Episode 11: Ray Klein Investor/Entrepreneur

Ray Klein is an entrepreneur, mentor, crisis manager, and project
leader. Ray Klein co-founded American Life Inc., a Seattle, WA
real estate investment company, in 1996. During his tenure, from
1996 to 2012, he grew total funds under management to
approximately USD 1 billion, primarily from Asian
investors. 


During 2012–2014, he led Rainbow Clean Energy GK, a developer of
mega-solar power generation projects in Japan. In 2015–2016, he
restructured and then sold a USD 1.5 million retail and gift
store business that was previously acquired as part of the Okabe
purchase. In 2009, he led a local private investor group in the
acquisition of the Okabe Hotel Group, a 500-room resort chain in
Japan, and served as its president until the company was sold in
late 2010. 


In 1996, Ray also founded Tekinvest KK, a strategic consulting
firm that focused on localizing numerous U.S. technology
companies to the Japanese market. Most notable was NetRatings
Japan, Inc. (a joint venture with Nielsen Media Research and
Transcosmos Inc.). Ray has previously served on the board of HOPE
International Development Agency, Japan, which extends help to
Asia's neglected poor. He holds BS and MS degrees in Computer
Science.


Ray is bilingual in English and Japanese, and has lived in Tokyo
since 1990.