Takeshi is a serial Fintech entrepreneur, and Co-founder & CEO of GFTN Japan, actively spearheading ecosystem building and international collaborations. Additionally, he sits on the committee for the Government of Japan's Regulatory Sandbox and is a member of the experts group, jointly organized by the Digital Agency and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry focusing on international data governance. Before starting his own startup in the Fintech industry, Takeshi worked as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch, gaining expertise in capital markets. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, he worked at Boston Consulting Group. He formerly served as Vice-chair at Fintech Association of Japan, where he played a pivotal role in navigating international collaborations for 6 years.
Alex Choi is the CEO and co-founder of SentBe, a leading global fintech company specializing in cross-border payments. He graduated from Yonsei University and began his career as a strategy consultant at T-Plus Consulting, where he advised major Korean corporations on corporate and sales strategies. He later worked as a foreign exchange broker at Korea Money Brokerage Corporation, gaining hands-on experience in the FX market. Leveraging this background, he co-founded SentBe in 2015 and has since led the company’s growth into one of the most innovative fintech platforms in the global market.
Li Haitao, from the Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprises, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration. He has long been engaged in efforts to promote entrepreneurship and innovation among SMEs, and has drafted numerous policy documents to support the digital transformation of SMEs.
Darren Eng is the President of the Los Angeles Venture Association (LAVA), where he has spent over 20 years strengthening collaboration networks between startups and investors, driving the growth of the regional venture ecosystem. He has also served as CEO of Greenbelt Resources Corporation and as Executive Director of several nonprofit organizations, leading diverse projects that integrate sustainability with innovation. A graduate of Yale University with a background in environmental studies, he continues to serve as a global leader connecting ventures with sustainable innovation.