This audio is generated by AI, so pronunciation and expressions may not be fully accurate. The narration is only in English.
While Alumni Ventures is now primarily known for its investments in promising startups, the firm itself became an innovator in the field of venture capital. Eschewing the industry's traditional focus on institutional investors or extremely wealthy individuals, Alumni Ventures was founded in 2014 with the goal of making venture capital investments more accessible to a broader range of investors. As its name implies, the firm began by investing funds collected from the alumni of prestigious American universities like Dartmouth, Northwestern, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Phillips, himself a graduate of Dartmouth and UPenn, was impressed by this fresh approach to venture capital. "Because the firm was initially built on the investments of alumni from the same universities, there were naturally many people involved who knew one another quite well. I think this helped create a sense of trust and common purpose that was quite unusual in venture capital at the time."
Many of the startups that Alumni Ventures chose for its early investments were launched by the investors' fellow alumni. "I think this made the investment feel personal as well as financial," explains Phillips. "Investors could see that they were backing the work of the people from their own alma mater—often people they knew well—as well as encouraging future alumni to be bold and innovative."
Phillips himself joined Alumni Ventures in 2020, working in several roles, including Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Chief Legal Officer (CLO). As the firm shifted its focus beyond the United States toward a more global investment strategy, he took the lead in exploring the Asia-Pacific region.
"I had already heard quite a bit about what was happening in Tokyo with startups and venture capital," he says. "But what really convinced me was attending SusHi Tech Tokyo in 2025. I was really impressed by the ambition and enthusiasm of so many different people at the conference, from representatives of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and large corporations to individual innovators with ideas that could change the world. And that was very encouraging, because fostering a thriving, healthy startup ecosystem requires real commitment from a broad range of stakeholders."
Excited by the potential for growth and ongoing development, the senior leadership at Alumni Ventures determined that Tokyo would be the home of the firm's first-ever Asia office, which opened in January 2026. Alongside his ongoing roles as Chief Legal Officer and Executive Managing Director, Phillips was appointed to lead the firm's new Tokyo office as Head of Asia-Pacific.
He knew right away that this was not a job that he could do from the United States on a laptop. "Aside from the obvious logistical problems, like the time difference, I think it has become obvious that Zoom calls are no replacement for meeting in person. At its core, venture capital is a people-first business. It requires individuals to sit down together and take time to find the solutions to complex challenges."
To establish a meaningful, long-standing presence in Japan, Phillips is aware that Alumni Ventures will need people who have a deep understanding of the country. "Networking is crucial in this business," he says. "We have already set up networking theme nights and training programs, as well as casual events that we call Tokyo Happy Hours, which have proven to be quite popular."
Those who have studied and worked in both Japan and the United States will be of vital importance to the company's success here. "Speaking both languages fluently is the most obvious benefit," says Phillips. "But I think it is even important to understand both societies and cultures so that we can understand differences while working to find areas where our interests and concerns align."
On a personal level, he is thrilled by the opportunity to live and work in Tokyo. "It's so exciting to be here. Tokyo is such a vibrant city—there is so much here to experience and discover, particularly for someone who is new to the culture. And of course, there's the food."
Phillips acknowledges that describing venture capital as a people-first business might strike some as surprising. "It can be difficult to explain what we do," he smiles. "As venture capitalists, our primary role is to look for the ideas that are out there right now that will make a difference in our world tomorrow."
That process often involves delicate conversations. "You have to realize that you are speaking with talented, passionate people about their most important dreams. We look at the problem they are trying to solve and the commitment that they have in terms of following through. Then, we start working on the necessary steps towards making their dreams a reality."
It can be quite a long road. Many of the ventures that the firm seeks out are those referred to as deep tech, innovations still in the early stages of research and development. "We don't try to predict which technologies will be beneficial or profitable—we look for potential," Phillips explains. "When we find a promising startup, we help build the funding to finance it, sometimes offering guidance on how to make their ideas more attractive to prospective investors."
Alumni Ventures has a diverse portfolio composed of over 1,400 companies working across a broad range of sectors. While specific details remain confidential, the portfolio includes companies in AI, robotics, resilience, and entertainment—four key areas that underpin SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, which takes place at Tokyo Big Sight from April 27 to 29.
Phillips is certain that Japan's startup sector will provide important new technologies to address the country's biggest challenges. "With Japan's aging population, for example, new innovations will be necessary in terms of housing, mobility, and everything else required to provide more elderly people with the best possible quality of life," says Phillips. "I have no doubt that technologies developed by startups will prove useful worldwide in other countries facing similar challenges."
Most of all, he is inspired to see more young people seeking out careers as innovators and entrepreneurs. "When I was graduating from university, the options seemed quite limited. But with the growth of Silicon Valley in the United States, young people began to envision new pathways to successful, fulfilling careers where they could actually create something. Looking forward, I hope that our work here with Alumni Ventures will open doors for young people in Tokyo to pursue their dreams and ambitions, too."
SusHi Tech Tokyo, short for Sustainable High City Tech Tokyo, is a Tokyo-based concept that leverages high technology to help create a sustainable city, delivering messages at home and abroad showcasing Tokyo's comprehensive attractiveness, and the challenges of resolving urban issues.SusHi Tech Tokyo | Sustainable High City Tech Tokyo
