Chikara Ono

Born in 1994 in Tokyo, Chikara Ono is an entrepreneur committed to challenging the status quo. After earning a BSc in Psychology from University College London, he began his career at Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting, gaining valuable experience in management consulting. His entrepreneurial journey took root in London, where he co-founded a university-incubated startup with fellow UCL colleagues. This early exposure to innovation laid the groundwork for his future ventures.

Upon returning to Tokyo, Chikara joined dotD, Inc. as Managing Director, driving new business development. In 2020, he co-founded The Ethical Spirits, a Tokyo-based startup producing high-quality spirits by upcycling undervalued byproducts. As COO and later CEO from January 2024, he led the company to secure funding from VCs and Suntory and achieve over 30-fold revenue growth. Chikara envisions a future where luxury and sustainability coexist, transforming undervalued byproducts into 'treasures' through The Ethical Spirits' growth and innovation.