JBIC IG Partners

Executive Managing Director

	Tsuguya Ieda, CEO Tsuguya Ieda is Chief Executive Officer of JBIC IG Partners. He began his professional career with the Export-Import Bank of Japan (now Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)), where he was primarily responsible for loans for developing countries in the infrastructure field, project finance for Independent Power Producers (IPP), loans for acquisition of natural resource interests, structured finance for oil and gas field development projects of state oil companies, and support for business expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises into foreign markets such as ASEAN and Mexico. He also held several management positions including Head of Credit Department, Director General of HRM and Executive Officer for West Japan at JBIC. Prior to JBIC IG Partners, he served as an Advisor to Debt Capital Markets of Nomura Securities Co., Ltd. He received a BA in Economics from Hitotsubashi University

Tsuguya Ieda, CEO

Tsuguya Ieda is Chief Executive Officer of JBIC IG Partners. He began his professional career with the Export-Import Bank of Japan (now Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)), where he was primarily responsible for loans for developing countries in the infrastructure field, project finance for Independent Power Producers (IPP), loans for acquisition of natural resource interests, structured finance for oil and gas field development projects of state oil companies, and support for business expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises into foreign markets such as ASEAN and Mexico. He also held several management positions including Head of Credit Department, Director General of HRM and Executive Officer for West Japan at JBIC. Prior to JBIC IG Partners, he served as an Advisor to Debt Capital Markets of Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.
He received a BA in Economics from Hitotsubashi University

	Makoto Shiono, CIO Makoto Shiono is Chief Investment Officer at JBIC IG Partners and a Partner at Industrial Growth Platform, Inc. His professional career includes time with Citibank, Goldman Sachs, Bain & Company and Livedoor Securities where he was head of investment banking division. He has been providing strategic, M&A advice for a wide range of corporate clients in a variety of industries including Technology start-ups and governmental organizations. He has 15 years of experience in private equity investments. He also wrote several books on Business, Laws and Artificial Intelligence published in Japan. He received a BA in Law from Keio University and earned a master’s degree from the Washington University in St. Louis, School of Law.

Makoto Shiono, CIO

Makoto Shiono is Chief Investment Officer at JBIC IG Partners and a Partner at Industrial Growth Platform, Inc. His professional career includes time with Citibank, Goldman Sachs, Bain & Company and Livedoor Securities where he was head of investment banking division. He has been providing strategic, M&A advice for a wide range of corporate clients in a variety of industries including Technology start-ups and governmental organizations. He has 15 years of experience in private equity investments. He also wrote several books on Business, Laws and Artificial Intelligence published in Japan.
He received a BA in Law from Keio University and earned a master’s degree from the Washington University in St. Louis, School of Law.

MESSAGE

The global political and economic landscape becomes increasingly uncertain, and the business environment is changing and entering a new phase with cutting-edge technologies such as AI and IoT.

To outpace global competition and achieve sustainable growth, Japanese companies need to accelerate overseas expansion by making full use of their technological capabilities for producing high-quality products. It is more important than ever to capture growth in overseas markets and develop strategic alliances with overseas companies with technological advantages and growth potential.

We, JBIC IG Partners, strive to deliver investment and business opportunities to globally active companies, and contribute to the Japan’s industry by leveraging experiences and strengths of both Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Industrial Growth Platform, Inc.(IGPI). Further, we closely work with our investment partners in sourcing and execution of investments.

We are committed to creating value to meet the strategic needs of our partners and investors, and contributing to the growth of the Japanese economy.

JBIC IG Partners
Executive Managing Director CEO Tsuguya Ieda
Executive Managing Director CIO Makoto Shiono

Investment Team (Tokyo)

	Taro Hizume, Investment Director Taro Hizume started his career at Mitsui & Co., Ltd., where he gained experience in investments and financing arrangements in the transportation and shipping industries. Prior to joining JBIC IG Partners, he worked at Industrial Growth Platform, Inc. (IGPI), where he engaged in business due diligence and financial advisory for various M&A deals, strategy development for a major Japanese electronics company, and fundraising support for early-stage startups. He received an MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Tokyo and an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business.

Taro Hizume, Investment Director

Taro Hizume started his career at Mitsui & Co., Ltd., where he gained experience in investments and financing arrangements in the transportation and shipping industries. Prior to joining JBIC IG Partners, he worked at Industrial Growth Platform, Inc. (IGPI), where he engaged in business due diligence and financial advisory for various M&A deals, strategy development for a major Japanese electronics company, and fundraising support for early-stage startups.
He received an MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Tokyo and an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business.

	Masayuki Ota, Investment Director Masayuki Ota focuses primarily on investment opportunities in the healthcare and technology sectors. Prior to joining JBIC IG Partners, he worked at Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), where he managed project finance and equity investment transactions as well as HR initiatives. He received a BA in Economics from Keio University and an MBA from Cambridge Judge Business School.

Masayuki Ota, Investment Director

Masayuki Ota focuses primarily on investment opportunities in the healthcare and technology sectors. Prior to joining JBIC IG Partners, he worked at Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), where he managed project finance and equity investment transactions as well as HR initiatives.
He received a BA in Economics from Keio University and an MBA from Cambridge Judge Business School.

NordicNinja VC* (Helsinki)

	Shinichi Nikkuni, Managing Partner At McKinsey and IGPI, Shinichi Nikkuni was involved with various consulting projects in manufacturing, ICT, healthcare, and utility industries. Regarding to his startup experience, he executed an investment in a biotech start-up together with the University of Tokyo Edge Capital and other VCs, and furthermore co-founded a cleantech startup based on research at the Department of Chemistry, the University of Cambridge. Just prior to JBIC IG Partners, he worked for the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) in Japan to compile the New Industrial Structure Vision towards 2030s when deep technologies such as AI, IoT, BigData etc. supposedly flourish and change the economy and society. He is an advisor of JBIC IG Partners. He received a BA in Law from the University of Tokyo and an MBA from Cambridge Judge Business School.

Shinichi Nikkuni, Managing Partner

At McKinsey and IGPI, Shinichi Nikkuni was involved with various consulting projects in manufacturing, ICT, healthcare, and utility industries. Regarding to his startup experience, he executed an investment in a biotech start-up together with the University of Tokyo Edge Capital and other VCs, and furthermore co-founded a cleantech startup based on research at the Department of Chemistry, the University of Cambridge. Just prior to JBIC IG Partners, he worked for the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) in Japan to compile the New Industrial Structure Vision towards 2030s when deep technologies such as AI, IoT, BigData etc. supposedly flourish and change the economy and society.
He is an advisor of JBIC IG Partners.
He received a BA in Law from the University of Tokyo and an MBA from Cambridge Judge Business School.

	Tomosaku Sohara, Managing Partner Prior to joining JBIC IG Partners Tomosaku Sohara was engaged in finance for clean-tech projects with several Japanese companies in Nordic region (e.g. Finland, Iceland, Lithuania), creation and investment in funds for energy efficiency including storage battery project in Europe and other region with multinational investment institutions, and policy and strategy planning for venture capital and other fund investment and M&A business investment at Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). He also worked as a representative at Mexico City, Mexico for about three years from 2010, where he was involved in automobile sector including financing to promotion project of EV (Electric Vehicle) in Costa Rica and manufacturing automobile products in Mexico. He received a BA in Economics from Keio University.

Tomosaku Sohara, Managing Partner

Prior to joining JBIC IG Partners Tomosaku Sohara was engaged in finance for clean-tech projects with several Japanese companies in Nordic region (e.g. Finland, Iceland, Lithuania), creation and investment in funds for energy efficiency including storage battery project in Europe and other region with multinational investment institutions, and policy and strategy planning for venture capital and other fund investment and M&A business investment at Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). He also worked as a representative at Mexico City, Mexico for about three years from 2010, where he was involved in automobile sector including financing to promotion project of EV (Electric Vehicle) in Costa Rica and manufacturing automobile products in Mexico.
He received a BA in Economics from Keio University.

*NordicNinja VC (registered name: JB Nordic Ventures Oy) is a Helsinki-based advisory company founded by JBIC IG Partners and AS BaltCap, and provides advice to JB Nordic Fund I SCSp, a venture capital fund that invests in startups in the Nordic and Baltic regions.