Takeshi Hakamada

Takeshi Hakamada is the Founder and CEO of ispace inc., a company focused on developing commercial space technologies, particularly in the realm of lunar exploration. Under his leadership, ispace has gained recognition as a significant player in Japan's burgeoning space industry, including being a finalist for the Terrestrial Milestone Prize and securing substantial angel investments.12

Hakamada's background includes a strong foundation in aerospace engineering, having earned his B.S. from Nagoya University and an M.S. from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Prior to founding ispace in 2013, he worked in management consulting, where he led numerous cost-reduction projects across various industries. His consulting experience contributed to a successful publication on corporate purchasing strategies.12

He is also known for leading the Japanese team Hakuto in the Google Lunar XPRIZE competition, which aimed to promote robotic lunar exploration. Hakamada's vision is to facilitate a future where space travel is as commonplace as depicted in science fiction, inspired by his childhood fascination with "Star Wars" and the commercial spaceflight initiatives he learned about later in life.12

His leadership style is characterized as non-charismatic yet collaborative, allowing him to navigate challenges effectively and leverage his systems engineering skills to drive innovation within ispace.12