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About GFTN Forum, Japan

In 2023, Japan FinTech Festival was piloted as a new platform for collaboration and innovation in the region. Following its success, GFTN Forum, Japan has been launched as the flagship program for Japan and the wider region.

Organised by the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), the forum serves as a multi-channel gateway for international companies to connect with the local ecosystem, support local businesses in creating new partnerships, and foster a global dialogue between the public and private sectors. Leveraging global expertise and experience of GFTN, the forum delivers a world-class agenda designed to generate tangible outcomes for the community.

Japan is a DeepTech powerhouse

AI, blockchain, quantum computing, digital assets, semiconductors, internet infrastructure and green tech, are rapidly transforming financial services while Japan is a key innovator and investor in these areas.

Strategic investment opportunities

Japan is keen to invest in Fintech, DeepTech and Infrastructure ventures, driving domestic growth and establishing itself as a global leader in financial and sustainable innovation.

Changing demographics key driver for innovation

Structural issues like an aging population and slow economic growth are drivers to accelerate fintech innovation.

Strong Government commitment to remove hurdles

The Japanese government is committed to digital transformation and stimulation of Foreign Asset Management and Foreign Direct Investment, creating an ideal time to align public and private sector efforts.

National drive to grow startups and unicorns

National program to increase to number of startups to 100,000 while nurturing 100 unicorns are a strong drivers for innovation and new investment opportunities in a nation known for its DeepTech and excellence in execution.

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Sopnendu Mohanty

Chief Fintech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore

Group Chief Executive Officer - Designate, Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN)

Sopnendu Mohanty

Chief Fintech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore

Sopnendu Mohanty, currently the Chief FinTech Officer at the Monetary Authority of Singapore, is responsible for creating development strategies, public infrastructure, and policies around technology-driven innovation. Mohanty has over two decades of public and private sector experience in technology, operations, digital Finance, and investment strategies.

Mohanty extensively engages with global technology and financial services ecosystems and has championed notable collaborative public goods like API Exchange (APIX), Singapore Fintech Festival, Payment Rails, Data exchange platforms, and experimental programs like Project Ubin. In addition, Mohanty advises many international global advisory bodies on Fintech, Innovation and Inclusion. Within five years of his leadership, Singapore has become a leading global Fintech hub producing unicorns and home to many vibrant fintech companies.

He has co-authored several patented works in the application of digital technology in Finance and won many industry recognitions.
Takeshi Kito

Takeshi Kito

Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer

The GFTN Forum

Takeshi Kito

Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer

Takeshi is a serial Fintech entrepreneur, and Co-founder & CEO of Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) Japan, actively leading ecosystem building and international partnerships.

Additionally, he serves on the committee for the Government of Japan's Regulatory Sandbox and is a member of the experts group at the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry for cross-border data transfers.

Before starting his own startup, Takeshi worked as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch, gaining expertise in capital markets. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, he worked at Boston Consulting Group.

He also held the position of Vice-chair at Fintech Association of Japan, where he played a pivotal role in navigating international collaborations for 6 years.
pieter-e

Pieter Franken

Co-founder, Safecast

Co-founder, The GFTN Forum

Pieter Franken

Co-founder, Safecast

Pieter Franken is a passionate global Fintech Pioneer and a Deep Tech Innovator with many industry firsts under his belt. Career spanning well over 30+ years in the Financial Industry, specializing in technology leadership, FinTech, Financial Inclusion, GreenTech, AI, Cyber Security, digital innovation and large-scale digital transformations. C-level and executive positions with industry leaders such as Citigroup, Shinsei Bank, Aplus, Monex Group, Union Digital Bank and ModuleQ, and senior advisory/board positions including Elevandi (SFF), RegGenome Ltd., EmeradaCo and SAFECAST.ORG, a global NPO critically acclaimed for citizen sourced, open environmental data. Pieter is a member of Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) International Technology Advisory Panel (ITAP) and a Founding Member of the ASEAN Innovation Network (AFIN, now Synfindo), a nonprofit company founded by MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore), IFC/World Bank and ABA (ASEAN Banking Association) to accelerate digital transformation across Asia and other developing regions to foster Financial Inclusion and bridging the gaps between FinTechs and Financial Institutions and operator of the APIX Platform. In 2023, Pieter co-founded the Japan Fintech Festival in collaboration with Japan Financial Supervisory Agency and Bank of Japan. Pieter holds a MSc in Computer Science from Delft University and currently is a Guest Professor and Senior Researcher at Keio University, an Adjunct Fellow with Griffith University Asia Institute (GAI) and MIT Media Lab alumni. He contributes to research in FinTech in Asia, Financial Inclusion, Citizen Science, IoT and Digital Assets.
Amit Ranjan

Amit Ranjan

Japan & Korea Banking Transformation Leader

Microsoft Japan

Amit Ranjan

Japan & Korea Banking Transformation Leader

As an AI advocate, my focus is on helping industry leaders transform their productivity through the implementation of AI solutions. My expertise spans across various domains including Digital & Business Transformation, Artificial Intelligence, Business Operations Simplification, New Business Creation, Startup Mentoring, Innovation and Ecosystem Engagement. I am a regular speaker at industry events, where I share my insights and engage in discussions on the latest technology advancements and their applications. Additionally, I offer coaching to individuals to help them plan their career paths and navigate their professional journeys.
Jesper_Koll

Jesper Koll

Global Embassador

Monex Group, Inc

Jesper Koll

Global Embassador

Jesper Koll has been researching and investing in Japan since becoming a resident in 1986. Over the past decades, Jesper has been consistently recognized as one of the top Japan strategists/economists, having worked as Chief Strategist and Head of Research for U.S. investment banks J.P. Morgan and Merrill Lynch. He currently serves as Expert Director for the Monex Group and the Japan Catalyst Fund (Japan’s 1st retail investor based corporate engagement/activist fund). His analysis and insights have earned him a position on several Japanese government and corporate advisory committees. In 2022, he was appointed Global Ambassador for Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike’s Tokyo Financial Center initiative. Jesper serves as Board Director of OIST, the Okinawa Institute for Science and Technology and is a Founder and Board Director of the Asia Society Japan and heads their Policy Committee. He is one of the few non-Japanese members of the Keizai Doyukai, the Japan Association of Corporate Executives; and serves on the board of several Japan-based start-ups. He has written three books in Japanese and, in 2021, created the acclaimed video/pod-cast series “Japan - Capitalism that works”. 

Jesper is an economist, angel-investor, patron; and yes, a Japan Optimist. 

Joyce Philiips

Joyce Phillips

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

EqualFuture Corp

Joyce Phillips

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Joyce Phillips is an accomplished CEO and transformative leader. Ms. Phillips is Founder & CEO of EqualFuture Corp., a FinTech startup based in San Francisco, building an Ai enabled analytics based financial technology Super Ap platform that delivers affordable personal financial wellness and education to individuals and businesses.

Ms. Phillips previously held senior executive roles for Citigroup including CEO of International Retail Banking, Country Manager for Citibank Japan, and CEO of DinersClub and Citi Cards Japan.

Prior executive roles include Group Managing Director M&A, Group Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer, of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) and CEO of the Global Wealth Division. 

Prior to joining ANZ, Ms.Phillips was President and Chief Operating Officer at American Life Insurance Company (ALICO), then a subsidiary of AIG.

 Ms. Phillips serves as director on several boards including the Smithsonian National Board, and First Interstate Bank Holdings (NASDAQ FIBK) where she Chairs the Technology, Innovation and Operations Committee.

Ms. Phillips was included in the U.S. Banker "25 Most Powerful Women in Banking and Finance" list multiple years and named one of the Top 100 Fintech leaders in Asia. Ms. Phillips’ innovation in marketing has also been recognized at the prestigious Cannes Lion marketing festival.

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Joyce Philiips

Joyce Phillips

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

EqualFuture Corp

Joyce Phillips is an accomplished CEO and transformative leader. Ms. Phillips is Founder & CEO of EqualFuture Corp., a FinTech startup based in San Francisco, building an Ai enabled analytics based financial technology Super Ap platform that delivers affordable personal financial wellness and education to individuals and businesses.

Ms. Phillips previously held senior executive roles for Citigroup including CEO of International Retail Banking, Country Manager for Citibank Japan, and CEO of DinersClub and Citi Cards Japan.

Prior executive roles include Group Managing Director M&A, Group Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer, of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) and CEO of the Global Wealth Division. 

Prior to joining ANZ, Ms.Phillips was President and Chief Operating Officer at American Life Insurance Company (ALICO), then a subsidiary of AIG.

 Ms. Phillips serves as director on several boards including the Smithsonian National Board, and First Interstate Bank Holdings (NASDAQ FIBK) where she Chairs the Technology, Innovation and Operations Committee.

Ms. Phillips was included in the U.S. Banker "25 Most Powerful Women in Banking and Finance" list multiple years and named one of the Top 100 Fintech leaders in Asia. Ms. Phillips’ innovation in marketing has also been recognized at the prestigious Cannes Lion marketing festival.

Jung Seok Kang

Jung Seok Kang

Chief Executive Officer

AIZEN Global

Jung Seok Kang

Chief Executive Officer

Jung Seok Kang (CEO) is an experienced banking professional with a strong passion for AI. He worked at Citibank and the National Assembly of Korea under the former Minister of Finance and was an early investor of a wireless charging tech firm WiPower, which was later acquired by Qualcomm in 2010. He is now designing AI banking operating system with a vision for "Autonomous driving" Finance. He received B.S. and M.S. at Seoul National University, and MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
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Jung Seok Kang

Jung Seok Kang

Chief Executive Officer

AIZEN Global

Jung Seok Kang (CEO) is an experienced banking professional with a strong passion for AI. He worked at Citibank and the National Assembly of Korea under the former Minister of Finance and was an early investor of a wireless charging tech firm WiPower, which was later acquired by Qualcomm in 2010. He is now designing AI banking operating system with a vision for "Autonomous driving" Finance. He received B.S. and M.S. at Seoul National University, and MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Elevandi Japan

Elevandi Japan, the Japanese subsidiary of the not-for-profit global FinTech ecosystem builder Elevandi, is playing a strategic role in developing and accelerating the Japanese and North East Asian FinTech ecosystem; promoting Japan's advancement in critical technologies, and connecting Japan with Elevandi's fast-developing global network of initiatives.

Makato Shibata

Makoto Shibata

Founder & Head

FINOLAB

Makoto Shibata

Founder & Head

Mr. Shibata is currently in charge of FINOLAB community operation since 2019. In his former position at The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, he led R&D initiatives in emerging technology and online/mobile financial services. He also held positions in corporate planning, accounting, corporate finance, and retail customer services at the bank. He is one of the founders of FINOVATORS, a mentor group of FinTech experts. He also became an external board member at a new digital bank, UI Bank, when it acquired a banking license in 2021. He holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Tokyo and a Master of Science in Development Economics from the University of Oxford.
Mukund Tatipamula

Mukund Tatipamula

COO & Head of Hybrid Markets Japan

TP ICAP Japan

Mukund Tatipamula

COO & Head of Hybrid Markets Japan

Mukund is a capital markets professional with over 28 years of experience in Fixed Income secondary capital markets which includes ten years at UBS in Japan as a market-maker/dealer in JPY Interest Rates and FX derivatives. After graduating from IIT Bombay, he started off as a programmer and joined Lehman Brothers Japan Fixed Income technology team for Cash and Derivatives.

He is an ardent fan of the Bollywood genre of music and loves to teach about capital markets and math.

Currently, as Chief Operating Officer of TP ICAP Japan, he is part of the leadership team to expand TP ICAP's Japan footprint. TP ICAP Group is the leading interdealer broker in OTC Secondary Capital Markets. The group operates 5 brands across 25 countries and specializes in OTC price discovery and trade facilitation across Fixed Income, Rates, Currencies, Equities, Energy, and Commodities.
Rei Murakami

Rei Murakami

Venture Partner

Kazea Capital

Rei Murakami

Venture Partner

Rei Murakami is an investor in Venture Capital and Public Equity. She is also the President of the Murakami Family Foundation.

Tram Anh Nguyen_2

Tram Anh Nguyen

Co-founder

CFTE

Tram Anh Nguyen

Co-founder

Tram Anh Nguyen, a finance and technology leader, co-founded CFTE in 2017. Passionate about lifelong learning, she collaborates with governments, policymakers, and experts to advance financial education in the digital era. A dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion, Tram Anh aims to empower individuals, especially women, in the evolving finance landscape. Co-author of the Fintech Job Report, she serves as a Non-Executive Director and sits on advisory boards, including Elevandi in Japan. An ambassador for the Singapore Fintech Festival, Tram Anh is also an Entrepreneurship Expert at Saïd Business School, Oxford, leveraging her corporate experience from major financial institutions. Born in France of Vietnamese descent, she brings a global perspective shaped by living in Paris, New York, and London.

Japan Fintech Week

Japan Fintech Week 2025  taking place from March 3 - 7,  is set to catalyse business opportunities and foster the continued growth of fintech innovation. Featuring a diverse array of fintech-related events, the week provides a unified platform for fintech professionals from Japan and around the world.
Learn more about Japan Fintech Week

Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN)

The Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) is a not-for-profit organisation established by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in 2024 to harness technology and foster innovation for more efficient, resilient, and inclusive financial ecosystems through global partnerships.

Learn more about GFTN.

GFTN Board of Directors

Ravi_Menon_Chairman of the Board of Directors

Ravi Menon

Chairman of the Board of Directors, GFTN;

Singapore's Ambassador for Climate Action and Senior Adviser (National Climate Change Secretariat)

Ravi Menon

Chairman of the Board of Directors, GFTN;

Leong Sing Chiong

Leong Sing Chiong

Deputy Chair, GFTN;

Deputy Managing Director, Monetary Authority of Singapore

Leong Sing Chiong

Deputy Chair, GFTN;

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Leong Sing Chiong

Leong Sing Chiong

Deputy Chair, GFTN;

Deputy Managing Director, Monetary Authority of Singapore

Neil Parekh

Neil Parekh

Deputy Chair, GFTN;

Nominated Member of Parliament, Singapore;
Non-Executive Chairman, Tikehau Capital

Neil Parekh

Deputy Chair, GFTN;

Iqbal Jumabhoy (2)

Iqbal Jumabhoy

Chief Executive Officer, ProsperCap Corporation Limited

Iqbal Jumabhoy

Chief Executive Officer, ProsperCap Corporation Limited

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Iqbal Jumabhoy (2)

Iqbal Jumabhoy

Chief Executive Officer, ProsperCap Corporation Limited

Professor Lam Khin Yong

Professor Lam Khin Yong

Vice President (Industry), Nanyang Technological University;

Senior Advisor to Hungarian Minister of Culture and Innovation

Professor Lam Khin Yong

Vice President (Industry), Nanyang Technological University;

Andrew Lim

Andrew Lim

Partner, Allen & Gledhill

Andrew Lim

Partner, Allen & Gledhill

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Andrew Lim

Andrew Lim

Partner, Allen & Gledhill

Jessica-Tan

Jessica Tan

Group Executive Vice President and President, Sunlife Canada

Jessica Tan

Group Executive Vice President and President, Sunlife Canada

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Jessica-Tan

Jessica Tan

Group Executive Vice President and President, Sunlife Canada

Sopnendu Mohanty (5)

Sopnendu Mohanty

Chief FinTech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore;

Group Chief Executive Officer - Designate, GFTN

Sopnendu Mohanty

Chief FinTech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore;

GFTN International Advisory Board

Dominic Barton (1)

Dominic Barton

Chairman, LeapFrog Investments;

Chairman, Rio Tinto;
Former Global Managing Partner, McKinsey & Company

Dominic Barton

Chairman, LeapFrog Investments;

Hon Paula Ingabire (1)

Hon. Paula Ingabire

Minister of ICT and Innovation, Republic of Rwanda

Hon. Paula Ingabire

Minister of ICT and Innovation, Republic of Rwanda

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Hon Paula Ingabire (1)

Hon. Paula Ingabire

Minister of ICT and Innovation, Republic of Rwanda

Eric Jing (1)

Eric Jing

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ant Group;

Chairman, Ant International

Eric Jing

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ant Group;

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Eric Jing (1)

Eric Jing

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ant Group;

Chairman, Ant International

Dr Patrick Njoroge

Dr Patrick Njoroge

Former Governor, Central Bank of Kenya

Dr Patrick Njoroge

Former Governor, Central Bank of Kenya

Dr. Veerathai Santiprabhob (1)

Dr Veerathai Santiprabhob

Former Governor, Bank of Thailand

Dr Veerathai Santiprabhob

Former Governor, Bank of Thailand

Dr. Axel Weber

Dr Axel Weber

Advisor, Raisin;

Former Chairman of the Board, UBS Group AG;
Former President, Deutsche Bundesbank

Dr Axel Weber

Advisor, Raisin;

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Dr. Axel Weber

Dr Axel Weber

Advisor, Raisin;

Former Chairman of the Board, UBS Group AG;
Former President, Deutsche Bundesbank