Founded in Vancouver in 2021, Vancouver Impact strengthens the energy and decarbonization partnership between Japan and Canada. Through business development, mentoring and consulting, and events and community building, we create new impact for businesses in both countries.
Vancouver Impact was founded in 2021, when our founder relocated from Japan to Vancouver, Canada.
The name carries two meanings: our home base, "Vancouver," and our wish to have a positive "Impact" on society.
Today, we focus on supporting technologies that help prevent global warming and bringing them to market.
Strengthening the Japan–Canada energy and decarbonization partnership.
Canada has abundant green, low-cost electricity and critical minerals, but struggles to turn these strengths
into businesses due to infrastructure gaps. Japan, meanwhile, has few natural resources but strong
infrastructure technology. Combining the strengths of both countries, we believe, creates a genuinely
complementary relationship.
By applying Japanese technology to Canada's resource industry, we create new value for both countries.
Canada is home to many Climatetech startups, but weak manufacturing and a small domestic market make commercialization difficult. Japan, on the other hand, lacks decarbonization solutions but has strong manufacturing capabilities, a large market, and high demand for new business lines. We believe bringing Canadian Climatetech startups to Japan and supporting their commercialization can make this a genuinely complementary relationship.
We support Japan–Canada collaboration in energy and decarbonization across three areas.
We scout Canadian startups that match large enterprises' needs, and support Canadian companies and funds entering the Japanese market. Vancouver Impact is already connected to over 100 Canadian Climatetech startups, and we identify startups seeking POC partners or interested in the Japanese market.
We mentor and consult for startups backed by corporate venture capital (CVC). We draw on mentoring experience at Foresight Canada, Innovation UBC, and Creative Destruction Lab, as well as our founder's experience as a serial entrepreneur (Locondo, MerryBiz, CloudCost).
Drawing on our experience with Fintech Japan 2016–2018 (3,000+ attendees) and Climate Global 2026 (Canada's largest Climatetech event), we plan and run events that build enterprise branding.
Through business development and mentoring & consulting, we've supported startups and companies on both sides of the Pacific.
A Vancouver-based platform for registering and certifying real-estate carbon assets. We supported business planning centered on its fundraising strategy.
A Tokyo-based Foodtech startup. We supported its expansion into the North American market.
A Tokyo-based startup working on logistics DX. We supported fundraising and capitalization structuring.
A San Francisco-based VC focused on AI. We supported its search for LPs.
A global accelerator program founded at the University of Toronto. We serve as a landing point for Japanese startups entering North America, handling introductions and program coordination.
Through Creative Destruction Lab, Innovation UBC, Foresight Canada, and others, we've mentored and consulted for more than 60 startups.
From Fintech Japan to co-hosting Climate Global, Canada's largest Climatetech event — we've run events and built community of every size, on both sides of the Pacific.
We co-hosted Climate Global, Canada's largest Climatetech event, at UBC Robson Square — running panel discussions and networking that connected startups, investors, and large enterprises.
A Fintech conference held in Japan. Over three years it drew more than 3,000 attendees, becoming a gathering place for stakeholders across the financial industry.
In Vancouver, we've hosted more than 20 networking events connecting startups and companies — building community on an ongoing basis.
In Japan too, we run events and build community from hubs such as Tokyo Innovation Hub.
After working as a project manager on banking and credit-card projects at IBM Japan, Hiroki earned his MBA at INSEAD. He is a serial entrepreneur who has founded three companies — Locondo (e-commerce), MerryBiz, and CloudCost. In 2015 he founded the Fintech Association of Japan, helping drive amendments to Japan's Banking Act and credit-related laws. He relocated to Vancouver, Canada in 2021, and today mentors at Innovation UBC, Foresight Canada, and Creative Destruction Lab while working on business development and mentoring in Climatetech between Japan and Canada.
Business development, mentoring & consulting, events & community building — whatever you'd like to discuss, feel free to reach out by email first.