Ryo (Ryosuke) Kobayashi

The 21 Fund is group supporting the next generation of Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) startups. "The Fund" offers ongoing support to our entrepreneurs and fosters lifelong relationships within the class of 2021. Our mission is to be the most hands-on and value-add partner to every GSB ‘21 founder. We leverage the strength and breadth of experience of our class through a network of 230+ individuals from the class of 2021 and a dedicated Platform Team for portfolio support. Follow us on Twitter at @21_fund.

The 21 Fund is group supporting the next generation of Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) startups. "The Fund" offers ongoing support to our entrepreneurs and fosters lifelong relationships within the class of 2021. Our mission is to be the most hands-on and value-add partner to every GSB ‘21 founder. We leverage the strength and breadth of experience of our class through a network of 230+ individuals from the class of 2021 and a dedicated Platform Team for portfolio support. Follow us on Twitter at @21_fund.

BPEA EQT is part of EQT, a purpose-driven global investment organization in active ownership strategies. BPEA EQT combines the private equity teams from Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) and EQT Asia, creating a comprehensive Asian private equity presence with local teams in eight cities across the region. In addition to BPEA EQT, EQT’s strategies in the region include EQT Infrastructure and the real estate division EQT Exeter.

HLAB is an impact-oriented start-up that aims to close the education and career opportunities gap based on socio-economic backgrounds through peer-to-peer learning and mentorship. Since 2011, HLAB has offered mentorship programs for high school & college students worldwide in varieties of formats, both in-person and online. In addition, it established $16mn scholarship program to support Japanese students to study abroad with Yanai Tadashi Foundation. Most recently, HLAB worked with Odakyu Electric Railway Group to reinvent hybrid learning during COVID with Shimokita College, a Tokyo-based multi-gen honors residential college. Built for hybrid learning in digital-first era, our residential colleges aims to make residential education more affordable and scalable in urban areas where on-campus residences do not exist.