Hiroaki Taniguchi (Ph. D), CEO&Founder

He has served since 2017 as a biomedical advisor for the Singapore-based venture capital firm 360ip Japan, where he contributes to technology evaluation, scientific due diligence, and global R&D strategy for emerging life science and biotechnology ventures. He currently holds an Associate Professorship at the Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland) and an Affiliate Professor position at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P, Morocco), where he promotes international research collaboration in genomics, biotechnology, and translational science. Dr. Taniguchi received his PhD from Université Laval in Canada. During his post-doctoral training, he conducted research at leading institutions including the McGill University Goodman Cancer Research Centre, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, and the Integrative Medical Sciences, University of Tokyo. He continues to maintain active collaborations with RIKEN, Doshisha University, and the University of Tsukuba, as well as partnerships with European research institutes. Through these academic and industry networks, he contributes to cross-continental research initiatives spanning Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America, promoting international collaboration in biomedical science, biotechnology, and innovation.

Sayaka Taniguchi, International Development and ODA Expert  

She is an international development and ODA specialist with over fifteen years of professional experience in development cooperation, particularly in North Africa and the Maghreb region. She has worked with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and private consulting firms, with extensive experience in the formulation, appraisal, and management of ODA loan and technical cooperation projects. Her expertise includes water-sector development, procurement and project monitoring, introduction of Japanese technologies, and coordination with government institutions and development partners. She has served as a Project Formulation Advisor at the JICA Morocco Office and JICA Tunisia Office, as well as a Program Officer at JICA Headquarters responsible for ODA loan projects in the Maghreb region. She also has experience supporting JICA surveys, proposal preparation, and Japanese–French interpretation. She holds an M.A. in Ethnology from Université Laval (Canada), completed the International Cooperation Program at Université de Montréal (Canada), and holds a B.A. in English Literature from Tsuda University (Japan).

Kumar Prasanth, Partnership Specialist

He is a senior strategy, partnerships, and entrepreneurship leader with 20+ years of experience across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. He currently leads the Entrepreneur Academy at UM6P Morocco and serves on the Local Ecosystem Investment Committee at UM6P Ventures, where he supports founder development, venture growth, and early-stage investment pathways. He is also a Stanford Seed Consultant, engages with MassChallenge Switzerland and Ignyte Dubai, and mentors founders through several pan-African and global innovation platforms. Recognized as a thought leader, he was named Business Advisor of the Year 2023 by the Africa Startup Ecosystem Builders Summit and Awards (ASEB). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, a Postgraduate Certificate in Management from IIM Kozhikode, and executive education credentials from Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School.