About

Work Experience

• CTO/Founder, 

  Mar, 2015 - Sep, 20194 years 6 months

  Rikai Labs provides an AI chatbot for English Language Learning on WeChat, and a SaaS chatbot platform to B2B clients in China

  • [product] Launched 'bots for VISA, MetLife, MeadJohnson, PwC, HSBC, Publicis and many more

  • [tech] Developed AI/NLP engine, livechat dashboard, authoring tools and custom client framework

  • [stack] ReactJS / socket.io / typescript / nodeJS / mongoDB. Custom 'minibot' client framework

  • [biz] Raised $100k seed from 500 Startups and ChinAccelerator, then funded from revenue.

  • [biz] Bootstrapped from $0 to $500K revenue in two years

• CTO / VP Engineering, 

  Apr, 2012 - Feb, 20152 years 10 months

  KLab is a listed japanese game publisher that acquired my Tokyo startup Pikkle KK. I relocated from Tokyo to SF and setup the US studio.

  • [product] Recruited local team and built and shipped 'Crystal Casters' on Android and iOS

  • [stack] Unity3D / C# client / python+flask+postgres server

  • [growth] Built a custom metrics tool with JS/MongoDB to increase ROI per acquisition channel

  • [growth] Ran growth hacks for user acquisition across multiple channels

• CTO / Lead Developer, 

  Mar, 2005 - Apr, 20127 years 1 month

  Founded Pikkle KK a social mobile game startup in Tokyo. We published a mix of original titles and developed apps for other companies

  • [product] Launched 'JooJoo' social network JV with japan's largest ad network Adways

  • [stack] Ruby on Rails / C++ / Flash

  • [tech] Binary SWF generator to render flash games for japanese mobile phones

  • [tech] Developed 'Disney Circle' SNS with Disney Mobile using our Flash engine

  • [tech] Developed Restaurant City with EA/Playfish. DragonBall mobile for BandaiNamco

  • [biz] Raised $1M strategic investment from Mixi, japan's leading social network

• Director Overseas Business, 

  Mar, 2003 - Apr, 20052 years 1 month

  Worked with mobile operators worldwide to build Namco's international mobile games business

  • [product] Managed dev QA and roadmap for dozens of SKUs for J2ME phones and operators

  • [tech] Developed common J2ME carrier billing SDK working 'blind' without GSM network in Tokyo

  • [biz] Picked partners and launched China market to become our #2 overseas channel

  • [biz] Negotiated with operators to get deck placement/co-promotion for our brands like Pacman

  • [biz] Oversaw local offices in US and Europe from Tokyo HQ Licensed games from US developers to launch in Japan

• VP Content R&D, 

  Apr, 2002 - Apr, 20031 year

  PacketVideo acquired Gamelet.com and my team formed PV's Content R&D Group. PV had core tech for MP4 over mobile networks and we developed apps and worked with content partners like Disney, Time Warner and Sony. This helped PV close a $100M series E fundraise

• Game Designer / Developer, 

  Mar, 1997 - Mar, 20025 years

  CoFounded Gamelet.com one of the first US java games dev shops. Developed games for Disney, EA, Sony and advergames for Nike, Snapple, P&G and more

• Game Developer / Producer, 

  Mar, 1994 - Mar, 19973 years

  London based game developer. Designed and produced 'Burn:Cycle' which entered the UK game charts at #1

• Creative Director, 

  Mar, 1991 - Mar, 19954 years

  London's first 'digital design' agency. I started this while at Art College

Skills

Education

Awards

Volunteer Work

Publications