The Embassy of Japan in the UK and FinTech Association of Japan (FAJ) are delighted to announce the UK Investors-Japan FinTech Online Meetup Event on 24th (Wed) March 2021.

This online meetup event will provide an opportunity for UK Venture Capital funds, Private Equity funds and other FinTech accelerators to deep dive into Japan’s FinTech landscape.

Participants will meet representatives of the FAJ, the FinTech industry association that promotes open innovation and knowledge of the latest trends and the investment environment in Japan.

Moreover, UK investors, including BVCA members, will have an exclusive opportunity to discuss business prospects with Japan FinTech entrepreneurs in a closed and interactive online session.

The event also aims to establish a networking platform for both UK investors and Japan’s FinTech industry which should open dialogue for future business opportunities.

Date & Time:
24th (Wed) March 2021    9:00 AM – 11:00 AM GMT

• Zoom Event. You will receive a Zoom invitation after successful registration.

Registration:
Attendance is complimentary for all participants. In order to attend the event, prior registration is necessary via link below. Please register to this event by 22nd (Mon) March 2021.
https://forms.gle/L3vgXXmVoboLMUZJ9

 

Agenda:
Part 1: Japan’s FinTech Landscape and Opportunities (9:00 AM – 10:05 AM)

• Opening remarks

Mr Minoru Nakamura, Minister for Financial Affairs, Embassy of Japan in the UK; and
Mr Michael Moore, Director General of BVCA

• The FinTech landscape in Japan, briefing by FAJ

Mr Takashi Okita, the Chairperson of FAJ, highlights challenges and potentials of Japan FinTech, and suggests how investors from UK and other overseas countries will make a difference to Japanese market.

• Tech investment in Japan, briefing by Plug and Play Japan

Mr Yuki Kishi, Head of FinTech of Plug and Play Japan, will explain the FinTech investment in Japan and its characteristics from an investor’s perspective.

• New wave of Japan FinTech in 2021 and beyond, briefing by FAJ

Mr Takeshi Kito, the Vice-Chair of FAJ, predicts a structural transformation of financial services in Japan with regulatory reform and open innovation. He also emphasises the transformation will boost globalisation and bring an end to the ‘Galápagos syndrome’ of Japanese financial industry.

• Discussion session, by Money Forward, Inc. (a Post-IPO FinTech firm in Japan)

Mr Toshio Taki, co-founder and executive of Money Forward, presents the company’s corporate history and IPO story. The session includes Live Q&A with Mr Taki.

• FinTech and Open Innovation in Japan, by FINOLAB

Mr Makoto Shibata, Head of FINOLAB, will highlight the success of Japan’s FinTech startups in alliance with financial institutions.

 

Part 2: Meetup with Japan FinTech Entrepreneurs (10:05 AM – 11:00 AM)

• Introduction of Japan’s FinTech entrepreneurs and guidance
• Discussion and exchange with Japan FinTech entrepreneurs
• Closing remarks, by Department of International Trade, UK Government

• Part 1 is open to everyone including the press. Part 2 is a closed session exclusive to UK investors, BVCA members and Japan’s FinTech attendees.
• Part 2 will be an interactive session with Japan FinTech entrepreneurs and/or executives from various businesses such as capital markets, InsurTech, digital payment, financial service infrastructure providers (e.g., e-KYC).

 

Further information:

• FinTech Association of Japan (FAJ)

The FAJ is a general incorporated association that promotes open innovation in the Japanese FinTech industry by organizing events for its members and the FinTech community, conducting working groups on key FinTech subsectors and areas of interest, researching market trends, and other activities in support of the FinTech ecosystem.
The FAJ collaborates with domestic, international, and government organizations in support of the FinTech ecosystem in Japan and globally.
Weblink: https://fintechjapan.org/en/

• Plug and Play Japan

Plug and Play Japan is an innovation platform that serves as a bridge between Japan and our global innovation ecosystem. It provides accelerator programmes (called ‘Batch’) and co-working space for Japanese startups as an affiliate of Plug and Play, the global start-up investor and accelerator.
Weblink: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/japan/

• Money Forward,Inc.

Money Forward, Inc. is a Japan-based company listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange principally engaged in the platform service business. The Company provides various services to solve problems and issues related to personal money and it is famous for its personal financial management service ‘Money Forward ME’.
Weblink: https://corp.moneyforward.com/en/

• FINOLAB

FINOLAB is Japan’s first and biggest Fintech hub to build a Fintech business ecosystem in Tokyo.
Weblink: https://finolab.tokyo/

If you have query about this event, please contact the Embassy of Japan in the UK at kazunori.otsuka@mofa.go.jp.