NAONORI KUROKAWA, PH.D.,

PARTNER, THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO EDGE CAPITAL CO., LTD. (UTEC)

He serves as Partner at The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Co., Ltd.; focusing on physical science investments: advanced material, nanotechnology, optoelectronics, imaging technology, and clean technology He has joined the firm since August 2009. Since the inception in 2004, the University of Tokyo Edge Capital (UTEC) has conducted venture capital investments pioneering frontiers to solve global issues of humankind, by bringing capital, talent and knowledge, around science and technology. UTEC is committed to support the co-creation and co-promotion of start-ups that vigorously foster business that make use of superior science and technology, collaborating with universities and research institutes not only in Japan but also around the world. In this talk, our challenges transforming science and technology emerging from universities into startups will be discussed. Dr. Kurokawa has three issued patents and seven pending patents in the United States. He earned Ph.D. in applied Physics from Osaka University in 2003. He received an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth, School of Business where he won the first place and the award for the most innovative plan in Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge 2008.