Kotai Gen

Kotai holds a bachelor’s degree in International Liberal Studies from Waseda University, and is a proud alumnus of Wakeijuku—a historic all-male dormitory known for producing Japanese prime ministers, as well as Kotai’s favorite novelist, Haruki Murakami. 

Off the clock, Kotai is a basketball enthusiast inspired by Michael Jordan and the manga Slam Dunk, These days, he brings that passion (and a decent jump shot) to local late-night dad leagues—where deals and dad jokes somehow coexist.

Kotai is a translator between the worlds of megabanks, venture capitals and startups.

He is Director of LP Investment at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (NYSE: SMFG), where he leads strategic investments into both seasoned and up-and-coming GPs, nurtures LP-GP relationships, and drives business development by bridging Japanese finance with frontier technologies—particularly those in Silicon Valley. 

He also moonlights as a Sozo Scholar at Sozo Ventures, rolling up his sleeves to contribute to the daily hustle of the venture capital world. The dual lens of GP and LP keeps him curious, sharp, and occasionally over-caffeinated.

In addition, Kotai serves as a global advisor to the Fintech Association of Japan, working to connect nimble fintech innovators with some of Japan’s most established institutions. His mission? Make those meetings less awkward and more meaningful.

Prior to all this, Kotai was an investment banker at SMBC Nikko Securities, where he covered financial institutions and fintech. He survived—with the help of way too many Red Bulls.