スピーカー

Born in 1992, Ms. Aonami graduated from the College of Intercultural Communication, Rikkyo University. She holds TESOL certification and a Type 1 Teaching License for Junior and Senior High School (English).

Ms. Aonami began her professional career by teaching English to Mexican immigrants in California, USA. She subsequently served in Communications roles at international organizations, including UN Women Timor-Leste (the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women) and the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre in Germany.

Following her international work, she served as a Researcher at the Singapore branch of the U.S. based research firm Guidepoint.

In 2022, Ms. Aonami founded Swell Co., Ltd., where she currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer.

Born in 1954 in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Dr. Houkin holds a Doctor of Medical Science (M.D., Ph.D.) from Hokkaido University.

After graduating from the School of Medicine, Hokkaido University in 1979, he began his career at the Hokkaido University Hospital and other affiliated medical institutions.

In 1986, Dr. Houkin spent two years and two months as a Visiting Scholar at the University of California, Davis. Upon his return to Japan, he held various academic and hospital positions, including Assistant at the Hokkaido University Hospital and the School of Medicine, Hokkaido University.

He was appointed Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, in 2000. The following year, in 2001, he joined the School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, as a Professor.

In 2010, Dr. Houkin returned to the Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, as a Professor. He subsequently took on numerous senior leadership roles, including Director of Hokkaido University Hospital and Vice President of Hokkaido University. 

Prior to his current role, he also served as a Specially Appointed Professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University.

Dr. Houkin assumed his current position as the President of Hokkaido University in October 2020. His medical specialization is Neurosurgery.

After graduating from Keio University, Madoka Akagi began her career at Ajinomoto Co., Inc. In 2020, she founded AgeWellJapan with a mission to create a society where people can age positively. The company provides services that support seniors in pursuing new challenges and discoveries, as well as programs that develop professionals who accompany and empower older adults. Akagi aims to build a society where longevity is something everyone can genuinely celebrate. She has been selected as one of Forbes JAPAN’s “100 Hopeful Leaders Who Will Save the World” and has been featured in numerous media outlets.

While studying at Osaka University, Eri Fukuda studied abroad in San Francisco and South Korea. After returning to Japan, she launched a beginner-focused web design course for women, which enrolled more than 300 students during her university years.
She joined Recruit Holdings in 2015 as a new graduate. In April 2017, at the age of 26, she founded SHE Inc., a company dedicated to providing career support for millennial women. The company’s flagship program, SHElikes, has since surpassed 200,000 total participants. In 2020, she assumed the position of CEO of SHE Inc.

After completing his graduate studies at the University of Tokyo, Takashi Kawasaki began his career in research and development for air-conditioning systems at Daikin Industries. He later joined a global energy company, where he led the launch of new AI-driven businesses, electricity trading operations, and carbon credit initiatives.

Leveraging his expertise in both energy businesses and environmental technologies, he founded CarbonNest Inc. with the mission of bringing carbon removal technologies into real-world implementation.

Profile coming soon.

Ayumi Nakata founded Kango Plus Inc. in October 2023, guided by the mission of “creating a society where people can live healthily, joyfully, and true to themselves—even at the age of 100.” In collaboration with companies, local governments, and universities, she is advancing the social implementation of an integrated community care model that connects the regional wellness hub “Machi no Hokenshitsu” with “Odekake Plus,” an AI-powered on-demand transportation service accompanied by nurses to support health-promoting outings.
In 2025, Kango Plus Inc. was recognized as a startup originating from Sapporo City University and certified as a Hokkaido University-affiliated startup, driving forward initiatives that integrate research and business to address social challenges.

• Education

  • Master of Nursing Science, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University (2013)

• Clinical Experience (Nurse)

  • Hokkaido University Hospital, Nurse (2001–2004 / 2007–2012)

• Academic & Research Positions

  • Part-time Lecturer, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University (2013, 2024, 2025)
  • Visiting Researcher, Graduate School of Public Policy, Hokkaido University (2018–2020)
  • Part-time Lecturer, School of Dentistry, Hokkaido University (from Oct. 2025)
  • Sapporo City University (2014–2024):

    • Specially Appointed Assistant Professor, Education Support Project Center
    • Assistant Professor, Gerontological Nursing, School of Nursing
    • Research Fellow

Born in 1964, Tatsuya Aburano has approximately 39 years of experience in IT industry sales. In 2005, he transitioned from his role as Sales Director at NTT DATA to join a domestic software package vendor that was then unlisted. Although the company’s planned IPO was postponed shortly after his arrival, he contributed significantly to its subsequent growth, leading to a successful listing two years later.

Since 2011, he has served as President and Chief Sales Officer of DataVehicle, Inc., overseeing overall business operations. He has spearheaded numerous evidence-based tourism (EBPM) initiatives through data analysis for regions including the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, Takachiho Town in Miyazaki Prefecture, and many others.

Mitsuyoshi Oki began his career applying control technologies developed in the finance and automotive industries to the field of agriculture, contributing to the advancement of agricultural DX in Japan. At his previous position with Agridog, he was involved in building environmental monitoring systems, where he became convinced of the essential role that “automated control” would play in the next phase of the industry.
He founded GREEN OFFSHORE Inc. in 2022 and has since led the development of technologies including GO SWITCH, an automated control system, Kono Ato Tenki, an environmental forecasting service, and satellite data analysis solutions. Through these initiatives, he is driving technology-based solutions to complex challenges in the agricultural sector and contributing to the digital transformation of Japanese agriculture.

Profile coming soon.

Profile coming soon.

Born in 1983 in Chiba Prefecture and raised in Osaka, Tsubasa Sugai now resides in Takarazuka, Hyogo. After graduating from the Faculty of Business Administration at Otemon Gakuin University, he worked at a staffing agency and an electrical equipment manufacturer before founding Spice Cube Inc.

Profile coming soon.

Profile coming soon.

After graduating from the Faculty of Economics at Hitotsubashi University, Takashi Suga worked in the private sector before launching Biotope Journal, a project in which he documented the lives and perspectives of young people while traveling and reporting across 25 countries.

Upon returning to Japan, he contributed to the launch of several media outlets as an editor, and in 2015 co-founded SAGOJO Inc., guided by the mission of “bringing the option of traveling into people’s lives.” Through collaborations with companies and local governments, he has accompanied more than 1,000 travelers and supported numerous regional transformation initiatives.

Suga’s regional NFT project KIN-TOWN received the Grand Prize at the Japan Tourism NFT Awards 2024, and LIVIO×TENJIKU, a project designed to build long-term connections between urban residents and local communities, was awarded the Good Design Award 2025.

In 2025, he founded sakasa Inc. He now divides his time between Rishiri Island and Tokyo, working as a facilitator who supports people and places—bridging life and work, and connecting individuals with local communities.

Yuka Matsuo is currently a student at the Faculty of Commerce, Fukuoka University. After completing an internship at a venture capital firm, she joined Napps Technologies, where she is responsible for the business side of the company. Her work focuses on sales and business development, particularly in marketing powered by AI technologies.

After graduating from Waseda University, So Sugawara began his career in business development at Recruit Co., Ltd., and later worked in sustainability, DEI, and ESG promotion within the Corporate Planning and Sustainability Office at Recruit Holdings. He then served as Chief Strategy Officer at Minit Asia Pacific Co., Ltd., overseeing corporate strategy.

In 2021, he founded Green Innovation, a general incorporated association that drives GX (Green Transformation) through industry–government–academia collaboration. Sugawara has also contributed extensively to national energy policy, serving as an Energy Public Relations and Education Specialist at the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (2020–2025) and as an Energy Transition Specialist in the Resource and Fuel Department (2022–2023).

He was selected as a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum in 2011 and currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Planetary Health Project at the Health and Global Policy Institute. Since 2024, he has been the Manager for the Environment & Energy domain at the STARTUP HOKKAIDO Executive Committee.

Ryo Ito has built a diverse career across multiple industries, including roles as a Medical Representative at a pharmaceutical company, manager at both a major Japanese advertising agency and a global agency, and board member at a mobility-related startup. In October 2022, he returned to his hometown of Sapporo and was appointed Startup Promotion Manager as an external expert at the Sapporo City Government.

Recognizing the need to advance startup initiatives not only in Sapporo but across all of Hokkaido, he co-founded the STARTUP HOKKAIDO Executive Committee. He also planned and opened “Shakoba Young,” a startup community space on the top floor of the Sapporo City Hall, contributing to the growth of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.

With strengths in new organizational development, business strategy, project management, and sales, Ito now serves as COO of Kantomint Inc. as well as Startup Strategy Specialist for the City of Sapporo.

Born in Sapporo in March 1979, Yusuke Munakata began his career in the medical field after obtaining his national certification as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist in 2000. For approximately five years, he worked at medical institutions, conducting examinations such as ECG, EEG, and ultrasound.
He later joined Hokkaido Air Water Co., Ltd. (now Air Water Hokkaido Inc.) and contributed to launching the company’s sleep-related medical business. After working for about ten years in the sleep medicine field, he went on to oversee the overall operations of the home medical care division.
Seeking new challenges, he transferred to the company’s Business Planning Department in 2023 through an internal application process. In December 2024, he became the manager of “Air Water Forest,” an open innovation facility newly opened in Sapporo’s Soen district. He is currently engaged in various projects aimed at addressing social challenges in Hokkaido, with a focus on food & agriculture, tourism, and healthcare.

Focus Areas
Food & Agriculture / Tourism / Healthcare

Hobbies
Travel, sauna, mahjong, quizzes, and history

April 1979 Municipal employee, City of Sapporo

April 2004 Director, Information Technology Promotion
Department, Planning & Coordination Bureau
April 2005 Director, General Planning Department, Community
Development & City Planning Bureau
April 2008 Director General, Minami Ward Office
April 2009 Director, Mayor's Policy Planning Office
September 2014 Leave office of Vice Mayor, City of Sapporo
May 2015 Mayor, City of Sapporo

Born in the United States and raised in Sapporo, Hokkaido, (Name) has worked as a planner and producer at a creative agency, contributing to branding and promotional projects for products and services in Japan and abroad.
He/She supports new business development, R&D activities, and startup launches through communication design—driving projects from concept creation and business planning to branding and marketing, combining both creative ideation and practical execution.
His/Her work has received numerous awards, including ACC GOLD, HAC Grand Prix, Dentsu Advertising Awards, Red Dot, and iF DESIGN AWARD.

Born in Okinawa and raised in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Akio Kuranishi joined Hokuyo Bank as a new graduate after completing his degree in physics. He holds an MBA from Otaru University of Commerce and is a graduate of the Regional Innovation Advisor School (RIAS).
He currently serves as the bank’s first Junior Expert, working in venture fund operations and supporting regional industry development. He is also a part-time lecturer at the Otaru University of Commerce Graduate School, where he teaches Entrepreneurial Finance.

Gaming YouTuber/Content Creator with 3.8 million subscribers primarily focused on Roblox, which is the fastest growing platform in gaming and on YouTube. Have been creating content on Roblox since 2021, and throughout that time, I have accumulated over 1 Billion views world wide, and garnering 7 billion+ impressions in shot-form, long-form and livestream content.

Victor is the Co-founder and Head of Infrastructure at Tryp.com, a Denmark-based AI TravelTech startup. Founded while many of its founding members were still university students, Tryp.com has rapidly grown into one of the fastest-growing startups in Europe’s travel sector. With thousands of tickets sold each month, multiple VC-backed funding rounds, and ongoing TV campaigns across several countries, the company is steadily establishing itself as a new household name in the leisure travel space.
During his three years in Hokkaido, Victor founded Guramu Software G.K., a software consultancy, and launched the Hokkaido Entrepreneurship Expo, a community-driven initiative dedicated to supporting and strengthening the region’s entrepreneurial community.
More recently, he has gained attention as the initiator of “Don’t Kill Foreign Entrepreneurship in Japan,” a movement protesting proposed changes to the Business Manager visa that could negatively impact foreign entrepreneurs in Japan.

After beginning his career in the financial sector, Yamato transitioned to the Sapporo City Government, where he worked on entrepreneurship and startup support initiatives. He played a key role in bridging local communities and startups through programs such as “STARTUP CITY SAPPORO,” and led international collaboration events and public–private pilot projects.
In March 2024, he left the Sapporo City Government and co-founded Kantomint Inc., a public–private bridging company, with two former colleagues who also departed the city office.

Kentaro Morita graduated from Hitotsubashi University and earned a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. He previously served as an Economic Officer at the Embassies of Japan in Estonia and Romania, and has held roles as Assistant Manager at a Japanese–Estonian startup and Manager at a major Japanese think tank.

Since joining SIPA Partners in 2024, he has been engaged in public policy and political consulting for major global tech companies. He is also active as a mentor for the European accelerator InnovX and serves as an international organizer for the Shake H conference.

Sera brings experience from Mitsui & Co., Ltd., where she worked on forestry and afforestation initiatives as well as real estate development in the U.S. and Southeast Asia. After completing her MBA at IE Business School with a focus on sustainability and impact investing, she joined Digital Garage in 2021. There, she develops new sustainability businesses and supports startups through ESG and impact-driven investments. She holds a degree from Wesleyan University and the CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing.

After graduating from Waseda University, he began his career in business development for a Japanese medical device company, covering markets across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He later worked in product marketing at a global medical device manufacturer.
He joined 01Booster, a leading Japanese accelerator, in 2017, where he oversaw multiple acceleration programs and led the development of strategic partnerships with international accelerators.
He also founded InnoScouter, an innovation management SaaS startup, and successfully exited the company.
Currently serving as an Executive Director at 01Booster, he drives cross-border collaboration between Japan and Asia, with a strong focus on supporting startups in their global expansion and entry into the Japanese market.

Seiko Miura is the CEO of North Greenation LLC and the General Manager of the Sapporo Transnational Expansion & Partnership (STEP) initiative.

She specializes in supporting international companies entering Hokkaido and Sapporo, and in building cross-border collaborations across industry, government, and academia. Her work spans global acceleration programs, international delegation management, and the design of partnership-driven initiatives with universities and research institutions.

Stephane Gantchev is General Partner at LAUNCHub Ventures, one of the leading Early Stage Venture Capital funds in Central/South Eastern Europe, a long time entrepreneur, and angel investor.

Stephane's background includes 15 years in IT and Telecom with positions held at IT service
providers, telecom operators, startups. Gantchev was Head of Innovations at the French telecom Orange for the Mobile branch of the company and has been an entrepreneur in the mobile space.

He joined LAUNCHub in June 2013, actively supporting South Eastern Europe’s entrepreneurial community and event scene. Stephane was also co-organizer of DigitalK, a leading European Digital/Tech/Startup conference in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Alfredo Coppola is Co-CEO at US Market Access Center (USMAC), the longest-standing startup accelerator in Silicon Valley for foreign companies seeking to successfully enter global markets through Silicon Valley, through its flagship program: “Thing Big, Start Smart, Scale Fast”. In addition, Alfredo is Chairman and co-founder of Prospera Women, an organization that equips female founders with the skills & resources needed to grow beyond local markets & succeed on a global scale. Alfredo is also an executive member of Marin-Sonoma Impact Ventures, an angel investor organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area that invests in both American and global startups.

Alfredo is a seasoned chief executive with a proven track record in helping foreign governments to bolster their tech ecosystems by increasing the strength of their startup communities along with their respective stakeholders. Alfredo has coached and mentored more than 1,500 startup founders as part of his day-to-day activities at USMAC. Since 2011, Alfredo has had direct influence in helping more than 2,100 startups to enter global markets from Silicon Valley – 48% of which have been successful in winning customer contract and PoCs, and more than 18% has raised more than $5.1 billion USD in capital from investors.

Alfredo joined USMAC in 2004 as a volunteer mentor, following his previous successful exit of his startup company, Animatics Interactive, a computer gaming company that was acquired by gaming giant Corel Corporation in 1996.

Alfredo is a certified Kauffman FastTrac instructor and teaches the “Tech Venture” and “GrowthVenture” curricula to foreign entrepreneurs and economic development groups worldwide.

Alexander Broekman is a Dutch entrepreneur and connector based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. He is the founder of Superconnectors, the “TED of Connection”, an event series held alongside major conferences across Europe the US and Asia, where startups ask for a specific introduction and 20–30 Superconnectors (highly connected people) compete to deliver the best match. Alexander also founded Mimotica, a research venture in cognitive hearing, and is active across the European deeptech ecosystem.

Sumeet is the co-founder and CEO of Crafting, building best-in-class production-like environments for enterprise engineering teams like Brex, Faire, Verkada, and more. Previously, he was an early engineering leader at Meta, Uber, and Discord. He has been an active angel investor and advisor for years before taking the founder leap himself

Max Gurvits is a Dutch/Bulgarian entrepreneur and investor based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Founder of two exited startups and two VC funds, Max is the co-founder of SuperSummit and has been active in startup and venture ecosystem development worldwide. Since 2020 he is the founding and managing partner of Vitosha Ventures, a CEE venture capital fund in Sofia, Bulgaria, and serving as Deputy Chair of the Bulgarian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (BVCA)

Alexandria Lee is a Senior Researcher at Discord, where she specializes in user and market research focused on gaming, media, and pop culture. Over the past 4.5 years, Alex has shaped Discord's understanding of its core gaming audience by uncovering user needs, tracking gaming industry trends, and translating insights to help product and marketing teams make better products and experiences.

Before Discord, Alex established the gaming research practice at AnswerLab, a user research consultancy based in San Francisco, and conducted hardware accessibility research at Microsoft on the Surface tablet line and related accessories.