Beyondge's Michihiro Shimizu Appointed as Mentor for the 35th KSP Business Innovation School

Michihiro Shimizu of Beyondge Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Takanori Nogami; hereinafter "Beyondge") has been appointed as a mentor for the "35th KSP Business Innovation School" (opening on July 22, 2026) organized by KSP Inc. (Headquarters: Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture; President and CEO: Kiichi Kubota; hereinafter "KSP"). Mr. Shimizu will utilize his practical experience in venture investment and startup management, primarily in the IT and healthcare sectors, as well as the knowledge gained at Beyondge in startup investment, M&A support, and management consulting, to guide each participant towards the realization of their business ideas. Background: A school that fosters business "spirit" since 1992 The KSP Business Innovation School, established in 1992 for engineers and researchers, is one of Japan's most historic business schools. For 34 years, even as industrial structures and technologies have changed, it has continued to refine its approach to confronting the origin of business: "Why do this business?" Currently, it serves as a gathering place for participants with diverse backgrounds, including engineers, researchers, startup entrepreneurs, and new business development managers from large corporations. The school's greatest feature is intensive mentoring by mentors. Participants pitch their business ideas and gradually enhance the resolution of their business plans through multifaceted feedback from instructors, mentors, participants, and alumni. Significance of Appointment: A mentor who understands business "implementation" Mr. Shimizu has extensive experience in both venture support and entrepreneurial practice, including venture investment at a financial venture capital firm, launching a CVC (Corporate Venture Capital), and managing a medical startup. Currently, at Beyondge, he is responsible for startup investment, M&A support, and management consulting, providing comprehensive support from seed-stage entrepreneurship to growth and exit, as well as new business creation for large corporations. His greatest strength as a mentor is his "multi-layered perspective," integrating his viewpoint as a venture capitalist, his perspective as an entrepreneur who has launched and operated businesses himself, and his perspective gained from supporting diverse business creation, M&A, and large corporate transformation at Beyondge. Mentor Profile Michihiro Shimizu Senior Manager, Beyondge Inc. / COO, Relight Capital Inc. / Visiting Associate Professor, Institute of Advanced Sciences, Yokohama National University Completed his master's degree in pharmaceutical sciences at Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences. After engaging in clinical development at Teijin Pharma, he gained experience in venture investment and CVC establishment at financial VCs. After managing a medical startup, he is currently responsible for startup investment, M&A support, and management consulting at Beyondge. He also serves concurrently as COO of Relight Capital Inc. and was appointed Visiting Associate Professor at the Institute of Advanced Sciences, Yokohama National University, in April 2026. Comment from Michihiro Shimizu It is a great honor to be appointed as a mentor for the 35th KSP Business Innovation School. There is a "deep valley" between conceiving a business and implementing it in society, which cannot be fully depicted in diagrams. As a venture capitalist who has supported numerous entrepreneurs and as an entrepreneur who has managed businesses himself, I will carefully guide each participant through their "first step" and the subsequent "next step" from both perspectives. 35th KSP Business Innovation School Overview Organizer KSP Inc. Period July 22, 2026 (Wednesday) – January 27, 2027 (Wednesday) Capacity 25 people Target Audience Managers and new business development managers of large corporations, SME owners and successors, venture company management, prospective entrepreneurs, researchers, etc. Venue Kanagawa Science Park (3-2-1 Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture) Details https://www.ksp.co.jp/bis.html Beyondge's Startup Support Initiatives Beyondge simultaneously supports the discontinuous growth of startups and the transformation of large corporations through five capabilities: "business, recruitment, investment, M&A, and technology." The participation of a mentor in this school is also one of its initiatives to support the growth of startups and new businesses. Through the following representative services, Beyondge provides consistent support from pre-startup to growth and exit: Beyondge Capital (Acceleration Capital) Beyondge Capital is Beyondge's unique acceleration capital, advocating "Beyond Growth with You." After investment, it directly participates in management as CXOs and advisors, and supports large corporations.