Capitalist

General Partner, CEO
TOMOKAZU OKUNO
Tomokazu Okuno joined T-Media Holdings (current TSUTAYA net company) in 2015 as CFO. He supervised corporate planning and management divisions, as well as leading venture investment and monitoring activities. In 2015, he established IMJ Investment Partners Japan LLP and launched the venture capital business in Japan. Before joining T-Media Holdings, Tomokazu spent 13 years in the investment banking industry, engaged in M&A advisory and financing deals at Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, and Nikko Salomon Smith Barney. Tomokazu received a BA in Commerce from Waseda University and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
General Partner
TAKASHI CHIBA
Takashi Chiba had 3 years’ management experience as a co-founder and COO/CFO at ITANDI, a real estate tech startup, from 2013. He supervised business development and business management. Before that, Takashi spent 6 years in total in investment banking industry at Deutsche Bank, and private equity industry at The Carlyle Group, and engaged various M&A and financing transactions. Takashi received a BA in Economics from the University of Tokyo.
Principal
SHUZO UEKI
Shuzo Ueki joined Dream Incubator in April 2018. He worked mainly in the strategy consulting division, where he helped large companies in various industries such as healthcare, energy, and insurance to plan and formulate their new businesses. At the same time, he is also in charge of supporting carve-outs from large corporations and financing for venture companies. Before that, Shuzo consulted with a major pharmaceutical company on sales and marketing strategies at ZS Associates. Shuzo received a BA in Laws from the University of Tokyo.
Senior Associate
AKITOMO NAOI
Akitomo Naoi was a senior consultant of Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting and a manager of EY Strategy and Consulting. He has been very passionate about ESG/Sustainability and clean technology field, and engaged with a wide variety of private sector (such as automobile, chemical, electric, consumer, food, real estate, bank, and etc.) and public sector clients in 7 years. MS in material science from Carnegie Mellon University. BS in applied physics from Keio University.
Senior Associate
KEIGO AGATA
Keigo Agata joined Spiral Capital in May 2022. Prior to joining, he worked in the investment banking divisions at Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse for a total of 7 years, mainly executing financing deals such as IPOs. He has extensive experience in capital markets transactions, regardless of market cap, sector, and offering format. After spending his childhood in London, he attended an international school in Japan. Graduated from the University of Chicago, double-majoring in Economics and Statistics.

Capitalist

General Partner
HIROSHI OKA
Hiroshi Oka joined IMJ Investment Partners (current Spiral Ventures Pte. Ltd.) at it’s launch in 2012. He and Tomokazu launched IMJ Investment Partners Japan under the CCC Group in 2015, and Hiroshi became Managing Partner of Spiral Innovation Partners LLP in June 2019. Hiroshi has been supporting open innovation in companies with a focus on corporate venturing since around 2014, providing a wide range of support for the planning and operation of accelerator programs, internal venture programs, and innovation talent development. Hiroshi experienced in several businesses such as web integration business, affiliate platform business, smart phone app business, etc. Hiroshi holds a MA from Chiba University.
General Partner
KAZUHIRO KAMADA
Kazuhiro Kamada joined Spiral Innovation Partners in September 2022. Prior to Spiral, he started working as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs in July 2011. Kazuhiro belonged to TMT (Technology, Media, Telecom) sector team and spent 11 years with M&A advisory and financing deals. Additionally, he led start-up investment initiatives at the investment banking division, executing investment into various start-up companies such as Sansan. Before joining Goldman Sachs, he had a wide variety of experience as a professional advisor, including 5 years in management consulting at Boston Consulting Group and 3 years in IT consulting at Future Architect. Graduated from Tokyo university and received an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Principal
YASUHIRO MATSUMOTO
Yasuhiro Matsumoto served as the sales director and invested in startups in the seed stage at 01Booster Inc. He formulated and executed accelerator programs and open innovation strategies, such as for internal policies for new businesses, for numerous major firms. Before that, Yasuhiro managed the export and sales of automobiles at Sumitomo Corporation and started up a translation business. Yasuhiro graduated from the School of Political Science and Economics at Meiji University.
Principal
YASUKUNI ICHIKAWA
Yasukuni Ichikawa joined Spiral Innovation Partners in October 2023. Prior to Spiral, he was the head of corporate planning division of CADDi, a manufacturing-tech startup, where he led the company’s business management and financing. Before joining CADDi, Yasukuni spent 8 years in investment banking at Goldman Sachs, engaged in M&A advisory and financing transactions. He started his career as a strategy consultant with Accenture (Strategy Group), engaged in strategy development and implementation for 8 years. Yasukuni received a BA in policy management from Keio University and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Senior Associate
HINAKO IMAMURA
Hinako Imamura joined Spiral Capital in June 2023. Prior to joining, she worked in Boston consulting group from 2020. Engaged in various consulting project for public sector and private companies, including business strategy development, business support, and cost reduction. Prior to that, she worked in the investment banking division of Goldman Sachs since 2017, involved in equity and fixed income financing deals. Graduated from Keio university.
Associate
KAKERU MIZUNO
KAKERU MIZUNO
Kakeru Mizuno joined Spiral Innovation Partners in November 2023. Prior to joining, he worked in the Investment Banking Division at Daiwa Securities, where he was engaged in research work on unlisted companies, mainly in the tech fields, M&A and fundraising in technology, media, and telecommunication industries. BS in Science from Kobe University.
Associate
WATARU NARUMI
Wataru Narumi joined Spiral Innovation Partners in April 2024(Seconded from Japan Post Bank). Prior to joining, he worked at Japan Post Bank, where he engaged in new business: Support selling products of investee companies and contribute to regional vitalization. He was also involved in research on emerging industries such as fintech. Graduated from the School of Political Science and Economics at Waseda University. Completed the Graduate School of Professional Accountancy at Meiji University, and studied sustainable investment at the University of California, Berkeley while in school.

Corporate

Senior Director/Corporate & Compliance Officer
SHINICHIRO MAEDA
Shinichiro Maeda joined Spiral Innovation Partners in February 2023. Prior to joining, he worked for Nippon life insurance company for 14 years. His extensive experience includes back office of securities, startup investment, planning of acceleration programs, and sales strategy planning of personal insurance. Shinichiro received a BA in electronic engineering and a MBA from Kyoto university.
Director
RINA SHIMAZAKI
Rina Shimazaki joined Spiral Innovation Partners in July 2023. Prior to joining, she worked in Commercial Banking at JPMorgan, helped clients with their credit, foreign exchange, investment banking and treasury services. Prior to that, she worked in the investment banking division of Credit Suisse since 2017, engaged in M&A advisory and financing deals. Graduated from Keio University, Faculty of Law.
Director
AIKO KIKUCHI
Aiko Kikuchi joined Spiral Innovation Partners in August 2024. Prior to joining our company, she worked as a freelancer 2022-2024, as recruitment and public relations support, event PM, etc. Prior to that, she worked at three listed companies, Quick Co., Ltd., Mynet Inc., and Visional, Inc., where she held various positions depending on the phase of each company, for example, sales office manager, recruitment & public relations manager and president's office & new business support. Graduated from Faculty of Humanities, Tokyo Metropolitan University.
Manager
SAYUKI MURAKAMI
Sayuki Murakami worked at a law firm and a startup company, where she experienced in back office and secretarial positions. Sayuki holds a BA in Laws from Rikkyo University.
Manager
SHINGO OKADA
Shingo Okada joined Spiral Innovation Partners in April 2024. He is a Registered Management Consultant. Prior to joining, he worked at Stream tax accountants’ corporation for 6 years, where he provided accounting and tax advisory services to companies in various industries, and assisted listed companies with their accounting. Graduated from Hosei University.
Analyst
KANAE TODAKA
Kanae Todaka joined Spiral Innovation Partners in March 2024. Prior to joining, she worked at a housing defect insurance corporation, where she was involved in insurance procedures, billing operations, and sales management. Prior to that, she was engaged in customer service as a dress coordinator in the bridal industry. Graduated from Aso Medical Welfare & Tourism College, Hotel Bridal Department.
Advisor
Senior Advisor
MASAO HIRANO
Masao Hirano was Japan Office Head of McKinsey & Company and Co-Head of Carlyle Japan. During his 20 years career at McKinsey, Masao led a number of projects including corporate strategy, organizational design, globalization, M&A, and corporate governance for a variety of companies. Currently Masao is the faculty at WASEDA Business School and the president at Business Model Association. Masao received a MS in Engineering Economic Systems from Stanford University and a PhD in Engineering from the University of Tokyo.
Senior Advisor
DAISUKE IWASE
Daisuke Iwase is the founder of Lifenet Insurance. He retired after serving as President and Chairman of the Board; in 2018, he was invited to join AIA Group, Asia's largest life insurance company, as Group Chief Digital Officer; in 2021, he established KLKTN Limited, a global platform connecting artists and fans through NFT In 2023, he was appointed President and Representative Director of Animoca Brands KK, a strategic subsidiary in Japan of Animoca Brands, one of the world's leading web3 companies. He holds a BA in Law from the University of Tokyo (passed the bar exam) and an MBA with High Distinction from Harvard Business School.
IR Advisor
TAKEO TAKAHASHI
Takeo Takahashi joined Spiral Capital in March 2024. Prior to joining Spiral, he established a consulting entity, providing services to domestic financial institutions and overseas venture capital. Before that, he led fundraising of the flagship fund and various services for domestic investors at J-Will Partners (Private Equity Firm), and he engaged in credit rating and composition of CMBS (Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities) at Moody's and Morgan Stanley. Takeo received a BA in Economics from Keio University.