Ep. 37: FinTech and Open Innovation for a Global Financial City with Makoto Shibata
Featuring guest
Makoto Shibata
We had the privilege of speaking with Makoto Shibata, who leads FINOLAB, a top 10 innovation lab in APAC. Through our conversation, we explored the intersection of traditional banking and startup innovation in Tokyo's financial district. Shibata-san brought a unique dual perspective, having led emerging technology and digital banking initiatives at MUFG while now fostering startup innovation. We discussed Tokyo's competitiveness as a global FinTech hub, the key stakeholders driving financial innovation, and what makes a strong FinTech community. Our bilingual interview allowed us to examine open innovation from both global and local Japanese perspectives, covering topics from foreign startup partnerships to opportunities in underutilized personal assets and the future outlook for financial technology over the next 3-5 years.
Themes of Inquiry
- Open Innovation
- FinTech Ecosystem
- Tokyo Financial Hub
- Startup-Corporate Partnerships
- Digital Banking Transformation
We had the privilege of speaking with Makoto Shibata, who leads FINOLAB, a top 10 innovation lab in APAC.
Episode Summary
We had the privilege of speaking with Makoto Shibata, who leads FINOLAB, a top 10 innovation lab in APAC. Through our conversation, we explored the intersection of traditional banking and startup innovation in Tokyo's financial district. Shibata-san brought a unique dual perspective, having led emerging technology and digital banking initiatives at MUFG while now fostering startup innovation. We discussed Tokyo's competitiveness as a global FinTech hub, the key stakeholders driving financial innovation, and what makes a strong FinTech community. Our bilingual interview allowed us to examine open innovation from both global and local Japanese perspectives, covering topics from foreign startup partnerships to opportunities in underutilized personal assets and the future outlook for financial technology over the next 3-5 years.
The Guest Biography
Makoto Shibata
Makoto Shibata is the leader of FINOLAB, which was ranked among the top 10 innovation labs in APAC in 2020. FINOLAB operates as a prominent FinTech community in Tokyo's Otemachi financial district, bringing together 50 startup members and 16 corporate members to drive innovation in financial technology. Prior to his current role, Shibata-san held leadership positions at MUFG, where he spearheaded emerging technology initiatives, FinTech development, and digital banking transformation. His unique background spans both the traditional corporate banking world and the startup ecosystem, while maintaining perspectives on both global and domestic Japanese markets. This dual expertise positions him as a key figure in Tokyo's evolving financial technology landscape.
Continue the Dialogue
Ep. 39: 伝統をチャレンジして、思うままに創造しながら、未来をトランスフォームする with 松永 エリック・匡史
In this episode, we welcomed Eric Matsunaga, whom we met through our work with the Digital Innovation Association. We explored Eric's unconventional career path spanning multiple industries and roles - from university professor to professional musician to chief advisor at consulting firms. Our conversation delved deep into the critical role of empathy, values, and culture in business success. We discussed the importance of designing one's own life path and the courage required to embrace change. Eric shared insights on digital transformation, emphasizing that DX should be driven by CEOs rather than CIOs, and how to take the first steps in challenging environments. Throughout our discussion, we examined how personal values and cultural understanding can drive business innovation and success.
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