Reon Hiruma

Co-founder and Partner at Potentialist Capital

Speaker

Reon Hiruma is the Co-founder and Partner at Potentialist Capital, a venture capital fund investing primarily in U.S.-based startups expanding into Japan and broader Asia-Pacific markets.

From 2020 to 2023, Reon led Asia expansion efforts for Need Inc., one of Potentialist’s early clients and a Venrock-backed healthcare startup democratizing access to advanced cancer treatment. He later served as Global Head of Business Development at Need’s U.S. headquarters, where he drove market development across APAC and Europe.

Prior to founding Potentialist, Reon helped launch the Japan business for a UK-based tech firm and co-founded heyhey, a New York–based startup in the creator economy space. Earlier in his career, he gained exposure to private equity through roles at leading global financial institutions.

Reon holds a B.A. in Political Science and Economics from Waseda University. Born to a Dutch father and Japanese mother, he is fluent in Japanese, English, French, and Dutch.