trenders,Inc., and many others.
From 2010 to 2014, he was appointed as the coordinator of Deloitte Touch Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP Guangzhou Brach and responsible for coordination of audit and tax service related with Japanese-fund enterprises.
Planning Department
Advisers
Honorary Chairman
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.
Adviser
Masatoshi Go
TNP Partners Corporation(President)
1982 Joined Nihon Radiator Co., ltd. (Present Calsonic Kansei Corporation)
1985 Joined Watami Shoji Ltd. (Present Watami Co., Ltd. started as Watami Shoji Ltd.)
1987 Joined Watami Food Service Co., Ltd. (Present Watami Co., Ltd.) upon establishment
1998 Resigned Watami Food Service Co., Ltd. (Present Watami Co., Ltd.). The last position was Managing Director.
October 2000 Founded TSUNAMI Network Partners Corporation (Present TNP Partners Corporation), and assumed Representative Director and President
2002 Assumed Director, Japan Venture Capital Association
2007 to present: Assumed Vice Chairman NPO Venture Support Mechanism TSUNAMI (Present NPO Venture Support Mechanism MINERVA)
2008 Assumed Member of the Board, The Kanagawa New Business Conference
July 2009 Assumed Chairman, Japan Venture Capital Association
July 2014 to present: Assumed Managing Director, Japan Venture Capital Association
July 2014 to present: Assumed Vice Chairman The Kanagawa New Business Conference
Advisor
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.
Advisor
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
