Akinori (Aki) Koto

Akinori (Aki) Koto, known as a 'product guy turned venture capitalist,' is deeply involved in the investment space, focusing on building new businesses through strategic investments and fostering entrepreneurs. With a strong passion for facilitating Design Thinking and Transformation workshops for corporate executives, Aki is a key figure in bridging the gap between startups and corporates.

Currently a partner at WiL, a Palo Alto-based hybrid venture fund, Aki's core responsibilities revolve around three main pillars: Investment, Incubation, and Empowerment. His investment sweet spot lies in the middle stage, typically ranging from $5M to $20M. Previously, Aki held a pivotal role in early stage investments at Digital Garage, concentrating on social, advertisement, and payment verticals. His association with renowned companies like Twitter, Path, Udemy, and Intercom has significantly contributed to accelerating business growth in Japan.

Aki's professional journey began as a product manager at Digital Garage's Tokyo office in 2003, where he eventually transitioned to leading the engineering and UX teams for various projects. In 2008, Aki relocated to the Bay Area to establish the first US office, supporting the firm's portfolio companies. Notably, he played a crucial role in expanding Twitter's presence in Japan until 2011. Prior to his venture into investment, Aki honed his skills as a software programmer, working with languages like Java, Perl, Visual Basic, and Cobol, and also gained experience as a construction site manager at the esteemed Kumagai-Gumi.

Aki's specialties span across a wide spectrum including VC, early stage investments, marketplace strategies, VR/AR, mobile technologies, smart home solutions, IoT, connected car innovations, wearables, advertisement tactics, cross-border business development between the US and Japan, product development, off-shore operations, online and buzz marketing, social media engagement, and expertise in technologies like CakePHP, iPhone app development, and LAMP stack. He is adept in both Japanese and English.

Aki pursued his Bachelor's Degree in Architecture at Kansai University, further enriching his skill set with a unique blend of creativity and technical acumen.

Throughout his career, Aki has held various leadership roles, including being a Partner at WiL, an Investment Director at DG Incubation, Inc., General Manager/Vice President at Digital Garage US, Inc., Japan Specialist at Twitter, Product Manager at CGM Marketing, Inc., Project Manager at Digital Garage, Inc., and Programmer at Advanced Information Supply, Inc.