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
Makoto Takano
D4V LLC(CEO & GP)
Mr. Takano is CEO & GP of D4V (Design for Ventures, a joint venture capital firm with IDEO) , CEO of linkties Co., Ltd. (Founder of Forbes JAPAN),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.
Senior Managing Director
Takuya Fukumoto
Japan Investment Corporation(Member of the Board Chief Strategy Officer)
Takuya Fukumoto joined the JIC (Japan Investment Corporation) in 2019 as Member of the Board Chief Strategy Officer. He joined the Government of Japan in 1996. From July 2012, he was appointed Director of the Corporate Accounting, Disclosure and CSR Policy Office. He was involved in various projects concerning corporate governance, investment chain reform and corporate communication with stakeholders, including “Competitiveness and Incentives for Sustainable Growth: Building Favorable Relationships between Companies and Investors” Project (“Ito Review”), Guidance for Integrated Corporate Disclosure and Company-Investor Dialogue for Collaborative Value Creation -ESG integration, non-financial Information disclosure and Intangible Assets into Investment - (“Guidance for Collaborative Value Creation”). He has been Director of the Industrial Finance Division and Startup and New Business Promotion Office since July 2015. From June 2018, as a director of secretariat, he in charge of the "J-Startup" initiative, which aims to create successful, cutting-edge Japanese Startups in global market and attract prominent entrepreneurs from around the world.
Managing Director
Tomotaka Goji
The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners, Co. Ltd. (UTEC)(Managing Partner & President)
Tomotaka Goji is Co-founder, Managing Partner & President of UTEC and Managing Director of JVCA. Since the inception of UTEC in 2004, he has raised and managed four funds totaling over JPY 54 billion, built the investment team, and guided UTEC's investments. Since 2016, he has also researched on data science to analyze success factors of academic startups. In his previous career at the Japanese government, he authored "The Limited Partnership Act for Venture Capital Investment" in 1997-1998, which became the foundation of Japanese VC funds thereafter, at the then Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI, now known as METI: the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry). He left the government to initiate UTEC in 2004, after engaging in legislation at the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Financial Services Agency. He graduated from the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Law, earned his MBA at Stanford University, and received his Ph.D. in data science from the University of Tokyo.
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
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・General Partner)
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. 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
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 East Ventures.ANRI, currently managing a 35B fund, has invested in over 173 companies in internet and deep tech areas, and its portfolio companies include: LayerX, NOT A HOTEL, hey, Mirrativ, alu, Rentio, etc.He has a B.A. in Economics from Keio University.
Director
Kiyohisa Hirano
Daiwa Corporate Investment Co., Ltd.(President & CEO)
"Kiyohisa Hirano joined Daiwa Securities in 1986. He has over 17 years of experience as a securities analyst covering small-cap growth companies and the stock exchanges for emerging companies such as Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) Mothers and JASDAQ. Since 2004, he worked in the Investment Banking Division of Daiwa Securities to support financing activities including IPOs and M&As for a numbers of start-ups and listed companies. After that, he assumed the President of Daiwa Quantum Capital Limited in 2010, and supervised the activities of venture capital investments at Daiwa PI Partners Co. Ltd. since 2013. He has being the director since April 2014 at Daiwa Corporate Investment Co., Ltd. and promoted to its President and CEO in April 2020.
He serves Head of a working group for programs to enhance knowledge and skills for venture capitalists at Japan Venture Capital Association."
Director
Takashi Yamanaka
i-nest capital inc.(CEO/Representative Partner)
"Takashi Yamanaka is a founder and general partner at the venture capital firm, i-nest capital, which manages the first fund.
Previously he spent 15 years at Mobile Internet Capital (MIC) and raised and managed three funds.
He has a B.A. in Economics from Tokyo University."
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.
Auditors
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.
Auditor
Hiroshi Abe
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 due diligence investigation.
Currently I’m interested in supporting startup companies and new industries such as biotechnology and life science. Aside from audit and advisory services, As Director of the Incubation Department, I am also supporting university-initiated ventures and promoting open innovation events."
Auditor
Masato Saito
Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC(Senior 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 Innovative Startup operations manager, director of The Japan Academic Society for Ventures and Entrepreneurs, and a member of the System Committee."
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
Fellow
Ken Yasunaga
Floadia Corporation(CFO)
Ken Yasunaga is a CFO of Floadia, a Japanese semiconductor start-up.
Before joining Floadia, he serves as a Managing Director at Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) between 2013 and 2019.
Ken was a Co-founder and Managing Partner of Entrepia Ventures between 1999 and 2013. He spent 9 years in US and 5 years in Japan, investing to technology focused US and Japanese start-up companies. Ken also served as a director of Japan Venture Capital Association between 2010 and 2013, and Chairman of Open Innovation Committee between 2016 and 2019.
Ken started his career at Nissho Iwai. While at Nissho Iwai's IT division, he managed the planning and execution of $500M+ investments in IT related companies. BA from Waseda University and MBA from Pace University in New York.
Fellow
Nobuyuki “Aki” Akimoto
AT PARTNERS, Inc. / TrasnLink Capital(Co-Founder and General Partner / Managing Partner)
Nobuyuki “Aki” Akimoto is Co-Founder and Managing Director of AT PARTNERS, Inc. and Managing Partner of TrasnLink Capital.
Prior to founding AT PARTNERS and joining TransLink, Aki worked for NTT and NTT DOCOMO since 1987. While Aki worked for NTT, he mainly engaged in the businesses of launching overseas projects, such as Indonesia Project (Installation of new telephone lines in Indonesia), Vietnam Project, Sri Lanka Project, Philippine Project, and India Project. He also served as COO of DOCOMO Communications Laboratories USA, Inc. (currently DOCOMO Innovations, Inc.), President & CEO of DOCOMO Capital, Inc., Chairman of DOCOMO Innovations, Inc., responsible for the launch of Silicon Valley R&D office, investment in startups and facilitation of the collaboration between startups and NTT DOCOMO. Most recently, Nobuyuki led NTT DOCOMO Ventures as SVP & COO to facilitate the open innovation of whole NTT Group. In addition, he served as Director of Japan Venture Capital Association and the chairman of Open Innovation Committee from 2014 to 2016.