Speakers
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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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Takeuchi Sumiko
IEEI / U3Innovations, LLC
Takeuchi Sumiko
Member, Board of Directors, IEEI / Co-Founder and Co-President of U3Innovations, LLC
Ph.D in Engineering.After working Tokyo Electric Power Co.mainly in the environmental sector, she became independent researcher in 2012. She has participated in the UNFCCC negotiation process (COP) for more than 15 years , and has been engaged in research and proposal of environmental and energy policies.Founded U3 Innovations LLC in October 2018 with the aim of collaborating with startups to realize “Utility 3.0” as a new social system. She works on energy and environmental issues from both policy advocacy and business/investment perspectives.
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Takuma Terakubo
UNCOVERED FUND
Takuma Terakubo
UNCOVERED FUND CEO & General Partner
Takuma is CEO & general partner of UNCOVERED FUND. He founded the company in 2019 and started investing in Africa with the first fund in 2020. In the past 4 years, we have supported 31 startup companies in Africa. We will collaborate with African startups and major Japanese companies to contribute to the growth of the digital economy.
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Takumi Sato
Luna RD co., ltd.
Takumi Sato
Luna RD co., ltd. Researcher
Luna RD Co., Ltd. is a university startup certified by the University of Shizuoka. By utilizing our proprietary nanodrug delivery system technology, our company aims to create innovative pharmaceuticals that address medical needs by effectively connecting the university's research achievements with the industry. I was born in Shizuoka Prefecture in 1995. I graduated from the doctoral program at the University of Shizuoka in 2024, earning a Ph.D. in Pharmacy. I joined Luna RD Co., Ltd. in 2024.
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Teppei Maki
Toyota Tsusho Corporation・Mobility54
Teppei Maki
Toyota Tsusho Corporation・Mobility54 Deputy CEO
Since joining Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC) in 2005, he engaged in the business of "Africa x Mobility" for almost 20 years. On top of the experiences of new business development and several MAs, he also has an experience of managing a mobility company in Mozambique as COO in 2021. Starting from April 2024, appointed as Deputy CEO at Mobility54, CVC of TTC, leading business development and synergy creation between the start-up partners and the TTC group on the ground.
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Tomoki Akutsu
TOUCH TO GO Co., Ltd.
Tomoki Akutsu
TOUCH TO GO Co., Ltd. CEO
Joined JR East in 2004; in charge of establishing JR East Startup Corporation, a corporate venture capital funded 100% by JR East in February 2018.In July 2019, he established a company as the representative of TOUCH TO GO Co Ltd, a JV with Signpost Co Ltd, to open an unmanned AI payment shop in Takanawa GW in March 2020, and to promote the introduction of unmanned payment shop systems to FamilyMart, ANA FESTA and other stores to solve social issues such as labour shortages.
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Tomoki Osato
SoraMaterials inc.
Tomoki Osato
SoraMaterials inc. CEO
During university, served as a pilot for a "Birdman" club focused on human-powered aircraft.Conducted research on composite materials using carbon nanotubes (CNT) as a Special Collaborative Research Fellow at ISAS/JAXA.Completed a master's degree in Chemical Systems Engineering at Nagoya University, earning the Outstanding Master's Thesis Award.Worked in the Manufacturing Technology Department at IHI Corporation (seconded to IHI Aerospace), developing manufacturing technologies for aerospace applications using composite materials.Co-founded SoraMaterials Inc. after experience in a consulting firm and assumed the role of CEO.
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Tomonori Iwata
Nagoya Railroad Co., Ltd.
Tomonori Iwata
Nagoya Railroad Co., Ltd. Business Creation Dept./General Manager
After joining Nagoya Railroad Co., Ltd. in 2000, engaged in group business management, consolidated accounting, and fundraising.Since 2017, involved in new business development, leading the establishment of Meitetsu Drone Academy and promoting co-creation with startups.Since 2023, in the current position, managing Meitetsu Open Innovation Lab.
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Toshihiko Tsukamoto
Illumi Medical Inc.
Toshihiko Tsukamoto
Illumi Medical Inc. CEO
The company is taking on the challenge of establishing the world's first “transvascular optical delivery system/device technology for light irradiation of extravascular tissues” by combining two of Japan's strongest technologies: “IVR technology for device delivery into blood vessels” and “cutting-edge laser technology. By achieving this, the company believes it will be able to “create medical devices capable of selective light irradiation of affected areas, including deep inside the body” and innovate to “significantly expand the indications for phototherapy and photodiagnosis and provide products on a global scale.
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Toshio Sumi
CITY of NAGOYA
Toshio Sumi
Director Startup Support Division, Innovation Promotion Department Economic Affairs Bureau, CITY of NAGOYA
After joining the Nagoya City government in 1998, I worked on industrial development in the Economic Affairs Bureau following my duty at Nagoya City University.I managed incubation facilities and engaged in university-industry collaboration office work. Starting with “Robo Cup 2017 Nagoya Japan”, I supported robotics and AI-related projects in the area of verification tests for advanced technologies.In 2018, I proposed the "Nagoya Innovation Strategy" to advance the establishment of "NAGOYA INNOVATOR'S GARAGE" and "NAGONO CAMPUS".I am managing a couple of startup projects as the first director of the startup support division, while also working as a member of the staff office at the Central Japan Startup Ecosystem Consortium.
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Takehiro Ueda
Author
Takehiro Ueda
Author
Born in 1979 in Hyogo Prefecture. After graduating from the Faculty of Law at Waseda University, he participated in the launch of a corporate solutions company and continued writing while serving as an executive. In 2013, he made his debut by winning the 45th Shincho Newcomer Award for "Taiyo" (The Sun). In 2015, he won the 28th Yukio Mishima Prize for "My Lover." In 2016, he was selected as one of GRANTA magazine's Best of Young Japanese Novelists. In 2018, he received the 68th Minister of Education's Newcomer Award for Fine Arts for Towers and Gravity. In 2019, he won the 160th Akutagawa Prize for "Nimrod." In 2022, he received the 46th Kawabata Yasunari Literary Award for "Without Travel." In 2024, he won the 30th Shimase Award for Love Stories for Beloved. His works include The Sun and Planets, My Lover, Friends from a Foreign Land, Towers and Gravity, Nimrod, Cue, Without Travel, Lack of Gravity, Beloved, K+ICO, and The Story of the Multi-Headed Beast.
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Vivienne Sato
artist
Vivienne Sato
Artist, Writer, Non-Architect, Drag Queen
Artist | Writer | Unbuilt Architecture | Drag QueenAn unorthodox creator across all genres, Vivienne has proudly embraced an identity as a drag queen for 30 years. Vivienne serves as a town revitalization consultant throughout Japan and am the tourism ambassador for Onomichi. As a talent affiliated with Sun Music, Vivienne also holds the position of visiting professor at Taisho University."My deep love for Shinjuku is reflected in my declaration: "I am Shinjuku." "Shinjuku is me."
