How to Ask for Money

2006 brings increased startup activities, especially with the increased Japanese Venture Capital activities. However, what is still true is that Americans and Japanese don¹t know how to ask for funding from Japanese or American VC¹s respectively. Therefore, in order to combine the “best of both worlds” with Japan or the US as markets, we have asked some VC¹s to be on a panel to answer questions. They will start by providing feedback to Jing Liu, CEO of MINO Wireless. He will be giving an ³elevator pitch² to the panel for might be described as a Skype-like application for cell phones. Our panel consists of VCs who represent angel, private and corporate venture interests,- all have international perspectives. If you are an entrepreneur, please come and find out how to increase the probability of being funded by providing what VCs want to know. If you¹re a VC, business development person or investor, come and find out about the startup to find out if they are potential partners, acquisition candidates or more. Those interested in presenting, please email contact@keizai.org by EOB April 3, 2006.

PANEL AND ENTREPRENEUR BACKGROUND:

Koji Osawa
Koji Osawa is Managing Principal and co-Founder of Global Catalyst Partners, a venture capital fund in Redwood Shores. He has over twenty years of experience in investment and management of high-tech companies in Japan, the U.S. and Asia. Prior to GCP, he was at Mitsubishi Corporation for 14 years, starting in 1985. He was Division Manager of Mitsubishi International Corporation (Palo Alto Office) from 1993 through 1999. He was responsible for business development with high-tech companies in Silicon Valley. He co-founded GCP in 1999 and GCP currently manages 3 funds. He is on the board of several portfolio companies and is also on the board of directors of several NPOs, including Japanese Technology Professionals Association, Silicon Valley Japanese Entrepreneur Networks and the Keizai Society. He graduated with a BS in Electronics from Keio University and a PhD.in Engineering from Tohoku University. (www. gc-partners.com

Tsuyoshi Taira
Tsuyoshi Taira is the CEO of Tazan International Inc, a Venture Capital and Management Consultant Company in Silicon Valley and Japan. He started his career as an application engineer in the semiconductor industry (Sanyo, Fairchild) and retired as chairman of Sanyo Semiconductor America. He has been an investor, advisor and a director in many Silicon Valley companies, including Atmel, and Pico Power Technology (which he took from inception to acquisition by Cirrus Logic). He is currently on the board of Silicon Storage Technology (SST), Teleweb, Nayna Networks, HCD and Mino . He is also on the Keizai Society board. He has written a book for Japanese entrepreneurs entitled, ³My Fellow Engineer, Let¹s Challenge². Mr. Taira has a BSEE from Tokyo Metropolitan University.

Jack Umezu
Yasuhisa “Jack” Umezu is President & COO of JAIC America, the US investment hub of Japan Asia Investment Co. Ltd.(JAIC) since 2001. He built an operational base in the US and introduced a US-Japan/Asia linkage concept to investment focus by leveraging industrial knowledge of Japan and Asia. Prior to this, he was in charge of infrastructure project development for ITOCHU Corporation. He has expertise not only in business development, but also in project financing and equity investment. In addition, his record includes an assignment in London from 1996 to 1999 with ITOCHU Europe PLC as Manager of global alliance with European Companies. He holds a B.S. in engineering from Kyoto University and an MBA from Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania.
http://www.jaicamerica.com

START-UPS REPRESENTED BY:

Jing Liu: Jing Liu is the founder and CEO of MINO. Jing is a die-hard entrepreneur who started 3 companies in the Silicon Valley and is passionate about technology and business in Asia. Prior to MINO, Jing was the founder and CEO of EnterSuite, a consulting firm providing software outsourcing to China. In 1997 Jing and several partners started Asia-Links, a business media portal serving US and Asia high-tech professionals. Jing was born in Beijing China and came to the US in 1985.
http://www.minowireless.com