Founders

Sachiko Kuno, Founder and Board President 

Dr. Kuno is a committed scientist, philanthropist, and entrepreneur whose mission is to empower others to change the world by providing the support needed to advance their innovative ideas.

Dr. Kuno founded S&R Foundation in Washington, D.C. in 2000, where she continues to serve as Board President. She launched Halcyon Incubator in 2014 to support social entrepreneurs, creating societal change through innovative business development, and also co-founded WE Capital, a female-led investment fund in Washington, D.C. In 2018, she co-founded Phoenixi Co. Inc, which operates a social incubator program in Kyoto, Japan. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for numerous organizations including DeNA,  and Monex Group, Inc.She also serves as Adjunct Professor at Kyoto University.

Dr. Kuno has received numerous awards over the years, including the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Greater Washington Area in the Life Sciences Category (2007), recognition as one of the 25 “Women Who Mean Business” by The Washington Business Journal (2009), one of Forbes Magazine’s Top 50 America’s Richest Self-Made Women (2015), and the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women by Forbes Japan (2015). Dr. Kuno has also been awarded Stateswoman of the Year 2016 by the Harvard Business School of Japan, received the AVON Awards to Women 2016, and was listed as one of Washingtonian’s 2017 Tech Titans.

Dr. Kuno was a co-founder of R-Tech Ueno, Ltd. (Japan) and co-founder/founding CEO of Sucampo Pharmaceuticals (U.S.) (sold in 2018), and successfully developed and commercialized two pharmaceutical products, Rescula Eye Drops for glaucoma and Amitiza for chronic constipation and IBS. In 2012, she also co-founded VLP Therapeutics in the U.S. to combat 21st-century global public health problems through revolutionary vaccine technology.

Dr. Kuno is a graduate of Kyoto University and received her Ph.D. in bioengineering chemistry from Kyoto University.

Ryuji Ueno, Honorary Chair

Dr. Ryuji Ueno, M.D., Ph.D. and Ph.D. is an internationally recognized scientist, innovator, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and leading patron of classical music in the DC area. Trained and certified as a medical doctor at Keio University School of Medicine in Japan, Dr. Ueno spent his academic career in the fields of pharmacology, physiology, and biochemistry at Columbia University, Kyoto University, Osaka University, and Stanford University. He has authored more than 100 articles in notable scientific journals.

Dr. Ueno previously served as president of the Evermay Chamber Orchestra, which joined with The Washington Ballet to present live performances of “Swan Lake” at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theatre in April 2015. He has also served as a board member for The Washington Ballet (2014 -2015) and committee chair for the S&R Washington Award (2000 – 2015). He currently is a board member of The New Orchestra of Washington and sits on its program committee. He is also the sponsor and chief lecturer of The Liechtenstein Academy of Music Washington, DC Semester. His passion for classical music led him to found the Ryuji Ueno Foundation in 2015, where he currently serves as executive producer. Through the foundation, Dr. Ueno produces more than 14 performances a year inviting world-renowned artists from around the globe. He also began the Potomac Music Lab Project, an incubator for classical music where world-class musicians can experiment with their craft. Dr. Ueno routinely offers private coaching for pianists, violinists, violists, singers, guitarists, composers, and conductors, assisting numerous top-tier artists from around the world. He also coaches trio, quartets, quintets, and chamber orchestras.

Dr. Ueno has received numerous awards and recognitions over the years, including Nikkei BP Publications’ Japan Innovator of the Year Award (2006), the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Greater Washington Area in the Life Sciences Category (2006), honorary membership in the American Gastroenterological Association (2008), and the Foundation Fighting Blindness Visionary Award (2014). For his continued dedication and support of the arts, he has received the Mayor’s Art Award for Visionary Leadership at the 30th Annual Mayor’s Arts Award (2015) and the Business Philanthropist of the Year Award from the Washington Business Journal (2015).