Ryo Kawashima

Ryo currently engages in planning and promoting startup policies at METI, enhancing Japan's startup ecosystem through initiatives regarding startup finance, global alliances, and social impact. Prior to METI, he spent about a decade in the financial market, holding positions such as a Japan small and mid-cap equity analyst and fund manager (long-only and long-short strategies) at Nikko Asset Management. His experience encompasses strategic corporate sales, with practical expertise in market research, revenue growth through new product introduction, corporate financial analysis, and equity portfolio management. Furthermore, Ryo's diverse background also includes co-founding a U.S. startup and investing in growth equity for both Japanese and American startups at GLIN Impact Capital. He holds an MBA from IE Business School with honors as an IE Foundation Fellow. He is an accredited financial analyst of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan.