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PRIDE OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY

Technology flourishes, and businesses come to fruition. ME Innovation Fund

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MISSION

Believe in the possibilities of technology, and make a difference in the world

The ME Innovation Fund is a bridge between the Mitsubishi Electric Group and startups.

Since its founding, Mitsubishi Electric has developed a wide range of businesses based on its technological capabilities cultivated over many years.
We, at ME Innovation Fund, take "technology" as our keyword, to discover innovative technologies and novel ideas from startups and bring change to the world through co-creation.

VALUES

  • Drawing out the power of technology

    Expand the possibilities of technology with an open mind

  • Spirit of “Startups first”

    Move towards results with the same perspective and will, and a "give and give" attitude

  • Be a translator

    Armed with technical understanding,
    sharing values and culture

  • Continue to be a challenger

    Never bound by precedent or convention,
    always keep challenging

STRENGTH

Strengths of the ME
Innovation Fund

  • Deep understanding of technology

    Providing support for commercialization,
    based on our extensive knowledge and experience

  • Technology connoisseurship

    Pioneering the future with a high vantage point,
    broad vision, and solid discernment

  • Matching capabilities that bring about synergy

    Utilizing a wide range of business areas to create synergies through multiplication

  • High research and development capability to draw out the potential of technology

    Expanding technological possibilities with our world-class research and development department

PORTFOLIO

  • QUNASYS
  • KEGMIL
  • SCADAfence
  • Elephantech
  • Hydroleap
  • HydenAI
  • Pente

MEMBER

Tsuyoshi Hidaka

Project Owner

Tsuyoshi Hidaka

He joined Mitsubishi Electric in 2000 as a new graduate. Worked on the product planning of mobile phones and other mobile devices. After his time on loan at the Keidanren (Japanese Business Federation), he engaged in the start-up of new businesses with the Corporate Strategic Planning Div. and the Communication System Group.
Played a leading role in demonstration experiments for urban planning in strategic business development projects with the Corporate Planning Group from 2018. Later, became the driving force in a cross-company 5G promotion project. Took a part in corporate venturing activities from 2020 for the promotion of open innovation with the Business Innovation Group. Worked on the start-up of the "ME Innovation Fund" corporate venture capital.
Japan Sommelier Association (JSA)-certified wine expert.

Kenji Minefuji

Investment

Kenji Minefuji

He joined Mitsubishi Electric as a new graduate in 2011. Worked on the research & development of optical communication technologies at the Information Technology R&D Center of the Corporate Research and Development Group before moving to the planning group of development strategy division within the Center to take responsibilities for formulating R&D strategies, allocating resources, and supporting execution.
Assigned to Center for Future Innovation of the Integrated Design Center of the Corporate Research and Development Group in 2017. Worked on the development of new businesses and the strengthening of existing businesses, based on open innovation. Transferred to the Business Innovation Group in April 2021 to play a leading role in the start-up of the "ME Innovation Fund" corporate venture capital.
Has a detailed knowledge in venture finance, as well as experience in hands-on support for a number of startups as a mentor.

Yuji Niwa

Investment

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 (both automated meter reading (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) 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.

Shinichi Mizukusa

Investment

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.

Risako Kawanaka

Investment

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.

Takayuki Monobe

Investment

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.

Kazuya Takahashi

Investment

Kazuya Takahashi

He joined the Mitsubishi Electric Corporation as a new graduate in 2020. He designed generators as a member of the Energy & Industrial Systems Group. He was in charge of proposing technology for updating devices at existing thermal power plants as well as supporting the rehabilitation of these plants in the event of damages thereto.
He joined the corporate venture capital “ME Innovation Fund” as a part of the Business Innovation Group in January 2024, where he is in charge of investments.
Utilizing the knowledge that he fostered in the power industry and his skills relating to heavy electrical machinery, he is leading joint industry discussions with investment candidate startups.

Junya Saka

Operatios

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.

Asako Iwahashi

Public Relations and Advertising

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.

Saki Shibayama

Investment

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.

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