Introducing Japan SaaS to the world
SAY HI TO OUR TEAM
HIRO MAEDA
Managing Partner
Hiro leads the Japan SaaS-focused ALL STAR SAAS FUND and is based in the Singapore office. With a degree in computer science and economics from Bucknell University, he has been an early-stage investor in over 100 companies. Previously, he led the investment division at BEENOS. In 2010, he launched Japan’s first startup accelerator, Open Network Lab, in partnership with Digital Garage and Kakaku.com. Hiro was selected as one of the 2016 Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 in the finance and venture capital category.
Notable investments: SmartHR, ANDPAD, Instacart, Everlane, Fril, and Giftee.
YUTO SAEKI
Partner
Based in the Japan office, Yuto oversees deal sourcing, execution and supports the portfolio companies’ digital transformation efforts.
Yuto started his career at Deloitte, where he was involved in business development and strategy projects under Monitor Deloitte. After Deloitte, he joined Bytedance, working on monetisation and operations in support of the company’s globalisation plans .
Yuto graduated from Kyushu University and was born in Fukuoka.
MIKA SEKINE
Portfolio Audit Manager
Based in the Japan office, Mika is in charge of legal review and investment management.
Mika started her career in 2019 supporting both Japanese and international investments at an independent VC, before joining cross-border e-commerce company BEENOS in 2013. She continued to support BEENEXT, its venture capital firm set up in 2015, and now manages legal and compliance matters for investments within the USA and Japan.
MASAYUKI MINATO
Partner
Masa is based in the Singapore office. Previously at STRIVE (previously GREE Ventures), Salesforce Ventures and DNX Ventures, he was in charge of investments into about 40 Japanese B2B/SaaS start-ups. He also worked at BCG and BASF.
Masa graduated from Tokyo Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in engineering. He also holds an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University. Masa was born in Tokyo and lived in London.
Past investments include Kokopelli (IPO), Commmune, YESOD, enpay, Caulis, Agatha, Resily, and MyRefer.
TATSUYA KOUZAKI
Venture & Enablement Partner
Tatsuya joined ALL STAR SAAS FUND in February 2021 and is based in the Japan office. He is responsible for supporting deal sourcing and execution.
Tatsuya started his career in business development at Benesse Holdings where he supported overseas start-ups interested in Japan-centric B2B SaaS sales and product commercialization. He was also in charge of customer success.
Tatsuya graduated from Tokyo University.
MAMI KIKUCHI
Leadership & Enablement
Mami previously worked at Salesforce, where she took on roles in inside sales and human resources. She is based in the Japan office.
TSUKASA KUSUDA
Senior Talent Partner
Tsukasa joined ALL STAR SAAS FUND in September 2019 and is based in the Japan office. He is responsible for supporting portfolio companies with human capital needs. He also runs “SAAS TALENT NETWORK”, a career-building community for job seekers looking for VP-level roles in start-ups.
Prior to this, Tsukasa was part of the recruiting team at JAC Recruitment that focused on supporting pre- and post-IPO web start-ups, and he worked closely with VC capitalists and angel investors to solve their hiring needs.
ALICE HAMAKAWA
Talent Associate
Alice joined ALL STAR SAAS FUND in October 2021 and is based in the Japan office. She is responsible for connecting portfolio companies with talent and handles career events.
Alice started her career at a beauty education institute in Japan, where she supported campus activities as part of the student office. She then joined a wholesale company for prizes and novelties, where she was in charge of recruiting new graduates and mid-careers and building up the company’s human resource structure.
Alice was born in Shimane and raised in Saitama.
CHIHIRO KOBAYASHI
Director of Brand & Marketing
Chihiro leads brand and marketing efforts for ALL STAR SAAS FUND and is based in the Singapore office. She also runs the blog and develops podcasts for hiromaeda.com.
Chihiro has extensive experience in marketing and events, including stints at EGG Japan and DG Incubation (now DG Ventures) where she supported back office investment operations and management of Open Network Lab. She was also a community manager at Houzz Japan office in the US.
Chihiro was born in Tokyo and grew up in Zushi. She also spent 6 years studying in Melbourne.
NOZOMI ONODERA
Marketing Associate
Nozomi joined ALL STAR SAAS FUND in August 2020 and is based in the Japan office. She is responsible for media management and operations.
Prior to this, she worked at a real estate investment crowdfunding start-up, where she handled offline marketing and events planning. She also supported start-ups and venture companies with graduate hiring.
Nozomi graduated from Aoyama Gakuin University.
KENTO HASEGAWA
Senior Editor
Kento previously worked at mediagene as a sub-editor for the Japanese version of online publication ライフハッカー［日本版］」(“lifehacker”). After leaving mediagene, he joined kurashicom’s editorial team for 「北欧、暮らしの道具店」(“Hokuoh Kurashino Douguten”).
Kento started freelancing from September 2016 and now works in various fields including editorial, media management, as a moderator and more.
Kento was born in Tokyo and graduated from Nihon University Faculty of Arts.
CHERMAINE LEONG
Senior Marketing Associate
Chermaine joined ALL STAR SAAS FUND in December 2021 and is based in the Singapore office. She is responsible for international content strategy and operations.
Prior to this, she was an account manager at Digital Industry Singapore (Singapore Economic Development Board) where she engaged key technology companies and drove business partnerships. She was also part of the team that shaped the communications and marketing strategy for DISG.
Chermaine graduated from King’s College London and has also lived and studied in Japan.
