Smartround Appoints Naoki Nakao as Executive Officer VP of Revenue, Advancing Towards Next-Generation 'AI+ Platform'
Smartround, a platform for streamlining operations for startups and investors, has appointed Naoki Nakao as Executive Officer VP of Revenue, effective May 1, 2026. This appointment is a strategic move as the company transitions from a SaaS+ platform to a next-generation 'AI+ Platform,' with Nakao overseeing all revenue-generating functions.
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- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 1, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 23:14 (12h 43m after Collected)
Smartround, Inc. (Headquarters: Tokyo / Representative Director CEO: Dai Sunagawa), which provides "smartround," an operational efficiency platform for startups and investors, announced that Naoki Nakao will assume the position of Executive Officer VP of Revenue, effective May 1, 2026.
Mr. Nakao will comprehensively manage marketing, sales, customer success, and the BPO/BPaaS domains, unifying the revenue departments that serve both startups and investors.
■ Background of Appointment: Transition from SaaS+ Platform to "AI+ Platform"
The company is currently in a transformative period, shifting from a traditional SaaS provision model to an "AI+ Platform" company with Vertical AI at its core.
While general-purpose AI is becoming widespread, a "trust gap" still exists in the finance and unlisted stock sectors, where high reliability is required, for Vertical AI (industry-specific AI) to complete all processes.
During this transition, the company will not merely provide tools but will actively expand BPO/BPaaS, contextualizing the "tacit knowledge" embedded in operations and organizing the value that guarantees the "results" and "peace of mind" customers demand.
Looking ahead, with the possibility of "customers becoming AI (Agents) instead of people," it is necessary to dramatically transition the revenue structure without contradicting the current business model.
Therefore, we determined that a leader capable of managing both sides of the platform—startups and investors—seamlessly, from marketing to CS and the practical BPO/BPaaS operations, was indispensable. Thus, Mr. Nakao was appointed as VP of Revenue.
■ Naoki Nakao's Profile
After graduating, he joined Mizuho Bank and worked at various domestic branches. In July 2024, he joined Smartround. He was responsible for investor customer success, leading the introduction support, utilization establishment, and aggregation of product feedback for investor users, primarily VCs and CVCs. As the leader of the investor team, he spearheaded the revenue base on the investor side. In May 2026, he was appointed Executive Officer VP of Revenue (current position).
■ Comment from Representative Director CEO Dai Sunagawa
Smartround is now transforming from a "company that sells software" to an "AI platform that delivers trust and results."
In this major transitional period, the head of revenue is required to possess not only "the ability to sell" but also "the weight of trust" cultivated during his time as a banker and "a deep understanding of advanced practical operations" honed through investor CS. Mr. Nakao understands the complex context flowing between startups and investors more deeply than anyone else.
I am confident that by comprehensively overseeing everything from marketing to BPO/BPaaS, he will build a next-generation business model where customers can enjoy the new value of the AI era in the most reassuring way.
Dai Sunagawa, Representative Director CEO
■ Comment from Executive Officer VP of Revenue Naoki Nakao
To resolve all inefficiencies that exist in the process of startup growth, merely providing tools is insufficient. What customers truly seek beyond process efficiency are "satisfying results" and "accountability."
As VP of Revenue, I will redesign all customer touchpoints, including BPO/BPaaS, beyond existing frameworks like sales and CS, as a single "cycle of revenue and value." This is a challenging transition from SaaS to an AI platform, but from a revenue perspective, I will support an environment where both startups and investors can maximize the benefits of AI and focus on their core challenges.
Naoki Nakao, Executive Officer VP of Revenue
■ About "smartround"
smartround is a data creation and sharing platform designed to streamline interactions between startups and investors. It is currently used by over 7,500 startups and more than 6,500 investors and firms.
▶︎smartround service site: https://jp.smartround.com
▶︎User testimonials: https://jp.smartround.com/voc
■ About Smartround, Inc.
"Creating a world where startups can maximize their potential."
Company Name: Smartround, Inc.
Location: Marunouchi 1-6-5, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Keywords:
Mr. Nakao will comprehensively manage marketing, sales, customer success, and the BPO/BPaaS domains, unifying the revenue departments that serve both startups and investors.
■ Background of Appointment: Transition from SaaS+ Platform to "AI+ Platform"
The company is currently in a transformative period, shifting from a traditional SaaS provision model to an "AI+ Platform" company with Vertical AI at its core.
While general-purpose AI is becoming widespread, a "trust gap" still exists in the finance and unlisted stock sectors, where high reliability is required, for Vertical AI (industry-specific AI) to complete all processes.
During this transition, the company will not merely provide tools but will actively expand BPO/BPaaS, contextualizing the "tacit knowledge" embedded in operations and organizing the value that guarantees the "results" and "peace of mind" customers demand.
Looking ahead, with the possibility of "customers becoming AI (Agents) instead of people," it is necessary to dramatically transition the revenue structure without contradicting the current business model.
Therefore, we determined that a leader capable of managing both sides of the platform—startups and investors—seamlessly, from marketing to CS and the practical BPO/BPaaS operations, was indispensable. Thus, Mr. Nakao was appointed as VP of Revenue.
■ Naoki Nakao's Profile
After graduating, he joined Mizuho Bank and worked at various domestic branches. In July 2024, he joined Smartround. He was responsible for investor customer success, leading the introduction support, utilization establishment, and aggregation of product feedback for investor users, primarily VCs and CVCs. As the leader of the investor team, he spearheaded the revenue base on the investor side. In May 2026, he was appointed Executive Officer VP of Revenue (current position).
■ Comment from Representative Director CEO Dai Sunagawa
Smartround is now transforming from a "company that sells software" to an "AI platform that delivers trust and results."
In this major transitional period, the head of revenue is required to possess not only "the ability to sell" but also "the weight of trust" cultivated during his time as a banker and "a deep understanding of advanced practical operations" honed through investor CS. Mr. Nakao understands the complex context flowing between startups and investors more deeply than anyone else.
I am confident that by comprehensively overseeing everything from marketing to BPO/BPaaS, he will build a next-generation business model where customers can enjoy the new value of the AI era in the most reassuring way.
Dai Sunagawa, Representative Director CEO
■ Comment from Executive Officer VP of Revenue Naoki Nakao
To resolve all inefficiencies that exist in the process of startup growth, merely providing tools is insufficient. What customers truly seek beyond process efficiency are "satisfying results" and "accountability."
As VP of Revenue, I will redesign all customer touchpoints, including BPO/BPaaS, beyond existing frameworks like sales and CS, as a single "cycle of revenue and value." This is a challenging transition from SaaS to an AI platform, but from a revenue perspective, I will support an environment where both startups and investors can maximize the benefits of AI and focus on their core challenges.
Naoki Nakao, Executive Officer VP of Revenue
■ About "smartround"
smartround is a data creation and sharing platform designed to streamline interactions between startups and investors. It is currently used by over 7,500 startups and more than 6,500 investors and firms.
▶︎smartround service site: https://jp.smartround.com
▶︎User testimonials: https://jp.smartround.com/voc
■ About Smartround, Inc.
"Creating a world where startups can maximize their potential."
Company Name: Smartround, Inc.
Location: Marunouchi 1-6-5, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Keywords: