TECH PLANTER(en)

Judges for 2020 season

• Dr. Yukihiro MaruFounder and CEO, Leave a Nest Group

  profile

  Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. is a leading knowledge based platform company in Japan. The company is comprised of Masters and Doctorate degree holders. Leave a Nest works on extensive projects relating to Science and Technology. Dr. Maru has great experience in supporting startups. One of the startups he was supporting called euglena Co., Ltd. was listed in the First section of Tokyo Stock exchange. Heʼs expert in advising young entrepreneur in business development and venture spirit.

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  Mr. Daiki KumamotoGlobal Fund Manager, Real-Tech Holdings

  profile

  Daiki is the youngest capitalist of the deep-tech startup ecosystem in Japan and is the growth manager of Real Tech Fund, the No.1 VC in Japan focusing on deep-tech / real-tech startups. He is specialized in supporting startups, especially that bring solutions to care / welfare and is also the head for global strategy. Before joining Real Tech, he was the president of the largest NPO in Japan that commits in supporting young entrepreneurs globally. He graduated from Keio SFC University with a bachelor in management.

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  Mr. Masahito YanoProject Manager of New Business Development Division, Mitsui Chemicals Singapore R&D Centre, Pte. Ltd.

  profile

  Mr. Yano had served as a project coordinator to Japanese S&T funding agency for 7 years in Singapore and joined Mitsui Chemicals in 2017. Currently he is working at Singapore’s R&D Centre to explore new business opportunities based on R&D in Asia Pacific Region. One of his current challenges is to transform the R&D centre to an innovation engine.

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  Mr. Kenji MinefujiManager, Centre for Future Innovation, Mitsubishi Electric

  profile

  Mr. Kenji Minefuji joined Mitsubishi Electric in 2011. He engaged in developing optical communication technology in the Information Technology R&D Center. Then, he planned its R&D strategy, and he was in charge of the Center's resource allocation and project management. From 2017, he joined the Centre for Future Innovation to develop new businesses and strengthen existing businesses by communication with various startups.

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  Ms. Nurul Kartini Abu BakarVice President, Technology Venture Fund Department, Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC)

  profile

  Ms. Nurul Kartini is currently managing VC-like fund portfolios in MTDC. Prior to the current position, she was involved in managing Commercialisation of R&D Fund and Technology Acquisition Fund. She has 8 year’s experience in technology commercialisation and fund management. Ms Nurul Kartini holds Master of Science in Environmental Biotechnology from Universiti Putra Malaysia. MTDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Berhad and has been a key player in commercialisation and management of Government funding since the 7th Malaysia Plan.

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  Mr. Noor Azmi Mat SaidChief Executive Officer, SME Corporation Malaysia

  profile

  Azmi Said is currently the Chief Executive Officer of SME Corporation Malaysia. He graduated from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in Bachelor of Chemical Engineering with Honors in 1992. Previously, he was the founder and Principal Consultant of MYDATA Consulting Sendirian Berhad as an engineering-based techno-commercial strategist and a qualified Business Coach. He started his career with EXXON MOBIL and had undertaken roles in various projects. He then, joined the Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) in 1997 and then left to venture for entrepreneurship. He had initiated several business start-ups and involved with multiple scale of Small Medium Enterprises (SME). He also serves as Associates and Subject Matter Expert in a few government agencies related to technology.

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  Dr. Nor Azmi AliasSenior Vice President, Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science & Technology (CREST)

  profile

  CREST is a catalyst for collaboration between industry, academia and government in identifying industry needs and gaps, ideation of new concept, implementing solutions to the problems, and promote awareness on career in the E&E sector. Dr Nor Azmi obtained his BSc, MSc and PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rhode Island, specializing in the field of corrosion science and technology. He has more than 15 years industrial electrochemical R&D experience applications, in semiconductor and telecommunication packaging, product electronic design chemicals, and components technology. He believes in identifying passionate, capable highly potential talent and nurture to be technology leaders in their chosen field.

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  Mr. Kamarul MuhamedChief Executive Officer, Aerodyne Group

  profile

  Kamarul is the Founder and CEO of Aerodyne Group, a Malaysian drone solutions company that is ranked third in the world by Drone Industry Insights of Germany. He was also named by Nikkei Japan as the CEO of top 10 hottest start-up of 2019. Kamarul led Aerodyne from a 3 person start-up in 2014 to global company operating in 25 countries in less than 5 years. He is a TEDx speaker and a drone Industry thought-leader and have presented his ideas and innovation on AI, drones and Industry 4.0 around the world. He is an auditor by training and spent his formative years in the city of London before switching career to tech industry upon his return to Malaysia after spending 10 years in the UK. An avid traveller, he has been to more than 100 countries, both for business and pleasure.

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  Mr. Ang Kah HengHead, Innovation and Industry Development, Cyberview Sdn. Bhd.

  profile

  Ang heads the Innovation and Industry Development Department under Technology Hub Development Division in Cyberview. Previously, he was a Regional Manager for Asia involved in business development focusing on attracting digital technology investment from Greater China. Ang also has more than 10 years experience in industry talent development and talent analytics covering both scaleups and startups. He sat in the panel of the Computing Program Standards published by the Malaysia Qualification Agency (MQA). Ang holds a Master’s degree in Software Engineering and the PMP® credential.

Finalists for 2020 Season

• Naturel Kiss

  Naturel kiss: Roselle waste as emerging novel materials for wellness products.

• CCB

  Removal of heavy metals from effluents by a novel bioflocculant.

• Algae UMP

  Plastic waste management.

• Alpha Green

  Green urea for future sustainability.

• WISOR

  The water filter that makes sense to you.

• eMast (engineered materials and structures)

  Smart watertight surface for corrosion protection.

• iRadar-GBSAR

  Ground-based surface deformation monitoring radar.

• SUPERCAPATTERY - Hybrid device

  SUPERCAPATTERY - Hybrid electrochemical energy device for electric vehicles.

• Team Butterfly

  A novel in-pipe hydro power system.