Yuki Shirato is a seasoned investor, serial entrepreneur and attorney with 25 years of experience bridging law and global business. Known for providing strategic and practical advice, he currently serves as the inaugural Managing Director of Techstars Japan, where he leads one of the world's most active startup accelerator programs. He also serves as a Senior Advisor at Pangaea Ventures, a US/Canada-based hardtech venture capital firm, and as a Venture Partner at Silicon Foundry, an innovation advisory firm.
An active angel investor, Yuki has backed over 50 startups, including several unicorns, and founded Yakumi, an international angel network connecting investors across Japan, the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. His track record also includes co-founding three venture-backed startups. He currently focuses on nurturing early-stage startups from Japan and abroad — supporting fundraising and expansion in the Japanese market, and the global growth of Japanese companies.
Previously, Yuki spent a decade at top-tier global law firms across New York, Toronto, Abu Dhabi/Dubai, Singapore and Tokyo. As a New York–qualified attorney and registered foreign attorney in Japan, he has advised Fortune 500 companies, private equity and venture capital funds, family offices, and startups at all stages of growth. His work has spanned M&A, fund formation, due diligence and complex cross-border transactions exceeding $100 billion in aggregate value.
Earlier in his career, Yuki held strategic roles as a management consultant at Bain & Company and as a trade negotiator at Keidanren, Japan's premier business federation. He holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto, a Master of Business Administration from the University of British Columbia and Duke University, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Law and Economics from the University of Tokyo.
At a glance
- CurrentTechstars JapanManaging Director (inaugural)
- CurrentSilicon FoundryVenture Partner
- CurrentPangaea VenturesSenior Advisor
- InvestingYakumi · 50+ angel investmentsFounder of an international angel network
- Entrepreneurship3 venture-backed startupsCo-founder & COO
- LawGlobal law firms · 10+ years on cross-border M&A and fundsShearman & Sterling (now A&O Shearman) — Tokyo, Abu Dhabi/Dubai, SingaporeWhite & Case — Tokyo, SingaporeDavies Ward Phillips & Vineberg — TorontoDavis Polk & Wardwell — New York
- ConsultingBain & CompanyManagement consultant
- Governmental relationsKeidanrenTrade negotiator & policy analyst
- EducationJ.D., University of TorontoM.B.A., University of British Columbia & Duke UniversityB.A. in International Law and Economics, University of Tokyo
- QualificationsAttorney-at-law (New York)Registered foreign attorney (Japan)
Governance & advisory
Drawing on more than two decades of legal, transactional and cross-border experience, Yuki advises boards of listed companies, startups, funds and management teams on governance, international expansion and corporate venturing. He is open to conversations regarding outside director and advisory positions with companies pursuing global growth.