Shiro Matsuzaki | Co-Founder & Managing Partner - Japan Airline Ventures
Japan Airlines Ventures

Shiro Matsuzaki Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Japan Airlines Ventures Shiro Matsuzaki is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Japan Airlines Ventures (JALV), where he leads the JAL group's strategic evolution into a new era of self-operated corporate venture capital. Currently, he is overseeing a significant operational scale-up, including the launch of a new 100% owned subsidiary and a Delaware-based second fund, JAL Innovation Fund II, set to debut in April 2026. MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) alum Shiro holds a degree in Liberal Arts from Waseda University and an MBA from MIT Sloan.  Founder, W-PIT - Japan Airlines’ official Corporate Venture Studio  He is also the Founder of W-PIT (Wakuwaku-Platform Innovation Team), JAL's cross-functional internal venture unit that has grown into a more than 1,000 member innovation platform driving open innovation through cross-industry co-creation. An active member of the global innovation community, he is dedicated to fostering collaborations that redefine the boundaries of aviation and technology. Unique Career at JAL With a career at Japan Airlines (JAL) spanning since 2009, Shiro possesses a unique multidisciplinary background that bridges technical software development, global alliance strategy, and venture building. A pioneer of internal innovation, he co-founded JAL's in-house venture studio in 2016, laying the groundwork for the airline's modern startup engagement — and ultimately co-founding JALV to institutionalize the JAL group's venture capital capabilities.