Backstory

I was born and raised in a rural coal-mining town in Fukuoka. My father ran a chocolate factory, and I woke up each day to the heavy smell of cacao beans. As a child, I saw firsthand the hardships of growing and expanding a small business into a regional brand - Tirol Choco. In a town with one of the highest unemployment rates in Japan, most of my childhood friends never made it to college. I never forget how lucky I was to benefit from our family business, all thanks to my parents' hard work. Today, I try to give back - both professionally and personally - whenever and wherever I can.

What’s a book, podcast, or movie that’s had a big impact on you - and why?

Moneyball by Michael Lewis, Zero to One by Peter Thiel, and Factfulness by Hans Rosling had a profound impact on me. At the core of all three books is the importance of uncovering a hidden but meaningful truth - an important insight that few others agree with. This contrarian view of the world has become a guiding principle for me, both personally and professionally, when making career and life decisions. It's especially shaped my perspective as an investor and continues to inform my approach as a venture capitalist.

About Miwa

Prior to co-founding MPower Partners, I spent over 20 years in finance as both an investment banker and a fund manager. After earning my MBA from Harvard Business School, I joined Morgan Stanley and later moved to Clay Finlay, a U.S.-based asset management firm focused on global equities. There, I managed the Japan Growth equity portfolio, investing in retailers such as Fast Retailing and Nitori back in the mid-1990s - when they were still small, local chains. In addition to my investment work, I’ve translated over 60 business publications, including bestsellers by Peter Thiel and Ben Horowitz.