Masashi Ihara spent roughly 35 years in Japanese securities and investment banking before moving into venture capital, including leadership roles during Nikko's acquisition by Citigroup and its integration into SMBC Group, and later leading private company and growth-financing groups at SMBC Nikko. At Incubate Fund, he helps growth companies prepare for public markets and build relationships with institutional investors, drawing on deep experience with IPOs and a strong interest in startups working on Japan's defense and security needs.