DGDV Hosts "Global Founders Summit" – Featuring Speakers from OpenAI, Replit, Tokyo Vice Governor Miyasaka, Former Minister of Finance Kato, and Stanford University Professors, with Approximately 300 Attendees
DG Daiwa Ventures (DGDV) hosted the "Global Founders Summit" at Tokyo Innovation Base on March 26, 2026, to connect Japanese startups with the global market. The event featured insights from Silicon Valley leaders, government officials, and investors, focusing on strategies for scaling Japanese startups internationally.
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- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 00:59
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DG Daiwa Ventures, Inc. (hereinafter "DGDV") planned and hosted the "Global Founders Summit," a global startup event connecting Silicon Valley with Japanese startups, on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at "Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB)" in Yurakucho, Tokyo.
The event welcomed approximately 300 attendees, including domestic entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and entrepreneurs visiting from abroad, as well as policy stakeholders. Leaders from both the public and private sectors engaged in passionate discussions regarding concrete strategies for how Japanese companies can scale up in the global market.
■ Background and Purpose of the Event
DGDV has consistently supported Japanese startups in earning foreign currency within the global market. This event was held with the aim of inviting frontline players who are creating the source of cutting-edge technology in Silicon Valley—such as professors from Stanford University, top technology companies like OpenAI, and international investors and accelerators—to Tokyo to connect directly with Japanese entrepreneurs and share advanced insights. Additionally, leaders from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the national government who have been focusing on startup policy delivered powerful messages regarding the development of Japan's startup ecosystem and the acceleration of overseas expansion.
■ Event Highlights
1. Opening Message by Manabu Miyasaka, Vice Governor of Tokyo
Vice Governor Manabu Miyasaka attended on behalf of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which sponsored the event. At the beginning of his speech, he praised the purpose of establishing the Council for Promoting Overseas Startup Investment. In his lecture, he discussed the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's startup strategy, "Global Innovation Strategy 2.0 STARTUP & SCALEUP," and initiatives such as SusHi Tech Global, which supports startups aiming for global success, to realize "Startup City Tokyo." He expressed a strong commitment to a support system for creating unicorn companies domestically. He also called for active participation from domestic and international ecosystem players in SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, which will be held from April 27 to 29.
2. Strong Support from the Political Sphere: Special Appearance by Katsunobu Kato, Former Minister of Finance and Financial Services
Katsunobu Kato, a member of the House of Representatives and former Minister of Finance and Financial Services, spoke on behalf of the government and the ruling party, which are promoting startup policies from a national perspective. He expressed his agreement with the purpose of the Council for Promoting Overseas Startup Investment and compared the growth of AI in Japan, based on global insights, to the Meiji Restoration, demonstrating a stance of advancing economic growth centered on AI and startups as a national strategy.
3. Discussing the "Potential of Japan-born Startups" from a Silicon Valley Perspective
Dr. Richard Dasher (Director of the US-Asia Technology Management Center at Stanford University) spoke from a Silicon Valley perspective regarding the current rapid expansion of the Japanese startup ecosystem. He addressed issues such as how to break through the unique Japanese challenge of a shortage of investors who have experienced fundraising and exits as entrepreneurs. DGDV Managing Director Yamato Watanabe served as the moderator.
4. Speech and Session on Collaborative Solutions for Startups by OpenAI
Jaewon Lee, a Solution Architect for Startups at OpenAI, delivered a keynote speech. This was followed by a session featuring guests from Replit, a top runner in AI coding tools, and Inception Studio, a prominent AI accelerator. DGDV’s Kenji Makiguchi served as the moderator, facilitating a discussion on the importance of incorporating and utilizing evolving AI into corporate systems and sharing real-time information on what is currently happening in Silicon Valley and San Francisco, the source of the AI development race. Participating entrepreneurs commented that they were able to "directly feel the world-class speed and high perspective."
■ Future Outlook
DG Daiwa Ventures will use this event as a starting point to continue forming communities and providing support to help Japanese startups scale up and take flight globally, while collaborating with companies and overseas investors who share our vision. We will accelerate the birth and growth support of the next generation of global startups from Tokyo and Japan to the world.
■ Event Overview
Name: Global Founders Summit
Sponsorship: Japan Venture Capital Association, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026, 16:30–20:15
Venue: Tokyo Innovation Base, 3-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Main Speakers (in order of appearance):
- Manabu Miyasaka (Vice Governor of Tokyo)
- Dr. Richard Dasher (Founding Partner of Global Hands-On VC, Adjunct Professor at Stanford University, Director of the US-Asia Technology Management Center)
- Yamato Watanabe (DG Daiwa Ventures)
- Jaewon Lee (OpenAI, Solution Architect, Startups)
- Katsunobu Kato (Member of the House of Representatives, Former Minister of Finance and Financial Services)
- John Whaley (Inception Studio, Founder & CEO / UnifyID)
- Megan Ruan (Replit, Head of International Partnership)
- Kenji Makiguchi (DG Daiwa Ventures)
■ About DGDV
DGDV is a Tokyo-based venture capital firm that invests primarily in seed and early-stage startups. Headquartered in Japan, we have worked closely with top global investors in North America and other regions through co-investments and co-hosted events. DGDV is committed to fostering cutting-edge technology in various fields, actively investing not only in software areas such as AI and security but also in a wide range of sectors including deep tech and robotics. DGDV's mission is to bridge the various gaps between Japan and the world and to transform the entire startup ecosystem through investments in startups that take on the challenge of innovation on the world stage.
URL: https://dg-daiwa-v.com/
The event welcomed approximately 300 attendees, including domestic entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and entrepreneurs visiting from abroad, as well as policy stakeholders. Leaders from both the public and private sectors engaged in passionate discussions regarding concrete strategies for how Japanese companies can scale up in the global market.
■ Background and Purpose of the Event
DGDV has consistently supported Japanese startups in earning foreign currency within the global market. This event was held with the aim of inviting frontline players who are creating the source of cutting-edge technology in Silicon Valley—such as professors from Stanford University, top technology companies like OpenAI, and international investors and accelerators—to Tokyo to connect directly with Japanese entrepreneurs and share advanced insights. Additionally, leaders from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the national government who have been focusing on startup policy delivered powerful messages regarding the development of Japan's startup ecosystem and the acceleration of overseas expansion.
■ Event Highlights
1. Opening Message by Manabu Miyasaka, Vice Governor of Tokyo
Vice Governor Manabu Miyasaka attended on behalf of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which sponsored the event. At the beginning of his speech, he praised the purpose of establishing the Council for Promoting Overseas Startup Investment. In his lecture, he discussed the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's startup strategy, "Global Innovation Strategy 2.0 STARTUP & SCALEUP," and initiatives such as SusHi Tech Global, which supports startups aiming for global success, to realize "Startup City Tokyo." He expressed a strong commitment to a support system for creating unicorn companies domestically. He also called for active participation from domestic and international ecosystem players in SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, which will be held from April 27 to 29.
2. Strong Support from the Political Sphere: Special Appearance by Katsunobu Kato, Former Minister of Finance and Financial Services
Katsunobu Kato, a member of the House of Representatives and former Minister of Finance and Financial Services, spoke on behalf of the government and the ruling party, which are promoting startup policies from a national perspective. He expressed his agreement with the purpose of the Council for Promoting Overseas Startup Investment and compared the growth of AI in Japan, based on global insights, to the Meiji Restoration, demonstrating a stance of advancing economic growth centered on AI and startups as a national strategy.
3. Discussing the "Potential of Japan-born Startups" from a Silicon Valley Perspective
Dr. Richard Dasher (Director of the US-Asia Technology Management Center at Stanford University) spoke from a Silicon Valley perspective regarding the current rapid expansion of the Japanese startup ecosystem. He addressed issues such as how to break through the unique Japanese challenge of a shortage of investors who have experienced fundraising and exits as entrepreneurs. DGDV Managing Director Yamato Watanabe served as the moderator.
4. Speech and Session on Collaborative Solutions for Startups by OpenAI
Jaewon Lee, a Solution Architect for Startups at OpenAI, delivered a keynote speech. This was followed by a session featuring guests from Replit, a top runner in AI coding tools, and Inception Studio, a prominent AI accelerator. DGDV’s Kenji Makiguchi served as the moderator, facilitating a discussion on the importance of incorporating and utilizing evolving AI into corporate systems and sharing real-time information on what is currently happening in Silicon Valley and San Francisco, the source of the AI development race. Participating entrepreneurs commented that they were able to "directly feel the world-class speed and high perspective."
■ Future Outlook
DG Daiwa Ventures will use this event as a starting point to continue forming communities and providing support to help Japanese startups scale up and take flight globally, while collaborating with companies and overseas investors who share our vision. We will accelerate the birth and growth support of the next generation of global startups from Tokyo and Japan to the world.
■ Event Overview
Name: Global Founders Summit
Sponsorship: Japan Venture Capital Association, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026, 16:30–20:15
Venue: Tokyo Innovation Base, 3-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Main Speakers (in order of appearance):
- Manabu Miyasaka (Vice Governor of Tokyo)
- Dr. Richard Dasher (Founding Partner of Global Hands-On VC, Adjunct Professor at Stanford University, Director of the US-Asia Technology Management Center)
- Yamato Watanabe (DG Daiwa Ventures)
- Jaewon Lee (OpenAI, Solution Architect, Startups)
- Katsunobu Kato (Member of the House of Representatives, Former Minister of Finance and Financial Services)
- John Whaley (Inception Studio, Founder & CEO / UnifyID)
- Megan Ruan (Replit, Head of International Partnership)
- Kenji Makiguchi (DG Daiwa Ventures)
■ About DGDV
DGDV is a Tokyo-based venture capital firm that invests primarily in seed and early-stage startups. Headquartered in Japan, we have worked closely with top global investors in North America and other regions through co-investments and co-hosted events. DGDV is committed to fostering cutting-edge technology in various fields, actively investing not only in software areas such as AI and security but also in a wide range of sectors including deep tech and robotics. DGDV's mission is to bridge the various gaps between Japan and the world and to transform the entire startup ecosystem through investments in startups that take on the challenge of innovation on the world stage.
URL: https://dg-daiwa-v.com/