AI and Startup Policy: Opportunities for Japan-US Crossover
If you’re working in AI as an innovator or entrepreneur, join us virtually to hear insights from leading voices at the intersection of Japan–US policy and AI innovation. What forces are shaping the policies? What opportunities are emerging for startups and global collaboration?
Panelists at a Glance:
Yutaka Matsuo – Chair, Government of Japan’s AI Strategy Council
Takafumi Ochiai – Senior Partner & Head of Policy Research, Atsumi & Sakai
Simeon Bochev – Co-Founder & CEO, Compute Exchange
Chris McKinnon – Partner, Morrison Foerster
Speaker Bios:
Yutaka Matsuo
Yutaka Matsuo is a leading researcher, educator, and policy advisor in artificial intelligence. He is a Professor at the University of Tokyo, where he directs Matsuo Lab, one of Japan’s largest AI research groups with over 300 members working on deep learning, large-scale language models, medical AI, robotics, and industry collaboration. He serves as Chair of the Government of Japan’s AI Strategy Council under the Prime Minister, playing a central role in shaping Japan’s AI Basic Law, governance frameworks, and international cooperation initiatives.
Takafumi Ochiai
Takafumi Ochiai is a Senior Partner at Atsumi & Sakai and Head of its Policy Research Institute, where he advises on digital regulation, fintech, and innovation policy. He co-founded Smart Governance Inc. and serves as Distinguished Visiting Professor at Keio University’s Graduate School of Media Design. Ochiai is Vice Chair of the Fintech Association of Japan, holding senior roles in government councils on regulatory reform and digital policy, and serving as an outside director for companies including bitFlyer. He is widely recognized as a leading voice on Japan’s digital governance.
Simeon Bochev
Simeon Bochev is Co-Founder & CEO of Compute Exchange, creating the world’s first open marketplace for AI compute. Based in Japan for much of his career, he served as Industry AI Technical Expert for MPower Partners, advising startups in Japan, the U.S., and Europe, and co-founded Pride Business Alliance Japan, the country’s first chamber-level LGBTQ+ business network. Formerly President, Japan & Asia-Pacific at QuantCo and a leader at Apple and Lambda, Simeon bridges global AI strategy with Japan’s innovation ecosystem.
Chris McKinnon
Chris McKinnon is a Partner at Morrison Foerster who advises startups and investors on investment, M&A and fund transactions. He focuses on venture-backed startups in the technology industry, including AI, fintech, AR/VR, semiconductors and software. Before rejoining Morrison Foerster, Chris advised a leading Tokyo-based global investment firm, as Associate General Counsel and Legal Director, on domestic and cross-border investment and M&A transactions in the technology industry. Chris also currently serves as Co-Chair of the ABA’s Angel Venture Capital committee.
Note that this is part of a broader event taking place at Stanford: https://luma.com/qliogerv