Kenichi Funaki
InvestorManaging Director, Next Research at Hitachi, Ltd. · Japan Advisory Board Member at Benhamou Global Ventures
Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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 — presentTokyo
- HitachiHead of Corporate Venturing Office2019 — 2026Tokyo
- HitachiOutside Director2018 — 2019
- HitachiGeneral Manager, Global Center for Social Innovation2017 — 2019Biz Tower, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
- HitachiGeneral Manager, Management Planning Office2016 — 2017
- Japan Industrial Management AssociationPresidentcurrent2025 — present日本 東京都
- Japan Industrial Management AssociationVice President2023 — 2025日本 東京都
- 早稲田大学 WASEDA UniversityVisiting Professor, Graduate School of Creative Science and Engineeringcurrent2025 — present日本 東京都 新宿区
- Benhamou Global VenturesJapan Advisory Board Membercurrent2023 — presentMenlo Park, CA
- Happiness Planet Ltd.Outside Directorcurrent2020 — present
- Hitachi (China) Research & Development Co.Direcor2017 — 2019
- Tokyo Metropolitan UniversityLecturer in Operations Research2013 — 2015
- Hokkaido UniversityVisiting Associate Professor, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology2010 — 2015Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
- The Supply Chain and Logistics Institute, Georgia Institute of TechnologyVisiting Research Executive2008 — 2009Atlanta, GA, USA
- Sanno UniversityLecturer in Management1997 — 1999
Skills & more
Open innovation2オープンイノベーションCorporate venture2コーポレートベンチャーキャピタル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, Ltd.
Joanna Soroka
Investor at Hitachi, Ltd.
Mascha Bonk
Investor at Hitachi, Ltd.
Pete Bastien
Partner at Hitachi, Ltd.
Stefan Gabriel
Investor at Hitachi, Ltd.
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).
Same school
Also attended Waseda University96
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Shared employers
Also worked at Hitachi17
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Also worked at 早稲田大学 WASEDA University9
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