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MEMBER
MEMBER
Project Owners
Investment Manger, Analysts, and Advisors
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Sawan Gilda
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Jumpei “Jim” Horiguchi
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Risako Kawanaka
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Shinta Kudo
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Shinichi Mizukusa
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Takayuki Monobe
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Yuji Niwa
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Kazushi Ota
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Junya Saka
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Saki Shibayama
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Makoto Tsuchida
Public Relations and Advertising

Head of Open Innovation
Kazuhide Sugiyama
Joined Mitsubishi Electric, Defense and Space Systems Division. He experienced B2C business for 15 years. Since 2014, he engaged global business for defense and space. He gained deep understanding of global markets, extensive expertise and networking with clients and partners across various countries.
In 2025, he has been assigned the head of the Open Innovation Department, with a mission to drive corporate growth and enhance competitiveness through business development and Corporate Venture Capital activities.

Kazutoshi Ukon
Joined Mitsubishi Electric Corporation in 2005. He was engaged in marketing of Low-voltage Circuit Breakers for both domestic and international markets at Fukuyama Works of Factory Automation Systems Group.
Since 2017, he was responsible for planning and executing collaboration and M&A strategies related to the Factory Automation Systems business. He led numerous strategic projects, including the acquisition of a U.S. software company.
From 2025, he is involved in creating new businesses through open innovation and engaging in corporate venture capital (CVC) activities. Focused on enhancing business competitiveness by driving innovative ventures and strategic investments.

Kento Tokumaru
In 2007, he joined Marubeni Corporation, a major general trading company, where he gained extensive experience in project development and management in the railway sector, primarily across Asia. He has broad practical experience in areas such as engineering, legal affairs, accounting, and taxation.
Since 2017, he transferred to the government-private fund, Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport & Urban Development (JOIN), he has been involved in large-scale infrastructure projects such as railways, airports, ports, smart city projects, as well as venture-related investments and M&A. He has also engaged in developing new businesses in the digital and decarbonization fields as well as realizing quantum computing technologies in the transport sector in Canada. He started a new career in Mitsubishi Electric’s Corporate Venture Capital since March 2025.

Sawan Gilda
He began his career with Deloitte India in 2008, before joining Mitsubishi Electric India in 2012. At Mitsubishi Electric, he played a key role in establishing and expanding the Factory Automation business in India. As a strategic planner and corporate development specialist, he contributed across all areas of the business—leading acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and a major greenfield project to set up a manufacturing facility. This included conducting global supply chain feasibility studies and securing regulatory approvals through a comprehensive package deal.
He currently serves in the Industry – Global Strategic Alliance team, where he focuses on developing M&A and business portfolio strategy, with a strong emphasis on inorganic growth.
He is also part of the Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) initiative, identifying investment opportunities that drive value co-creation between startups and the core business, while promoting long-term business innovation.

Jumpei “Jim” Horiguchi
As a strategy consultant at a global consulting firm, I was involved in numerous new business development projects across various industries. Leveraging the skills and experience gained through consulting, I joined Mitsubishi Electric in 2018 to lead new business initiatives in the mobility sector, successfully launching new ventures.
Since 2022, I have been stationed in North America, where I spearheaded the development of businesses related to autonomous driving and automotive camera data utilization.
In 2025, upon returning to Japan, I joined the ME Innovation Fund—Mitsubishi Electric’s Corporate Venture Capital—as a venture capitalist, driving investment and collaboration with startups.

Risako Kawanaka
She joined an electric equipment manufacturer as a new graduate. Engaged in the marketing of mainly business to business (BtoB) products in Japan and Europe. In the company’s initiative to strengthen cooperation with its sales subsidiaries, she took charge of entire processes from the planning of sales strategies through to sales management. Then, led projects to launch new products in the local markets at the company’s dealers in major European countries.
Joined Mitsubishi Electric in April 2022. Participated in the "ME Innovation Fund" corporate venture capital as a member of the Business Innovation Group, working on the investment side of the initiative.
Takes advantage of her experience in product planning to take a leading role in examining possible collaboration with potential investments/startups.
Currently based in Singapore, she is focused on exploring startups, primarily in SEA and ANZ.

Shinta Kudo
He joined Mitsubishi Electric as a new graduate in 2012. He has consistently worked in production management and sales strategy planning and execution for the Building Management System in the Building Systems Group. Since 2019, he has taken on the role of sales representative, leading the introduction of new products to the market and acquiring new customers.
Since 2022, he has been engaged in company-wide incubation at the Business Innovation Group, planning and operating programs related to the creation of new businesses and supporting the launch of new ventures. Starting in 2023, he has been involved in the development of a new drone platform business at Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc.
From July 2024, he joined the corporate venture capital "ME Innovation Fund," where he is responsible for business development and operations.
Leveraging his experience in new business development and his experience in business units, he promotes collaboration with startup companies in which the fund invests.

Shinichi Mizukusa
He joined Mitsubishi Electric as a new graduate in 2015. Engaged in public-sector projects with the Electronic System Group. Oversaw entire processes from the development of defense equipment to its production and operation as a project manager.
Joined in the "ME Innovation Fund" corporate venture capital in April 2022 as a member of the Business Innovation Group, working on the investment side of the initiative.
Takes advantage of his experience in project management at business divisions to take a leading role in examining possible collaboration with potential investments/startups.

Takayuki Monobe
He joined Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. as a new graduate. He participated in a joint project between America and Japan as a production engineer for defense and space products, during which time he contributed to the launch of a factory and the construction of a mass-production system. After this, he participated in the space start-up Space BD. As a project manager there, he played a leading role in the launching of satellites and in each type of project for the International Space Stations. He has also contributed to the promotion of regional industries and education on the theme of space.
He joined the Mitsubishi Electric Corporation in November 2023. He joined the Business Innovation Group of the corporate venture capital “ME Innovation Fund”, where he is in charge of investments.
He is utilizing the knowledge and intuition that he gained from working at production sites, as well as his expertise pertaining to defense and space in order to lead discussions about cooperative industry with investment candidate startups.

Yuji Niwa
He joined Mitsubishi Electric as a new graduate in 2011. Assigned to the Factory Automation System Group and worked on business planning relating to smart meter systems, energy monitoring systems, and power distribution control systems. Led numerous projects from the planning to the start-up of new businesses for European and Southeast Asian electric power companies.
Thereafter, assigned to the Business Innovation Group in April 2021 to work on the start-up of the "ME Innovation Fund" corporate venture capital.
Takes advantage of his domain knowledge in the “industrial and factory automation” areas, as well as his experience in working in business divisions, for his role as an intermediary between potential investments (i.e., startups) and business divisions in order to produce synergy.
Currently based in Boston, he is focused on exploring startups, primarily in North America.

Kazushi Ota
A seasoned expert at Mitsubishi Electric in both technology and new business development, he has spearheaded product development and open innovation across IT, sensor systems, industrial automation, OT security, and R&D.
In Silicon Valley, he pioneered the company’s first global startup acceleration program, driving PoCs with startups, new business creation, and strategic investments, including VC fund investments. He also focused on establishing legal frameworks for startup engagement. His role involved bridging the cultural, business, and speed gaps between Japanese companies and U.S. startups, fostering mutual trust and successful outcomes.
Since 2025, he has been involved in corporate venture capital, sourcing, evaluating, and advising on investments and business strategy.

Junya Saka
He joined the Mitsubishi Electric Corporation in 2017 as a new graduate. He handled sales planning and general sales for the Corporate Marketing Group of the Kansai Branch Office. He was also in charge of the planning and management of projects concerning the development of new businesses, and spearheaded the hosting of an accelerator program with the goal of promoting cooperative industry with start-ups, as well as business plans utilizing in-house technologies. In 2022 he was chosen to participate in Mitsubishi Electric’s overseas dispatch system for personnel training, and spent one year at Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc., where he was able to experience cooperative industry discussions with a variety of startups on the west coast of America.
In November 2023, he joined the corporate venture capital “ME Innovation Fund” in the Business Innovation Group, where he is in charge of business development and operations.
He utilizes his experiences in business development and joint industry discussions, while contributing to the added value that we provide to the startups that we invest in.
Currently based in New York, he is focused on exploring startups, primarily in North America.

Saki Shibayama
She joined Mitsubishi Electric in 2021 as a new graduate. Engaged in the design and maintenance of IT systems in the IT Solution Business & Business Process Reengineering Group. Undertook operations ranging from assessing specifications sought by customers to making development requests mainly in the social infrastructure area and served as a bridge to the development departments.
In April 2024, she joined the Business Innovation Group’s corporate venture capital “ME Innovation Fund,” in charge of investment operations.
Takes advantage of the knowledge of IT technologies she gained through systems development to play a leading role in examining possible collaboration with potential investments/startups.

Makoto Tsuchida
He joined a precision machinery manufacturer as a new graduate and was assigned to a newly established business unit responsible for expanding a U.S.-initiated service business into the Japanese market. As a project manager, he led numerous initiatives.
After graduating with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Japan in 2020, he joined Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. At the Power ICT Center, he led a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) pilot project utilizing electric vehicles (EVs) as storage batteries, as well as projects related to carbon neutrality.
Since April 2025, he has been a member of the Business Innovation Headquarters, where he is engaged in investment operations at the ME Innovation Fund, the corporate venture capital arm of Mitsubishi Electric. He leads collaborative projects with potential startup investees and oversees investment evaluations, particularly in the energy sector.

Asako Iwahashi
She joined a major Japanese advertising agency based in Shanghai, China, as a new graduate in 2005. Carried out the advertising and planning of promotion for consumer goods, mainly home electrical appliances.
Then handled brand strategies for apparel manufacturers. Worked on continuous processes from the planning of PR activities, including branding and corporate social responsibility (CSR), through to support for instore promotion. Joined a Japanese full-service advertising agency after returning to Japan in 2014, where she handled corporate advertising, targeting the Chinese market for major comprehensive electrical machinery manufacturers.
Joined in the ME Innovation Fund in January 2021, when the initiative was launched, to take charge of its PR and advertising activities.