Global Innovation Conference Hack Osaka Executive Committee (Urban Innovation Institute)
:06-6359-1322 (Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM–5:30 PM, *excluding national holidays)
:hackosaka2024@urban-ii.or.jp
Misaki Matsumoto
NVIDIA Head of Startup and VC Partnership
Majored in Neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley. After graduation, engaged in research and development of medical data at a startup in Singapore. Subsequently, involved in speech recognition and LLM development at US tech companies and startups. Joined NVIDIA in 2024, promoting community growth and technical support through partnerships with startups and venture capital firms in Japan.
Robyn Tan
36Kr Global Partner
Robyn Tan leads KrASIA, the English arm of 36Kr Global, promoting innovation and exchange between China and the rest of the world. Headquartered in Singapore, KrASIA sits in a multicultural and multilingual region. Since joining in 2018, Robyn has put together a diverse team to accurately capture the localized nuances in Southeast Asia.
The media team of KrASIA documents crucial insights at the intersection of technology, business, and culture, making it an objective source of information for discerning readers following digital transformations in Asia. Having accumulated media expertise and networks over the years, KrASIA continues to assist companies in their publicity efforts, ranging from PR strategies, branding, and content distribution across Asia in local languages. On this front, Robyn has served a wide variety of clients ranging from aspiring startups to tech giants the likes of Lazada, boutique venture capital firms, government agencies and public institutions.
Fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Robyn also serves international companies expanding into China. Her team offers consulting services to tailor effective strategies specific to the client’s objectives and prides themselves as a reliable partner to execute demanding projects from start-to-end.
After graduating with a degree in Economics from the Singapore Management University (SMU), Robyn worked for a venture accelerator, where she was part of a startup’s expansion to Manila, Philippines, and taking over a failing startup before selling it in 2016. She then joined SMU’s Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, where she led the incubation team and helped build the iconic “The Greenhouse” space at the SMU Connexion.
Thomas Prunel
LVMH Japan G.K. IT Digital Director
Prior to LVMH JP, he worked at Fast Retailing (Tokyo) in various roles in e-commerce international expansion and in the engineering team. He has 20 years of work experience in IT/digital operations in B2B/B2C. He will be working in Japan from 2019.
Marie Oshioka
HERALBONY Co., Ltd. COO / HERALBONY EUROPE CEO
Marie joined the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in 2009. After acquiring MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, she was involved in business strategy at McKinsey & Company. Marie also worked for a fintech company, Money Forward Inc., as the Head of IR. In 2024 she was appointed CEO of HERALBONY EUROPE.
Takahiro Kinoshita
JIKAN TECHNO Inc. Executive President
Graduated from Kinki University. 2016, participated in the founding of Jikan Techno Co.
In 2021, he left Jikan Techno in February. In July 2021, he assumed the position of Representative Director of Jican Techno Co. After assuming the position of Representative Director of Jican Techno, he started to develop biomass materials derived from agricultural residues and food residues, instead of conventional raw materials and materials made only from minerals. He established a manufacturing process that is not only conceptual but also cost and quality-compatible with industrial products, and succeeded in commercializing the process by acquiring numerous patents. Currently, as one of Japan's leading climate-tech ventures, the company has numerous projects underway not only in Japan but also in Asia, the U.S., and Europe.
Takafumi Goto
Business France, Embassy of France in Japan Trade Advisor
In 2019, he joined Business France. As a trade officer at Business France, he supports French companies and startups to enter the Japanese market. He is also a member of French Tech Tokyo, which organizes events and disseminates information to promote economic exchange between France and Japan.
Buzz Palmer
MedTech Actuator CEO
Dr Buzz Palmer has a background in orthopaedic and regenerative medicine and a proven track record as an entrepreneur. With experience across the EU, India, the Arabian Gulf, and Asia Pacific, he has not only built his own ventures but has consulted with over 500 startups. A regular advisor to governments at all levels and a Professor of Entrepreneurship at Monash University Business School, Buzz is passionate about catalysing innovation and supporting the founders who drive it.
Vishaal Kishore
MedTech Actuator CSO
Dr Vishaal Kishore is an expert in health system innovation and transformation. He is also a Professor of Innovation & Public Policy at RMIT University where he leads the pathbreaking RMIT-Cisco Health Transformation Lab. He regularlyadvises governments, NGOs, and corporates in respect of strategy, public policy, and innovation. Holding a doctorate from Harvard University, Vishaal has served as Deputy Secretary at the Department of Health & Human Services; Director for government strategy within EY’s management consulting practice; and an M&A lawyer at Mallesons and Freehills.
Matthew Frith
MedTech Actuator COO
Matt has completed an Executive MBA with Distinction from RMIT University. A successful and impact-driven senior leader with over 15 years of industry and innovation ecosystem experience leading and delivering complex commercial projects and partnerships to drive business and profit growth and social impact. His partnerships experience spans senior Sales & Marketing and Commercial roles in global manufacturing businesses with responsibility for managing teams, annual revenue budgets ranging from $40-$80M, and strategic relationships with key partners across Australia, NZ and Asia.
Hideyuki Yokoyama
Osaka City Government Mayor
In 2004, he joined the Osaka Prefectural Government. In 2011, he was elected to the Osaka Prefectural Assembly for the first time. He served three terms as a member of the Osaka Prefectural Assembly and became the 22nd mayor of Osaka City in 2023. He graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Kwansei Gakuin University.
Nick Opie
Synchron, Inc. Founding Director
Professor Nicholas Opie is a global expert in neural interfaces, and endovascular bionics pioneer.
He designed and developed the world's first endovascular brain computer interface that can be implanted without invasive brain surgery. His creation, the Stentrode, is aimed at restoring communication, mobility and independence to people with paralysis. He is currently working to expand the capability of this technology to treat other neurological conditions including Epilepsy, depression and Parkinson's.
Professor Opie earned his undergraduate degrees in Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering (Hons) and Science at Monash University, his PhD in retinal neuroprostheses at the University of Melbourne and his MBA from Melbourne Business School. He is a Professor, NHMRC Investigator Fellow and Head of the Vascular Bionics Laboratory within the Department of Medicine at the University of Melbourne where he has been awarded more than $30M in research funding to translate his technology from concept to clinic.
He is also a Founding Director of Synchron Australia and Synchron Inc, raising more than $200M to commercialise the Stentrode System.
Professor Opie has published more than 55 peer-reviewed publications, including in Nature Biomedical Engineering and Nature Biotechnology, has presented his work at over 200 local and international conferences and is an inventor of over 90 patents. He has been received numerous awards for his inventions, including Times Top 100 inventions in 2022.
Kanji Noguchi
Orosy, inc. CEO
While still in college, he organized a team of students to participate in Osaka City's “First Silicon Valley Talent Dispatch Program” and visited Silicon Valley in the United States. After living in a tent for a month, he decided to start his own business as a student. He raised 120 million yen in funding from investors including Japanese and U.S. investors, and founded Corfame Inc.in Osaka and Palo Alto, Silicon Valley. Retired from the company in March 2018 and founded orosy K.K. (formerly Space Engine Co., Ltd.).
Wakana Fukuda
IKIRU LLC・BizWorld Japan CEO
Born in Hyogo Prefecture, she has been active in music and sports since her youth and transferred to a local high school in the U.S. at the age of 15 with almost no English proficiency. After returning to Japan, she graduated from Kobe College and joined a city bank. Later, as a full-time housewife, she positioned child-rearing as “the biggest project of my life,” and learned about the local ecosystem through PTA activities and volunteer work. At the age of 44, she went to graduate school in the U.S. as a mother and child and graduated at the top of her class with an MBA. Currently, she is spreading the entrepreneurial spirit she cultivated in Silicon Valley, and is also making efforts to support startups.
Takafumi Yano
RUTILEA, Inc. CEO
2018 - Founder of RUTILEA Inc.
2014-2016 - Founder and CEO of Matomedia Inc.
Started a data integration technology company with a college friend and sold the company in his first year of Ph. In his third year of doctoral studies, he was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
B.S., Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Kyoto University
M.S., Electrical Engineering, Kyoto University
Yuki Okada
DATAGRID Inc CEO
Majored in the field of machine learning at Kyoto University. Due to the rapid development of generative AI technology represented by GAN, the Company was established in 2017 to develop and provide software using generative AI in the image and video fields.
Sumina Koiso
Newond, Inc. Founder & CEO
Born and raised in Osaka. Founded inxR Co., Ltd. in Osaka in 2020, which focuses on business improvement using XR technology and provides recruitment and job support specialized for the XR industry. Subsequently, founded Newond,Inc. in the United States, which automates back-office operations during layoffs.
Jung Seok Kang
AIZEN CEO
Jung Seok Kang is the CEO of AIZEN, an AI financial technology platform provider. AIZEN’s mission is to serve as a trusted partner to clients by enabling business growth through advanced financial technology solutions. The company focuses on creating a data-economy financial ecosystem, where all relevant parties, from financial institutions to small businesses, can connect, access real-time data, and receive actionable insights. AIZEN offers comprehensive services like lending and leasing within the Electric Vehicle Data Economy ecosystem, supporting mobility platforms, logistics companies, drivers, and online small businesses.
Operating in Korea, Indonesia, and Vietnam, AIZEN has gained recognition for its innovative contributions to the fintech industry. The company has received multiple accolades, including the Finance Minister Award in Korea, honors from the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Prime Minister Awards, and the prestigious MAS Fintech Award in 2020.
Jung Seok Kang is a recognized expert in both finance and IT, having founded AIZEN based on his experiences at Citigroup Korea, where he witnessed inefficiencies in financial decision-making processes. Kang believes that AI has the power to transform the banking industry over the next decade. Before starting AIZEN, he worked at the National Assembly, overseeing key financial institutions, and at LG CNS as an IT consultant. He was also an early investor in Wipower, later acquired by Qualcomm.
Kang holds a B.S. in Linguistics and an M.S. in Economics from Seoul National University, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He is currently a partner at the Korea Institute of Finance and a member of the Korean government’s AI-Finance committee.
Kirin Kato
Global Brain Principal
Kirin joined GB in 2023 and took on the role of executing investments and providing support to domestic and foreign startups with the intention of providing close support to businesses that are trying to solve social problems and to startups aiming for further growth.
Before joining GB, Kirin worked for MS&AD Systems as a new grad where she focused on system development, operation, and maintenance. After moving on to KOTRA, she was engaged in sourcing Korean startups, supporting Korean startups entering the Japanese market, and supporting open innovation by Japanese companies.
Tomomichi Takao
Fintech Association of Japan / Funds, Inc. Managing Director / Director, Chief Legal Officer-Attorney at Law
He has experienced working in Initial Public Offering Department of Daiwa Securities Co., Ltd. Before joining Daiwa Securities, he was an in-house counsel in DeNA Co., Ltd. and engaged in the launch of multiple new businesses (e.g. UGC platform, MaaS). He is an attorney admitted in Japan. He earned a bachelor of laws degree at Osaka University, a Juris Doctor degree at Waseda University.
Jun Imai
Headline Japan Inc.・IVS Office Alliance Manager
After graduating from university, he experienced two venture companies. He then participated in the founding phase of 17LIVE, a live-streaming application provider.
He was involved in the launch of a new digital business at the entertainment agency Amuse Inc.
In April 2011, he founded IMAJUN, a company that he has been active in since his student days as an emcee. Joined the Headline Asia team, a venture capital firm that engages in global investment activities. He was in charge of staff management at IVS, the largest startup conference in Japan, and LAUNCHPAD SEED.