ウーマノミクスからファウンダーノミクスへ：松井キャシーが語る未完の革命
「ウーマノミクス」提唱から25年。松井キャシーが女性創業者への投資、ESGバックラッシュ、日本の投資プレイブックの書き換えについて語る。
In 1999, Kathy Matsui published a research report at Goldman Sachs that would reshape how the world thinks about Japan’s economy. The thesis was simple but radical: closing the gender gap in workforce participation could boost Japan’s GDP by as much as 15%.
She called it Womenomics. The term entered the policy lexicon, influenced Prime Minister Abe’s economic platform, and put Japan’s gender gap on the global investor agenda.
Twenty-five years later, Matsui is no longer writing research reports. She’s writing checks.
MPower Partners: Japan’s First ESG Venture Fund
As General Partner of MPower Partners — Japan’s first ESG-focused global venture capital fund — Matsui is now investing directly in the founders she spent decades advocating for. The fund backs companies where environmental, social, and governance factors aren’t a reporting exercise but a competitive advantage.
It’s a natural evolution. But the landscape has shifted dramatically since she coined Womenomics.
The ESG Backlash and What Comes Next
ESG is facing political headwinds unlike anything the movement has seen. In the US, major asset managers are retreating from climate pledges. In Europe, the regulatory pendulum swings between ambition and backlash. And in Japan, the conversation is quieter but no less consequential.
At Tech for Impact Summit 2026, Matsui will address these tensions head-on in a fireside chat titled “Womenomics to Founder-nomics: Rewriting Japan’s Investment Playbook.”
Key questions she’ll explore:
- Has Womenomics delivered? Where has progress stalled, and what structural barriers remain?
- Can ESG survive the backlash? How should impact-focused investors adapt their strategies?
- What does “founder-nomics” look like? How MPower is finding and funding the next generation of Japanese entrepreneurs
Why This Matters for Investors
Japan’s startup ecosystem is at an inflection point. Government backing for startups has never been stronger. Yet female founders still receive less than 3% of venture funding in Japan. The pipeline problem isn’t a pipeline problem — it’s a capital allocation problem.
Matsui has spent 25 years building the intellectual framework. Now she’s building the financial infrastructure to match.
Tech for Impact Summit 2026 takes place April 26 at Kioi Conference, Tokyo. Request your invitation →