Kenichi Funaki
InvestorManaging Director, Next Research at Hitachi, Ltd. Β· Japan Advisory Board Member at Benhamou Global Ventures
Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Find your path to Kenichi
59 people in our graph share verified history with Kenichi β schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Eric BenhamouunlockedKenichi: together at Benhamou Global Ventures (2023β2026)
Γ5Kenichi: together at Benhamou Global Ventures
Γ6Kenichi: together at Hitachi, Ltd.
About
Kenichi Funaki is Managing Director of Next Research at Hitachi. His work encompasses open innovation strategy and execution, deeptech research strategy, corporate venturing, and organizational change and transformation.
Experience
- HitachiManaging Director, Next Researchcurrent2026 β presentTokyo
- HitachiHead of Corporate Venturing Office2019 β 2026Tokyo
- HitachiOutside Director2018 β 2019
- HitachiGeneral Manager, Global Center for Social Innovation2017 β 2019Biz Tower, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
- HitachiGeneral Manager, Management Planning Office2016 β 2017
- Japan Industrial Management AssociationPresidentcurrent2025 β presentTokyo, Japan
- Japan Industrial Management AssociationVice President2023 β 2025Tokyo, Japan
- ζ©η¨²η°ε€§ε¦ WASEDA UniversityVisiting Professor, Graduate School of Creative Science and Engineeringcurrent2025 β presentShinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Benhamou Global VenturesJapan Advisory Board Membercurrent2023 β presentMenlo Park, CA
- Happiness Planet Ltd.Outside Directorcurrent2020 β present
- Hitachi (China) Research & Development Co.Direcor2017 β 2019
- Tokyo Metropolitan UniversityLecturer in Operations Research2013 β 2015
- Hokkaido UniversityVisiting Associate Professor, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology2010 β 2015Greater Sapporo
- The Supply Chain and Logistics Institute, Georgia Institute of TechnologyVisiting Research Executive2008 β 2009Atlanta, GA, USA
- Sanno UniversityLecturer in Management1997 β 1999
Skills & more
Open innovation3γͺγΌγγ³γ€γγγΌγ·γ§γ³Corporate venture2γ³γΌγγ¬γΌγγγ³γγ£γΌγγ£γγΏγ«Innovation strategy2
From Kenichi's professional profile.
Colleagues at Hitachi, Ltd.
Ankesh Madan
Principal at Hitachi, Ltd.
Deepak Mishra
Principal at Hitachi, Ltd.
Galina Rachenkova
Principal at Hitachi, Ltd.
Jan Marchewski
Principal at Hitachi Ventures
Joanna Soroka
Investment Partner at Hitachi Ventures
Mascha Bonk
Senior Associate at Hitachi Ventures
Pete Bastien
President & Partner at Hitachi Ventures
Stefan Gabriel
CEO & Managing Director at Hitachi Ventures
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Kenichi Funaki?
- Kenichi Funaki is Managing Director of Next Research at Hitachi. His work encompasses open innovation strategy and execution, deeptech research strategy, corporate venturing, and organizational change and transformation.
- Where does Kenichi Funaki work?
- Kenichi Funaki is Managing Director, Next Research at Hitachi, Ltd..
- Where did Kenichi Funaki go to school?
- Kenichi Funaki studied at Waseda University (Doctor of Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Management Science); Leonard N. Stern School of Business, New York University (Management Essentials for the Experienced Professional, Business Administration and Management, General).
Same school
Also attended Waseda University139
Kaz TeradaVenture Advisor at Monta Vista CapitalYoyo YangInvestment at Makers FundKoichiro NakamuraSenior Managing Director at Sozo VenturesAyaka MatsumotoCorporate Development Manager at TNBAuraShanti BergelManaging Director at TRANSCENDNatsuki TamuraInvestor at Inception Studio Capital
+ 133 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Hitachi29
HemantaAdvisor at Clear VenturesAndrea ZurekPartner at XG VenturesYoko KojimaAssociate / Head of ESG at Mundi VenturesRisei GotoInvestment Manager at AP VenturesJoe SaijoFounding General Partner at Counterpart VenturesKarel VacekManaging Director, CEO at Genesis Fund
+ 23 more
Also worked at ζ©η¨²η°ε€§ε¦ WASEDA University14
Hiro YoshikawaGeneral Partner at Carbide VenturesKyaloInvestor at Diamond Edge VenturesAbhay GhatpandePrincipal at SproutxDaisuke NiwaPartner at Waseda University VenturesTed YamamotoGeneral Partner at Waseda University VenturesYoshiyuki ObaBusiness Angel at REDangels
+ 8 more
