Prof. Masayuki Hisada of University of Aizu, Japan

The University of Aizu was established in 1993 as Japan’s first university dedicated solely to computer science and engineering. Its founding president, Dr. Tosiyasu Kunii, had a strong vision: to create a new industry in Aizu through computer technology. He often said, “Earn your doctoral degree, start a company, and let’s build a Silicon Valley in Aizu.” He encouraged students to use their knowledge to make a real impact on society. I was a member of the university’s first class and the first to receive both a master’s and a doctoral degree there, under Dr. Kunii’s guidance. Although I wanted to start a company immediately, I had no funding, connections, or business experience. So I first joined a startup in Tokyo and later became an assistant professor at the Kanazawa Institute of Technology. In 2007, I returned to Aizu and founded Aizu Laboratory Inc. Through various innovative projects, the company grew and was acquired by a company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2014. In 2019, I launched a second company, this time focusing on the combination of AI and blockchain— my areas of greatest interest. Unfortunately, due to the impact of COVID-19, I was forced to shut the business down in 2024. Despite this setback, I continue to research and develop technologies that merge AI and blockchain, and I am preparing for my next challenge. In this lecture, I will share my journey—from learning and launching companies to experiencing failure—and the important lessons I have gained along the way.

Biography:

Masayuki Hisada is a computer scientist and technology entrepreneur specializing in artificial intelligence, blockchain systems, and software engineering. He entered the University of Aizu in 1993 as a first-year student in the newly established Department of Computer Software. In 2002, he became the university’s first graduate to be awarded a Doctor of Engineering in Computer Science and Engineering. He began his professional career in 2002 at the R&D Department of Network Security Technology Japan, where he was engaged in applied research in cybersecurity. In 2003, he was appointed as a lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering at the Kanazawa Institute of Technology, where he focused on education and research in network security and web application security. In 2007, Dr. Hisada returned to Aizu to found Aizu Laboratory Inc., a startup company that developed a fully automated web application security vulnerability detection platform. The company was later acquired by a Tokyo Stock Exchange–listed firm in 2014. In 2019, he launched his second venture, Aizu Computer Science Laboratories, focusing on the integration of AI and blockchain technologies to build secure and decentralized data infrastructure. Dr. Hisada continues to lead R&D projects in these domains, contributing to the development of next-generation computing platforms.

Address:Japan