The most intimate AI Operator × Investor summit – hosted in Japan
The A1 Asia Summit is a invite-only gathering of 100 AI operators and global investors in Tokyo. Hosted by WAY Equity Partners, A1’s mission is to channel world-class growth capital into Asia, with Japan as the trusted gateway.
Asia's AI ecosystem is advancing quickly yet remains fragmented and undercapitalized. A1 bridges this gap—channeling growth capital to the next generation of AI leaders across the region.
17-18 June 2026
Happo-en, Tokyo
Who is speaking?
James Riney
Tatsuo Kawasaki
-
James is the CEO Founding Partner of Coral Capital, where he seeks to invest in founders building the most important companies in Japan across all sectors and stages from SaaS all the way to fusion. The firm has invested in some of Japan’s most promising startups, including Kakehashi, Kyoto Fusioneering, Hacomono, Kaminashi, and SmartHR, where James served on the Board.
Prior to Coral, James launched the first fund for 500 Startups in Japan, and before that he covered early stage investments for DeNA’s venture arm, focusing on Silicon Valley and Asia.
Before investing, he was the founding CEO of ResuPress (now Coincheck, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in Japan), and the creator of STORYS.JP, the “Medium.com of Japan.” In another life, he worked at J.P. Morgan in New York and Tokyo. He grew up in Japan and speaks fluent Japanese.
In his free time, he is an avid snowboarder, diver, and yakitori connoisseur.
-
Tatsuo is Chairman and Co-founder of Unison Capital which was founded in 1998. At Unison, he has been responsible for investment portfolios across a wide range of businesses, including automobile, electronics, financial services, consumer goods and services, and business services. Since May 2025, he has been serving as Vice President in charge of Finance at Keio University.
Tatsuo actively serves for various companies and institutions as a board member, advisor or in a similar capacity, including Tier IV, Nutrix AG, Way Equity Partners, Environment Technologies Fund, GLIN Capital Partners, Asia Society in Japan, The International House of Japan and The Association of Corporate Executives (“Doyukai”).
Prior to Unison, Tatsuo’s professional experience includes NextCard (a US based fin-tech venture), McKinsey and Goldman Sachs. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Keio University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Kenta Akiyama
x
-
Kenta Akiyama joined Lazard in 2005 and was appointed Head of Investment Banking Japan in 2021. Throughout his career, he has focused on M&A advisory across all industries mainly in cross-border context. From 2006 to 2007, he was on secondment to Lazard NY office, and was involved in various cross-Atlantic/Pacific M&A transactions.
Prior to joining Lazard, he worked in the M&A department of Daiwa Securities SMBC.
Waseda University, B.A. in Economics
x
x
-
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
-
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
The A1 Asia Summit convenes a select group of senior leaders driving the next chapter of AI:
Investors — Global Family offices, GPs, PE, and growth funds looking for Asia’s frontier operators and long-term opportunities.
Operators — Founders and executives of Asia’s best AI companies, connecting with global growth investors and partners for the next stage
Strategic Partners — Corporates and ecosystem leaders accelerating adoption across industries, forming alliances with both global capital and frontier builders.
For 100 Leaders Shaping Asia’s AI’s Future
Attending Companies:
2026 theme
Japan’s Edge: Capital, AI, and Consolidation
The A1 Summit explores Japan’s pivotal role at the intersection of global capital and Asia’s fast-emerging AI frontier.
Key topics
AI Investing in Asia
Growth opportunities enabled by the AI era; how cross-border flows are shaping the region and how global allocators are leaning in.
Japan’s Edge
Robotics, semiconductors, and cultural AI (gaming, entertainment): domains where Japanese innovation creates global platform opportunities.
Private Equity & Consolidation
Direct investing, buy-and-build strategies, and the asymmetric opportunities AI is unlocking in private markets.
Our Partners
At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga.
Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus.