Speakers
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Daigo Sato
42 Tokyo
Daigo Sato
Vice Chairperson & Secretary-General of 42 Tokyo
In 1998, founded the NPO Dot JP, which operates a student internship program with over 45,000 participants. In 2010, introduced the world’s largest donation platform, "JustGiving," to Japan, growing it into the country’s largest donation site and contributing to the promotion of a donation culture in Japan. Appointed Professor at Musashino University’s Faculty of Entrepreneurship in 2021 and Vice Chairperson & Secretary-General of "42 Tokyo" in 2023.
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Dima Gazda
Esper Bionics
Dima Gazda
Esper Bionics CEO
Dima Gazda, Co-founder & CEO at Esper Bionics. Dima combines his expertise as a Medical Doctor, serial entrepreneur, and embedded engineer to develop technology that unlocks human potential. In 2024 Dima was listed in Time 100 Health.
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Fara Taraie
NewNormDesign/ Matinno
Fara Taraie
NewNormDesign CEO / Matinno founder
Fara is recognized for her work in sustainable design in construction. She earned her Master's in Architectural Engineering from Tokyo University and holds several certifications in sustainability and smart city design. Fluent in four languages, Fara has extensive experience in both large and small-scale projects in Japan and internationally. She founded NewNormDesign to transform modern unsustainable practices into environmentally friendly initiatives, aiming to enhance social impact by reducing waste and developing Japan's first material passport and sustainability assessment system. Fara also serves as a judge for JAFMA, is a board member of the Global Entrepreneurs Network Japan, and holds positions as Director and board member of Impactech Japan. Additionally, she is a member of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) and conducts multiple corporate workshops focused on sustainability, while serving on the board of Bscale Japan.
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Fumiaki Ikeno
Stanford University / Medical Officer of MedVenture Partners
Fumiaki Ikeno
Stanford University Principal Investigator/Physician, Director and Chief Medical Officer of MedVenture Partners
A graduate of Jichi Medical University, he began his research career at the Department of Cardiology,Stanford University, in 2001, where he was involved in research and development, animal testing,and clinical trials for a U.S. medical device venture. He has extensive advisory experience in themedical device field and is familiar with the medical situation in Japan and the United States. He hasalso participated in projects involving Japanese and U.S. regulatory authorities in medical devices andis working to establish a cross-border medical device ecosystem.In addition to his research, he has been teaching at Stanford University since 2002 as a member of the Stanford Biodesign Advisory Faculty, where he is training entrepreneurs in the medical devicefield. He is also deeply involved in the establishment of the Japanese version of Biodesign.In addition,he is actively working to establish a Silicon Valley-style medical device ecosystem in Japan.
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Fumiko Kato
WAmazing Inc.
Fumiko Kato
WAmazing Inc. CEO
After graduating from Keio SFC, she gained experience in launching new internet businesses at Recruit and worked as a chief researcher in tourism industry research and business development.In July 2016, she founded WAmazing Inc. to establish a platform aimed at spreading consumption by inbound tourists throughout regional areas and contributing to local revitalization.Having overcome the COVID-19 pandemic period, she is now working to create a platform service that aims to revitalize Japan's economy and regional areas through the inbound tourism market, which has the potential to become Japan's number one foreign currency earning industry.
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Fumito Matsuda
HERALBONY Co., Ltd.
Fumito Matsuda
Co-CEO,HERALBONY Co., Ltd.
After working in a general contractor company on the reconstruction of disaster-affected areas, Fumito established HERALBONY with his twin, Takaya Matsuda. He is the twin's older brother and a recipient of the 'Forbes 30 UNDER 30 JAPAN' award.
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Go Fujita
MTG Ventures Co., Ltd.
Go Fujita
CEO, MTG Ventures Co., Ltd.
Born in 1974 in Akita Prefecture. Graduated from Meiji University with a degree in Business Administration. Joined Japan Joint Finance Co., Ltd. (now JAFCO Group Co., Ltd.) in 1997, where he engaged in investments from seed to later stages, served as a director at various portfolio companies, and managed fund raising, focusing on fields such as autonomous driving and AI.In 2018, he became the CEO of MTG Ventures Co., Ltd. As the corporate venture capital arm of the MTG Group, he invests in startups that aim to realize "VITAL LIFE," leveraging insights gained from interactions with over 6,000 entrepreneurs. In 2022, he established the "Central Japan Seed Fund," a seed-focused fund aimed at solving regional issues.
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Hirayama Yuta
Nagoya University Visiting Associate Professor
Hirayama Yuta
Visiting Associate Professor
Yuta Hirayama is the founder of IDEAPOST Inc., established in May 2016 with a mission to revitalize local regions and support overseas startups. Since 2018, he has served as a Visiting Associate Professor at Nagoya University, focusing on innovation and building startup ecosystem.In February 2019, Hirayama joined the World Economic Forum's Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Japan, where he played a key role in launching the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance. Following the dissolution of the organization in June 2023, he returned to IDEAPOST Inc. in July 2023 and now leads the company's efforts in supporting startups and fostering open innovation.
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Hiromi OKUDA
TechGALA General Producer. Wiz. Group, Inc.
Hiromi OKUDA
TechGALA General Producer. CEO&Founder, Wiz. Group, Inc.
Hiromi Okuda received her Master degree in Social Welfare from the graduate school of University of Bombay (currently renamed as University of Mumbai). She started a conference business in 1991 that specializes in IT, and supports bringing a number of IT private events into Japan. Ms. Okuda established Wiz. Group, Inc. in 2001, and provides assistance for a large number of IT companies to hold conferences in Japan. Since 2008, she began support for start-ups development, and engages in ecosystem building of start-ups in order to form start-up communities in local areas both inside and outside of Tokyo. In 2013, Ms. Okuda began Takaranoyama Inc. in an underpopulated area, to research what IT can do to solve social problems in the region. Social issues are hardest to see from the actual site of development, and she is trying to connect these issues with the development of IT products.
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Hiroyuki Shimada
Research Institute, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology
Hiroyuki Shimada
Director, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, Research Institute, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology
Despite recommendations to increase physical activity to prevent disease and disability, many older adults do not engage in sufficient physical activity. This session will present the need to improve physical activity in the older population and strategies to prevent disability and dementia.
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Jett Glozier
Sound Diplomacy
Jett Glozier
Head of Business Development / Global Head of Infrastructure, Sound Diplomacy
Jett is the global lead on all cultural infrastructure projects for Sound Diplomacy. With a portfolio encompassing the comprehensive design, evaluation, and feasibility of diverse projects, he specialises in music venues, arenas, cultural hubs, and placemaking cultural districts. His focus extends to business planning and cultural policy, with a particular emphasis on the viability and strategy for new multi-use venues, creative studios, festivals, and events. In his role at Sound Diplomacy, Jett has successfully spearheaded cultural infrastructure projects in major global hubs, including London, Manchester, Sydney, Singapore, and various locations across the United States. Noteworthy achievements include leading the delivery of the cultural strategy for the Earl's Court Development Company Masterplan in London and serving as an executive consultant for the new Arts Venue at The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.
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Junichi Hataoka
SyncMOF Inc.
Junichi Hataoka
SyncMOF Inc. / CEO
After graduating from Waseda University, I worked at Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) in the ERATO project, where I was involved in the development of MOF-related equipment and the formulation of evaluation standards. I then worked at Accenture from upstream to downstream in the semiconductor, food, GMS, and pharmaceutical industries, where I gained experience in business improvement and problem solving. In 2019, I founded SyncMOF Inc. I also provides entrepreneurship education and support to entrepreneurs, and has successfully exited the companies I supports.
