Yusuke Asakura

Co-Founder at Signifiant Inc.

Yusuke Asakura is a prominent entrepreneur and venture capitalist, best known as the Co-Founder of Signifiant Inc., a firm focused on supporting unlisted startups and management for newly listed companies. He was born in Nishimiya, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tokyo.

Career Path

Early Career: Asakura initially trained at a horse racing training center and worked with racehorses before transitioning to business. He joined McKinsey & Company, where he gained significant experience in management consulting.
Naked Technology Inc.: While at university, he co-founded Naked Technology Inc., where he later served as President & CEO. The company was successfully acquired by mixi, Inc., leading Asakura to join mixi, where he became President and CEO, revitalizing the company during a challenging period.
Academic Involvement: After his tenure at mixi, Asakura served as a Visiting Scholar at Stanford University and currently holds a similar position at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Japan.
Signifiant Inc.: Founded on July 7, 2017, alongside Kenji Kobayashi and Takafumi Murakami, Signifiant aims to create new industries by investing in startups across various sectors such as SaaS, AI, FinTech, and more. Asakura emphasizes the importance of management engagement in fostering growth within these companies.1 2 3

Current Roles

In addition to his role at Signifiant, Yusuke Asakura serves as an outside director at Septeni Holdings Co., Ltd. and is a partner at the Tokyo Founders Fund, further solidifying his influence in the Japanese tech ecosystem.1 2 3

Philosophy and Vision

Asakura believes that startups are crucial for creating new wealth and addressing societal challenges through innovative solutions. He is committed to making resources available to help Japanese growth-phase companies overcome managerial bottlenecks.1 3

Yusuke Asakura's career reflects a blend of entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to enhancing Japan's technological landscape through strategic investments and management support.