ANNOUNCING THE PARTNERS AND ESTEEMED JUDGES FOR TECH PLANTER ASIA FINAL 2024

Leave a Nest is thrilled to announce the distinguished panel of judges for the TECH PLANTER Asia Final 2024, a premier event dedicated to accelerating the growth of early-stage startups across Southeast Asia. The final, scheduled for 24th August 2024, will feature some of the most respected names in the fields of technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

TECH PLANTER Asia Final 2024 is made possible by the generous support of an outstanding group of partners:

Local Partners:

• TERAJU
• Aerodyne Group

Global Partners:

• Japan Tobacco Inc.
• Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Mizuho Bank (Malaysia) Berhad
• Ricoh Co., Ltd.
• ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd.
• UntroD Inc.
• Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd

The TECH PLANTER Asia Final 2024 brings together the brightest minds and most innovative startups in the region, providing them with a platform to showcase their solutions, receive critical feedback, and connect with essential resources. The event will culminate with the selection of a Grand Winner, chosen by our expert panel, who will evaluate each startup based on innovation, scalability, market potential, and team strength.

Meet the Judges:

Dr. Yuko Ueno, Director, Leave a Nest Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (Head of Judge)

Dr. Yuko Ueno received her Ph.D in Ocean microbiology and joined Leave a Nest in 2013. She has experience in creating new projects by encouraging collaboration between academia and industry as a Science Bridge Communicator. With the experience of tech-startup accelerator, she is bridging Japanese tech startups to global tech-startup platforms to interconnect the technology and social issues. Dr. Yuko also holds the position of Director at Leave a Nest Malaysia Sdn. Bhd

Ms. Shiori Yamashita,  Manager of D-LAB, Japan Tobacco Inc.

Ms. Shiori Yamashita oversees new business development focused on creating “Delightful Moments.” D-LAB explores various sectors to enhance these moments globally. She seeks collaborators with innovative technologies and knowledge. Hiori holds a bachelor's degree in business management from the University of East Anglia (UK).

Ms. Risako Kawanaka, Assistant Manager, Business Innovation Group Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Ms. Risako manages the “ME Innovation Fund,” a global CVC fund investing in startups. She facilitates collaboration between startups and Mitsubishi Electric's business divisions, supporting PoC experiments. Previously, Risako worked in BtoB product marketing for Japanese and European markets, and led the development of a new product with cloud services and DX functions from inception.

Mr. Toshiharu Fujiwara, Chief Executive Officer, Mizuho Bank (Malaysia) Berhad

Mr. Toshiharu Fujiwara is the CEO of Mizuho Bank (Malaysia) Berhad. Prior to his current position, he was the General Manager of the Global Strategic Advisory Department at Mizuho Bank, Ltd., responsible for global advisory and global intelligence. Before becoming involved in supporting corporate customers developing overseas business, he had held senior leadership positions at Mizuho Bank, Ltd., mainly in the fields of corporate planning and business promotion targeting Japanese and non-Japanese corporate customers.

Mr. Satoshi Yamamoto, Section Manager, Ricoh Innovation Center in Asia (RICA), Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Mr. Yamamoto has been with Ricoh for about 20 years. In July 2023, he launched the Ricoh Innovation Center in Asia (RICA) to foster collaboration between Ricoh's R&D, research institutes, and startups in Southeast Asia. He has served as a technical leader and manager in advanced materials application and AI-based materials development acceleration. He also contributed to innovation policy for universities during his tenure at the Bureau for Science and Technology Innovation in Japan in 2020.

Mr. Isao Tokomoto, Deputy General Manager, ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd.

Mr. Tokomoto joined ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd. in 1994. Since 2008, he has developed lens inspection systems and water treatment processes. From 2012 to 2022, he planned and promoted new businesses at the head office. Currently, he promotes in-house and collaborative new businesses in energy, water treatment, diamond membranes, logistics, and waste treatment.

Mr. Akihiko Nagata, Managing Director, UntroD Inc.

Mr. Akihiko Nagata has served as a Director of Euglena Co., Ltd. since its pre-IPO stage, overseeing strategy, mergers and acquisitions, fundraising, public relations/investor relations, and operations. Since becoming the CEO in 2021, he has initiated changes such as refocusing the healthcare business on extending life spans, involving teenagers in management, and leading the development of biofuels. Drawing from his experience at Euglena, Akihiko founded Real Tech Fund, which later rebranded to UntroD, with the aim of improving the investment environment for deep-tech startups in Japan. He remains the Chairman of UntroD.

Mr. Jun Daito, Senior Strategy Lead of New Business Development, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.

Mr. Daito received his MBA from a university in the UK. He worked at Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and Nikon, where he was in charge of new business and product development, including product planning and manufacturing. In 2021, he joined Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., where he is in charge of developing new businesses in the fields of mobility and healthcare through open innovation.

About TECH PLANTER Asia Final 2024:

The TECH PLANTER Asia Final is an annual event dedicated to discovering and nurturing early-stage startups from six Southeast Asian countries: the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The event focuses on startups with groundbreaking solutions in fields such as biotechnology, agritech, engineering, and more. The program is designed to equip these startups with the essential tools, mentorship, and network they need to thrive in the competitive global market.

Event Highlights:

• Expert Judging Panel: A distinguished panel of industry leaders and investors will evaluate the startups, providing critical feedback and selecting the Grand Winner.
• Startup Pitches: Participants will present their innovative solutions to a global audience, showcasing their potential to revolutionize industries.
• Networking Opportunities: The event will facilitate connections between startups, investors, and industry leaders, fostering collaboration and potential partnerships.

Event Details:

Date: 24th August 2024

Location: Aerodyne, Persiaran Cyber Point Selatan, Cyber 8, 63000 Cyberjaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Time: 09:00am – 3.00pm

For more information about TECH PLANTER Asia Final 2024 and to register for the event, please visit https://techplanter.com/asia_final/asia_final2024/