Masashi “Mac” Kubota, principal at Wonderstone Ventures, is one of our top 50 Rising Stars in corporate venturing for 2026.
Mac Kubota was a driving force behind the creation of Wonderstone Ventures last year, the CVC unit of Murata, a Japanese manufacturer of electronic components. His team launched the investment arm to focus on longer-term horizon three investments.
He helped design and prove a new CVC model that could operate with a corporate-wide perspective and a clear learning agenda. He built the internal trust needed to formally launch the Wonderstone Ventures fund by first making about $10m in early startup investments and demonstrating both strategic collaboration and financial performance.
A standout example was Kubota’s role in an investment in a quantum startup, which was acquired within six months, delivering a strong financial return, while preserving a strategic relationship with the corporation. These successes validated the CVC model internally.
“A highlight of Kubota’s role has been the dual mandate of partnering closely with founders, while building momentum inside a large organisation.”
A highlight of Kubota’s role has been the dual mandate of partnering closely with founders, while building momentum inside a large organisation. On the external side, he works hands-on with entrepreneurs across Wonderstone’s focus areas, supporting them with capital, technical expertise and access to Murata’s global businesses.
Internally, he played a role in shifting mindsets by translating early exploration into tangible outcomes, which have enabled the CVC model to scale. The role also comes with meaningful challenges, most notably bridging the mismatch between fast-moving startups and Murata’s more deliberate corporate processes.
Another challenge is maintaining what he calls “dignity in innovation”: ensuring that corporate-startup partnerships remain transparent, non-exploitative and respectful of founders’ time.
Wonderstone Ventures’ $50m fund is managed by a team of eight who invest in the US, Canada, Europe and Israel from seed to series B startups, with cheque sizes up to $3m.
The Rising Stars are early-career corporate venture professionals who are making an outstanding contribution to their teams and the industry.
See the full list of Rising Stars 2026 here.
