Speakers
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Kohei Nishida
TOWING
Kohei Nishida
TOWING CEO
While studying at Nagoya University, I was deeply inspired by the depth and potential of soil microorganism cultivation technology developed by the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO). This led me to establish TOWING Inc. Combining this innovative technology with proprietary techniques developed in-house, we are delivering services that revolutionize local agriculture and strive toward the realization of a super-circular society.Major awards and recognitions include being selected for Forbes JAPAN 30 UNDER 30 2023, receiving the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Encouragement Award at the 38th JCI JAPAN TOYP 2024, and winning the Grand Prize at the 8th Rise Up Festa hosted by Mitsubishi UFJ Bank.
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Koichi Iwasawa
Sci-Fi Prototyping Design
Koichi Iwasawa
Sci-Fi Prototyping Design Mentor / KMI Corp. CEO
Sci-Fi Prototyping Design is an inter-industry group of specialists who continue to promote sci-fi communication under the motto “Freedom to Fantasy”. Let's talk about SF x innovation, business concepts, consulting, communication, PR (KMI's activities), and more! We look forward to meeting you!
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Koichi Maruo
Major7th Inc.
Koichi Maruo
Major7th Inc. CEO
Born in Osaka Prefecture in 1960. Served at Daiwa Securities Co., Ltd. for 38 years, including 12 years as an executive officer, holding positions such as Senior Managing Director. Throughout his career, he specialized in investment banking operations. As a lead underwriter, he successfully realized numerous major startup IPOs including Mercari, Inc. and Raksul Inc., while also being involved in the relisting of Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. following its bankruptcy, as well as capital raising for listed companies such as Rakuten Group, Inc. and KDDI Corporation.Currently serves as the Representative Director of Major7th, Inc., a company providing support services for entrepreneurs, while concurrently holding outside director positions at multiple companies, including listed corporations.
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Koki Watanabe
OptFit Co., Ltd.
Koki Watanabe
OptFit Co., Ltd. CEO
After retiring from competitive swimming, which he continued from the age of 4 until his fourth year at university, he joined a SaaS vendor company in Tokyo as a new graduate and worked extensively in the value chain of media and SaaS businesses. Utilizing that experience, he started his own business at the age of 24 and developed a media business for swimming schools, and a year later sold the business to a listed company with a view to expanding nationwide. OptFit Co., Ltd. was established with the desire to create a society where AI and humans can coexist.
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Kota Machida
fabula Inc.
Kota Machida
fabula Inc. CEO
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture, graduated from the Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, at the University of Tokyo. Spent childhood in the Netherlands and developed an interest in solving social issues faced by humanity, including environmental problems. Traveled to over 60 countries, with Venice being the favorite city. In the concrete research lab, worked on developing a new material made from food waste, aiming to make construction materials more sustainable and add value to food waste. In October 2021, co-founded fabula Inc. with Takuma Oishi and Daiki Matsuda, with the statement "Creating inspiration from waste," seeking to add value to all types of waste.
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Kouhei Shigeta
KDDI CORPORATION
Kouhei Shigeta
KDDI CORPORATION Deputy General Manager Services & Products Development Division Personal Business Sector
Joined DDI CORPORATION (now KDDI CORPORATION) in 1999.Since 2012,The head of au Smart Pass promotion department of New business promotion Division, engaged in the launch of "au Smart Pass",a service for au smartphone users.An outside director of Natasha,Inc. since 2012, an outside director of Supership Inc. and Connehito Inc. since 2016.Now, engaged in strategy planning and advertising "Ponta Pass" at the Services & Products Development Division.
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Lisa Mandemaker
Speculative Designer
Lisa Mandemaker
Speculative Designer
Lisa Mandemaker is a speculative designer with a strategic, contextually aware and critical approach to research and design. She considers speculative design as a tool for debate in the public domain. In collaboration with scientists, ethicists and researchers she crafts future narratives through designed prototypes, creating invitations to reflect on possible futures. Making impactful, topical work and creating strong interventions and conversation starters are key elements to her practice. The focus is on the socio-cultural and ethical impact of emerging technologies in the fields of reproduction, health and politics. Through the lens of Reproductive Futures, her projects are a call to action and a pursuit of understanding and shaping the impact of technology on our most fundamental aspects of life. Known for her contribution to the design of the prototype of an artificial womb, she received a spot on the annual BBC 100 Women List, listing the 100 most inspiring women of the world.
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Madoka Sawa
Ensow inc.
Madoka Sawa
Ensow inc. CEO
Former Executive Officer of Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd. Served as the Director of the Microsoft Technology Center until August 2020. Engaged in advisory and consulting activities across a wide range of fields, including digital transformation (DX), productivity improvement for business professionals, cybersecurity, and organizational management. Holds titles as an advisor and evangelist for multiple companies and shares information as a role model for "parallel careers." Additionally, actively collaborates with influencers in fashion, beauty, and automotive industries.
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Maho Hamada
Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Maho Hamada
Executive Vice President, Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
The executive vice president of Nissin Kogyo, established in 1970.After graduating from university and working as a high school teacher, she and her husband (President) took over the family business of steel processing and sales.She oversees all back-office operations including finance, human resources, and general affairs.She launched a new project, named NGL（NISSIN GROUP LABO）to promote innovation.She developed the custom-made container house “ISOL.”, utilizing the technology of the company's 55 years of experience.The product has been receiving great responses, and getting many offers for cafes and outdoor facilities.
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Makiko Shinoda
Yell Company, Limited
Makiko Shinoda
Yell Company, Limited Director
Makiko Shinoda serves as a Director at Yell, where they support organizational transformation through online 1-on-1 sessions with external professionals. From 2008 to 2018,Makiko was the Director and CFO of Hobonichi.Prior to Hobonichi, Makiko held various roles at The Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan, McKinsey & Company, Novartis, and Nestlé. Makiko has a deep interest in the dynamics between people and organizations, as well as in promoting women's empowerment. Additionally, Makiko served as the supervising translator for the book "You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters".Makiko holds a degree in Economics from Keio University, an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master’s in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University.
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Makiko Tauchi
DENSO Corporation
Makiko Tauchi
DENSO Corporation Value Chain Platform Planning Director
She is engaged in developing a data utilization platform for the integration of AI and mobility. Also serves as a board member of the Chubu Future Leaders Council, promoting the development of next-generation leaders and women's empowerment.
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Makoto Ao
CEO, LEO Co., Ltd.
Makoto Ao
CEO, LEO Co., Ltd. | Planning and Operations Producer, Nagono Campus | Professor, School of Entrepreneurship, Musashino University
After working as a software development engineer, she became the first female executive at a tech company in 2012, where she established an internal venture and engaged in business spin-offs and startup support through industry-government-academia collaboration. In 2016, she co-founded ExaIntelligence (now ExaWizards Inc.), an AI venture originating from Kansai, and served as Director and COO before founding LEO Co., Ltd. as her second entrepreneurial venture. She is the producer of "Nagono Campus," an incubation facility in a former elementary school near Nagoya Station designed to create the next 100 years. Alongside being the navigator for ZIP-FM's "Startup [N]," she serves as a professor at the School of Entrepreneurship at Musashino University, a visiting associate professor for industry-academia-government collaboration at Nagoya University, and a member of the Nagoya City Board of Education. Since 2022, she has also been a mentor for the Central Japan Seed Fund.
