Our Team.
We have a global team with offices in Tokyo and London. Our team have extensive experience in the energy and climate tech fields to help our co-investors better understand new business opportunities as well as provide startups with their Japan entry strategy.
Yohei
Kiguchi
Managing Partner
London
Yohei graduated from the University of Tokyo and received his PhD in Engineering from the University of Cambridge. The Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in 2011 made him aware of the state of the energy industry in Japan, and he decided to pursue a doctoral degree in engineering.
Based on his research in energy data analytics with machine learning techniques, he started ENECHANGE in 2015, which became the first energy tech company to be listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers in 2020. He participates in the Japan Association of Corporate Executives and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in various committees, and lives in London.
Tomohito
Shibata
Partner
Tokyo
Tomohito joined JEF from Bain & Company, a global management consulting firm. He specialized in corporate strategy, full potential transformations and Private Equity/ M&A where he covered a wide range of industries, particularly industrial goods.
In March 2022, he joined ENECHANGE's leadership team as an executive officer and is responsible for the decarbonized tech fund division, specialized in overseas energy venture companies.
He earned his degrees from the University of Cambridge and University College London.
Paul
Monroe
Partner
London
Paul is a previous member of Cambridge Energy Data Lab, a co-founder of energy data startup SMAP Energy, and co-creator of Japan Energy Challenge. His other experience spans roles in engineering – including working for the NASA Glenn Research Center – consulting, research and management.
Paul holds an MPhil in Technology Policy from the University of Cambridge and bachelors in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. He Is also a member of Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe (2020).
Kenichi
Fujita
External advisor
Tokyo
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After being in charge of overseas marketing of car electronics at a Japanese electronics manufacturer, Kenichi became a director of a local subsidiary and head of marketing in Europe. Upon his return to Japan, he worked for UFJ Research Institute (now Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting), where he was in charge of global strategy as Head of the International Consulting Division. He was also President and CEO of Siemens VDO, a Siemens subsidiary, since 2007. He retired in December 2020.
Satoshi
Kanai
External advisor
Tokyo
Satoshi joined Nihon Unisys in 1992. He was in charge of the public utility business department of electric power companies for many years, and worked on DX promotion in the energy field, such as deregulation of electric power. Recently, he has been overseeing the creation of services to achieve net zero. He aims to solve social issues related to the environment and people's lives.
Michael
McDonnell
Business analyst
London
Satowa Kinoshita
Investment officer
USA
Kirsty
Bouwers
Communications officer
London