Kaoru Hayashi (born December 26, 1959) is a Japanese entrepreneur. He co-founded Digital Garage, a technology and fintech company, alongside Joi Ito.

Kaoru Hayashi
Born (1959-12-26) December 26, 1959 (age 64)
NationalityJapanese
Alma materToyo University
OccupationEntrepreneur

Early life

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Hayashi was born in Koshimizu, Hokkaido. He grew up in Kunitachi, Tokyo. Hayashi graduated from Toyo University, majoring in Mass Communication.[1]

Career

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In 1995, he and Joi Ito co-founded Digital Garage, a technology and fintech company.[2][3][4] Hayashi became the chairman and director of Kakaku.com after the company was acquired by Digital Garage in 2002. In 2010, he founded the accelerator program, Open Network Lab.[5][6][7][8] He serves on the boards of Monex Group, VeriTrans and Credit Saison.[9][10]

In 2017, he became a member of the Chevalier du Tastevin.

In 2021, he published “Digital Garage: Where the Future Begins, and to the Next First Penguins,” which looks back on 25 years of Japanese Internet history and talks about the next 25 years.[11] He launched the Numazu Club Inheritance Project in 2023 to preserve and revitalize the historic Numazu Club, a sukiya-style villa built in 1913.[12][13][14]

References

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  1. ^ "北海道を地盤に世界に羽ばたくスタートアップ起業家を発掘・育成、「オンラボ北海道」始動". リアルエコノミー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  2. ^ Torney, Chris (2022-05-17). "GCV Powerlist 2022: Kaoru Hayashi -". globalventuring.com. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  3. ^ https://staging.globalventuring.com/corporate/people/gcv-powerlist-2022-kaoru-hayashi/
  4. ^ "About". 株式会社 DG ベンチャーズ. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  5. ^ "Open Network Lab (オープンネットワークラボ)". Open Network Lab (オープンネットワークラボ). Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  6. ^ "Kaoru Hayashi". 株式会社 DG ベンチャーズ. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  7. ^ "Kaoru Hayashi: Positions, Relations and Network - MarketScreener". www.marketscreener.com. 2022-12-21. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  8. ^ 週刊BCN+. "デジタルガレージ カカクコムを連絡子会社化". 週刊BCN+ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  9. ^ "IRライブラリ | 投資家情報 | 株式会社デジタルガレージ(Digital Garage, Inc.)". Digital Garage IR (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  10. ^ https://www.monexgroup.jp/en/news_release/irnews/news_release8149514924152478743/main/0/link/press_2016_03_07_E_DirectorCandidates.pdf
  11. ^ "『デジタルガレージ 未来が生まれ始まるところ 次のファーストペンギンたちへ』(林 郁,デジタルガレージ25周年プロジェクトチーム) 製品詳細 講談社BOOK倶楽部". 講談社BOOK倶楽部 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  12. ^ "PROJECT". Numazu Club | 沼津倶楽部 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  13. ^ "国指定文化財等データベース". kunishitei.bunka.go.jp. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  14. ^ "国登録有形文化財を有する宿〈沼津倶楽部〉が生まれ変わりました。". Casa BRUTUS (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-09-18.