Hi, I'm Masaru Nagura - Co-Founder/CEO at FoundersNation
I am deeply fueled by the chaos of early-stage creation and the potential of human connection. I thrive when building communities that bridge talent and capital in fast-paced, high-stakes environments.
At a glance
Curated signals on strengths, focus areas, and how they can help.
Successfully launched and scaled FoundersNation to foster a thriving ecosystem for early-stage entrepreneurs.
Currently leads as CEO to drive community growth and strategic partnerships within the global startup landscape.
Provides high-impact mentorship and tactical advice on building founder-led communities from the ground up.
🚀 Career trajectory
Scientific Foundation
Spent a decade mastering nuclear and material engineering at world-class research universities.
✦ Ph.D. Research
✦ Nuclear Engineering
Innovation Management
Transitioned to MIT to focus on system design, bridging technical prowess with management science.
✦ System Design
✦ MIT SDM
Ecosystem Leadership
Driving large-scale transformation at CIC and Startup Ecosystem Association Japan as a core leader.
✦ Ecosystem Building
✦ CEO & Director
💪🏻 Superpowers
Ecosystem Architect
Designing high-impact hubs for venture acceleration
✦ Scales community development programs for international innovation hubs
✦ Synthesizes stakeholder interests to drive regional startup policy
✦ Orchestrates complex networks connecting academia, government, and private capital
Technical Bridge-Builder
Translating hard-science R&D into venture-scale business
✦ Leverages Ph.D.-level expertise to evaluate deep-tech commercial viability
✦ Facilitates collaboration between research institutes and the startup market
✦ Guides technical founders through the transition to business leadership
Community Catalyst
Driving active engagement across diverse professional sectors
✦ Builds sustainable ecosystems for founders through strategic programming
✦ Maintains high-trust networks across Tokyo and international research centers
✦ Promotes inclusive growth through structured ecosystem association initiatives
I'm excited about
✦ Exploring cross-border partnership opportunities to scale deep-tech startups globally.
✦ Connecting with international investors focused on the Japanese innovation landscape.
✦ Learning from global leaders building scalable models for academic-industry technology transfer.
I can help with
✦ Advising deep-tech founders on navigating the Japanese startup ecosystem and market entry.
✦ Mentoring researchers who are transitioning their technology from lab to commercial venture.
✦ Facilitating strategic introductions between startup hubs and innovative private-sector partners.
I would love your help on
✦ Gaining insights into effective venture capital models for capital-intensive deep-tech startups.
✦ Connecting with peers managing international innovation centers to compare operational best practices.
✦ Identifying effective mentorship frameworks that specifically support Ph.D. level entrepreneurs.