Team

Masahito Okuma

Representative Director

Joined Mitsubishi Corporation in 1999 and was responsible for investment and business development of Internet service and software venture companies in Silicon Valley. In 2011, moved to FAST RETAILING CO., LTD., worked in the Corporate Planning Department to develop company-wide budgets and mid-term business plans, also responsible for overseeing UNIQLO’s e-commerce business in Japan, and setting up the e-commerce business in the U.S. and European markets. Joined Digital Garage in 2016 to oversee DG Lab and related businesses. In April 2021, he assumed responsibility for all the venture investments of Digital Garage.

He graduated from Keio University with bachelor’s degree in instrumental engineering and earned MBA degree from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.

Junichi Nakajima

Board Director

Started career as a financial analyst at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. Joined KPMG FAS and in charge of M&A transaction advisory service. Joined Lone Star Funds and in charge of corporate investment and management of portfolio companies. Joined Marubeni in New York and in charge of corporate investment in the U.S. Joined Cool Japan Fund and in charge of venture investment. Joined DG Daiwa Ventures in Mar. 2018. IT Segment Corporate Office of Digital Garage.

Graduated from Keio University. MBA from The Wharton School, The University of Pennsylvania

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Yamato Watanabe

Head of Investment Dept. / Managing Director

Joined Dentsu, Inc. in 2013 after experiencing selling off the company co-founded while an undergraduate. Served a variety of projects with retail, insurance, telecommunications, automotive clients and local government, with a focus on data utilization and digitalization.
Since 2016, as a member of Dentsu Ventures, engaged in sourcing and growth strategies for startups in the ML/SaaS/Media/xR/blockchain domain for 4 years.
Assisted an overseas portfolio company to enter the Japanese market and served as a board member of the portfolio company.
Joined DG Daiwa Ventures in Sep. 2020.

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Yuta Sanada

Head of Japan Investment / Senior Principal

Joined Daiwa SMBC (currently Daiwa Securities Group) in 2009 and engaged in financial and M&A advisory for major financial institutions. Since 2013, engaged in incubation, business growth, financial support, and IPO consulting service for start-ups, mainly internet companies. Seconded to DG Daiwa Ventures since Oct. 2016 from Daiwa Securities Group.

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Makoto Ibi

Head of Global Investment / Senior Principal

Joined Rakuten in 2014 and engaged in CEO office and corporate planning in Japan and Silicon Valley.
Joined DG Daiwa Ventures in Apr. 2020.

Master of Engineering from the University of Tokyo Master of Business Administration from INSEAD.

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Ryutaro Nojima

Principal

Joined SMBC Nikko Securities’ investment banking division in 2017 and provided corporate financing services to the major chemical, healthcare, and infrastructure companies in Japan. Later joined SBI Group’s venture capital arm and invested in fintech and IT startups mainly across Europe and South East Asia. Joined DG Daiwa Ventures in Feb. 2021

BS in Business Adminstration from Boston University Questrom School of Business

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Miki Okubo

Principal

Started career at Goldmansachs’ investment banking division and engaged in IPO underwriting. Joined Mizuho Capital Patrners (current MCP Partners) and in charge of PE investment. Joined DG Daiwa Ventures in Apr. 2021

Graduated from Waseda University

Kurumi Takahashi

Senior Manager

Studied at University of Tokyo. After 2.5 years engaged in fund disclosure and structuring in major asset management company in Japan, started venture capital career since Oct. 2018

Graduated University of Tokyo, Law

Makito Masuyama

Manager

After working for 2 investment firms as a Global Bonds and Japan Equity portfolio manager, experienced in VC in Government related Bank. Joined DG Daiwa Ventures in Aug. 2022.

Danny (Donghun) Cwak

Manager

Joined Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation in 2017 and engaged in financing business at the corporate division. Later joined SMBC Nikko Securities and engaged in the origination and execution of domestic and cross-border M&A deals in TMT and Industrial sectors. Joined DG Daiwa Ventures in July 2021.

Graduated from Waseda University
Fluent in English, Japanese, and Korean

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Yuma Nishikawa

Manager

Joined Sumitomo Corporation in 2016 and engaged in credit/ investment support for Power plant business in Asia and Africa. Later dispatched to London office and engaged in new investment/ value up of invested company in Automotive, Chemical, and Logistic market. Joined DG Daiwa Ventures in Oct 2021.

Graduated from Doshisha University.

Takuya Suzuki

Analyst

Joined Daiwa Asset Management Co.Ltd. in 2020 and engaged in sales of private placement trusts to domestic instituitonal investors. Joined DG Daiwa Ventures in Oct 2022.

Graduated from Keio Universtity.

Hitomi Mizutani

Assistant

Joined Japan Airlines Co.,Ltd. in 2008 as a flight attendant and later promoted to head flight attendant, including managing VIP customer care.
Later engaged as an executive secretary and a sales assistant at a Trading company. Joined DG Daiwa Ventures in Nov 2021.

Shunichi Kimuro

Venture Partner (Blockchain)

He lead business development and sales for emerging technologies such as cloud, AI and blockchain at IBM Japan. Also, lead several open innovation projects including Fintech/Insurtech. He took current position since Feb 2018 and lead business development and investment in Bitcoin and Blockchain startups. Also, he manage joint venture with DG Lab fund portofolio.

MS in Engineering from Graduate School of Osaka University
Also a member of DG Lab

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