CEO Jun-ichi Furumoto

Jun-ichi Furumoto established Metro Weather Co., Ltd. in 2015, while continuing to carry out research and teaching activities as an assistant professor at the Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere of Kyoto University until 2019. In addition to using his knowledge of measurement, control and communications, etc. to develop new radar observation technology, Jun-ichi Furumoto has also been involved in research directly connected to solving social issues, and has developed a high-performance coherent Doppler lidar which fully exploits recent developments in state-of-the-art measurements technologies and devices. He is also involved in many initiatives which aim to bring about social application of the results of research in order to contribute to society. He is a doctor (informatics) and engineer at Kyoto University.

Co-Founder/Director Kuniaki Higashi

After being appointed postdoctoral researcher at Kyoto University in 2009, Kuniaki Higashi was involved in the development of air turbulence detection and prediction technology using atmospheric radars, and the development of high-resolution weather forecasting simulations. He gained experience in environmental assessment work over two years working at a private-sector weather forecasting company. Having retired from his position as a postdoctoral researcher in 2014, he established Metro Weather Co., Ltd. as a startup company launched by Kyoto University in 2015 together with Jun-ichi Furumoto after one year of preparations for starting up the new business. He is now a director at Metro Weather.
Doctor of Kobe University (science) and certified meteorologist.

Outside Director Soki Ohmae

He established Creative Hope Co., Ltd. in 2002, and expanded into web consulting with a focus on creative aspects. Having started up a one-stop service which aims to provide everything from web strategy creation/branding to scientifically-grounded site analysis based on access analysis and website design/construction/administration, as a website consultant he has personally provided successful guidance for the large-scale websites of numerous national brands and international companies/organizations. In May 2017, he became involved in the Drone Fund Advisory Board. He has served as joint representative partner of the Drone Fund since September 2018. He is a professor at Business Breakthrough University and Graduate School (specialism: Digital Marketing).

Outside Director Taro Kinoshita

After completing a master’s degree (Applied Chemistry) at the Graduate School of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Taro Kinoshita joined Sumitomo Chemicals. While working there, he was in charge of R&D into polymer materials for food packaging and electronic substrates. In 2013, as a specially-appointed officer in charge of planning new businesses, he planned a business creating new materials for use in medical applications, promoting the business in partnership with bases in the EU and Southeast Asia. Following this, he gained experience in a wide range of domains such as food products, healthcare and energy, including collaboration with a business connected with materials used in lithium ion batteries.
He became involved in Real Tech Holdings in 2017. At Real Tech Holdings, as growth manager he was in charge of across-the-board fund operation, as well as providing support for management and the creation of new businesses, the major domains under his charge being chemicals, new materials and medical devices. As targets for investment and cultivation, Taro Kinoshita is in charge of ANSeeN which develops next-generation X-ray sensors, and Light Touch Technology which develops non-invasive blood sugar sensors.

Outside Director Keiji Niizu

Graduated from Kyoto University, Faculty of Engineering and Kyoto University, Graduate School of Informatics with a Master's degree. At Microsoft, Keiji was an engineer for server software products and cloud services. At MIC, Keiji invested in startups in Japan, US, and Israel. At JICT, Keiji invested with Japanese companies in oversea IT projects (including joint venture establishment and M&A). Currently, He is a Global Brain Investment Group Fellow.