#5 Championing Change: Unlocking Opportunities for Women in Entrepreneurship and Investment
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🎆Welcome back to our Global Women Entrepreneur Salon series, proudly co-hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and EY!
📣Join us for the #5 GWES—“Championing Change: Unlocking Opportunities for Women in Entrepreneurship and Investment”—where we spotlight game-changers like Natasha Garcha (IIX), the visionary behind the Orange Movement, a groundbreaking initiative revolutionizing gender-lens investing and empowering women worldwide.
Also welcome Rajiv Kapoor (Chai Venture), Gina King (Supernode Global), Eti S. Lazarian (Elle Family Office), and Ye Xia (Mpower Partners), each bringing actionable insights on building inclusive portfolios, fostering supportive mentorship networks, and fueling women-led innovation.
Whether you’re a Women Founder & Entrepreneur, Impact & Gender-Lens Investor, Community Leader, Mentor & Advisor of Women-led Ventures, or an Early-Stage Startup Enthusiast, this Salon will equip you with the tools and connections to make a lasting impact.
🎟️Reserve your spot now to be part of a transformative conversation shaping the future of women in business.
Follow us on Instagram 👉 @gwes_global for exclusive updates, inspiring stories, and behind-the-scenes content designed to empower your entrepreneurial journey.
🌏The Global Women Entrepreneurs Salon in Tokyo serves as a central hub for women entrepreneurs and supporters in the startup and innovation ecosystem. By emphasizing English in business communications, we aim to foster global connections and inspire collaboration among innovators worldwide.
Stay tuned for a series of monthly gatherings and exclusive networking events!
Agenda
18:00 - Reception
18:30-19:00 Keynote
Senior Director @Impact Investment Exchange (IIX)
19:00-19:45 Panel Discussion
Founding partner @Chai Venture
Partner @Supernode Global
Family Principle @Elle Family Office
Principle @Mpower Partners
19:45 - Networking Event
@EY The HUB (Tokyo Midtown Hibiya)
Speakers
Senior Director @Impact Investment Exchange (IIX)
Shattering glass ceilings with finesse, Natasha Garcha is ushering in the gender-lens investing revolution. As Impact Investment Exchange (IIX)’s innovative finance maven, she catalysed the Orange Movement—a first-of-its-kind asset class investing in gender equality for sustainable peace and climate security. From groundbreaking gender audits to spearheading IIX’s award-winning Women’s Livelihood Bond Series that has empowered over a million women, Natasha is reshaping funding flows with a goal to drive more capital towards gender equality, climate action, and sustainable peace.
Founding partner @Chai Venture
Chai Venture, a women founder-focused VC, founded by Rajiv, who is a venture capital innovator, early-stage investor, and start-up champion. Early employee at Marketo, where he joined with 100 employees and played a pivotal role in growing the enterprise solutions team, leading to the company's IPO in 2013.
Built a diverse portfolio, using personal and family resources to support pre-VC stage startups.
Provided strategic consulting for over 100 companies, including Microsoft and Pfizer, in global structuring and growth.
Focused on investing in women-led startups solving global challenges with scalable solutions, specializing in early-stage investments.
Partner @Supernode Global
Gina King is a Partner at Supernode Global, a venture capital firm investing in early-stage companies that transform how people live, learn, create, and connect. Her unique global perspective, shaped by her upbringing across three continents, combines with 25 years of entrepreneurial and operational expertise to identify and nurture transformative companies. At Supernode Global, Gina partners with visionary founders building innovative solutions in health & wellness, education, entertainment, community, productivity, and financial empowerment. Her investment portfolio includes companies such as Audiomob, Just Women's Sports, Passionfroot, Personal.ai, and ViralMoment. In addition to capital allocation, Gina works closely with founders, providing hands-on support and strategic guidance to help them scale and succeed. Prior to venture capital, Gina spent over a decade at Jefferies in investment banking and corporate marketing before embracing entrepreneurship. She then founded two ventures: an e-commerce platform that democratized access to premium food and wine experiences, and an AI-powered digital health app advancing physiotherapy and athletic performance coaching. She holds a BA from U.C. Berkeley and executive certifications from Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Culinary Institute of America. Gina serves on multiple boards and actively champions initiatives that advance women and underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Family Principle @Elle Family Office
Eti Lazarian’s leadership journey began early in life, having served as a Staff Sergeant in the elite Givati Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), where she honed critical leadership, strategic thinking, and decision-making skills under high-pressure conditions. This experience laid the foundation for her successful career in real estate, where she now excels on the acquisition, ownership, and management sides of the industry. Her role as General Operations Director at Insignia, LLC allows her to leverage these skills, overseeing a diverse portfolio of real estate projects with a focus on efficiency, financial oversight, and long-term value creation. Eti’s military training instilled in her the importance of resilience, teamwork, and the ability to lead with both strength and empathy—qualities she carries into every project, ensuring smooth operations and successful outcomes. Whether managing complex acquisitions or leading teams in high-stakes situations, Eti’s ability to navigate challenges with precision and integrity has been key to her continued success in the real estate sector. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Eti is deeply committed to philanthropy, integrating kindness and community service into both her personal and professional life.
Principle @Mpower Partners
Xia Ye is a Principal at Mpower Partners, where she focuses on investments in digital health, AI/ML in healthcare, climate technology, and enterprise technology. Prior to Mpower Partners, Ye worked at the investment banking division of Credit Suisse(Tokyo), first in the firm’s corporate finance team engaging in cross-border M&As; and subsequently in the capital markets division focusing on IPOs and overseas offerings for new economy companies. Ye was born in Yunnan, China. She holds a BS from Fudan University(China) and a MS in Engineering from the University of Tokyo.
Exciting Themes Ahead: Salon Schedule
GWES Season 1 Finale - An International Women’s Day Special Edition
Morning Session: Effecting Change From Within: Fostering Tech Innovation Through Diversity
Evening Session: Global Innovations in Femtech: Shaping the Future of Women's Wellness
*Please note that the details of the events are tentative and may be subject to change.
Venue Entry Instructions
１．Please visit Office EV hall (1F) from Hibiya Mitsui Tower office entrance
Please enter the building from the office entrance (Hibiya-Dori Street) on the 1st floor. Please take the elevator to the 9F and then visit EY general reception at 10F by escalator.
※Please note that the entrance from the shopping mall is unavailable.
２．To access Venue (EY The Hub) rooms from EY general reception (10F)
Please present the Luma QR code at EY general reception. After checking in, you will receive your visitor pass for the venue.
Then, please take the elevator to the 21F.