Speakers
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Dr Adriana Marais
Proudly Human
Dr Adriana Marais
Proudly Human Founder
Dr Adriana Marais has a background in theoretical physics, her PhD and postdoctoral research focused on quantum effects in biology and the origins of the building blocks of life in space. Adriana is currently a researcher at the University of Stellenbosch and the National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences, both in South Africa, and faculty at the Singularity University. Adriana is also a director at the Foundation for Space Development Africa, preparing Africa’s first mission to the Moon, the Africa2Moon Project, she is scientific moderator on space resources with the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator and chair of space sciences at Tod’Aérs Aeronautics and Space Research. In 2019, Adriana left her position as Head of Innovation at SAP Africa to found Proudly Human, and she is currently leading the organisation’s Off-World Project, in preparation for extreme conditions on Earth and beyond.
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Ai Kawaguchi
NewsPicks
Ai Kawaguchi
NewsPicks for WE Editor in Chief
She holds a master's degree from the Graduate School of Letters at Showa Women's University. With previous experience at Shogakukan Creative and HuffPost Japan, she now leads the advertising production team at NewsPicks Studios and serves as the editor-in-chief of NewsPicks for WE, a project dedicated to empowering women in their careers. Her published work spans a range of media, focusing on women's work styles and healthcare.
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Akihiko Shibahara
Research Institute for Earth Science Visualization Technology
Akihiko Shibahara
Research Institute for Earth Science Visualization Technology CEO
1.CEO, Research Institute for Earth Science Visualization Technology Co.,Ltd (AIST* Start-ups). *National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology.2.Dr. Akihiko Shibahara is a geologist, paleontologist, and 3D-CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) engineer. He received a Doctor degree of Science from Tsukuba University, and he worked as a curator at the Geological Museum in AIST*. His recent research has focused on the visualization of earth science, such as underground data or hazard maps using 3D modeling techniques. In 2016, he established the Institute for Earth Science Visualization Technology as an AIST Start-ups to implement his research activity. He is also a visiting professor at Fukui Prefectural University and a visiting researcher at Dinosaur Research Investigation at the same university to visualize the spatial relationship between geology and paleontology. Earth Science Visualization Technology established several techniques of building up finely-detailed 3D miniatures to visualize geological information and hazard maps. In 2024, he is working on Scientific Research for the science fiction drama “Ultraman Arc".
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Akinori Sato
WonderPlanet Inc.
Akinori Sato
WonderPlanet Inc. Director & COO & CFO
Born in Nagoya. After graduating from the Master's Course of Economics at Kobe University where I skipped a grade, I joined the Research Department of Daiwa Institute of Research Ltd. (currently Daiwa Securities Co., Ltd.) in 2008, where I worked as a sell side analyst, a corporate planning at the group headquarters, and an analyst in the investment banking department. Hoping to realize an IPO for a venture in my hometown of Nagoya, I joined my current position in 2016 and returned to my hometown . After raising the total of over 3 billion yen before the IPO, we achieved IPO on TSE Mothers in 2021. I have been serving as COO since 2024. Certified Member Analyst of SAAJ.
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Akira Amano
Dentsu Media Innovation Lab
Akira Amano
Dentsu Media Innovation Lab, Principal Researcher
M.A. in Interdisciplinary Information Studies from the University of Tokyo, specializing in research and consulting on SNS trends and trends among young people. His many publications include “A New Generation of Business is Born Inside Smartphones,” “History of SNS Transition,” and “Information Media White Paper (co-authored). He has also served as an expert commentator for the Nikkei Think! Expert, a part-time lecturer at Meiji Gakuin University's Faculty of Sociology, and a judge for the TikTok for Business Japan Awards 2024 Creative Category.
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Alissa Miky
Aqua Theon Inc.
Alissa Miky
Aqua Theon Inc. CEO
Born in NY in 1992, Alissa helped launch a flower brand during her time at Waseda University, growing it into Rakuten's No.1. She gained experience in a sake startup, Fujimaki Department Store, and an Israeli trading company. In September 2019, she founded Aqua Theon inc. (formerly Cashi Cake inc.) in LA, with the mission of 'Bringing rural Japan to the world'. The company focuses on seaweed tech for food, alternative plastics, and medical capsules. Misaky.Tokyo, the marine plant-based Japanese sweets brand, has 1.4 million TikTok followers and is expanding nationwide.
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Ami Miura
ima Inc.
Ami Miura
ima Inc. CEO
Born in Nagoya, Japan. After founding a business as a student and later transferring its operations, she traveled around the world, experiencing the cultures and arts of various countries. Upon returning to Japan, she engaged in supporting the Japanese market entry of overseas IT companies at a venture capital firm. In 2013, she founded Ima Inc. with the goal of integrating traditional Japanese culture, artisanal skills, and researchers' aspirations into practical applications in society. In addition to implementing Japanese craftsmanship and decision-making processes in primary industries within AI, she is also involved in market implementation projects for research and development at Toyota Motor Corporation. She lectures on "Social Implementation of AI" at Digital Hollywood University and the University of Tsukuba, where she serves as an associate professor. She also serves as an advisor for the AICHI MOBILITY INNOVATION Project.
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Anna Kreshchenko
Flora
Anna Kreshchenko
CEO of Flora
Anna graduated from the Faculty of International Relations, Odessa National University of Ukraine. In 2017, she came to Japan as a MEXT scholar and enrolled in Kyoto University, Faculty of Law. Anna founded Flora in December 2020 to improve women's physical and mental wellbeing with the help of cutting-edge technology.Anna was awarded the Special Award as the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2023, selected as Forbes Japan “Next 100” and Forbes Asia & Japan 30 under 30 in 2024.
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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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Atsushi Kitagawa
Marubeni Corporation
Atsushi Kitagawa
Marubeni Corporation Chubu Branch Deputy General Manager
Graduated from Nagoya University School of Law in 1996 and joined Marubeni Corporation. Specialised in fashion business, handling product development, production, SCM, retail, investment, collaboration with start-ups, and launching new D2C ventures, alongside broad experience in accounting, project management, and M&A. Additionally, seconded to an LNG export company in Peru, GU in Japan, and a fast fashion company in the UK, addressing management challenges. Assumed current position in April 2023. Concurrently serves as head of Marubeni Innovation Lab Agora, generating open innovation originating from Chubu region. From November 2024, appointed as a visiting faculty member at Nagoya University's D-Center.
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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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Aya Ozasa
Association for Promotion of Community Marketing / Colorful LLC
Aya Ozasa
Director, Association for Promotion of Community Marketing CEO / Colorful LLC
Following roles at Recruit and Google, she co-founded EventRegist in 2011. As COO, she built and led sales, marketing, and administration divisions for the event industry SaaS. Following the company's acquisition by Nikkei Inc. in 2019, she founded Colorful LLC and in 2024, established the Association for Promotion of Community Marketing. She currently serves as an independent director for multiple public companies, an adjunct lecturer at Nippon Institute of Technology, and holds a Management of Technology and a Master of Business Administration.
