Innovation through Collaboration

Diamond Edge Ventures is the venture capital entity of
Mitsubishi Chemical Group

Investment Focus Areas

Diamond Edge Ventures invests in technology companies that have the potential to transform Mitsubishi Chemical Group’s core markets and future businesses.

We provide value to our portfolio companies through pathways to co-development and commercialization with Mitsubishi Chemical Group business units.

Electric Vehicle & Mobility

Advanced & Lightweight Materials

Polymers, Films, Coatings

Electronics, Sensors, Display, Semiconductor

Health & Medical Devices

Food Ingredients & Packaging

Green Materials, Recycling, Renewable Energy

Advanced Manufacturing

Investment Team

Curtis Schickner President

Curtis joined DEV in 2022. Previously, he worked in the SF office of Climate Investment, a $1.1B venture fund dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and funding hard-tech startups, and at Constellation Technology Ventures, the venture arm of Exelon Corporation. Curtis graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, with a degree in economics and lives in San Francisco.

Naveed Ahmed Investment Director

Naveed joined DEV in 2022. Previously, he spent four years on the Venture Commercialization team at Mitsubishi Chemical Group. Before joining MCG, Naveed was on the venture team of JSR Corporation, another Japanese chemical company. He graduated from Chiba University, Japan, with a PhD in chemistry. Naveed grew up in Pakistan and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Commercialization Team

Commercialization team members are employees of Mitsubishi Chemical Group (MCG) and work to liaison between DEV investments and MCG businesses

Yoko Abe

Yoko joined the DEV Venture Commercialization team in 2023. Previously, she worked at The KAITEKI Institute, a think tank within Mitsubishi Chemical Group. Before joining MCG, she spent 15 years at Mitsubishi Chemical Group researching thermal management for EV batteries and organic devices. Yoko received a PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Tokyo. Yoko lives in Yokohama.

Zenjiro Chiba

Zen joined the DEV Venture Commercialization team in 2017. Previously, he worked at Mitsubishi Chemical Group and affiliated companies for 29 years to develop and manufacture storage media for HDD and ODD. Zen received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from Tokyo Science University. He lives in Tokyo.

Takaaki Kochi

Taka joined the DEV Venture Commercialization team in 2022. Previously, he worked for SOMPO Holdings, PwC Consulting, and NEC Solution Innovators, focusing on IT. He graduated from Keio University with a bachelor’s degree in law. He spent his teenage years in Vancouver, Canada, and previously worked in the San Francisco Bay Area. He now lives in Tokyo.

Takashi Ohtani

Takashi joined the DEV Venture Commercialization team in 2023. Previously, he worked at the Center for Global Commons at the University of Tokyo, collaborating with international organizations focused on sustainability. Before that, Takashi spent seven years at Mitsubishi Chemical Group as a researcher. He graduated from Keio University with a PhD in organic chemistry. He is based in Tokyo.

Hiroki Saito

Hiroki joined the DEV Venture Commercialization team in 2018. Previously, he spent 25 years at BASF Japan, including the Japan arm of BASF Venture Capital. Hiroki graduated from Mie University with a MSc in chemistry. He lives in Yokohama.

Stefan Schnippering

Stefan joined the DEV Venture Commercialization team in 2021. Previously, he worked as a New Business Development Manager at Mitsubishi Chemical Group, focusing on cleantech and energy. Before joining MCG, Stefan held sales and marketing roles in Albemarle, a $15B US specialty materials company. He graduated from Cologne University with a PhD in chemistry. Stefan lives in Cologne, Germany.

Satoshi Yoshida

Satoshi joined the DEV Venture Commercialization team in 2018. Previously, he spent 21 years at Mitsubishi Chemical Group in Japan and the United States as a Sales Manager of chemical products. Satoshi received a bachelor’s degree in law from Meiji University. He is based in Tokyo.