Profile

Kotaro Yamagishi graduated from Keio University’s Faculty of Economics in 1999 and gained experience working at Nikkei Business Publications. He participated in the creation of CNET’s Japanese branch, becoming its first editor-in-chief. In 2004, he helped co-found internet media company GREE, Inc., serving as vice president of business operations for over ten years and leading this startup to a listing on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. He retains a seat on GREE’s board of directors. In 2015, he became the founding CEO of Keio Innovation Initiative (KII)—Keio University’s venture capital fund—which has managed funds totaling approximately ¥15 billion ($100 million) through two investment funds. In October 2023, it created a third impact fund with the goal of raising another ¥20 billion ($135 million). In 2021, Yamagishi became vice-president of Keio University, overseeing work on finance, fundraising, and entrepreneurship. He also serves as a managing director of the Japan Venture Capital Association and as a section chairman of the Industry-Academia Collaboration Subcommittee.