# Atsushi Nakanishi

> Atsushi Nakanishi founded Triple W in the United States in 2014 and its Japanese business in 2015. A Keio graduate and former JICA volunteer in the Philippines, he studied business at UC Berkeley before assembling the team behind DFree. He leads DFree Inc., formerly Triple W Japan, and has described recruiting expertise and international communication as central to building the business.

- **Role:** Founder & CEO at Triple W USA (DFree); Representative Director and CEO at DFree Inc.
- **Organizations:** Triple W USA, DFree Inc. (formerly Triple W Japan), Japan International Cooperation Agency (former volunteer)
- **Education:** Graduated from the Faculty of Business and Commerce, Keio University, MBT program completed, University of California, Berkeley
- **Known for:** Built the founding team behind DFree., Won GET IN THE RING OSAKA 2016., Selected for WIRED Audi Innovation Award 2019.

## Career timeline

- **After university** — Worked in consulting on new business development.
- **Before 2013** — Served as a JICA volunteer in the Philippines, working on village income-generating business development.
- **2013-2014** — Studied business at UC Berkeley.
- **2014** — Founded Triple W in the United States.
- **2015** — Founded Triple W Japan in February.
- **2016** — Won GET IN THE RING OSAKA.
- **2017** — First commercial DFree release in April.
- **2023** — Company raised ¥1 billion from Yusaku Maezawa and financial institutions in March.
- **2024** — Triple W Japan renamed DFree Inc. in April.
- **2025** — Fifth-generation DFree went on sale in May.

## Achievements

- Built the founding team behind DFree.
- Won GET IN THE RING OSAKA 2016.
- Selected for WIRED Audi Innovation Award 2019.
- Led the company whose DFree product received four CES-related awards in 2019.

## Latest updates

- **2026-03** — Appeared as the guest on the March 21 MIRAI JAM broadcast.
- **2026-07** — DFree announced an online investor briefing and a FUNDINNO fundraising campaign to support production and expansion of its implementation capacity.
- **2026-08** — DFree announced receipt of the 20th Kids Design Award in the childbirth and parenting support category.

## Links

- Website: https://dfree.co.jp/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/at-nakanishi-9438038b
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/AtsNakanishi
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atsushi.nakanishi.9

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/atsushi-nakanishi
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-12