# Top 50 Sports Angel Investors in Asia in October 2023

## Kevin Lin
- Type: Angel
- Location: San Francisco, California, United States
- Relevant deals: 4
- Stages: Seed, Series A, Pre-Seed
- Focus: Gaming, Information Technology, Video Games

Lin is the COO of Twitch, the world’s leading social video platform and community for gamers. He was instrumental in the 2011 launch of the platform when he joined Justin.tv in 2008. His role included attracting the site’s largest broadcasters and building out the partnership team among other activities which have helped grow the Twitch brand.Currently more than 100 million gamers gather every month on Twitch to broadcast live video, watch and chat about gaming, making the platform an industry leader.

## Tom Varkey
- Type: Angel
- Location: Westfield, New Jersey, United States
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed
- Focus: Media and Entertainment, E-Learning, Education

Tom is a veteran in financial markets and is Principal at Stonehill Capital. Prior to this he has held positions with Lazard Asset Management & Fidelity Investments focusing on emerging markets and corporate debt.
Tom is an MBA from Harvard Business School & has a MA in Quantitative Economics from Tufts University.

## Shubhrendu Koche
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed
- Focus: E-Commerce, Sports, eSports

Shubhrendu Koche

## David Ng
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Seed, Series A
- Focus: eSports, Media and Entertainment

David Ng is the CEO & Founder of goGame.

## Juha Paananen
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Series A
- Focus: Health Care, Wellness, Video Games

Juha Paananen - CEO & Co-Founder @ Soba

## Daniel Shin
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A
- Focus: Software, Internet, Information Technology

Daniel Shin is a renowned entrepreneur and investor, with extensive expertise and deep relationships in e-commerce. Daniel Shin is the Founder and CEO of PortOne Global, a leading payment company in Asia and beyond. The company's mission is to empower digital commerce partners across the Asian region. Through PortOne Global, Daniel Shinassists in the growth and development of partner companies and facilitates expansion.Previously, Daniel founded and was CEO of TicketMonster, Korea's leading e-commerce platform with $3.5Bin GMV. He is also a Co-Founder and board member of Fast Track Asia, a company-builder that established and sold multiple businesses including Fast Five (office sharing platform) and FoodFly (food delivery, acquired by Yogiyo).Daniel holds a B.Sc. in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

## Ayataro Nakagawa
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Internet, Software, Information Technology

2011 At university, participated in the founding period as a director of Atcole Co., Ltd., and started the web service experience.2012 Founded Peroli Co., Ltd.,
which operates a curation platform for women "MERY" .2014 Founded Peroli
Co., Ltd. Sold to DeNA
2015 Jointly established Tokyo Founders Fund as an angel investor and startedinvesting in startups in Japan and overseas
2019 Appointed outside director of FIREBUG Co., Ltd.

## Nobuhiro Ariyasu
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Content, Internet, Finance

Nobuhiro Ariyasu is the CEO at Coach United.

## Mamoru Taniya
- Type: Angel
- Location: Hong Kong, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Series A
- Focus: Apps, Content, FinTech

After graduating from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo, he joined Solomon Brothers, where he became the youngest managing director in Asia, where he was in charge of Asian investment. After that, he created one of the largest independent Asuka assets. He also launched Japan's first independent online life insurance company,LifeNet Life Insurance, and inspired Japan's first International.

## Kensuke Furukawa
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Content, Media and Entertainment, Software

Kensuke Furukawa was born in June 2, 1981. He graduated Waseda University majoring Political Science and Economics, and in 2000, he launched "Milkcafe", a student community, which has grown to a site with 10 million PV per month. In 2004, he became the CEO of Media Clip, which operates a rental bulletin board service "ShitarabaBBS". After that year, he had transfer "Shitaraba BBS" to Livedoor, and took charge of starting up the Consumer Generated Media sector. In 2006, he joined Recruit, and took charge of starting up a new business at Business development sector. In June of 2009, he left Recruit, and became the CEO of nanapi （formerly Rocket Start), which operates the How-to Site "nanapi".

## Dai Tamesue
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Angel, Seed, Pre-Seed
- Focus: Apps, Sports, Health Care

Dai Tamesue is the Chief Marketing Officer of Miekuru.

## Yasuyuki Kin
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed
- Focus: Media and Entertainment, Information Technology, Career Planning

Yasuyuki Kin

## Hidetoshi Takano
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Internet, Information Technology, Media and Entertainment

Joined Intelligence in 1999. Established Key Players Inc. in 2005. Consultation with more than 3,000 managers and career counseling for more than 10,000 individuals. In addition, we have invested in more than 55 outside directors, advisors and angels in Silicon Valley and Bangladesh in Japan. Over 100 lectures on careers, entrepreneurship andstartups.

## Kevin Chou
- Type: Angel
- Location: San Francisco, California, United States
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Series A, Angel
- Focus: Gaming, Video Games, eSports

Kevin Chou is Managing Partner of the SuperLayer web3 venture studio and co-founder of Rally, a crypto platform that allows creators and artists to launch their own digital currency and to build sustainable, independent economies with their fan communities. Kevin currently serves as the Chairman of Forte, a new blockchain whose mission is to builda more collaborative future in gaming by realigning the economic relationship between players and developers. He is also Chairman of Gen.G, a new esports enterprise bridging Asia and North America. Previously, Kevin was CEO and co-founder of Kabam, a top developer of mobile games. Kevin led the company from business plan founding to over $400M in annual revenue serving over 500 million players. Kabam developed leading partnerships with Marvel, Star Wars, Fast & Furious, Lord of the Rings, and Hunger Games. Kabam was profitable from 2012 until the sale of the company's studios to Netmarble, 21st Century Fox, and GAEA, which in total generated nearly $1 billion in value. He's been honored by Fortune in 40 under 40, CNN in Smartest People in Tech, and Business Insider's Silicon Valley Top 100. Kevin Chou graduated magna cum laude from the UC Berkeley undergraduate Haas School of Business program. He serves on the Board of Trustees at UC Berkeley.

## Yu Akasaka
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Food and Beverage, Content, Internet

During Hosei University student, and intern at Hakuhodo C & D. After joining the Image-net, I do media monetization of EC site as a media planner. Then, new business, engaged in Alliance. Launched a crowdsourcing site "MILLION DESIGNS" of design in the individual, sold to Ransazu Corporation. Established the Eureka Co., Ltd., wasappointed Representative Director CEO.

## Hiroaki Kitano
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Debt Financing
- Focus: Health Care, Information Technology, Fitness

Hiroaki Kitano is the SVP at Softbank Mobile. He attended Waseda University.

## Tomohito Ebine
- Type: Angel
- Location: Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A
- Focus: Home Services, Information Technology, Consulting

Tomohito Ebine is non-executive Director at Owls Co., Ltd.

## Gabby Dizon
- Type: Angel
- Location: Pasig, Rizal, Philippines
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Series A
- Focus: Blockchain, Gaming, Cryptocurrency

Gabby Dizon is the Chairman and co-founder of Alto.io, a Singapore-based game platform that connects games to the blockchain. He helped pioneer the Philippine game industry as part of the team that released the first Filipino-made game in 2003. Gabby is also CEO of game developer Altitude Games and former President of the Game DevelopersAssociation of the Philippines. Gabby helps champion the game development industry in Southeast Asia and is an active member of the Philippine startup community.

## Makoto Takano
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Series A, Series B
- Focus: Content, Sports, Apps

Makoto Takano is CEO of atomixmedia, inc., publisher and editor-in-chief of Forbes Japan and Rolling Stone Japan since June, 2014. Prior to joining Atomixmedia, Inc., he was Managing Director and President of PIMCO Japan Ltd. Before joining PIMCO in 2001, he was head of marketing at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Makoto's prior experiencealso includes work at Daiwa Securities where he was head of the strategists team at Daiwa Institute of Research. He has published extensively on the capital markets. In 1992, he was awarded Securities Analysts Journal Prize by the Securities Analyst Association of Japan. He has also given lectures on asset management at Waseda University and Kyoto University. He holds master’s and undergraduate degrees in engineering from Waseda University. Makoto serves as Director of Nippon Finance Association and Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation.

## Yuto Nagatomo
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: SNS, Sports, Content

Yuto Nagatomo - President, CEO, and Founder @ Cuore Co., Ltd.

## Ishikawa Ryo
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Sports, Internet

Ishikawa Ryo

## Naoki Yamada
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed
- Focus: Information Technology, Software, Sports

Naoki Yamada

## Roshan Rajappa
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Pre-Seed
- Focus: Gaming, Software, Marketplace

Roshan Rajappa

## Akshit Goyal
- Type: Angel
- Location: New Delhi, Delhi, India
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Shoes, Retail, Fashion

Akshit Goyal

## Rob Gilby
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Series A
- Focus: eSports, Media and Entertainment

Rob Gilby

## Faisal Nasimuddin
- Type: Angel
- Location: Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: eSports

Faisal Nasimuddin

## Dr. Rohitha De Silva
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Pre-Seed
- Focus: Gaming, Mobile Apps, Casual Games

Dr. Rohitha De Silva

## Rahul Nambiar
- Type: Angel
- Location: Singapore, Central Region, Singapore
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Fitness, Wellness, Health Care

Rahul Nambiar was the CEO, Board Member, and Co-Founder of iProspect. He has a master's degree in Digital Marketing at IE Business School.

## Sudheer Nair
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Fitness, Wellness, Health Care

Sudheer Nair Chairman, Navio Group.

## Reinaldo Tendean
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Apps, Mobile, Sports

Reinaldo is the Co-Founder at Finku. He attended University of California, Berkeley.

## Marcus John
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Series A
- Focus: eSports, Media and Entertainment

Marcus John

## Yuki Sato
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Sports, Internet, Recruiting

Engineer since 10 years old. Electronics, Mechanical, Web, iOS Android

## Gaku Nakamura
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Pre-Seed
- Focus: Sports, Education, Information Technology

Gaku Nakamura - Co-Founder and CEO @ RareJob

## Michael Broda
- Type: Angel
- Location: Prague, Hlavni mesto Praha, Czech Republic
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: eSports

Michael Broda is the Co-Founder and Board Member at Esports Players League.

## Naishadh Udeshi
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Pre-Seed
- Focus: Gaming, Mobile Apps, Casual Games

Naishadh Udeshi

## Michael Patent
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Series A
- Focus: eSports, Media and Entertainment

Michael Patent

## Leo Lee
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Apps, Mobile, Sports

Leo Lee is a CEO of Heonz Corp.

## C.Bob Lott
- Type: Angel
- Location: Detroit, Michigan, United States
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Pre-Seed
- Focus: Events, Sports, Cycling

C.Bob Lott

## Gang Wang
- Type: Angel
- Location: Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Series A, Angel, Seed
- Focus: E-Commerce, Transportation, Last Mile Transportation

Gang Wang

## Ron Sim
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Series A
- Focus: Beauty, Fitness, Genetics

Ron Sim

## Masayuki SHOBAYASHI
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Fitness, Software, Mobile Apps

Masayuki SHOBAYASHI

## Sudi Navile
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Fitness, Wellness, Health Care

Sudi Navile ex-Divisional CIO, Oracle.

## Stan Kuruvilla
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Fitness, Wellness, Health Care

Stan Kuruvilla ex-PayPal.

## Vijay Seshadri
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Fitness, Wellness, Health Care

Vijay Seshadri ex-Board Member, Chargebee.

## Greysia Polii
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Health Care, Information Services, Information Technology

Greysia Polii is an individual investor.

## Kamata Tomihisa
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Fitness, Medical, Genetics

Dr. Kamada earned his Ph.D. at the University of Tokyo. In 1984, he pursued his journey to establish his own business that focused on information appliances and mobile software, namely ACCESS Co., Ltd.. With great success, the company entered the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers Market in 2001. He left ACCESS Co., Ltd. in 2011, and founded TomyK Ltd.in 2012 where he supports startups possessing revolutionary business ideas that revitalize the Japanese economy.

## Antanas Guoga
- Type: Angel
- Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Fitness, mHealth, Software

Antanas Guoga was the Founder of iBus Media Network. He attended the University of Leicester.

## Jianqing Wang
- Type: Angel
- Location: Beijing, Beijing, China
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Series A
- Focus: Video, Gaming, Sports

Wang Jianqing is one of the founding members of Legend Capital in 2001. Starting as a Senior Management Advisor, she is now the Managing Director and Chief Management Advisor of the firm, and also serves on the Management Committee and Human Resources Committee. Wang Jianqing is responsible for examining and evaluating CEO, the management team andbusiness operation of target companies during due diligence, and providing post-investment value added services.Wang Jianqing has in-depth understanding of corporate governance, human resources systems, corporate culture construction and team management. She had analyzed the major success and failure cases of Legend Group in history, and performed thorough studies on how to evaluate CEOs and management teams and how to provide value-added services to invested companies. After over 10 years working with entrepreneurs, she has gained resourceful experience in CEO coaching, core team building, corporate culture construction and governance structure improvement.Joining Legend Group in 1996, Wang Jianqing was Executive Vice President of Legend Management School and Deputy General Manager of Human Resources Department of Legend Group. She was also the Dean of the first “Legend Star CEO Training” class, in charge of building the course system, designing teaching plans, managing academic affairs, and serving as lecturer of one of the core courses.Wang Jianqing received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1982 and her EMBA’s degree from Peking University in 2006.

## Joseph Prabantara
- Type: Angel
- Location: Jakarta, Jakarta Raya, Indonesia
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Apps, Mobile, Sports

Joseph has 8 years of experience in entrepreneurship, especially in the fields of multimedia, brand design, and event management, having also handled one of a national event in Indonesia, “Sepeda Nusantara 2018” which was held in major cities across Indonesia.He is the Founder of Socialive a company engaged in Event Activation & MediaProduction and is a leading provider of Social Media Photo Booths in Indonesia with over 100 successful events in 1 year.
Joseph has built businesses that utilize unskilled labor and developing these talents into skilled professionals through on-the-job training. Some of these professionals has developed into micro and small business leaders.Joseph is also actively involved in sports associations and youth activities, whilst also being experienced in procuring ticketing solutions for regional sporting events, including Indonesian football matches. He holds a Business Administration/Management Diploma from Macquarie University and a degree in Graphic Design & Multimedia from Raffles College (KvB), both in Sydney, Australia.

## Harri Manninen
- Type: Angel
- Location: Helsinki, Southern Finland, Finland
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Series A
- Focus: Gaming, Video Games, PC Games

Harri Manninen - Founding Partner @ Play Ventures

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