Impact Investing is more important than ever before. We aim to back the most innovative ideas combining impact and ground-breaking technologies. By leveraging knowledge and ensuring access to a growing network of like-minded people and organizations, we provide the best support we can to founders, especially in the early stages of their companies.
We know that beginnings can be hard. Especially when you are on a mission to change the world for the better. We invest in superior technologies provided by passionate teams that contribute to saving our planet while building scalable business models.
We are an international team combining investment expertise and operational excellence. As a team, we have the strong belief that it needs an outstanding impact ecosystem consisting of founders, investors, governments, and other organizations to be able to sustainably meet the greatest challenges of our time.
Naoyoshi is the Founder and Managing Director of Strategic Business Innovator Berlin, a 100% subsidiary of SBI Holdings, Inc., and a former Japanese diplomat and economist. He has profound experience in advising technological start-ups, especially when it comes to their internationalization to Asia. Furthermore, Naoyoshi is serving as Board Advisor for SBI’s European portfolio companies such as Solarisbank and Element. Prior to setting up SBI’s European office, he was engaged in several investments in the European and UK market at SBI in Tokyo. Moreover, he established the operations in the German market for SBI with the launch of a fund focusing on Industry 4.0 related technologies in 2020.
Before pursuing his career at SBI, Naoyoshi worked in Vienna where he was in charge of economic and environmental affairs as part of the OSCE Delegation appointed by Japan. In this role he especially contributed to the establishment of sustainable environmental policies.
Naoyoshi graduated from RWTH Aachen University, holding a M.A. in European Studies (Politics/Economics).
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Ken is the CFO of Strategic Business Innovator Berlin and the Fund Controller of Future Industry Ventures Fund.
Prior to his career at Strategic Business Innovator Berlin, he has gathered 7+ years of experience in accounting in the various industries as well as 2+ years of experience in project finance management, corporate planning and asset management in the renewable energy industry. In his previous job, He has contributed to developing and managing renewable energy development projects that constructed solar and wind power plants, being involved not only in national projects in Japan, but also in overseas projects in Mongolia and Saudi Arabia at SoftBank Group.
Ken completed his MBA specialising in finance and accounting at the IU International University of Applied Sciences in Berlin. Currently, he enhances his financial profession further through the CFA program.
Moritz is responsible for venture capital investments for Future Industry Ventures and business development at SBI Berlin.
He is an expert in the field of sustainability and fintech. After spending 5+ years in several roles in the banking industry, Moritz joined the corporate venturing unit of Commerzbank for 4+ years where he was responsible for a portfolio of 6 companies.
Besides his VC activities, he founded the IMPACT FESTIVAL, Europe's leading event for sustainable B2B technologies. He also has a strong personal interest in regenerative agriculture and co-founded a non-profit Startup called Foodroots.
Moritz holds a Master of Science in Finance from Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.
Miki is the Communications Officer and Analyst of the Strategic Business Innovator Berlin, and in charge of administration, auxiliary tasks of the Investment team. Having Majored in BA of German Studies at the Sophia University in Tokyo, she started her first career as an assistant at the International Patent Law Office in Tokyo, where she could apply her knowledge about German language for translating.
With her research skills and communication skills, she contributed to establishing the new US business in the previous company.
Renxiu Zhao is an Associate of Strategic Business Innovator Berlin.
She has had five years of entrepreneurial experience as a media startup co-founder in China. She also worked as an associate creative director and social media strategist in one of the top Chinese advertising agencies. She has served world-renowned brands such as Coca-Cola, Lenovo, Durex, etc.
She has a wide range of interests and expertise in the venture capital investment sectors, particularly in Applied AI, Climate tech, and Web3.
She has earned a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Engineering and a Master's degree in Digital Media Art from Communication University of China. Recently, she successfully completed her MBA journey at HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, specializing in entrepreneurship and decision-making.
Patricia is a Venture Capital Analyst at SBI Berlin.
She has a 360° overview of the entrepreneurial and venture capital ecosystem. From a business perspective, she pursued a professional experience as a Financial Controller at a fintech in Barcelona and from a legal perspective, she was engaged in the Venture Capital team at Osborne Clarke Spain.
Patricia graduated from ESADE Business & Law School holding a Double Degree in Business and Law and a Double Master's Degree in International Business Law and Legal Practice, also at ESADE Business & Law School.
Driven by her interest in sustainable deep-tech innovations, she focused her BBA Thesis in the effective application of ESG metrics into business models.
