Masami Komatsu is the founder and CEO of Music Securities, Inc., which started what is now known as crowdfunding in 2000. Through its micro-investment platform called “Securite” (www.securite.jp), the company has established 549 funds for 347 companies to date, including “Music Funds” to support music artists and “Disaster Area Support Funds” to support companies damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake, which raised more than 1 billion yen from approximately 30,000 investors. To reach businesses which require risk money, the company partners with over 70 local financial institutions and 20 local governments nationwide. The company also provides international financing to micro-finance institutions in Asia, such as Cambodia and Vietnam. It has also worked with the Inter-American Development Bank on a project for Peru.
Mr. Komatsu was chosen as one of the Young Global Leaders in 2013 by the World Economic Forum. He assumed responsibilities as member governor of the Type II Financial Instruments Firms Association in 2014. Mr. Komatsu holds a degree from the Waseda Graduate School of Finance, Accounting and Law.