Anchored in empathy and an unwavering sense of ownership, our seasoned and tightly knit team drives system change with wholehearted commitment.

Kazu Umeda is a serial entrepreneur who has successfully founded and led multiple healthcare startups and healthcare-focused venture capital firms. The inspiration for establishing SIIFIC arose from his firsthand experience at a medical device startup he co-founded in 2016.

SIIFIC integrates internationally recognized impact measurement frameworks into the venture investment methodology that Kazu has developed and refined over the past two decades across both domestic and global markets. Prior to founding SIIFIC, he served as the Founder and President of M3i, the corporate venture capital arm of M3, Japan’s largest digital healthcare company. His career also includes serving as Vice President at INCJ, Japan’s largest government-backed open innovation fund, as well as holding several senior international leadership roles at Japan Asia Investment Co., including assignments in Silicon Valley and positions as Managing Director of the Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand offices. Kazu holds a Master’s degree from the Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences.

Outside of his professional work, he enjoys surfing, a passion he has pursued for 30 years, and writing science fiction.

Reiri is the Founding Partner of SIIFIC, where she co-manages the SIIFIC Wellness Fund with Kazu. She studied Biological Sciences at Durham University, followed by graduate work in Zoology at the University of Tokyo and Healthcare Policy at the Institute of Science Tokyo.
She began her career at Mitsubishi Corporation in the Pharmaceuticals Group, working across China, Europe and the United States before moving into venture investments and new business creation in biotech and pharmaceuticals. She later held senior roles at Taiho Pharmaceutical, SoftBank and TRYT, leading initiatives across corporate planning, digital transformation, CVC formation, M&A and organisational renewal. During this time, she refined her expertise in CSV and impact investing through executive study at Harvard Business School and Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.
While preparing an IPO at a private-equity-backed venture, Reiri began to recognise that the future of capital would require not only financial performance but also a clear articulation of the social value created — an insight that gradually drew her toward impact investing.
She reconnected with Kazu in early 2022 — a long-time friend she had first met during their postings in Silicon Valley — and the two began exploring the concept of a new fund together. She then contributed to the Healthcare Vision Paper at the Japan Social Innovation and Investment Foundation (SIIF), a process that further crystallised her thinking around impact and “wellness” as an emerging social value.
Later that year, she and Kazu co-founded SIIFIC, driven by a shared conviction that economic and social returns can grow in tandem.
Reiri is frequently invited to speak on impact investing and system mapping. Outside work, she is passionate about art and photography, always looking for the “beautiful connections” that weave people and society together. She also holds a Diploma in Basic Design from Kuwasawa Design School and is a graduate of the Tokyo School of Photography.

Ryusuke Watanabe is a data scientist and entrepreneur specialising in machine learning and data-driven business solutions. He has extensive experience applying advanced analytics and artificial intelligence across a broad range of industries.

After completing his graduate studies, he began his career at Business Consultants, Inc., before moving into data science roles at M3, Inc. and Adastria Co., Ltd., where he worked on the development and application of machine learning models and data analytics for business operations.

In 2019, he founded ANDEVER LLC., an AI and data science company. Through ANDEVER, he supports organisations across sectors including retail, gaming, entertainment, fitness and healthcare, assisting them in developing machine learning models and building robust data analytics infrastructures. In parallel, he is also engaged in the development of proprietary AI products.

He holds a Master’s degree from the University of Tsukuba, where he specialised in theoretical particle physics.

Takeshi Nakae is a lawyer specialising in venture capital, private equity and corporate transactions. Since his admission to the Japanese bar in 2000, he has advised on a wide range of matters relating to the formation and operation of venture capital funds, private equity funds and turnaround funds, as well as legal affairs for start-up companies and M&A transactions.

He began his legal career at Mitsui, Yasuda, Wani & Maeda and later practised at Nishimura & Asahi, where he developed extensive experience advising investment funds and growth companies on fund structuring, investment transactions and corporate governance matters.

He currently serves as a Director of Renaissance Capital Group Inc. and as a Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Member of geechs inc.

He holds an LL.M. from the Graduate Schools for Law and Politics, The University of Tokyo, and an LL.B. from the Faculty of Law, The University of Tokyo. He completed his training at the Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan and is a member of the Daini Tokyo Bar Association.