Kyoto University Impact Startup Night on Nov 24 in Washington DC

Kyoto University brings a unique perspective to the intersection of culture, ecology, and technology.

This evening gathering in Washington, D.C. showcases pioneering research and entrepreneurial ventures that merge social, cultural, and environmental impact with cutting-edge science.

Meet Kyoto University faculty who are translating cultural capital into public health insights, building startups at the crossroads of ecosystem conservation and computer science, and advancing blended-finance models that link philanthropy and investment.

Entrepreneurs, impact investors, and changemakers are invited to explore how culture and nature can drive the next generation of socially minded enterprises.

Monday, November 24, 2025
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM (EST)
※6:00 PM~　Registration and Networking Reception

The National Press Club
529 14th Street NW, 13th Floor
Washington, DC 20045

Prof. Masatoshi Funabashi

Dr. Masatoshi Funabashi is a complexity scientist and entrepreneur advancing Synecoculture, a science-based approach to regenerative agriculture and ecosystem design. After earning his Ph.D. in Physics from École Polytechnique in France, he joined Sony Computer Science Laboratories (Sony CSL), where he has led the research and global implementation of Synecoculture since 2010.

His initiatives have expanded across more than 20 African countries, integrating biodiversity restoration with community development. To promote social and business applications, he founded the Synecoculture Association (2018) and SynecO Inc. (2021).

As Professor at Kyoto University’s Center for Social Common Capital beyond 2050, Dr. Funabashi explores how science, technology, and entrepreneurship can co-create sustainable social systems—demonstrating how impact startups can contribute to planetary health and societal resilience.

Prof. Naoki Kondo

Professor Naoki Kondo explores how education, income, occupation, and social connections—together with policies, culture, and economic inequality—shape people’s health. His research in social epidemiology demonstrates that individual efforts such as exercising or quitting smoking are not enough to protect health without supportive social systems.

At the Impact Startup Night, he will deliver a talk titled “Societal Systems We Want to Change Together with Startups: From a Public Health Perspective.” In this presentation, he discusses how startups can collaborate with researchers and communities to redesign societal structures that determine health outcomes.

Through his work, Professor Kondo aims to advance understanding of the social determinants of health and to promote a society where everyone can naturally live in good health through inclusive and sustainable systems.

Dr. Fumitaka Watanabe

Dr. Fumitaka Watanabe demonstrated intrapreneurship within nonprofit organizations by transforming fundraising at Kyoto University’s iPS Cell Research programs through data-driven and marketing-based approaches. His initiatives established sustainable digital donation models and significantly expanded the donor community.

At the Impact Startup Night, he will present “Social Common Capital and Blended Finance: Introducing Kyoto University Startup Ecosystem,” exploring how universities can bridge science, finance, and social value creation.

After earning his Ph.D. in Management Science, he joined Kyoto University’s Office of Institutional Advancement and Communications, where he studies Social Common Capital and evidence-based fundraising. He also founded a startup based on his patent-pending technology that enhances donation transparency, linking academic insight with social innovation.

Office of Institutional Advancement and Communications, Kyoto University and
Center for Social Common Capital beyond 2050, Kyoto University

Admission: Free (advance registration required)

scc-center(at)mail2.adm.kyoto-u.ac.jp / Kawamura, Shimizu