Tohru Akaura has been a seed-stage venture investor since going independent in 1999, staying with startups from VOYAGE to Sansan to ispace for years at a time and often remaining close with founders even after he's no longer an investor. Beyond backing companies, he's helped launch new funds and new venture capitalists in Japan, served as chairman of the Japan Venture Capital Association, and even weighed in on national space procurement policy after speaking with Prime Minister Kishida.