Yuta Hirayama

Fukuoka D.C.

Yuta Hirayama is a successful alumnus of APU and Kyushu University, specializing in Industrial Management. In 2016, he founded IDEAPOST Inc. to support revitalization of local regions and overseas startups. 

In 2019, he joined the World Economic Forum, playing a pivotal role in the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance. After its dissolution in 2023, seizing this as an opportunity, he returned to IDEAPOST, focusing on supporting governments, private companies, and open innovation. He is also a Senior Fellow at Fukuoka D.C., aiding startups, open innovation, and regulatory reform through special zones.

Toshihiro Kishihara

Gx Partners (VC): Managing Partner

Established GxPartners LLP and became the managing partner. Formed the Kyushu Open Innovation Fund in 2019. Served as the first executive committee chairman of StarupGo!Go! in 2014. Currently it is the biggest startup event in Kyushu. 

Yui Fujii

Minami Incubate(VC)

Yui Fujii currently leads the helm at Minami Incubate, a Japanese corporate venture capital firm under Minami Group, based in Fukuoka. She is responsible for setting the strategic direction and its investment activities. In addition to serving on CVC, she also serves in the corporate planning department at Minami Group.

Her career started as one of the founding members of the CVC, where she dove headfirst into the realm of venture. Since her first year, she has played a pivotal role in the CVC, including seven investments made until now. In recognition of her contributions, Yui was appointed as its representative director in 2022.

Sonja Malin

Senior Advisor, Strategic Initiatives

Helsinki Partners

Sonja Malin has been part of the Helsinki Partners family since 2018. As a Senior Advisor in the Strategic Initiatives team, she advises growth-seeking international companies, corporations and investors on all matters around investing in, setting up, and settling into the capital of Finland and its networks. Her background is in international business and market entry advisory, covering especially a wide range of sustainability topics-

 Sonja Malin has a MA from the University of Helsinki with studies from Helsinki School of Economics, and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin in Germany.

Mariko Uchino

JETRO FUKUOKA

Mariko Uchino is responsible for assisting foreign companies’ Japanese market entry at the JETRO Fukuoka office. Her main role is to locate and provide essential resources/services for clients, after identifying each client’s opportunities and challenges. At the same time, she works closely with many local governments in the Kyushu region, including Fukuoka city, in order to help their activities to attract foreign businesses. 

Holding a master’s degree in social work from University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree from Kyushu University in sociology, her interest has always centered around current social issues and solutions. 

Yasunori Hashimoto

Executive Director

Fukuoka City Govermment

Yasunori Hashimoto began his carrier as a municipal engineer in 1997, gaining broad expertise in urban development, Smart City initiatives, and international technical collaboration.

He has also developed into a resourceful professional with key competencies in public digital transformation in 2020.

In his current position, he works for various concurrent posts and Global Startup Initiates is one of his focus area.