About
Naoki Kamimaeda, the first Japan-born VC to lead pan‑European investing, leverages nearly a decade of Sony PlayStation engineering (PS4/PSN) to connect European deep‑tech founders with Japanese/Asian corporates via connection-first investing.
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityData & InfrastructureDeep TechFintechHardware
Experience
- IQ CapitalVenture Partnercurrent2025 — presentLondon Area, United Kingdom
- 株式会社松尾研究所／Matsuo InstituteSenior Advisorcurrent2025 — present
- NEXIRIONFounder & CEOcurrent2025 — presentLondon Area, United Kingdom
- Plug and Play JapanMentorcurrent2018 — present
- Global Brain CorporationFounding Partner and Head of Europe (Global Brain Europe Limited)2019 — 2025Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- Global Brain CorporationPartner and Europe Division Head2015 — 2025London Area, United Kingdom
- Sony Network Entertainment Int'l (SNEI)Manager, Software Engineer2013 — 2015San Francisco Bay Area
- SonyProject Leader, Researcher & Software Engineer2006 — 2012Tokyo, Japan
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Education
- University of CambridgeMaster of Business Administration (MBA), Strategy and Marketing2012 — 2013
- Tokyo Institute of TechnologyMaster of Science (MSc), Computer Science2004 — 2006
- Meiji UniversityBachelor of Science (BSc), Computer Science2000 — 2004
Skills & more
Cross-border7Private Equity8Investment Portfolios7Deal Sourcing1Venture Capital1Corporate Venture Capital2InvestingInvestment StrategiesInvestment ManagementDue DiligenceInnovation ConsultingProject Planning
+12 more
High-growthBusiness Relationship ManagementBoard LevelFundraisingMergers & Acquisitions (M&A)Business-to-Business (B2B)FinTechData PrivacyEmbedded SystemsJavaCCLanguages English · Japanese
- Certified SAFe Practitioner — Scaled Agile Academy
From Naoki's professional profile.
Colleagues at IQ Capital
Alex Wilson
Partner at IQ Capital
Archie Muirhead
Partner at IQ Capital
Catherine Knott
Executive Assistant/Operations at IQ Capital
Céline Caraffa
Research Associate at IQ Capital
Conor McCarthy
Head of Finance at IQ Capital
Ed Stacey
Managing Partner at IQ Capital
Elaine Hegarty
Chief of Staff at IQ Capital
George Glatz
Principal at IQ Capital
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Naoki Kamimaeda work?
- Naoki Kamimaeda is Venture Partner at IQ Capital.
- What does Naoki Kamimaeda invest in?
- Naoki Kamimaeda invests in AI & Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, Data & Infrastructure, Deep Tech, Fintech, Hardware.
Same school
Also attended University of Cambridge852
Niko BonatsosInvestment Team at General CatalystGeorgia StevensonInvestor at Index VenturesHannah SealInvestor at Index VenturesLeah von SiemensPartner at Manta Ray VenturesAnthony PhilippakisInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Erik NordlanderInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)
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Also attended Tokyo Institute of Technology13
Shinji AmahaVice President at Acario InnovationSae NurukiInvestor at Inception Studio CapitalCarlos DomingoFounder & General Partner at SPiCE VCTsuyoshi ItoFounder CEO / Managing Partner at Beyond Next VenturesAnis UzzamanFounder and CEO at Pegasus Tech VenturesYoko KojimaAssociate / Head of ESG at Mundi Ventures
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Also attended Meiji University7
Hirofumi Kondo代表取締役社長 (CEO) at CyberAgent CapitalYoshihiro KoharaPrincipal at Sozo VenturesKosuke KikuchiPlatform & Relationship Director at Conductive VenturesSatoshi NambuAssociate at Rebright PartnersShintaro KawanoInvestment Manager at GMO VenturePartnersJunichiro KonoGeneral Partner at ANRI
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Shared employers
Also worked at 株式会社松尾研究所／Matsuo Institute1
Also worked at Plug and Play Japan1
Also worked at Global Brain Corporation3
Also worked at Sony Network Entertainment Int'l (SNEI)19
Garry HillInvestment at Makers FundAlex GaoEngineer at Pear VCChika NakasuExecutive Manager at Playground GlobalRyan LongfieldPresident, PolyAI at Stage 2 CapitalAndrew GaultFounding Partner at 7percent VenturesMatias SerebrinskyGeneral Partner and Co-Founder at PsyMed Ventures
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