Sharjeel Hasan

Founding General Partner​

Sharjeel is an investor, technologist, and serial entrepreneur with an extensive understanding of the US and Asian business and technology landscape. Sharjeel’s investment and entrepreneurial experience spans over 20 years in Silicon Valley. He is a proven leader with significant experience in venture capital, technology, company building, with a career focused on building, scaling, and running high growth companies of all sizes, from initial seed through late-stage operation.

Sharjeel is an active Board Member and advisor to several technology startups. Previously, Sharjeel was Co-Founder of Cloudzilla, a cloud-based mobile operating system, which through partnership with companies such as Microsoft, Facebook, Snap and Verizon has powered millions of users worldwide including Japan. Sharjeel was also Founder of Linxus Technologies, which built healthcare technology solutions and digitized over 30 million patient medical records. Sharjeel was also the Founder of Intelligrid, a company that built software solutions for Smart Grid to digitize the power grid.

Previously, he worked for Motorola in various engineering and product management roles where he was responsible for execution of next generation cellular applications for the Linux-Java and Android Platforms. Sharjeel is also on the Board of the Silicon Valley Japan Platform (SVJP), an established to connect Japanese corporate leaders with tech leaders in Silicon Valley. Some member companies of the SVJP include Toyota, MUFG, Google, Fast Retailing, Tokio Marine, Mizuho, Sumitomo, Mitsui Fudosan, and dozens of other top corporations. ​

Saima Hasan

Founding General Partner​

Mamoru Taniya

Founding General Partner​

Mamoru Taniya has a broad range of investment experience including venture capital, fixed income, and private equity. He is known as an active fintech investor, with early stage investments including Monex, Hoken-no-Madoguchi, Money Forward, Mercari, Campfire (chairman), BASE, hey, and bitFlyer.

The early part of his career was marked by his successful years at Salomon Brothers.  Becoming the youngest managing director in Asia at the time, he was the head of the regional proprietary trading division for Japan and Asia, and was widely regarded in the region as one of the pioneers in financial arbitrage trading.

He subsequently joined Tudor Capital (Japan) as one of the founding partners and led an MBO to found Asuka Asset Management, which is one of the pioneers in the independent hedge fund space in Japan. In addition, he has set up AD Capital (Mercuria), which is a joint venture with DBJ and listed on the first section of the TSE. Mamoru Taniya cares deeply about solving societal problems through his work with various NGO’s.

He is Representative Founder of International School of Asia, Karuizawa (UWCISAK), the first international boarding school in Japan. In addition, he is Director of Asia Pacific Initiative Foundation and a Board member of Endeavor Japan. Mr. Taniya received his B.A. degree in law from the University of Tokyo in 1987.

Aki Ohashi

Vice President​

Aki Ohashi has over 20 years of experience working in venture capital, technology R&D, and business development primarily in and between Japan and Silicon Valley.

At Evolution, Aki is responsible for fundraising, business development, deal sourcing, and other various activities related to the firm’s fund, software development, and advisory businesses.

Prior to Evolution, Aki spent 11 years at Xerox PARC as Director of Business Development for the PARC’s Japanese, Australian, and Southeast Asian markets.

As a Partner with the Venture Capital Investment Division of NGI Group, Inc. (formerly Netage, Inc.) in Japan, Aki led investments in, and served on the boards of, Internet-related startups in the U.S., Japan, and Israel.

In other roles, Aki served as the COO of Tilefile, KK, a Netage-funded Internet startup in Japan, Consultant at L.E.K. Consulting’s Tokyo office, and was part of the Advanced Solutions Group at Cognizant Technology Solutions. He also experienced his first IPO at Mediaplex, one of the first targeted internet advertising companies.

Aki earned his MBA from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Aki was born and raised in the United States, spent over 5 years living and working in Japan, and is fluent in both English and Japanese.

In his free time, Aki enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, road cycling, running, exploring mindfulness, and mentoring founders.

Koichi Yano

Japan Operations​

Koichi Yano has been involved in the technology industry for over 25 years, including most recently, co-founding Golden Whales Group, a Silicon Valley and Tokyo-based firm, which assists with market entry, running innovation programs, and making venture investments.

Previously, Koichi has served as General Manager of Tochidot Corporation, General Manager at Fujisan Magazine Service, Founder & CEO of Tilefile KK, and also worked at McKinsey’s Tokyo office.

In Silicon Valley, he was at Inktomi and Canon, and was also a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley. Koichi has an MBA from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University and a Master of Science in Computer Engineering from Tokyo University.

Ryo Shima

Head of Strategy

Ryo Shima is a global executive with a unique background as an operator and strategist, serving in executive roles in the software and private equity industries. He led multinational teams in Silicon Valley, Tokyo, and London as COO, SVP, and CEO. At Evolution Ventures, Ryo is focused on Strategy and Operations, and brings great strategic and operational perspective and experience to Evolution’s portfolio companies as well as corporate LP’s to help them forge strategic relationships and achieve global growth.

Previously, Ryo spent 3 years at Merrill Lynch as an investment banker and 4 years at Carlyle as an investor managing a $1.2 billion buyout fund. Ryo served as the COO of GREE International, one of the premier Japanese mobile gaming companies. He was responsible for the division leading GREE’s charge into the Western market and led operation & finance teams both in San Francisco and Berlin.  Under his leadership, he executed multiple transformation initiatives and was also appointed as the Corporate Executive Officer.

Ryo also founded Global Tech Partners, a boutique management consulting firm providing strategic advice to CEOs of global companies. Ryo holds a law degree from Kyoto University and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Toshihiko Hiura

Venture Partner

Mr. Hiura graduated from the University of Tokyo, Department of Liberal Arts, and Harvard University, Graduate School of Management (MBA).

In April 1983, Mr. Hiura joined the Nippon Kogyo Bank Co., Ltd. (currently Mizuho Bank Co., Ltd.). After retirement, he joined Bain & Company in February 1986.

For more than 30 years, Mr. Hiura has been involved in consulting activities for companies in Japan, US, and Europe in various fields.

Mr. Hiura was appointed as a representative partner of the Tokyo Office in January 2008 and Chairman in April 2014. He also serves as an advisory partner in Bain & Company Tokyo and outside director of Aluhi Co., Ltd.

Tetsuya (Ted) Shiokawa

Venture Partner​

Tetsuya (Ted) Shiokawa is a Japan-based Venture Partner with Evolution. Ted is also a professor at Shizenkan University in Tokyo and was involved in the founding of the university in 2017-2018.

From 2007 to 2019 he was Executive Director at Xerox Corporation in Japan, while acting as Audit & Supervisory Board Member of Fuji Xerox and was involved in the overall management of the company.

In 2000, Ted joined GE Capital and was involved in M&A. In 2006, he became Board Member & Deputy President at GE Fleet Services as head of sales & marketing.

Ted started his career at Mitsui Co., Ltd. where he was involved in trading commodities such as edible alcohol, molasses, dextrose, etc. He visited 34 countries on business including training in the U.S. and was fully exposed to the “real frontline” of business, experiencing tough businesses such as exporting dextrose to Iran.

Ted has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in Law from Kyoto University.

Kee Wong

Operating Partner

Kee Wong is an entrepreneur, investor, advisor, and non-executive director with a background and qualifications in engineering, information technology and business.

Since 1999, Kee has started several businesses and has made investments across a number of industries which include technology, services, retail, food and beverage, trading and property.

Prior to being an entrepreneur, Kee practiced as an engineer after graduating from Monash University in 1985, Kee then joined a number of IT and management consulting firms and practiced as an IT/Management consultant for a number of years. Kee joined IBM (a global IT company) in 1994 as a senior executive running part of its e-business group in the Asia Pacific region, including Australia and New Zealand.

In 1999, Kee founded his first business, e-Centric Innovations – an IT/Management consulting firm that is still operating successfully in Australia, Malaysia and Singapore, serving large multinational enterprises and governments.

Since then, Kee has started (and invested in) a number of other businesses and today continues to invest in startup as well as established businesses globally (Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, China, and US – in Silicon Valley).

Kee is a Board member of Carsales.com and InvoCare, both of which are ASX100 company listed on the Australian stock exchange.

Kee is also a Board member for the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), the Arts Centre Melbourne, the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), Breakthrough Victoria and the Committee for Melbourne.

He is also a member of the Victorian Government Ministerial Advisory Council on International Education and Victorian Government Ministerial Innovation Taskforce. Recently, Kee has also joined the VicTrack Strategic Innovation Advisory Group, Transform Reform Board (Victorian Department of Transport), ANU Centre for Asian-Australian Leadership Advisory Board, Swinburne University’s Technology and Innovation Committee.

As advisor to a Victorian government entity, Kee has helped develop an R&D venture (in Fibre Optics IoT sensors and AI) between the Victorian government entity and the Palo Alto Research Centre (PARC – a Xerox R&D company) that resulted in a new global joint venture company (Eloque LLC) being established between the Victorian Government and Xerox to service the global market.

Previously, Kee was also Chairman of the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), a Deputy Chairman of Asialink, a Council Member of Victoria University, a Director of LaunchVic (a Victorian Government Innovation/Startup fund), the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO), Australian Services Roundtable (ASR), Federation Square, Foundation of the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) and a member of the Metro Trains Melbourne Strategic Advisory Committee.

Kee is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and Adjunct Professor of Engineering and IT at La Trobe University. Kee was awarded a Fellow of Monash University in 2010 and Distinguished Alumni in 2014.

Kee has a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons.), a Graduate Diploma in Computing, and an MBA.

Dan Okimoto

Senior Advisor

A specialist on the political economy of Japan, Daniel Okimoto is a senior fellow of FSI, director emeritus of Shorenstein APARC, and a professor of political science at Stanford University. His fields of research include comparative political economy, Japanese politics, U.S.-Japan relations, high technology, economic interdependence in Asia, and international security.

During his 25-year tenure at Stanford, Okimoto has served as a research fellow at the Hoover Institution and the Northeast Asia-United States Forum on International Policy, the predecessor organization to Shorenstein APARC, within CISAC. He has also taught at the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies, the Stockholm School of Economics, and the Stanford Center in Berlin.

In 1976, Okimoto co-founded Shorenstein APARC. He has also been vice chairman of the Japan Committee of the National Research Council at the National Academy of Sciences, and of the Advisory Council of the Department of Politics at Princeton University. He received his BA in history from Princeton University, MA in East Asian studies from Harvard University, and PhD in political science from the University of Michigan.

He is the author of numerous books and articles, including Between MITI and the Market: Japanese Industrial Policy for High Technology; co-editor, with Takashi Inoguchi, of The Political Economy of Japan: International Context; and co-author, with Thomas P. Rohlen, of A United States Policy for the Changing Realities of East Asia: Toward a New Consensus.

Katsunori Tanaka

Senior Advisor

Katsunori Tanaka is a Senior Advisor at Evolution, bringing deep expertise in urban development, business strategy, and executive networking. With extensive connections to top executives across Japan, he plays a key role in fostering strategic partnerships and business growth.

Previously, Tanaka spent many years at Mitsubishi Estate, one of Japan’s leading real estate companies, where he was instrumental in regional planning, business strategy, and real estate solutions. He spearheaded the establishment of the industry’s first area branding department and led the development of innovation hubs at Tokyo Station and Osaka Station. His work also included supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (including IPO-stage companies), facilitating market entry for U.S. West Coast firms into Japan, and driving corporate business planning and sales.

In addition to his leadership at Mitsubishi Estate, Tanaka held directorships at multiple group companies spanning distribution, design, and investment advisory, as well as joint ventures with major financial institutions.

Beyond his corporate experience, Tanaka is actively engaged in academia and advisory roles. He serves as a project professor at the Graduate School of Media and Governance at Keio University (Regional Innovation) and is a visiting professor at the Graduate School of Project Design and Nagano University. He also holds leadership positions as Vice Chairman of the Mentor Mita Association and as an advisor to multiple companies in real estate, human resources, and new business development.