Pitch Contest
EXPERTS
TechGALA Global Startup Showcase
"We are thrilled to announce the TechGALA Global Startup Showcase, a large-scale pitch competition bringing together visionary startups. This event offers a stage for Japanese startups aiming for global markets and international startups targeting Japan, fostering cross-border innovation and collaboration. Aligned with TechGALA’s five core themes, the showcase invites startups with groundbreaking ideas and technologies to present their pitches, sharing bold solutions that have the potential to reshape the world. This is more than a competition—it’s a celebration of innovation and a catalyst for future-forward partnerships."
Available passes
- Executive
- Business/Startup
- Rising Star
- City
Language：Japanese
Speakers
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Shuji Honjo
Honjo International / Tama Graduate School of Business
Shuji Honjo
Managing Director, Honjo International / Visiting Professor, Tama Graduate School of Business
Dr. Honjo advises startups, large companies, and investors in Japan, US and Asia. He is active in entrepreneurial education and community development, as a mentor with Techstars, Endeavor, Shido Next Innovator, Fukuoka Prefecture etc. He is also Chair, Health Ministry's Medical Entrepreneurship Committee, a committee member of IPA's MITOU Advanced Program, and a judge of Japan Startup Award. He has consultingexperiences with BCG Tokyo and CSC in California. He was Assistant to Chairman and Group Strategy Manager at CSK/SEGA Group and Represented General Atlantic, a US growth equity firm, in Japan.
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Shoichi Teshiba
MACNICA Holdings, Inc.
Shoichi Teshiba
Executive Officer – MACNICA Holdings, Inc.
MACNICA Inc. was established in 1972, and has been providing leading-edge semiconductors, electronic devices, networking and cyber security products with high value-added technology. More recently, Macnica has been actively developing new businesses in the fields of Smart Manufacturing, Cyber Physical System Security, Smart City, Mobility, Food/Agri-tech, Circular Economy driven by its global sourcing and strategic planning strength for world-leading technologies. Macnica provides unique services and solutions, creating social value and contributing to the betterment of future societies. Headquartered in Yokohama, Macnica’s global business spans 26 countries and 92 locations worldwide.Shoichi Teshiba, Executive Officer – MACNICA Holdings, Inc. has 33 year experience in semiconductor/electronics component sales & marketing business for multiple segments including storage, networking, consumer electronics, industrial equipment and automotive. He has extensive experience in assisting foreign start-ups to successfully enter the Japanese market by leveraging MANICA group’s customer base and technology expertise. Being the General Manager of the group’s Global Innovation Sourcing Department, he is looking forward to meeting the leading-edge technology companies.
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Yumi Goda
MUFG Innovation Partners Co., Ltd.
Yumi Goda
MUFG Innovation Partners Co., Ltd. Strategic Investment Div. Senior Associate
Joined MUIP for Strategic Investment Division since July 2022. Prior to MUIP, Yumi worked for Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) where she was enrolled in corporate sales for the first few years and then open innovation activities with startup company for new business development department. After working for SMBC, Yumi joined a startup company developing an urban model theme park as a founding member and experienced the launch of a museum in the entertainment area. Currently, she covers the US investment at MUIP.
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Antti Sonninen
Takeoff Tokyo
Antti Sonninen
Takeoff Tokyo Co-founder、CEO
Antti is the main organizer of Takeoff Tokyo, the place for internationally ambitious entrepreneurs. Originally from Finland, Antti came to Japan 10+ years ago first bringing the Angry Birds game here as the company’s first country director. Antti has also worked on several projects bridging the tech communities of Japan and the rest of the world, most notably as co-founder and CEO of Slush Tokyo.
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Takeshi Isaku
Musashi Seimitsu Industry Co., Ltd. / Musashi Innovation Lab Clue.
Takeshi Isaku
Managing Executive Officer, Chief Innovation Officer, Musashi Seimitsu Industry Co., Ltd. / Head of Musashi Innovation Lab Clue.
Spent 18 years stationed in the U.S. after joining Musashi, primarily responsible for sales to automotive OEMs. Returned to Japan in 2010 and oversaw group-wide sales before taking charge of new business development as Chief Innovation Officer in 2019. Established joint ventures such as MusashiAI, 634AI (Israel), and Waphyto, actively leading business expansion as a board member.As Head of Clue, involved in launching and accelerating internal ventures, as well as driving innovation from regional initiatives. As CVC Director, executed over 15 investments in startups and venture capital firms in Israel, Silicon Valley, Canada, Japan, and other regions, promoting Open Innovation. Currently focusing on expanding Green Tech businesses in Africa through investments in startups in Kenya and Ethiopia.
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Atsushi Suzuki
Marubeni Corporation
Atsushi Suzuki
Marubeni Corporation General Manager of the Chubu branch
Joined the Marubeni Corporation in 1987. He specializes in the automotive, finance, and mobility fields. He has been stationed overseas for a total of 18 years in Belgium, Sweden, the United States, and India. In this process, he has a wealth of experience in overseas M&A and new business launches. In 2019, he was appointed General Manager of Southwest Asia and President of Marubeni India Company in New Delhi. Since 2022, he has been the General Manager of the Chubu branch. Influenced by India's start-up ecosystem, Innovation Lab Agora was opened in September 2023 as a base for new business creation and co-creation. Currently, the total number of Agora members exceeds 1,000, and business among members is continuously being born. At the same time, as a visiting professor at Nagoya University, he supports university-launched ventures and advises local start-up Kurofune.
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Keiko Usami
bp Japan
Keiko Usami
bp Japan, Head of Hydrogen - Japan
Keiko has been taking the role as Head of Hydrogen Japan at Oil Major since Dec 2022 after her career in Mitsubishi Corporation. After joining Mitsubishi in 1993, she was assigned to automotive distribution business. Since 2000, has been dedicated to business development in various fields including lithium-ion battery manufacturing, sales of grid scale stationary battery energy system. During her role of being seconded in 2016 to Mitsubishi International GmbH in Germany as GM of Environmental Business and assigned as Head of Environmental R&D Office after coming back to Japan in 2019, she had a chance to cover Hydrogen and other environmental related businesses. A thought on The 100 Year-Life led her to a challenge to open a new chapter to work for an global oil measure.Inspired by her father as an engineer, she is a believer of technical innovation makes the world change and wish to promote Japanese technology to help change the world better.
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Eyal Agmoni
Chartered Group
Eyal Agmoni
Founder, Chartered Group CEO / Chartered Investment Managers Tel Aviv University / International Advisory Board
Chartered Group is a private equity with global operations in seven countries (Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany, Thailand, Luxembourg and Israel). Investment interest consist of four major groups: (1) Investment Banking, (2) Credit, Real Estate, (3) Hospitality and (4) Technology. With approximately 35 years of alternative investment experience Chartered Group engages in various businesses in Japan through its portfolio companies. In terms of start-up investments, the company manages several deep tech-focused funds and has invested approximately USD 400 million.
