Funds Startups Appoints Takashi Kojima as Director and Mami Obara as Executive Officer/Fund Partner to Strengthen Management Structure
Funds Startups Co., Ltd. announced on May 1, 2026, a change in its organizational structure, with Takashi Kojima appointed as Director and Mami Obara appointed as Executive Officer/Fund Partner. This move aims to bolster the management team as the company prepares for the launch of its second fund amidst the growing importance of venture debt.
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- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 22:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 1, 2026 at 13:31
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Funds Startups Co., Ltd. (Head office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Hiroo Maekawa; hereinafter, "the Company") is pleased to announce a change in its organizational structure effective May 1, 2026, with Takashi Kojima appointed as Director and Mami Obara appointed as Executive Officer/Fund Partner.
■ Background of Organizational Structure Change
Since launching its first fund in 2023, based on the concept of a financial institution collaborative research model, the Company has actively provided capital through venture debt to fields and companies where capital supply is challenging with existing financial mechanisms.
In particular, we have focused on providing debt capital to the "deep tech" sector, which requires significant capital and long-term investment in research and development, establishing a unique position in this area.
In recent years, the importance of venture debt has expanded against the backdrop of changing capital market environments and the diversification of startup growth phases. Based on the solid achievements of our first fund under these circumstances, we are looking towards the launch of our "second fund," aiming to further expand capital supply and diversify financing methods.
In this crucial phase, we have decided to change our organizational structure to strengthen our management system, enabling us to respond to more sophisticated and complex projects and achieve larger-scale capital provision.
■ Profiles and Comments of New Executives
Director Takashi Kojima
[Biography]
After graduating from Sophia University in 1996, he joined Mitsui Trust and Banking (now Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank). After completing his M.A. in Diplomacy at Georgetown University in 2001, he worked on global offering projects at Goldman Sachs Securities.
From 2002, he gained extensive experience in various buyout investments, including business revitalization and NPL investments, at Phoenix Capital. From 2013, he spearheaded venture investment and financing, growth support, and open innovation at Shinsei Bank (now SBI Shinsei Bank). After establishing a FinTech business at Digital Garage, he joined Funds Startups Co., Ltd. as Executive Officer/Funds Venture Debt Fund Partner in April 2024. In May 2026, he was appointed as a Director of the Company.
Comment upon appointment:
"Starting from a trust bank, then foreign securities, buyout funds, and startup support, I have confronted the 'power of capital' on the financial front lines for a quarter-century. From these experiences, I am convinced that Japanese startups still lack the powerful weapon of debt finance."
"Under this recognition, to deliver the weapon of debt finance to startups, I believe it is necessary to recirculate institutional investors' capital. To achieve this, I strongly feel that venture debt as a financial product itself needs to level up into a sophisticated financial product recognized by institutional investors."
"By participating in the core of management as a director, I will elevate the venture debt advocated by Funds Startups into an 'indispensable infrastructure' for the Japanese startup ecosystem, recognized by institutional investors. I will fully support entrepreneurs who share our vision, enabling them to achieve discontinuous growth on a global stage without being constrained by funding limitations."
Executive Officer / Fund Partner Mami Obara
[Biography]
Graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo (B.Sc. in Finance). Certified Member Analyst of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan (CMA).
After engaging in product planning for asset management at Aozora Bank, she gained experience in investment/financing screening and risk management for PE/debt funds and unlisted companies. From 2021, at Aozora Corporate Investment, she led numerous investment executions as a venture debt fund capitalist. After working at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Venture Support, she joined Funds Startups Co., Ltd. in July 2024 as Principal of Funds Venture Debt Fund. In May 2026, she was appointed as Executive Officer/Fund Partner of the Company.
Comment upon appointment:
"Our company has so far been committed to supporting startup growth by offering venture debt as an option for their diverse funding needs."
"In recent years, with changes in the capital market environment and the diversification of startup growth phases, capital policy has become even more important. In such an environment, combining multiple funding methods, rather than relying solely on equity, is required, and I believe the significance of utilizing venture debt is further increasing."
"Taking this appointment as an opportunity, through the advancement of financing methods, including venture debt, and the expansion of value offered, we aim to support startups."
■ Background of Organizational Structure Change
Since launching its first fund in 2023, based on the concept of a financial institution collaborative research model, the Company has actively provided capital through venture debt to fields and companies where capital supply is challenging with existing financial mechanisms.
In particular, we have focused on providing debt capital to the "deep tech" sector, which requires significant capital and long-term investment in research and development, establishing a unique position in this area.
In recent years, the importance of venture debt has expanded against the backdrop of changing capital market environments and the diversification of startup growth phases. Based on the solid achievements of our first fund under these circumstances, we are looking towards the launch of our "second fund," aiming to further expand capital supply and diversify financing methods.
In this crucial phase, we have decided to change our organizational structure to strengthen our management system, enabling us to respond to more sophisticated and complex projects and achieve larger-scale capital provision.
■ Profiles and Comments of New Executives
Director Takashi Kojima
[Biography]
After graduating from Sophia University in 1996, he joined Mitsui Trust and Banking (now Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank). After completing his M.A. in Diplomacy at Georgetown University in 2001, he worked on global offering projects at Goldman Sachs Securities.
From 2002, he gained extensive experience in various buyout investments, including business revitalization and NPL investments, at Phoenix Capital. From 2013, he spearheaded venture investment and financing, growth support, and open innovation at Shinsei Bank (now SBI Shinsei Bank). After establishing a FinTech business at Digital Garage, he joined Funds Startups Co., Ltd. as Executive Officer/Funds Venture Debt Fund Partner in April 2024. In May 2026, he was appointed as a Director of the Company.
Comment upon appointment:
"Starting from a trust bank, then foreign securities, buyout funds, and startup support, I have confronted the 'power of capital' on the financial front lines for a quarter-century. From these experiences, I am convinced that Japanese startups still lack the powerful weapon of debt finance."
"Under this recognition, to deliver the weapon of debt finance to startups, I believe it is necessary to recirculate institutional investors' capital. To achieve this, I strongly feel that venture debt as a financial product itself needs to level up into a sophisticated financial product recognized by institutional investors."
"By participating in the core of management as a director, I will elevate the venture debt advocated by Funds Startups into an 'indispensable infrastructure' for the Japanese startup ecosystem, recognized by institutional investors. I will fully support entrepreneurs who share our vision, enabling them to achieve discontinuous growth on a global stage without being constrained by funding limitations."
Executive Officer / Fund Partner Mami Obara
[Biography]
Graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo (B.Sc. in Finance). Certified Member Analyst of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan (CMA).
After engaging in product planning for asset management at Aozora Bank, she gained experience in investment/financing screening and risk management for PE/debt funds and unlisted companies. From 2021, at Aozora Corporate Investment, she led numerous investment executions as a venture debt fund capitalist. After working at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Venture Support, she joined Funds Startups Co., Ltd. in July 2024 as Principal of Funds Venture Debt Fund. In May 2026, she was appointed as Executive Officer/Fund Partner of the Company.
Comment upon appointment:
"Our company has so far been committed to supporting startup growth by offering venture debt as an option for their diverse funding needs."
"In recent years, with changes in the capital market environment and the diversification of startup growth phases, capital policy has become even more important. In such an environment, combining multiple funding methods, rather than relying solely on equity, is required, and I believe the significance of utilizing venture debt is further increasing."
"Taking this appointment as an opportunity, through the advancement of financing methods, including venture debt, and the expansion of value offered, we aim to support startups."