Director of International Partnerships @ ETIC

Mitsuhiko Yamazaki

Director of International Partnerships @ ETIC

To me, entrepreneurship is the way of life that opens up my unlimited potential.

With 10 years of professional experience in the nonprofit, corporate, and startup sectors, I always enjoy working with entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals who are dedicated to creating social impact.

Since 2015, at ETIC, a certified nonprofit organization based in Tokyo with a mission to establish ecosystems where everyone can unleash their entrepreneurial potential, I have invested in 70+ nonprofits and social enterprises with tailored training and a joyful sense of community by launching 10 different capacity-building programs.

I have also provided advisory and consulting with Fortune 500 corporate and foundation partners including JP Morgan (2015-present), Barclays (2017-present), Gates Foundation (2019-2021), and Apollo Opportunity Foundation (2024-present) on strategic philanthropy, grant management, employee engagement and volunteering.

In 2021, I founded a new team "ETIC International" within the organization to expand its entrepreneurial ecosystem globally. The team has served as a bridge for learning and collaboration of entrepreneurial leaders between Japan and the world through a collaborative approach with like-minded entrepreneur support organizations in Basque, Taipei, Paris, and London.

Along with the role above, I joined CNC in 2017. As a founding member/board director of the impact venture, I led the growth of the organization from scratch to the stage of 1M USD in revenues with 30 employees by organizing board meetings, developing short/long-term business plans, designing the organization and teams, and financing loans, subsidiaries, and grants.

Session

Community Lab Entrepreneur - Growing Together: Uniting Family Business Legacy with Startup Innovation

Community Lab

Family businesses bring rich legacies, while startups offer innovative approaches to solving modern challenges. In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore how family businesses and startups can collaborate to drive mutual growth and innovation. Through practical case studies and hands-on activities, you’ll discover how partnerships between established businesses and agile startups can unlock new opportunities, enhance competitiveness, and create sustainable futures for both.

Mitsuhiko Yamazaki, Director of International Partnerships at ETIC, will present the Japanese perspective. As a pioneering Japan-based nonprofit founded in 1993, ETIC has grown into one of the country’s largest networks of social change leaders, supporting over 1,800 young entrepreneurs through incubation programs and peer-support communities. Mitsuhiko will share real-world examples of how startups and corporations in Japan are working together to drive innovation and societal impact.

Additionally, Selin Yigitbasi-Ducker and Oliver Laiho —co-chairs of the Entrepreneurs Community—will share insights and case studies from the UK, Finland, and Türkiye, showcasing how family businesses and startups can thrive through collaboration.

FOR WHOM IS THIS?

You are about to launch or launched a new venture either outside or inside your family business. You might also be looking at investments opportunities. Key questions: how to innovate, what are the future trends, how to find the right partner and the right investment opportunities?