*In-person Event (English Program)

Japan and California can tackle climate change and accelerate the energy transition together!

In March 2022, a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) was signed between the two governments. This MOC covers climate change, trade and investment, renewable energy, energy storage, and business exchange, including: zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), high-speed rail (HSR), public transportation, and water conservation and management. Following this MOC, in March 2023, Lt. Governor Kounalakis conducted a large scale of trade missions to Japan. As another year has passed since then, this seminar is being held to commemorate these achievements and strengthen the momentum of cooperation between Japan and California.

Please join us for a program that will bring together Japanese ClimateTech/Energy multinational corporations and ClimateTech start-ups. In this exciting reverse pitch session, large Japanese manufacturers will take the stage to share what kinds of technologies and startup partners they are eager to seek, present collaborative use cases, discuss the challenges they are facing, and more! Several innovative start-ups will also present their pitches and discuss collaboration cases within Japanese companies. To close the session, several VCs will evaluate the latest ClimateTech trends and discuss how to enhance open innovation between large corporations and start-ups during a panel discussion.
2022年3月、カリフォルニア州と日本政府間で協力覚書（MOC）が締結され、気候変動、貿易・投資、再生可能エネルギー、エネルギー貯蔵、ゼロ・エミッション車（ZEV）、高速鉄道(HSR)、公共交通、水の保全・管理などのビジネス分野での協力強化がカバーされました。今回のセミナーではMOCの主要分野でもある気候変動・エネルギーをテーマを取り上げます。スタートアップとの協業に積極的な日本を代表するClimateTech企業が登壇し、協業事例・道のり、成果、苦労話、注力領域を大公開するとともに、スタートアップにむけてのピッチセッションを目指します。また、日本企業とタッグを組むベイエリアのスタートアップも登壇予定です！

Agenda 

2:30-3:00       Registration

3:00-3:05       Opening Remarks  Mr. Yo Osumi | Consul General of Japan in San Francisco

3:05-3:15      ACARIO Innovation LLC | Nigel A. Carr, Director & Principle Power | Antoine Peiffer, VP, Head of Engineering
Acario was established by Tokyo Gas to fuel innovation and investment within startups focused on the new energy economy and sustainability sectors.  Principle Power is an independent technology and services provider offering solutions for floating offshore wind projects that span the entire project lifecycle, from development to decommissioning.

3:15-3:23      Japan Airlines Ventures | Shiro Matsuzaki, Manager, Strategic Investment
JAPAN AIRLINES VENTURES is challenging to create new values as a venture arm of JAL Group with over 70 years of history, by co-creating with startups across the globe.

3:23-3:31      QuantumScape | Asim Hussain, Chief Marketing Officer
QuantumScape is on a mission to transform energy storage with solid-state lithium-metal battery technology. The company’s next-generation batteries are designed to enable greater energy density, faster charging and enhanced safety to support the transition away from legacy energy sources toward a lower carbon future.

3:31-3:39       Heirloom | Nishad Pai, Head of Business Development
Heirloom will produce high-quality, permanent carbon removal storage credits to enable governments, organizations and marketplaces with demonstrable commitment to emissions reductions to achieve their climate goals.

3:39-3:47      Iwatani corporation of America | Yuto Kurosawa, General Manager, Hydrogen
Iwatani is leading Hydrogen market in Japan and developing hydrogen business for contribute de-carbonize in US as well.

3:47-3:55      GreenGrid | Ankit Kawatra, Director
Green Grid’s purpose driven climate solutions have been enabling utility companies and governments to prevent wildfires catastrophes and decarbonize operations

3:55-3:58       Joint Q&A with Iwatani + GreenGrid

4:00-4:20       Break and Networking

4:20-4:22       Japan Innovation Campus Introduction | Swen Mehta, Business Support Director

4:22-4:30       MOL Switch LLC | Shunichiro Shimamura, President / COO
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, also known as MOL, is one of the largest shipping companies in the world and working to develop a variety of social infrastructure businesses in addition to traditional shipping businesses. MOL Switch is U.S. based investment vehicle of MOL, and started its investment activity in 2023 with the $100 mil. budget over the first three years. MOL Switch will invest in the Climate Tech space, including technologies related to next-generation clean energy, carbon removal, and energy storage.

4:30-4:38   AirMyne | Mark Cyffka, Co Founder & COO + Yuki Sekiguchi, Senior Advisor
AirMyne is a next-generation Direct Air Capture startup developing a pragmatic, low-cost, and highly scalable approach with patented technologies. Founded by deep tech industry veterans via Y Combinator in 2022, we are now scaling high-quality carbon removal.

4:38-4:58      VCs Panel Discussion
DNX Ventures | Mitch Kitamura, Managing Partner / COO
DNX Ventures is an early stage VC firm focusing on B2B Startups that are shaping industries and transforming the way we live and work.
Scrum Ventures | Tak Miyata, General Partner
Scrum Ventures is an early-stage venture firm that has invested in over 120 startups across a range of industries in the U.S. and Japan.
Translink Capital | Toshi Otani, Co-Founder and Managing Director
Translink Capital is a trailblazing Silicon Valley VC with unmatched institutional connections to Asia’s economic powerhouses.
Moderator: Kenji Kushida, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

4:58-5:00       Niterra Greeting from the Venue Host | Thomas Kluz, Managing Partner

5:00-5:02       Closing Remarks, Steve Pollock | President, Japan Society of Northern California

5:02-6:00       Enjoy Networking!

_

Organized by

In Cooperation with