ANNOUNCING THE PARTNERS AND ESTEEMED JUDGES FOR TECH PLANTER ASIA FINAL 2025

Leave a Nest is proud to introduce the esteemed panel of judges for the upcoming TECH PLANTER Asia Final 2025—a flagship event dedicated to accelerating the growth of early-stage deep-tech startups from across Southeast Asia.

Taking place on 23rd August 2025, the Asia Final will convene some of the most respected leaders in technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship, representing a diverse range of sectors including industry, government, and venture capital. Their collective expertise will play a key role in guiding and evaluating promising teams as they showcase solutions to real-world challenges through science and technology.

The success of TECH PLANTER Asia Final 2025 is made possible thanks to the generous support of our outstanding partners, whose contributions are instrumental in fostering innovation and driving regional collaboration.

Local Partners:

• Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad (SDEC)
• Aerodyne Group

Global Partners:

• Japan Tobacco Inc.
• Kirin Holdings Company, Limited
• KOBASHI HOLDINGS Co.
• Mizuho Bank (Malaysia) Berhad
• TERAL Inc.
• UntroD Inc.

 

The program will culminate in the selection of a Grand Winner, chosen by an esteemed panel of judges. The finalists will be evaluated based on innovation, scalability, market potential, and team strength—reflecting the program's commitment to supporting ventures with real-world impact. Our distinguished panel of judges, representing industry, government, academia, and venture capital, will lend their expertise in assessing the finalists. 

Meet the Judges:

Dr. Yuko Ueno, Director, Leave a Nest Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (Head of Judge)

Dr. Yuko Ueno received her Ph.D in Ocean microbiology and joined Leave a Nest in 2013. She has experience in creating new projects by encouraging collaboration between academia and industry as a Science Bridge Communicator. With the experience of tech-startup accelerator, she is bridging Japanese tech startups to global tech-startup platforms to interconnect the technology and social issues. Dr. Yuko also holds the position of Director at Leave a Nest Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

Dato' Kamarul A Muhamed, Founder and Group CEO, Aerodyne Group

Dato' Kamarul is the Founder and CEO of Aerodyne Group, a Malaysian-based drone solutions provider that is ranked second in the world by Drone Industry Insights of Germany. He was recently named ‘EY Entrepreneur of The Year 2020', ‘EY Technology Entrepreneur of The Year 2020 Malaysia' as well as ‘SEBA Entrepreneur of The Year 2020'. Kamarul led Aerodyne from a 3 person startup in 2014 to a global company with presence in 35 countries in just 6 years. He is a TEDx speaker and a drone industry He is a TEDx speaker and a drone industry thought leader, who has presented his ideas and innovation on AI, Drones and Industry 4.0 around the world. An auditor by training, Kamarul spent his formative years in the city of London before switching his career to the tech industry upon returning to Malaysia after a 10 year stint in the UK. an avid explorer and has travelled to more than 100 countries, both for business and pleasure.

Dr. Khairul Hafiz Sharkawi, Head of Research and Product Development Department, Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad (SDEC)

Dr. Khairul Hafiz Sharkawi earned his Ph.D from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in the field of Geoinformatics (GIS), specialising in 3D GIS. research interests include 3D change detection, 3D city modelling, digital twin and their applications in the context of smart city. capacity as the Head of Research and Product Development at Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) Berhad, Dr. Khairul Hafiz Sharkawi leads his team in the He also leads the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Digital Excellence (CoE) for Digital Economy, aiming to foster partnerships between government, universities, and industries, to intensify collaborations He also leads the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Digital Economy, aiming to foster partnerships between government, universities, and industries, to intensify collaborations and paving the way for the adoption of cutting-edge digital technologies, driving innovation, and propelling Sarawak's digital economic landscape Their collective efforts focus on translating innovative ideas into implementable and marketable products that drive Additionally, his team collaborates closely with industry partners to develop viable solutions in areas such as smart urban farming, smart aquaculture, and smart city. In addition, his team collaborates closely with industry partners to develop viable solutions in areas such as smart urban farming, smart aquaculture, and smart city applications, contributing to the development of Sarawak's digital ecosystem.

Dr. Kengo Suzuki, Co-Founder and Executive Fellow, Euglena Co., Ltd.

Dr. Kengo Suzuki is the Co-Founder and Executive Fellow of Euglena Co., Ltd., a Japanese biotechnology company that focuses on microalgae-based products. Dr. Suzuki holds a Ph.D. in Medical Science from Kitasato University and a PhD in Agriculture from the University of Tokyo. His expertise lies in the fields of phycology, food science, molecular biology, and immunology. Dr. Kengo has over 20 years of experience in research and development, including his current position as a specially appointed professor at Tohoku University and visiting professor at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. As his main affiliation, Euglena is involved in various businesses like healthcare and energy & environment among others. Additionally, he has experience in the mass cultivation of euglena and the establishment of microalgae production technology laboratories.

Mr. Yuya Takeuchi,  Manager of D-LAB, Japan Tobacco Inc.

After studying theoretical physics and exploring the world's workings, Mr. Yuya drove industrial transformation through data science and DX consulting across diverse organizations. Currently, he explores “fulfilling moments,” aiming to create businesses and industries for a world brimming with them. At D-0. a program he and his team developed, he leverages his expertise in behavioral change and systemic design to champion the passion. and systemic design to champion people’s passionate ‘Day 0' aspirations.

Ms. Junko Nishimae, General Manager, Health Science Division, Kirin Holdings Company, Limited

After working in sales, human resources, marketing, and public relations, Junko Nishimae engaged in new business development. She led the planning and operation of internal business contests and the launch of corporate venture capital, driving new business and innovation creation.

Mr. Shojiro Kobashi, President & CEO, KOBASHI HOLDINGS Co.

Shojiro Kobashi is the fourth-generation successor of a family-run agricultural machinery manufacturer founded in 1910. KOBASHI has long contributed to the mechanization of Japanese agriculture as an agricultural machinery manufacturer. In 2017, with a group restructuring, he established KOBASHI HOLDINGS Co. Under the corporate philosophy of “Cultivating the Earth (make the world better)”, he has worked to address global challenges by leveraging the company In 2020, he founded KOBASHI ROBOTICS Co. In 2020, he founded KOBASHI ROBOTICS Co., Ltd. and launched the “Manufacturing Booster” program to comprehensively support startups engaged in product development and manufacturing. Through this initiative, he has actively built partnerships with deep-tech startups in Southeast Asia. He sees it as his mission to accelerate the real- He sees it as his mission to accelerate the real-tech deployment of technologies that tackle the most pressing global issues through the power of manufacturing. He holds an MBA from Waseda University He holds an MBA from Waseda University Graduate School of Business Administration.

Mr. Toshiharu Fujiwara, Chief Executive Officer, Mizuho Bank (Malaysia) Berhad

Mr. Toshiharu Fujiwara is the CEO of Mizuho Bank (Malaysia) Berhad. Prior to his current position, he was the General Manager of the Global Strategic Advisory Department at Mizuho Bank, Ltd., responsible for global advisory and global intelligence. Before becoming involved in supporting corporate customers developing overseas business, he had held senior leadership positions at Mizuho Bank, Ltd., mainly in the fields of corporate planning and business promotion targeting Japanese and non-Japanese corporate customers.

Mr. Hitoshi Suizu, New Business Exploration Section, TERAL Inc.

Mr. Yamamoto has been with Ricoh for about 20 years. In July 2023, he launched the Ricoh Innovation Center in Asia (RICA) to foster collaboration between Ricoh's R&D, research institutes, and startups in Southeast Asia. He has served as a technical leader and manager in advanced materials application and AI-based materials development acceleration. He also contributed to innovation policy for universities during his tenure at the Bureau for Science and Technology Innovation in Japan in 2020.

Mr. Akihiko Nagata, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, UntroD Inc.

He served as Director of Euglena Co., Ltd. since its early pre-IPO stage and led the company's business strategy, finance, and the biofuel business. In 2021, he was appointed CEO and continued in that role until stepping down in 2024. In 2024, appointed as CEO of UntroD Capital Japan, which manages the fund. In addition, he is passionate about creating social impact within the framework of capitalism. He founded Ame Kaze Taiyo, the first social impact IPO in Japan rooted in an NPO, and also serves as an advisor to HERALL Japan. He founded Ame Kaze Taiyo, the first social impact IPO in Japan rooted in an NPO, and also serves as an advisor to HERALBONY.

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About TECH PLANTER Asia Final 2025:

The TECH PLANTER Asia Final is an annual flagship event dedicated to discovering and nurturing early-stage startups from six Southeast Asian countries: the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Beginning this year, we are proud to welcome Japanese teams—specifically the Grand Award winners from the seven domain-specific TECH PLANTER programs conducted across Japan—adding a new dimension of cross-border innovation to the competition.

This event spotlights startups offering breakthrough solutions across various fields, including biotechnology, agritech, engineering, foodtech, and more. The program is designed to equip participating teams with essential support through mentorship, technical feedback, and access to a robust regional network.

In addition to pitch presentations, the TECH PLANTER Asia Final serves as a platform for startups to connect with key ecosystem players—including investors, corporates, researchers, and government representatives—thereby enhancing their exposure and accelerating growth. Ultimately, the event aims to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange across borders while supporting deep-tech solutions that address pressing global challenges.

Event Highlights:

• Expert Judging Panel: A distinguished panel of industry leaders and investors will evaluate the startups, providing critical feedback and selecting the Grand Winner.
• Startup Pitches: Participants will present their innovative solutions to a global audience, showcasing their potential to revolutionize industries.
• Networking Opportunities: The event will facilitate connections between startups, investors, and industry leaders, fostering collaboration and potential partnerships.

Event Details:

Date: 23rd August 2025

Location: Aerodyne, Persiaran Cyber Point Selatan, Cyber 8, 63000 Cyberjaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Time: 09:00am – 3.00pm

For more information about TECH PLANTER Asia Final 2025,. please visit https://techplanter.lne.st/en/asia_final/asia_final2025/