Courses & Events
Unlocking Space for All Humanity: The Landscape of Space Startups in Japan (ZOOM ONLY)
Tuesday, Apr 28, 2026
04:30 pm - 05:50 pm
In this Zoom-only session, Masashi Sato, Co-Founder, Director & Chief Strategy Officer for SPACETIDE Foundation, will share an overview of Japan’s rapidly evolving commercial space sector and the opportunities it presents for startups. Drawing on his experience in the space industry, he will discuss the emerging startup ecosystem, key subsectors, and the opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs, investors, and partners. Dr. Richard Dasher, Director of US-ATMC, will serve as moderator.
Details
Registration:
- To attend by Zoom, please register here.
- We will not be holding this seminar in-person.
Agenda:
- 4:30 – 5:50 pm Discussion and Audience Q&A
Speakers
Masashi Sato
Co-Founder, Director & Chief Strategy Officer, SPACETIDE Foundation
Masashi Sato, as Co-founder, Director, and CSO of the SPACETIDE Foundation, focuses on promoting and advancing the new space industry through the organization’s pioneering private-led space business conference and other initiatives since 2015. Additionally, from 2023, Masashi serves as a Space Tech Advisor at Beyond Next Ventures and is part of its Ecosystem Group.
He was part of ispace from 2019 to 2024, during which he contributed to Japan’s first space IPO. Prior to ispace, Masashi worked as a strategic business consultant at Nomura Research Institute from 2003 to 2019. He holds a B.S. from the University of Tokyo (2001), an M.S. from the Graduate School of the University of Tokyo (2003), and a Master of Public Policy from the University of California, Los Angeles (2013). Masashi is recognized as a “QZSS Evangelist” by the Cabinet Office of Japan and serves as a committee member of the “Committee of Next-gen Geosynchronous Meteorological Satellite” at the Japan Meteorological Agency.
