Mutsunori Sano is a founder and President & CEO of Innovation Engine.
He has more than 25-years experience of financial research and consultation.
From 1998 to 2000, he served as General Manager for Industry-University
Alliance Team in JAFCO, the biggest venture capital organisation in Japan.
During this term, he was in charge of managing two investment funds total
70 million dollars. Prior to that, he was General Manager of Investment
Research and was involved in about 200 projects for technical evaluation.
After graduation from Kyoto-Univ. Law Department, he joined Nomura Securities,
3 years after that, he moved to Nomura Research Institute (NRI), the biggest
research firm in Japan, where he served 17 years, as Deputy General Manager,
Management Development Division, he provided consulting services on holding
companies and corporate ventures to major corporations such as Sony, Hitachi
Toyota, and many others.
He also served NRI as a Manager of the Medium Enterprises Research Section,
involved in about 500 projects as head of the research and the consulting
section for Nomura Securities IPO operation. Projects included Misumi,
Nagase, Melco, Benessse, Dotour, Net-One Systems, etc. He also served as
Analyst, US Stocks, to research US computer, telecommunications, health
care and the retail industry.
In addition to the above, he has also served as a part-time lecturer at
Waseda University and Kyoto University, and as a member of the examining
boards of VEC, NEDO and other governmental organizations.
Takashi Matsumoto is an Investment Partner. Prior to joining Innovation
Engine, he was a Managing Director at Aozora Investment and was involved
in a number of venture capital investments. Prior to becoming a Managing
Director, he gained a wide range of experience working in corporate finance
for over 10 years. He is in charge of Life Science at Innovation Engine.
Takashi Matsumoto received a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from
Kyoto University.
Kazuhiko Ota engaged in Major advisor until February 2015 and has been appointed as investment partner as from March 2015. Prior to joining IE, he was senior manager of investment & research division of JAFCO. During his career of JAFCO manager, he provided management advisory and business valuation service to advanced technology companies. Prior to joining to JAFCO, he engaged in project manager in think-tank division and promoted a lot of research and consulting projects on the electronics and semi-conductor industry in Nomura Research Institute. He also has a career of research & development operation of a large manufacturer company. Kazuhiko Ota received a Master’s degree in electronic engineering from TOKYO University and Ph.D. in business administration from Capella University.
Yasushi Chiba is a Venture Partner. After graduating from a University he worked as a venture capitalist at JAFCO for 15 years, and have made 10 invested companies go public. After that he established a consulting firm in which he engaged in headhunting and management education business.
Hidehito Amemiya is a Venture Partner of Innovation engine. He has been working as a venture capitalist at JAFCO for 6years.During the term, realized 5 IPO's in JAFCO. After joined to ASKANET, launched new business, realized IPO. After that, joining to MEMBERS. Graduated from Meiji University.
Kosuke Kiyotsune is a Venture Partner from Sep. 2018. Prior to joining IE, he was engaged in several management position of venture companies, after 3 years experience of NISSAY CAPITAL which is one of the leading venture capital in Japan. He received his bachelor degree in economics from Seikei University and MBA in finance from Hitotsubashi University.
Hiroyuki Ishii is a Venture Partner. After Working at Nomura Securities, he entered SBI Holdings as a head of Chinese. He received a Bachelor degree in philosophy from Nanjing University and a Master degree in International Economic Law from Yokohama National University.
Yoshikazu Shinjo is a Venture Partner. He started his career as a venture, capitalist at JAFCO. For 18 years, he invested in mainly manufacturing and IT venture companies. He realized 5 IPO’s during his JAFCO career. After that, he became business consultant and supported many unlisted ventures. From 2015, he is engaged in a government project named Core Companies in precision equipment industry.
Experienced systems engineer at IBM, with a strong background in launching new businesses in the manufacturing, consumer services, and e-commerce sectors after gaining international business experience. Worked at Deloitte Tohmatsu Venture Support, providing growth support for startups. Graduate of the University of Electro-Communications.
Satoshi Konno joined IE in April, 2020 to lead IE’s public investments
utilizing his back-ground of an IT engineer, a venture capitalist, an entrepreneur
and an IP strategist.
Before IE, he has initiated and successfully established innovation division
of IP Bridge, Japanese government supported US$300M IP fund management
company. Before IP Bridge, he has incepted and cultivated a cloud software
company targeting data centers globally. He has the total of 20 years of
venture capitalist back ground and 10 years of IT engineer carrier as well.
He was recognized in IAM Strategy 300 - The World’s Leading IP Strategists, an annual listing of individuals
who lead the way in the development and implementation of world-class programs
that maximize the value of intellectual property portfolios.
He holds MBA from University of Texas at Austin.
The Sumitomo Trust and Banking Co., Ltd. April 1974-May 2006 (Area of Specialty:
Fiduciary Risk Management and Internal Audit) Shinsei Trust and Banking
Co., Ltd. September 2006-March 2015 General Manager, Head of Internal Audit.
Established Internal Audit Department、Successfully conducted in termination
of illegal dealing from FSA per calendar year. Asahi Trust Co., Ltd. April
2015-March 2017 (Advisor). Bansei Securities Co., Ltd. August 2015-January
2017 (Chief Internal Auditor).
Bachelor of Law, Keio University March 1974.
