Noriya Tarutani

Deputy Director General of the Innovation Department at Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)

Speaker

Noriya Tarutani is the Deputy Director General of the Innovation Department at JETRO, where he oversees its startup programs. With over 20 years of experience in startups and international business, he has supported more than 500 Japanese companies in expanding globally.

During his time in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, he collaborated with global accelerators such as Techstars and Berkeley SkyDeck to establish programs focused on PMF validation and fundraising. He also actively promoted the J-Startup initiative internationally, supporting Japanese startups in their global expansion.

After returning to Japan, he played a key role in connecting global accelerators, venture capital firms, and corporations with the Japanese ecosystem, contributing to the launch of programs such as Techstars Tokyo and Alchemist Japan. Since April 2023, he has been overseeing JETRO’s startup programs.