The WAY Team

Head of People & Culture
“Life is short. I aim to spend it building something I care about and supporting those who are doing the same. I am driven to live fully, so I never have to look back and regret what I didn’t accomplish.”
Aki brings more than 10 years of experience scaling the Japan operations of global tech companies, while nurturing cultures that resonate with both international stakeholders and local teams.
As a founding member of Miro and WeWork's Japan offices, Aki played a crucial role in setting up their local operations and building teams from the ground up.
Prior to this he led APAC recruitment for Autodesk and founded his own companies in the LATAM region.

Founding Partner | CTO | DynaMeet
“As a techie at heart, I'm passionate about building innovative solutions that address real-world challenges.”
Ayan brings more than 15 years of experience in software management, AI, and data engineering, leading impactful programs at companies including Indeed, Cogent Labs, and Yahoo!.
Ayan's educational background that includes an MSc in Software Engineering from Oxford University and an MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology.
Ayan's achievements encompass interactive installations, top-grossing games, deep learning projects at Flickr, and AI SaaS and consulting for some of Japan's largest companies, all driven by his unwavering passion for tech innovation, problem-solving, and delivering value to customers and stakeholders.

Founder & CEO
“I am on a journey to partner with the next generation of leaders, enabling them to build industry-defining companies and chart their path to significant, lasting and positive impact.”
Chris has dedicated the past 11 years to founding and scaling Schmatz, a beer and restaurant company, alongside his lifelong friend and business partner Marc Lütten.
Schmatz has grown to 40+ locations and 800+ team members in Japan, with nationwide distribution and a thriving subscription business.
Drawing from his early company building experience at Rocket Internet, Chris brings a hands-on approach to his role as investor and CEO at WAY.

Founding Partner | CEO | Renga Partners
“I want to build something people not only want, but genuinely need. The philosophy that drives me is best explained by the quote, ‘If your life's work can be accomplished in your lifetime, you're not thinking big enough.’”
Daisuke brings 10 years of experience in operational roles at global companies ranging from large enterprises exceeding $60 billion in revenue to pre-seed startups.
Daisuke has worked as Chief of Staff and Country Manager for Japan at Peeba (YC W23), and played key roles building Wolt and Uber in Japan, leading expansion efforts in both organisations and establishing operations in over 10 new markets nationwide.

Founding Partner | CEO | Haven AI Partners
“I have come to believe deeply that Japanese talent can play a far greater role on the global stage. What began as a hope, shaped by childhood experiences abroad and five years in New York’s vibrant multicultural environment, has become a conviction and my life mission.”
From investment banking at Goldman Sachs to earning am MBA at Columbia University, and later leading Finance & Strategy at The Estée Lauder Companies in New York, Yuta has had the privilege of seeing both Japanese and global business cultures up close.
After returning home to lead eLife Inc. as CEO, Yuta guided the company to profitability and growth in digital healthcare. With experiences spanning across new business creation, growth strategy, and operational excellence, Yuta’s mission is to combine the collaborative strengths of Japanese teams with global best practices — to cultivate globally competitive ventures originating from Japan.

Head of Platform
“A company is an augmentation of the individual, and the world is in need of exceptionally brave, empathetic, and ambitious individuals to shape the future for good. My goal is to help find them and equip them to succeed.”
Maya has had a diverse career spanning East Africa, the United States, and Japan – driven by a commitment to value creation through design-led product and service development.
Maya's work includes redesigning educational opportunities for pan-African scholars at Ashinaga, and enabling innovation strategy for clients at Fabric, with a focus on unlocking human needs and organizational agility.

Founding Partner | CEO | monoya
“Japan is at a turning point and has so much potential to offer to the world. I believe it is my job, and opportunity, to create the bridge to realise that.”
Yu's career is defined by a commitment to connecting Japan with the world, with 15 years of growth strategy expertise in the retail and CPG sectors, including leading roles at McKinsey, Dentsu, P&G, and adidas.
Born in Tokyo, raised in New York, with a Columbia MBA – Yu's cross-cultural background uniquely positions him to unlock value for both Japanese and global enterprises, reflecting his passion for building international business opportunities.

Growth Operations Manager
"Entrepreneurship is the most powerful way to solve problems that matter — for me, that means building companies that fight loneliness and bring people closer together. I’m grateful to be part this team shaping Japan’s future”
Eli’s career has been defined by her commitment to addressing loneliness through technology.
Previously, she worked in Singapore at an AI startup (QuiltAI), where she used machine learning to decode Gen Z trends and help Fortune 500 companies connect with consumers.
Eli wrote her master’s thesis on the loneliness economy in China as a Schwarzman Scholar at Tsinghua University and is a graduate of Brown University. She has lived and worked across Singapore, Boston, Beijing, Taipei, and Tokyo.

Founding Partner I Co-Founder | monoya
“By solving business challenges, I am committed to enrich people’s lives and grow talents that can together make a distinctive and sustainable positive impact on our world.”
Kazuma combines world-class strategy expertise from McKinsey with the entrepreneurial vision to scale Monoya into a category-defining company. Quickly identifying the issues and solutions, he is the fuel for growth for monoya and its customers.
One customer said “the executive was astounded to see you understand our business in half a day by just reading the documents, which always takes more than a month with a tutor”.
At McKinsey, Kazuma specialized in growth strategy, portfolio management, M&A, and new business development, leading projects across Japan, Australia, Singapore, and the U.S. He is bringing his skillset to unlock new growth opportunities and building sustainable value for partners and investors.

Operator in Residence
"The world progresses through those who create something new, navigating uncertainty and complexity to build what didn’t previously exist. Thus, entrepreneurship is the most noble and rewarding pursuit one can undertake.”
Dan's diverse career has spanned both new venture development and the realisation of large-scale operational programs.
This has included leadership roles at APL Group and Aegis Ventures, where he spearheaded new business creation.
Earlier he built a strong foundation leading AI projects for BCG, with a degree in Statistics and Finance from the Wharton School.

Our Team