Paul Chapman

Founder & Chief Executive

Moneytree KK

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Paul is an Australian entrepreneur with 15 years of startup experience in Japan. He leads a multicultural team at Moneytree, a pioneering company in Japan's fintech and startup ecosystem. He is working to create a brighter future for people in Japan leveraging the power of data, AI, and human creativity for good. In August 2025, Moneytree became a subsidiary of MUFG Bank, part of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Japan's largest financial group. Moneytree's mission as an open technology platform continues as part of the group.

Speaking At

2:55–3:35pmWed 25 FebExperts DialogueMain Stage, Bellesalle B2Open
Empowering Entrepreneurship

Japan's AI Edge: A Founder's Playbook for Building in a Unique Market | 日本のAI競争力をどう築くか──起業家と投資家による議論

Experts DialogueMain Stage, Bellesalle B2Open
About this session

This session moves beyond the hype of Japan’s AI “Third Way” to get a real-world view from the founders who are actually building it. While Japan is forging a distinct path in AI—focusing on hardware integration, robotics, and real-world deployment—what does this look like on the ground?

This panel brings together founders at the helm of pioneering companies like Moneytree, Yuno, Tradom Inc. and Habitto for a frank, in-the-trenches discussion. They will share the real-world challenges and opportunities in leveraging Japan’s unique strengths, from integrating AI into regulated industries to navigating its unique market dynamics. This dialogue aims to create a practical playbook for building a globally competitive AI company from Japan, highlighting the strategies that separate a promising idea from a defensible, high-growth businesses. They will share the real-world challenges and opportunities in integrating AI into regulated industries and Japan’s unique market.

2026 Speakers

Paul Chapman

Speaking At

Japan's AI Edge: A Founder's Playbook for Building in a Unique Market | 日本のAI競争力をどう築くか──起業家と投資家による議論