Gen Isayama in

Gen Isayama

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Co-Founder and CEO at World Innovation Lab (WiL)
📍 Palo Alto, California, United States

Gen Isayama is the Co-Founder and CEO of World Innovation Lab (WiL), a venture capital firm bridging Japan and Silicon Valley. He focuses on venture investment, corporate innovation, and helping startups scale globally. He earned a Law degree from The University of Tokyo and an MBA from Stanfords Graduate School of Business.

Outside of his primary role, Gen is passionate about fostering entrepreneurship and serves on several government committees in Japan to promote it. An avid educator, he also enjoys sports and became a zealous golfer while teaching his four children how to play. His earlier interests include tennis, which he played during university.

He is a technology columnist for Nikkei Digital, contributing a bi-weekly article titled "Silicon Valley Wind. "

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Current Role
Co-Founder and CEO
Job Level
Leadership
Location
Palo Alto, California, United States
Personality Overview

How Gen shows up

Communication Style
Decision Approach
Work Preference

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Priorities

Topics Gen cares about

US-Japan Innovation
As CEO of WiL, his core mission is to connect Silicon Valley startups with large Japanese corporations to foster open innovation and new business creation.
Corporate Venture Capital
He founded WiL to be more than a traditional VC, acting as an innovation engine for its corporate limited partners by incubating and spinning out new businesses.
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Career

Work history

7-2013
Co-Founder and CEO
World Innovation Lab (WiL)
6-2021
Board Member
SORACOM
9-2017
Board Member
Blue Lab
9-2023 - 9-2025
Board Member
UPSIDER, Inc.
10-2016 - 8-2025
Board Member
Intertrust Technologies Corporation
In the press

Media appearances

WiL - World Innovation Lab: Gen Isayama. Featured in World Innovation Lab (WiL) – Official Website
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Education
9-2001 - 6-2003
MBA
Stanford University Graduate School of Business
Law
The University of Tokyo
Social presence
in
Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

DISC behavioral profile

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