Tech Planter Vietnam: 8 Years of Collaboration, Innovation, and Growth

Dr. Shuichiro Takahashi received a Ph.D. in Life Science from the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences at the University of Tokyo. He is a founding member of Leave a Nest and has been building a foundation for R&D projects as the core of Knowledge Manufacturing. He has initiated unique business models such as the “LNest Grant” which is a research grant system with private corporate partners, and has led numerous projects involving industry, academia, and the education sector. He has been the Representative Director and COO since 2010. In addition, he is supporting a Japanese expansion project of a venture company from South East Asia. He is also involved in investment in seed stage deep-tech startups as a Representative Director of Leave a Nest Capital.

Mr. Le Hoang Phuong, the Program Manager at BSSC, is a highly skilled professional with a diverse background encompassing business advisory and sales representation. He has served as a Former Advisor to VBP and Meinan Vietnam, and as a Sales Representative for Unilever Vietnam, one of the country's most successful FMCG companies, which has equipped him with valuable insights into business development. His international experience further extends to his role as Deputy Sales Manager at Next Ads in Singapore and as Head of Business Development for the Automotive Division at Tan Thanh Do Group. This extensive and varied career path underscores his adaptability and proficiency in different industries and markets. Additionally, Mr. Le Hoang Phuong holds a Professional Certificate in Brokerage from the Mercantile Exchange of Vietnam. With his robust background in advisory, sales, and business development, he could tackle challenges and drive growth in diverse business environments.

Mr. Anirban Roy is a global technology and fintech leader with over 30 years of experience driving digital transformation across Asia. As Senior Partner at InnoLab Asia, he supports startups and corporations in building scalable, investor-ready digital solutions through strategic guidance and deep industry insights. Anirban previously held executive roles including Executive Director of Digital Banking & Technology at OCB, Chief Technology Officer at UBANK (VPBank), Senior Vice President at KORE Inc. (India), Managing Director at Kony Solutions, and senior leadership roles at Citigroup. He specializes in core banking, digital finance platforms, and enterprise technology, with a strong track record of implementing future-proof architectures and leading agile innovation. An active mentor and judge in Vietnam’s startup ecosystem, Anirban connects founders to cross-border opportunities in India, Singapore, and Vietnam, helping them navigate compliance, technology strategy, and investor engagement to scale globally.

Khương Nguyễn Công Thành (Tommy) is a distinguished professional with extensive expertise in business development and digital transformation. He holds a degree in Digital Business from RMIT and has completed advanced leadership programs from renowned institutions. Tommy has successfully spearheaded projects and initiatives in various sectors, contributing to significant organizational growth and innovation. His past roles include: COO and Co-founder – Roscommon System, Reactor Venture Scout – Reactor School, COO and Co-founder – GOVO. With over 2 years of mentoring, portfolio supporting, and investment analyzing to startups throughout Southeast Asia, Tommy is currently the Investment Associate at Capital JDI – a Singapore VC investing in pre-seed to seed stage SEA startups with the ticket size of from USD$50K to USD$100K.

Shiori Yamashita is the Manager of D-LAB, Japan Tobacco. She is primarily responsible for new business development based on “Delightful Moment”. JT and D-LAB is not limited to a sector, but respects the “Delightful Moment” all over the world, and they think about what we can do for the moment every day. She is looking for people who can create the “Delightful Moment” with amazing technologies and knowledges together. She graduated from University of East Anglia (UK) with a bachelor in business management.

Ryo Inori joined Focus Systems Corporation in 2015. He is responsible for the sales of information security products such as data encryption for the financial industry, as well as content security products such as copyright protection for still and moving digital data. He has been promoting information security products such as data encryption for the financial industry, as well as content security products such as copyright protection for digital data of still and moving images. He is also engaged in the promotion of services in the manufacturing and medical industries. Currently, in parallel with his product sales activities, he is also working with startup companies and university research laboratories.

Recognizing excessive transport costs in dredging at water treatment sites, he founded Vantech to develop and deliver solid–liquid separation volume-reduction devices. After winning the Leave a Nest Award at the Shiga Tech Planter, he partnered with Leave a Nest to expand into Vietnam. In 2017, he conducted environmental surveys in Da Nang and Hoi An; in 2018, established Vantech Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City; and in 2019 launched joint sludge-treatment trials with An Giang Province. Since 2022, he has collaborated with local governments, universities, and startups to promote sustainable water-management solutions.

In 2023, Henry joined UntroD Capital Asia, which manages the Real Tech Global Fund franchise. He was appointed as a director in 2025. In his current role, he leads direct investments connecting Southeast Asia, Japan, and global markets, while supporting portfolio growth. He’s particularly interested in tech innovations that create meaningful impact in climate and sustainability. Before joining UntroD, he worked on early- and growth-stage investments in the industrial and agri-tech sectors. He began his career at Bayer AG in a global leadership program, holding responsibilities in Germany, the US, and Singapore. He obtained MBA from Harvard Business School.

Dr. Khairul Hafiz Sharkawi earned his Ph.D from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in the field of Geoinformatics (GIS), specialising in 3D GIS. His research interests include 3D change detection, 3D city modelling, digital twin and their applications in the context of smart city. In his current 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 pursuit of high-impact research aimed at developing new digital technologies with real-world applications. 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 into a prosperous future. Their collective efforts focus on translating innovative ideas into implementable and marketable products that drive economic growth. Additionally, 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.