tag:peatix.com,2011:1 2021-11-14T19:04:16-05:00 Peatix The Coffee Foundry tag:peatix.com,2016:event-163242 2016-04-20T09:30:00EST 2016-04-20T09:30:00EST

Hi Fam, We are excited to have Ikuo Hiraishi coming to share all the way from Japan. He will be in New York to run the annual Innovation Weekend New York event and would love to stop by and chat with us. Born in Fukushima Prefecture in Japan.  Upon graduating from university, he started a business in 1991, previously having worked at consulting firms and foreign-owned advertising companies. He has been involved in Internet related business since the late 1990s and participated in the planning and setup of WebCrew Inc., whose automobile insurance price comparison website became a hit and was later listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers. In 2000, he co-founded and became the CEO of Interscope, Inc. (Internet research company), which was sold off to Yahoo! Japan in 2007, and later merged with Macromill in 2010. Also, he co-launched an Internet research society, Internet Research forum of Japan, assuming the position of chairman; a field he has made great contributions to. In March 2011, he assumed the position of Tokyo Officer of SunBridge’s seed acceleration activities, and in May of the same year, in cooperation with Mr. Takeuchi of VentureNow, he launched "Innovation Weekend", a pitch event and networking platform for early stage startups and angel investors. In January of 2012, he co-founded SunBridge Global Ventures Inc. and became its president & CEO (current position). In addition, he presently serves as visiting professor at Hosei University Graduate School of Business Administration (MBA), and outside directors of several startups.  Firmly maintaining his foundational vision of “producing 'global challengers' who create 'global innovations' that inspire 'courage and confidence' and give 'hope' to society", he conducts his work with strong professional vigor.The special topic for this weeks chat will be about identifying great COMPANIES and FOUNDERS to invest in and how maintaining a relationship with them post investment has lead to Ikuo's success. Hope to see you there!