Officer

President & Chief Executive OfficerShingo Akao, Ph.D.

1997: B. A. in Physics from Toho University. 1999: M. S. in Science and Engineering from Tsukuba University, and started his career in Research Center of Toppan Printing Co. 2003: Got involved in the R&D of ball SAW. 2009: Ph.D. in Department of Materials Processing, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, and a visiting associate professor in NICHe, Tohoku University. 2014: Joined a START project funded by MEXT as a Specially Appointed Associate Professor at NICHe, Tohoku University. 2015: Co-founded Ball Wave Inc. as president and CEO.

Chief Science Officer and Professor Emeritus of Tohoku University.Kazushi Yamanaka, Ph.D.

1977: MS degree in Applied Physics, University of Tokyo. 1978: Mechanical Engineering Laboratory of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology. 1987: Ph.D. from Tohoku University. 1994: Head of Nanotechnology Division, Advanced Technology Dept. 1997: Professor in Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 2015: Professor of New Industry Creation and Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, and retired in September 2016. Through his entire career, he pursued research on ultrasonic material characterization, non-destructive testing and surface acoustic wave sensors. In 1999, he found naturally collimating surface acoustic waves during the non-destructive testing of ball bearings supported by NEDO, and applied the finding to the ball SAW hydrogen sensor supported by Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology, and to Gas Chromatography funded by CREST. 1997: Best Paper Award from The Japan Society of Applied Physics, 2008: Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister's Commendation, and Yamazaki-Teiichi Prize.

Chief Operating OfficerNobuo Takeda, Ph.D.

Chief engineer at MEMS Core Co., Ltd. from 2014 to 2016 engaged in commissioned development of MEMS sensors. Lecturer at engineering department of Tohoku University from 2014 to 2016, Industrial-academic alliance researcher at engineering department of Tohoku University from 2012 to 2014, guest professor at New Industry Creation Hatchery Center of Tohoku University and senior vice president at Ball Semiconductor Inc., continuously working for development of ball SAW sensors including the trace moisture sensor. Technical adviser at Chinese venture company AMLI from 2012 to 2014, CTO at Canadian venture company Aiscent Technologies Inc. from 2010 to 2012, executive officer at INDEX Technologies Inc., which is a joint venture company with Ball Semiconductor Inc. and Japan Science Engineering Co., Ltd., pioneering a field called “maskless exposure technology”. Joined Ball Semiconductor Inc. at 1997. Researcher at Semiconductor Research Foundation from 1986 to 1997, combining with manager at communication design division of Small Power High Speed Communication Co., Ltd. of Intelligent Cosmos Research Institute from 1986 to 1994, extraordinary researcher at Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO) of The New Technology Development Foundation. Area of specialty is semiconductor devices and processes. Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from Tohoku University in 1985. Technical advisor to Japan Science Engineering Co., Ltd.

Chief Strategy OfficerYusuke Tsukahara, Ph.D.

Co-founder and CEO of Riken Genesis in Tokyo from 2007 to 2016, launching the clinical genomics services and the first CLIA lab in Japan. Head of Corporate R&D Strategy of Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. from 2001 to 2007. Board member of E Ink corp. in Cambridge, USA, from 2002 to 2005, establishing the R&D of Electronic Paper and its commercialization. Co-Director at Oxford Toppan Centre for Nanomaterials from 1996 to 2006. An Industrial Fellow of Wolfson College of Oxford University from 1998 to 2003. A Summit Fellow at Industrial Materials Institute, National Research Council Canada from 1991 to 1992. Joined Toppan Printing Central Research Center in 1982. B. S. degree in Physics from Waseda University in 1976, and Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from Tohoku University in 1990. 1989 Outstanding Paper Award from IEEE UFFC Society.

CEO of Japan Strategic Capital Co., Ltd. and Human Life Management Inc.Yoshiki Sasaki

1973: Graduated from the Department of Precision Engineering, Kyoto University, 1976: MS of Systems engineering from Kyoto University, joined Hitachi, exporting and designing the heavy industry machinery. 1988: joined SRI International, as an industry consultant. 1990: Japan Asia Investment Co., Ltd.(JAIC), Investment manager. 1996: Executive Director of JAIC. 1998: Managing director of JAIC. 2008: Resigned from JAIC as Senior managing director when it is listed at main board of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and took office of the President of JAIC Seed Capital. 2013: MBO of a subsidiary into Japan Strategic Capital where he is CEO. While in JAIC, he was responsible for investing into more than 100 companies, mostly Asian ones, including Alibaba, Saigon Securities Inc. , and Sinomed.

President and CEO, Tohoku University Venture Partners Co., Ltd.Tetsuro Higuchi

1984: Graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Keio University, joined Japan Associated Finance Co., Ltd. (now JAFCO Group Co., Ltd.), engaged in public consulting, investment planning, and fund planning. 2000: Executive vice president and CFO of JAFCO Investment (Asia Pacific) Ltd. While in JAFCO, he made the final decisions on investments in various countries in Asia. 2003: The head of investment division of JAFCO, engaged in setting up investment limited partnerships and general management. 2015: Joined Tohoku University Venture Partners Co., Ltd. 2021: President and CEO of Tohoku University Venture Partners Co., Ltd. He works on providing assistance for setting up businesses using the research results of universities such as Tohoku University.