Toyota's Strategic Investment Subsidiary, Toyota Invention Partners, Appoints Michiko Kato as New Representative Director and CEO

Toyota Invention Partners (hereinafter "TIP"), a strategic investment subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation, announces that Kenta Kon has stepped down as Representative Director and CEO, and Michiko Kato has been appointed as his successor, effective today, April 1.

Kato, the newly appointed Representative Director and CEO, will lead TIP into its next phase of development by enhancing investment functions and expanding business collaborations.

Biography of Michiko Kato

Joined TRI-AD, the predecessor of Woven by Toyota, Inc., in 2020. Played a key role in the launch of Woven Capital and led global strategic investments. Previously held positions in investment and M&A at Morgan Stanley, the International Finance Corporation, and Unison Capital, and served as CFO of the startup ABEJA, where she handled strategy formulation and fundraising. Holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Comment from Michiko Kato

Under the group vision of "Inventing Our Path Forward," the 18 companies of the Toyota Group are returning to our roots of "invention" and taking on the challenge of exploring the future of "Mobility for All." I believe that by connecting Toyota, which possesses mobility platforms, with external partners who have cutting-edge technologies and business models, we can create new value that could not be realized alone.

Based on "partnerships through investment," TIP aims to promote long-term business collaborations with like-minded companies, while also serving as a "catalyst" to generate new collaborations and challenges within the group.

Furthermore, we will strengthen our cooperation with Toyota Ventures and Woven Capital—Toyota's corporate venture capital arms—to realize value creation through the diversification of investment stages and business domains in this next phase.

About Toyota Invention Partners

A strategic investment company that began operations last October to further accelerate Toyota's transformation into a mobility company. Through investments focused on long-term business collaboration with domestic early-stage startups, inventors, and companies already in growth or mature stages, we facilitate cooperation between Toyota, the Toyota Group, Toyota affiliates, and external companies.