About
Meet the Team
Daiki Nakaya
CEO & CTO
After graduating from high school, he moved to the United States to study astrophysics and conducted cancer cell research using hyperspectral cameras at Kitasato University for about eight years. He has achieved approximately 50 academic publications and two patents, and founded Milk. Inc. in 2019. As CEO, he developed the AI pathology diagnosis system ANSWER and is also focusing on education and talent development in the deep tech field.
Matsuo Masatsugu
CMO
After working at Nissho Iwai (now Sojitz) and Fast Retailing, he joined Smiles, a venture subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation. After serving as department manager and business division manager, he was appointed Executive Vice President when the company became independent through a management buyout (MBO) in 2008. In February 2016, he also became President and Director of Soup Stock Tokyo Co., Ltd., a spin-off from Smiles, and assumed the role of President and CEO in April 2021. He managed the Soup Stock Tokyo brand for 20 years and served as the company’s first president after its incorporation. Since April 2025, he has been serving as President and CEO of Seiyosha Inc., where he engages in management advisory and branding consultancy.
Yuzo Furukawa
COO
After graduating from university, he joined Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, gaining experience in organizational management and major corporate accounts. Following an MBA through a selective training program in 2023, he joined Milk. via a cross-border internship, contributing to new business development in food and agriculture. Inspired by Milk.'s vision, he officially joined as a manager in 2024, leading large-scale projects with major enterprises.
Sean Pan
After graduating from Trinity University in the U.S. in 2020, he is currently enrolled in the Graduate School of Business and Finance at Waseda University. In 2017, he founded InterSourcing International LLC in the United States, providing procurement and supply chain support for small and medium-sized enterprises. Since 2018, he has been working as a PM/BM in the manufacturing and logistics fields at Farfon International Co., Ltd. Since December 2024, he has been in charge of the finance department at Milk. Co., Ltd.
Toshiki Nakamura
Under the guidance of Professor Satori, a former JAXA engineer and hyperspectral camera developer, he successfully conducted a proof-of-concept experiment for 1 km laser communication. He is the project manager for the ultra-small satellite HSU-SAT1 launched in 2021. He has numerous academic achievements at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) and the Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences.
Consultants
Yuji Mouri
経営顧問
Former Vice President of Hatena (currently non-executive director). Served in COO/No.2 positions in venture management for many years. Currently supports numerous startup companies as an outside director, management advisor, entrepreneur mentor, angel investor, and seminar instructor.
Toshikazu Yoshinaga
医療顧問
With over 40 years of experience in clinical development across pharmaceuticals, regenerative medicine, and medical devices, he has been involved in clinical development and regulatory submissions at both domestic and international pharmaceutical companies and ventures, securing approvals for numerous products. His expertise spans not only pharmaceuticals and vaccines but also clinical trials involving iPS cells and medical devices, where he has led regulatory strategies across diverse fields. He also contributed to international regulatory harmonization as the ICH Coordinator for the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association.
Nobuyuki Oike
Deputy Director of the Department of Pathology at St. Marianna University Hospital, Deputy Director of the Neuroendocrine Tumor Center. Professor and Chair of Molecular Pathology. Specializes in biliary and pancreatic pathology and neuroendocrine tumor pathology.
Yohei Masugi
Professor of Pathological Diagnosis, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Tokai University School of Medicine. He holds a PhD in Medicine from Keio University Graduate School. Specializing in life sciences and human pathology, he is known for his pathological research on pancreatic cancer, particularly the clinical significance of its microenvironment heterogeneity and fibrotic stroma. He has received multiple awards, including the Japanese Society of Pathology Academic Research Award (2020) and the Academic Encouragement Award (2018).
Advisors
Hiroyuki Tanishiro
Professor at the Organization for the Promotion of Medical Innovation Research, Osaka Dental University. After obtaining a Ph.D. in Engineering from Tokyo Denki University, he engaged in the review, safety measures, international affairs, and pharmaceutical law reforms related to medical devices at PMDA and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW). He has contributed to the system design and guideline development for reprocessed single-use medical devices and home healthcare equipment. Recipient of awards including the Kagaku Shimbun Prize and the Fukuda Award. Provides academic guidance on regulatory development for both internal and external companies and academia, including support to Milk. Inc. through AMDAP.
Tomoko Norose
Associate Professor (Molecular Pathology) at St. Marianna University School of Medicine and Chief of the Department of Diagnostic Pathology at St. Marianna University Hospital. Graduated from Kitasato University School of Medicine. Specializes in hepatobiliary and pancreatic pathology. Certified as a board-certified pathologist, cytopathologist, and molecular pathologist. Actively engaged in clinical practice, education, and research from a molecular pathology perspective.
Org Chart
29 members across 6 teams, building the business.
As of April 2025
Philosophy
Creating an
unseen future
unseen future
Milk.Inc is a deep tech startup that applies hyperspectral technology, originally developed for space applications, to diverse fields such as healthcare, food, and infrastructure.
Founded in 2019 by Representative Nakaya, who aspires to win the Nobel Prize in Physics, after inheriting technology from Professor Shin Satori, a former JAXA engineer who developed and named the world's first hyperspectral camera.
Founded in 2019 by Representative Nakaya, who aspires to win the Nobel Prize in Physics, after inheriting technology from Professor Shin Satori, a former JAXA engineer who developed and named the world's first hyperspectral camera.
Company Overview
| Company Name | Milk.Inc |
|---|---|
| Related Businesses | Invisible World (Hyperspectral Business) https://invisibleworld.co.jp/ YARD Meetup (Event Business) ① YARD Meetup https://yardmeetup.milk-med.com/ ② G-1 Startup Grand Prix https://g1startup.com/ |
| Founded | 17 December 2019 |
| Address | Headquarters 4-8-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032, Japan Ichigaya Office 3-14 Ichigaya-Tamachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0843, Japan 4F |
| Tel | +81 3-5050-4920 (Old number: +81 3-6803-8114) |
| Board member | CEO: Daiki Nakaya |
| Funding | 182,017,568yen |
| Bank | Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Roppongi Branch / Resona Bank, Azabu Branch / Saikyo Shinkin Bank, Ginza Branch |