towalist Inc. Announces the Appointment of Director and Auditor
AI startup towalist Inc. appointed Katsuharu Suzuki (ex-Google) as CTO & CAIO and lawyer Kiyoaki Sugawara as Auditor to strengthen its technology and governance foundation for business expansion.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 21:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 12:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 00:23 (11h 51m after Collected)
towalist Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director & CEO: Wataru Fukui, hereinafter "our company") announces that Katsuharu Suzuki has been appointed as Director, CTO, and CAIO, and Kiyoaki Sugawara has been appointed as Auditor, effective April 1, 2026.
◾️Background of Appointments
Under the philosophy of "realizing a human-friendly digitalized society," our company develops businesses to create a peaceful and warm society, starting from the idea of converting AI and digital technology into something "kind and easy" for humans.
Recently, in a business environment where all events change dizzily and uncertainty and complexity increase, the importance of decision-making that suppresses legal aspects such as expertise in AI/IT technology, corporate governance, and compliance has become even higher.
Given this situation, as a startup company with a mission to create new industries and aiming for non-continuous business growth, our company has decided to welcome two new members with expertise in technology and law to the management team. This is to establish a foundation for company operations such as business management, product planning and development, financial strategy, accounting, legal affairs, and labor affairs from the early stages of our founding.
Katsuharu Suzuki, appointed as Director, CTO, and CAIO, will utilize his expertise in the AI/IT technology domain cultivated at big tech and startup companies to serve as the head of AI implementation support services for SMEs, and will drive the technological strategy and organizational growth of in-house developed products.
Kiyoaki Sugawara, appointed as Auditor, will be responsible for the audit function supporting decision-making related to business management and corporate value enhancement from an objective standpoint, based on his extensive experience in general corporate legal affairs, especially in the area of corporate governance.
Biography/Comment of Director, CTO & CAIO Katsuharu Suzuki
【Biography】
After completing graduate school at Waseda University, he obtained a Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of California and an MBA from Globis University Graduate School of Management. After working at NEC, a US startup, and Google, he served as Head of Delivery Engineering at IoT startup MODE. He has strengths in implementing advanced solutions such as generative AI and technology management utilizing knowledge in global companies. Appointed as Director, CTO & CAIO from April 2026.
【Appointment Comment】
I resonated with the product development philosophy based on the original experience of our representative, Fukui, and the high professionalism of the small elite founding members. I developed a strong desire to be in the midst of the presence and dynamism of trying to create valuable changes in the world, believing that the growth of this company is my own new challenge. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to participate in this grand vision and challenge as a party bearing a part of the company's management and business strategy. Going forward, while being involved in formulating management strategies, I will build a strong, fast, and flexible organization driven by advanced technologies including AI, and contribute to improving our corporate value.
Biography/Comment of Auditor Kiyoaki Sugawara
【Biography】
Partner Lawyer at Matsuda & Partners. Registered as a lawyer in 2006 (Tokyo Bar Association). From 2013 to 2014, he was seconded to the legal department of PricewaterhouseCoopers Co., Ltd. (currently PwC Consulting LLC). From 2021 to 2025, he served as an IT Legal Specialist (part-time) in the Digital Strategy Group of the Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. He has supported numerous companies, including Prime Market listed companies, with legal issues related to corporate governance and relevant industry laws. In particular, he is well-versed in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, childcare, and school businesses, and handles a wide range of legal issues surrounding diverse businesses regardless of scale, from large enterprises to SMEs (establishment, business succession, M&A, legal DD, joint ventures, corporate governance, etc.).
【Appointment Comment】
Having accompanied President Fukui's management for over ten years, I have always trusted him while feeling his high aspirations as an entrepreneur and his sincere attitude as a manager towards stakeholders up close. The vision I heard when newly founding towalist Inc. was grander than ever, making me expect business growth that will bring a great impact to society as a whole. I am honored to be involved in the management of this company as an auditor. I will support the construction of a governance structure capable of creating new innovations in modern times of increasing uncertainty, from the perspective of my legal expertise.
■ Comment from Representative Director & CEO Wataru Fukui
With the strengthening of our management structure this time, I feel that we have been able to make a start in the true sense, with the thought that the order for full-scale operation of our business has been given.
Although our company was founded in July 2024, after repeated pivots in core product development, we are still...
◾️Background of Appointments
Under the philosophy of "realizing a human-friendly digitalized society," our company develops businesses to create a peaceful and warm society, starting from the idea of converting AI and digital technology into something "kind and easy" for humans.
Recently, in a business environment where all events change dizzily and uncertainty and complexity increase, the importance of decision-making that suppresses legal aspects such as expertise in AI/IT technology, corporate governance, and compliance has become even higher.
Given this situation, as a startup company with a mission to create new industries and aiming for non-continuous business growth, our company has decided to welcome two new members with expertise in technology and law to the management team. This is to establish a foundation for company operations such as business management, product planning and development, financial strategy, accounting, legal affairs, and labor affairs from the early stages of our founding.
Katsuharu Suzuki, appointed as Director, CTO, and CAIO, will utilize his expertise in the AI/IT technology domain cultivated at big tech and startup companies to serve as the head of AI implementation support services for SMEs, and will drive the technological strategy and organizational growth of in-house developed products.
Kiyoaki Sugawara, appointed as Auditor, will be responsible for the audit function supporting decision-making related to business management and corporate value enhancement from an objective standpoint, based on his extensive experience in general corporate legal affairs, especially in the area of corporate governance.
Biography/Comment of Director, CTO & CAIO Katsuharu Suzuki
【Biography】
After completing graduate school at Waseda University, he obtained a Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of California and an MBA from Globis University Graduate School of Management. After working at NEC, a US startup, and Google, he served as Head of Delivery Engineering at IoT startup MODE. He has strengths in implementing advanced solutions such as generative AI and technology management utilizing knowledge in global companies. Appointed as Director, CTO & CAIO from April 2026.
【Appointment Comment】
I resonated with the product development philosophy based on the original experience of our representative, Fukui, and the high professionalism of the small elite founding members. I developed a strong desire to be in the midst of the presence and dynamism of trying to create valuable changes in the world, believing that the growth of this company is my own new challenge. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to participate in this grand vision and challenge as a party bearing a part of the company's management and business strategy. Going forward, while being involved in formulating management strategies, I will build a strong, fast, and flexible organization driven by advanced technologies including AI, and contribute to improving our corporate value.
Biography/Comment of Auditor Kiyoaki Sugawara
【Biography】
Partner Lawyer at Matsuda & Partners. Registered as a lawyer in 2006 (Tokyo Bar Association). From 2013 to 2014, he was seconded to the legal department of PricewaterhouseCoopers Co., Ltd. (currently PwC Consulting LLC). From 2021 to 2025, he served as an IT Legal Specialist (part-time) in the Digital Strategy Group of the Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. He has supported numerous companies, including Prime Market listed companies, with legal issues related to corporate governance and relevant industry laws. In particular, he is well-versed in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, childcare, and school businesses, and handles a wide range of legal issues surrounding diverse businesses regardless of scale, from large enterprises to SMEs (establishment, business succession, M&A, legal DD, joint ventures, corporate governance, etc.).
【Appointment Comment】
Having accompanied President Fukui's management for over ten years, I have always trusted him while feeling his high aspirations as an entrepreneur and his sincere attitude as a manager towards stakeholders up close. The vision I heard when newly founding towalist Inc. was grander than ever, making me expect business growth that will bring a great impact to society as a whole. I am honored to be involved in the management of this company as an auditor. I will support the construction of a governance structure capable of creating new innovations in modern times of increasing uncertainty, from the perspective of my legal expertise.
■ Comment from Representative Director & CEO Wataru Fukui
With the strengthening of our management structure this time, I feel that we have been able to make a start in the true sense, with the thought that the order for full-scale operation of our business has been given.
Although our company was founded in July 2024, after repeated pivots in core product development, we are still...