MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC OPEN INNOVATION CENTER
Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc.

Building the Future Through Purposeful Innovation

MELIC harnesses Mitsubishi Electric’s global expertise to accelerate development of transformative business solutions through deep collaboration and boundary-pushing innovation.

Our History

Mitsubishi Electric’s long-standing legacy of engineering excellence and innovation laid the foundation for the creation of MELIC — the Mitsubishi Electric Innovation Center. Founded to accelerate collaboration with visionary founders and startups, MELIC was born from the recognition that the future of technology depends on bold, cross-sector partnerships.

About Us Photo

What We Do

We identify, support, and invest in breakthrough technologies that align with Mitsubishi Electric’s strategic goals. Through our venture studio model, we provide early-stage startups with capital, expert mentorship, technical infrastructure, and access to global markets. From incubation to acceleration, we offer founders the resources they need to move from concept to commercialization — faster and more effectively.

Our Team

Our team brings together seasoned operators, venture builders, technologists, and domain experts — all united by a shared mission: to empower the next generation of innovators. Working closely with Mitsubishi Electric’s global business units, our cross-functional team ensures that every venture receives hands-on, strategic support rooted in real-world industry needs.

Zafer Sahinoglu, Ph.D.

Zafer Sahinoglu, Ph.D.

General Manager

VP Innovation

Chris Myers

Chris Myers

Chief Engineer

Mark Rakoski

Mark Rakoski

Head of Incubation

İsmail Ozyigit

İsmail Ozyigit

Sr. Software Developer

Yuji Niwa

Yuji Niwa

Sr. Manager

Scouting

Junya Saka

Junya Saka

Manager

Scouting

Erik Mintz

Erik Mintz

Director

Mobility

Takehiro Ishiguro

Takehiro Ishiguro

Manager

Scouting

Shirin Isadvastar

Shirin Isadvastar

Sr. UX/UI Designer

Mike DeLano

Mike DeLano

Executive Advisor

Val Livada

Val Livada

Advisor

Ed Walsh

Ed Walsh

Advisor

D. Christopher Keil

D. Christopher Keil

Advisor

Would You Like to Join Us?

If you're inspired to work with incredible minds and support entrepreneurs on their journey, explore the open positions at MELIC and become part of our dynamic team

Our Commitment

At MELIC, we are committed to operating with integrity, purpose, and long-term vision. We prioritize ventures that align with our core values.

Sustainability

Backing responsible and future-focused innovation

Inclusivity

Welcoming diverse voices, ideas, and backgrounds

Tech Advancement

Fostering deep tech solutions for global impact

Societal Progress

Building ventures that uplift communities

Our promise is to be a true partner to founders — providing not just funding, but unwavering support and a deep sense of responsibility in helping them succeed.

The Mensarius Oath

We proudly follow the Mensarius Oath to guide ethical innovation.

We uphold the principles of the Mensarius Oath — a pledge to act with fairness, transparency, and responsibility in every founder relationship. As venture builders, we believe capital should be compassionate, support should be founder-first, and innovation should always serve the greater good.

Mensarius Oath