Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, established in 1925, is a prominent Japanese financial institution headquartered in Tokyo. It offers a wide range of financial services, including banking, leasing, and investment services. The company is renowned for its expertise in Japanese equity products, catering to corporate and governmental pension funds. Additionally, it provides investment products focused on Asian equities, with a dedicated investment team based in Hong Kong. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank also engages in asset management, debt financing, securities investment, and investment advisory services, reflecting its comprehensive approach to financial services.

Kazuya Oyama

Executive Officer

Past deals in Japan

Chitose

Venture Round in 2025
Chitose Group is a biotechnology company based primarily in Southeast Asia and Japan, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life through innovative solutions across various sectors, including agriculture, medicine, food, energy, and chemistry. The company emphasizes technological development in biotechnology while maintaining economic rationality, which allows it to create sustainable value. Chitose Group focuses on research and development, as well as effective business operations, to facilitate the commercialization of its innovations. By understanding the core principles and limitations of biotechnology, the company aims to support medical professionals and contribute to a thriving environment for future generations.

Leading Mark

Venture Round in 2025
Leading Mark Inc. is an employment agency based in Tokyo, Japan, specializing in human resources services. The company is focused on streamlining the recruitment process through its online platform, which aggregates job listings tailored to users' interests. This approach aims to enhance the job-seeking experience by prioritizing the needs of applicants, in contrast to larger, traditional agencies that may focus more on the hiring companies. Additionally, Leading Mark is expanding its operations to include mid-career and international hiring, with a dedicated team in China working to connect top Japanese-speaking Chinese students with domestic employers. By emphasizing a user-centric model, Leading Mark seeks to alleviate the frustrations often faced by job seekers, ensuring they receive the information and opportunities they need to advance their careers.

Japan Tobacco

Post in 2025
Japan Tobacco is a multinational corporation operating primarily in the tobacco industry. It produces and sells cigarettes under renowned brands such as Winston, Camel, Mevius, LD, Logic, and Ploom. The company is committed to innovation and sustainability, with operations spanning over 70 countries and products sold in more than 130 countries worldwide.

NOT A HOTEL

Debt Financing in 2024
NOT A HOTEL Inc., established in Tokyo, Japan in 2020, operates a unique membership service that allows users to seamlessly switch between using properties as personal residences or hotel accommodations via a user-friendly app. The company focuses on small luxury hotels and manages the operation and maintenance of these properties, ensuring availability for members three months in advance. Members can gift their unused dates to others and receive earnings through the platform, with key delivery and chat support available within the app.

Gojo & Company

Series F in 2024
Founded in 2014, Gojo & Company is a Tokyo-based holding company that enables financial inclusion for underserved communities worldwide. It invests in and partners with microfinance institutions across Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Africa, aiming to provide access to financial services regardless of one's background.

Sukedachi

Venture Round in 2024
Sukedachi Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-based company founded in 2017 that develops mobile applications specifically for the construction industry. The company's platform addresses the unique dynamics of the Japanese construction market, where construction workers often function as both order receivers and small enterprise orderers. Sukedachi's application allows skilled craftsmen to receive notifications about job opportunities tailored to their pre-registered criteria, such as location and occupation. This service enables workers actively seeking employment to directly connect with construction sites, while also helping contractors facing chronic labor shortages to recruit workers under flexible, on-demand conditions.

LocationMind

Debt Financing in 2024
Founded in 2019, LocationMind specializes in AI-driven software solutions for human flow analysis. It offers products like xPop (a SaaS dashboard) and MobMap (for time-series data analysis), serving diverse industries. The company's expertise lies in spatial information engineering and predictive analytics.

iYell

Series E in 2024
iYell Inc. is a Tokyo-based company that specializes in providing mortgage solutions for real estate companies. Incorporated in 2016, iYell has developed a comprehensive mortgage platform that facilitates mortgage analysis and improves the efficiency of the mortgage process. The platform integrates media and technology to enhance marketing efforts and streamline procedures, allowing users to access vital information about the mortgage market and various closing rates. By collaborating with financial institutions, iYell empowers both businesses and individuals to make informed mortgage decisions with ease.

RECOTECH

Seed Round in 2024
RECOTECH is a ClimateTech firm that collects and shares data to maximize resource value throughout its life cycle, offering circular solutions to organizations and municipalities in Japan and beyond.

Avatarin

Series B in 2024
Avatarin Inc. is a Tokyo-based company established in 2020 that specializes in the research, development, and deployment of advanced avatar technology. As a subsidiary of ANA Holdings Inc., Avatarin aims to enhance human capabilities through innovative mobility and human augmentation platforms. The company focuses on creating robotic avatar systems that allow individuals to transfer their consciousness, skills, and presence to remote locations, thereby expanding the potential of human interaction and mobility. Avatarin's commitment to next-generation technology positions it as a key player in the evolving landscape of avatar services.

Ubie

Debt Financing in 2024
Ubie, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company founded in 2017 that specializes in developing artificial intelligence-powered healthcare solutions. Its core offering is an AI-driven symptom checker that generates personalized evaluation reports for patients. Through a brief questionnaire that customizes its inquiries based on factors such as biological sex, age, medical history, and lifestyle choices, the tool aims to assist users in understanding potential causes of their symptoms. In addition to providing patients with detailed reports, Ubie also supplies physicians with patient summaries and predictive diagnoses to enhance clinical decision-making.

Orix Jreit

Post in 2024
Orix Jreit Inc is a prominent real estate investment trust in Japan, recognized as the first comprehensive REIT in the country. The company specializes in the acquisition, ownership, and leasing of various types of properties, including office buildings, commercial facilities, residential properties, logistics facilities, and hotels. A significant portion of its real estate portfolio is concentrated in office buildings, with retail and residential properties also representing substantial segments. Most of Orix Jreit’s assets are situated in the Greater Tokyo area, particularly in the Central Wards of Tokyo, which account for the highest property acquisition values. The company's primary source of income is derived from rental revenue generated by its tenants, reflecting its strategic focus on maintaining a diversified and profitable real estate portfolio.

WAmazing

Series C in 2023
WAmazing is a Tokyo-based travel technology company that serves foreign visitors to Japan by combining mobile connectivity, content, and booking services. The company provides free SIM cards to allow travelers to register before arrival and offers an app with up to 500MB of complimentary internet access, reducing barriers created by Japanese signup pages. It also operates an online travel booking platform with a multilingual tourist guide, delivering reservations information and tourism content through smartphones. WAmazing supports local governments and tourism associations with tourism consulting and inbound marketing services for domestic partners, helping them reach inbound visitors. Founded in 2016, WAmazing integrates mobility, information, and reservations to simplify travel in Japan.

ThinkCyte

Corporate Round in 2023
ThinkCyte, Inc. is a biotechnology company that specializes in developing an artificial intelligence-enabled, image-free visual cell sorting system, which sorts cells based on their morphology. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with an additional office in San Carlos, California, ThinkCyte utilizes advanced optics and machine learning to create its ghost cytometry technology. This innovative approach allows for ultra-high throughput and content-rich analysis of single cells, facilitating research, diagnostics, and therapeutics across various medical disciplines such as drug discovery and cell therapy. The company's cell sorting technology enables researchers to identify and isolate specific cells, including rare ones, in real-time, advancing the capabilities of single-cell analysis.

Luup

Debt Financing in 2023
Luup, Inc., founded in 2018 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in electric micro-mobility sharing services. The company's primary offering is an app-based service that allows users to rent and return electric kickboards, e-scooters, and e-bikes at various ports across multiple cities including Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Yokohama. Luup aims to provide a convenient and enjoyable travel experience by enabling customers to pick up and drop off vehicles at different locations through their application.

Paytner

Series B in 2023
Paytner is a company focused on providing financial support services specifically tailored for freelancers in Japan. As the freelance workforce continues to grow, the company addresses various challenges faced by this demographic, including funding issues and workplace harassment. Paytner has developed an online invoicing platform that allows freelancers to sell their invoices to business partners for immediate payment, typically within an hour. By facilitating the purchase of invoice information before deposits are made, Paytner enables clients to access funds quickly while managing their payment cycles more effectively. This innovative approach aims to enhance the financial stability of freelancers and improve the overall working environment in the evolving landscape of freelance employment.

FRD Japan

Venture Round in 2023
FRD Japan is a Saitama-based company founded in 2013 that focuses on innovative land-based aquaculture solutions. The company specializes in a unique biofiltration system that utilizes bacteria to circulate 100% of tap water, eliminating the need for natural seawater or groundwater. This technology enables the sustainable farming of salmon and other aquatic species, promoting aquaculture practices that are independent of the sea. By minimizing water exchange, FRD Japan aims to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of aquaculture operations.

FRD Japan

Debt Financing in 2023
FRD Japan is a Saitama-based company founded in 2013 that focuses on innovative land-based aquaculture solutions. The company specializes in a unique biofiltration system that utilizes bacteria to circulate 100% of tap water, eliminating the need for natural seawater or groundwater. This technology enables the sustainable farming of salmon and other aquatic species, promoting aquaculture practices that are independent of the sea. By minimizing water exchange, FRD Japan aims to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of aquaculture operations.

CADDi

Series C in 2023
CADDi is a Japan-based platform that combines online procurement for industrial products with an AI-powered data platform that digitizes and analyzes manufacturing drawings and procurement information. It tracks industrial products across the manufacturing supply chain and automates extraction of details from drawings and handwritten documents into searchable digital records. Through Realize DX, the platform integrates goods and software to streamline procurement, reduce expenses, and improve quality, cost, and delivery while enabling capacity expansion. The data platform provides procurement intelligence and supply chain data to help manufacturers consolidate insights and support sourcing decisions. CADDi is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

FLUX

Series B in 2023
FLUX Inc. is a company based in Shibuya-ku, Japan, that specializes in developing digital marketing solutions to enhance online business performance. Founded in 2018, FLUX offers a range of products, including the FLUX Header Bidding Solution, which fosters fair competition among advertisers and boosts advertising revenue. Additionally, the company provides FLUX LTV Analytics, a tool that utilizes customer data and advanced statistical methods to predict customer lifetime value. FLUX also features a Digital Experience Platform (DXP) that personalizes and optimizes the digital customer experience through its proprietary digital identification technology, enabling businesses to engage effectively across various digital touchpoints.

Heartseed

Series D in 2023
Heartseed Inc. is a Tokyo-based biotechnology company founded in 2015, focused on developing myocardial regeneration medicine utilizing induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. The company's mission is to advance treatments for heart disease through regenerative medicine, specifically targeting advanced heart failure with iPS cell-derived cardiomyocyte replacement therapy. Heartseed aims to enable the clinical application of its innovative therapies to improve outcomes for patients suffering from heart conditions.

Tsubame BHB

Series B in 2022
Tsubame BHB Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-based company that specializes in the research, development, and manufacturing of on-site ammonia production systems and catalysts. Founded in 2017, Tsubame focuses on commercializing ammonia synthesis through innovative electride catalyst technology, which allows for flexible production conditions. The company's systems are designed for small-scale plants, addressing critical environmental and food-related challenges while promoting a sustainable society. By enabling on-site ammonia production, Tsubame aims to reduce transportation and storage costs for its clients, contributing to more efficient resource management.

Synspective

Series B in 2022
Synspective specializes in developing and operating small synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites, providing SAR data and remote monitoring services. It caters to urban design, infrastructure, energy, insurance, finance sectors, and government agencies.

Animoca Brands KK

Seed Round in 2022
Animoca Brands KK is a company focused on supporting Japanese intellectual property (IP) holders in navigating the Web3.0 landscape. It provides a blockchain-based platform that allows major publishers, brands, sports organizations, artists, and game companies to launch Web 3.0 content, including non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and fungible tokens. By leveraging this technology, Animoca Brands KK enables IP holders to create their own ecosystems, effectively monetizing their intellectual property rights and fostering engagement with fan communities. The company's innovative approach promotes the expansion of IP utilization within the growing world of digital assets.

DAIZ

Series C in 2022
DAIZ Inc. is a Japanese company founded in 2015, specializing in the production and supply of plant-based meat products. Based in Kumamoto, the company offers a product line known as "Miracle Meat," which utilizes germinated soybeans through its proprietary Ochiai Germination Method. DAIZ focuses on creating plant-based substitutes for traditional meat dishes, providing consumers with healthy and cruelty-free alternatives. In addition to its production efforts, the company also engages in research and development related to raw materials and drug discovery derived from germinated soybeans.

Integriculture

Series A in 2022
Integriculture develops cellular agriculture products including clean meat and clean foie gras, and offers scientific visual content production. Founded in 2015 and based in Tokyo, Japan, the company aims to enhance sustainability and food security by enabling scalable cell culture. Its patented general-purpose large-scale cell culture system can culture a wide range of cells without external growth factors, enabling affordable clean processed meat. This technology supports the production of safer, more sustainable alternatives to conventional meat and broader access to cellular agriculture solutions.

Heartseed

Series C in 2021
Heartseed Inc. is a Tokyo-based biotechnology company founded in 2015, focused on developing myocardial regeneration medicine utilizing induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. The company's mission is to advance treatments for heart disease through regenerative medicine, specifically targeting advanced heart failure with iPS cell-derived cardiomyocyte replacement therapy. Heartseed aims to enable the clinical application of its innovative therapies to improve outcomes for patients suffering from heart conditions.

ThinkCyte

Series B in 2021
ThinkCyte, Inc. is a biotechnology company that specializes in developing an artificial intelligence-enabled, image-free visual cell sorting system, which sorts cells based on their morphology. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with an additional office in San Carlos, California, ThinkCyte utilizes advanced optics and machine learning to create its ghost cytometry technology. This innovative approach allows for ultra-high throughput and content-rich analysis of single cells, facilitating research, diagnostics, and therapeutics across various medical disciplines such as drug discovery and cell therapy. The company's cell sorting technology enables researchers to identify and isolate specific cells, including rare ones, in real-time, advancing the capabilities of single-cell analysis.

Creww

Venture Round in 2021
Creww Inc. is a Tokyo-based company founded in 2012 that operates a platform dedicated to the business development of startups. It provides a range of services designed to support new businesses, including creww accele, a collaborative platform that promotes entrepreneurship, and docks, which offers co-working spaces. Additionally, Creww offers steams, a cloud service for co-creation business programs, as well as a corporate membership that delivers business support for emerging enterprises. The company aims to facilitate corporate open innovation and digital transformation, connecting entrepreneurs with the resources, expertise, and networks necessary to foster growth and address social and corporate challenges.

CureApp

Series D in 2021
CureApp, Inc. is a Tokyo-based digital health startup founded in 2014, specializing in the development of mobile applications aimed at treating various diseases. The company is recognized for its innovative approach to healthcare, particularly with its nicotine addiction treatment app launched in February 2015, which was developed in collaboration with the Division of Pulmonary Medicine at Keio University’s School of Medicine. CureApp’s platform not only promotes clinical trials but also focuses on providing real-time, personalized guidance for lifestyle diseases through a cloud-based system that analyzes daily activity logs. This enables patients to manage their conditions more effectively, addressing health issues that are often overlooked by traditional medications and devices.

Visional

Venture Round in 2020
Visional is a company focused on promoting industrial digital transformation in Japan. It aims to address future challenges in various sectors while enhancing productivity across industries. In addition to its digital transformation initiatives, Visional operates BizReach, an online direct recruiting platform tailored for professionals, facilitating better employment connections and opportunities. Through these efforts, Visional seeks to drive innovation and efficiency in the workforce and contribute to the overall advancement of Japan's economy.

KAKEHASHI

Venture Round in 2020
KAKEHASHI Inc. is a Tokyo-based company established in 2016 that specializes in developing software as a service (SaaS) applications tailored for health insurance claim and drug history management, specifically designed for dispensing pharmacists using iPads. The company's mission is to bridge the gap between medical treatment and patients, aiming to enhance the healthcare landscape in Japan, which is known for its advanced medical technology and systems. As Japan faces a rapidly aging population, with projections indicating that by 2060, a significant portion of the population will be over 65, KAKEHASHI is committed to innovating healthcare solutions that support and improve the quality of life for this demographic, thereby contributing to the future of medical care in the country.

Xica

Series D in 2020
Xica Co., Ltd., founded in February 2012 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in applied data science and information technology systems. The company is recognized for its development of MAGELLAN, a widely used Marketing Mix Modeling tool that supports over 200 prominent brands in Japan. Xica offers consulting services that automate, visualize, and optimize marketing effectiveness, addressing both offline and online advertising for clients with varying degrees of analytical expertise. Its integrated analysis tool quantifies the impact of advertising efforts, allowing clients to understand the contributions of various promotional measures, including TV commercials and other offline advertisements, to their overall marketing results.

Sensyn Robotics

Venture Round in 2020
Sensyn Robotics is a company focused on developing innovative business solutions that integrate robotics technology, particularly drones, with advanced software applications. Their primary goal is to enhance infrastructure inspections across various sectors, including oil, electric power, and construction. By promoting automation and generalization, Sensyn Robotics aims to improve operational efficiency, reduce labor costs, and enable unattended operations. The company addresses pressing social issues in Japan while also seeking to provide its diverse range of solutions globally, leveraging Japan's position as a leader in tackling contemporary challenges. Through collaboration and cutting-edge technology, Sensyn Robotics is committed to enabling enterprises and municipalities to access and inspect affected or disturbed sites more effectively.

Sensyn Robotics

Debt Financing in 2020
Sensyn Robotics is a company focused on developing innovative business solutions that integrate robotics technology, particularly drones, with advanced software applications. Their primary goal is to enhance infrastructure inspections across various sectors, including oil, electric power, and construction. By promoting automation and generalization, Sensyn Robotics aims to improve operational efficiency, reduce labor costs, and enable unattended operations. The company addresses pressing social issues in Japan while also seeking to provide its diverse range of solutions globally, leveraging Japan's position as a leader in tackling contemporary challenges. Through collaboration and cutting-edge technology, Sensyn Robotics is committed to enabling enterprises and municipalities to access and inspect affected or disturbed sites more effectively.

MILIZE

Series D in 2020
MILIZE develops a cloud-based web platform integrating financial engineering with AI research, development, and operations. Its products include AI-driven forecasting tools for sales, investments, and life planning, along with risk management support.

Cogent Labs

Series C in 2020
Cogent Labs Inc. is a Tokyo-based company established in 2015 that specializes in the development of artificial intelligence software aimed at enhancing data input and API documentation processes. The company focuses on bridging advanced AI technologies with practical applications to improve the quality of life for users. Cogent Labs engages in both fundamental and applied AI research, offering solutions in various fields, including time-series forecasting, information extraction, natural language processing, and reinforcement learning. Its innovative tools are designed to automate document scanning and transform handwritten content into digital text, thereby streamlining data entry. By providing predictive analysis products and a natural language understanding engine, Cogent Labs enables clients to minimize manual data entry efforts and optimize business operations through efficient data processing and historical analysis.

Paidy

Debt Financing in 2019
Paidy is a Japanese fintech company that offers a cardless real-time payment network. It enables consumers to buy online without a credit card or pre-registration, optimizing for mobile and instant-checkout. Paidy's platform uses proprietary technology to score creditworthiness, underwrite transactions, and guarantee payment to merchants.

Arithmer

Series B in 2019
Arithmer Inc. is a Tokyo-based company that specializes in the application of artificial intelligence and modern mathematics across various industries. The company develops innovative AI-driven systems, including advanced robotic technologies and natural language processing tools that automate report generation and facilitate big data analysis. Its product portfolio encompasses a diverse range of solutions such as arithmetic optical character recognition, AI inspection systems, chatbot applications, crisis management tools, and 3D vision robotics. By integrating sophisticated mathematical techniques and AI, Arithmer aims to enhance operational accuracy and efficiency, addressing complex challenges that traditional methods cannot resolve.

Yoriso

Series D in 2019
Yoriso Co., Ltd., established in 2009 and previously known as Minrevi Co., Ltd., is a Tokyo-based company that operates a funeral planning platform. This platform connects bereaved families with funeral homes and other end-of-life service providers, offering online reviews and pricing information. It aims to empower individuals to arrange funerals according to their specific needs and preferences.

Cogent Labs

Series B in 2019
Cogent Labs Inc. is a Tokyo-based company established in 2015 that specializes in the development of artificial intelligence software aimed at enhancing data input and API documentation processes. The company focuses on bridging advanced AI technologies with practical applications to improve the quality of life for users. Cogent Labs engages in both fundamental and applied AI research, offering solutions in various fields, including time-series forecasting, information extraction, natural language processing, and reinforcement learning. Its innovative tools are designed to automate document scanning and transform handwritten content into digital text, thereby streamlining data entry. By providing predictive analysis products and a natural language understanding engine, Cogent Labs enables clients to minimize manual data entry efforts and optimize business operations through efficient data processing and historical analysis.

Rapyuta Robotics

Series A in 2018
Rapyuta Robotics Co., Ltd. is a technology company founded in 2014 and based in Tokyo, Japan, with additional offices in Zurich, Switzerland, and India. The company specializes in developing cloud-connected multi-robotic systems primarily for security and inspection markets. Rapyuta Robotics offers a platform that enables businesses to deploy and manage various robotic solutions without requiring in-house expertise. By integrating robot hardware, software, sensor data, and applications in the cloud, the platform streamlines the management of robotic systems, allowing users to focus on their core business processes. This innovative approach leverages advanced control research and artificial intelligence technology to create a coordinated robotics ecosystem, reducing the complexity and risks associated with deploying and interfacing with robotic systems. With a workforce of about 90 employees, Rapyuta Robotics aims to make robotics more accessible and efficient for organizations across the globe.

Prop Tech Plus

Corporate Round in 2018
Prop Tech Plus Inc. is a Tokyo-based company established in 2013 that specializes in system development and web construction tailored for the real estate finance industry. As a subsidiary of MINKABU THE INFONOID, Inc., it provides a range of services designed to meet the diverse needs of real estate finance professionals. The company's offerings include various REIT database platforms and related web services, which facilitate information access for REIT management companies and investment corporations. By enabling these entities to stay informed about market trends and investment news, Prop Tech Plus plays a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of operations within Japan's real estate market.

Sansan

Series D in 2017
Sansan Inc, founded in 2007 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in cloud-based contact management solutions for both corporate and individual users. The company offers its flagship service, Sansan, which is designed for businesses, and the Eight app, aimed at individuals, transforming traditional business cards into valuable digital connections. Since its inception, Sansan has experienced significant growth, with over 7,000 premium corporate users including notable clients such as the Japanese Government. The company has also expanded its reach internationally, establishing a subsidiary in Singapore in 2015. With more than 1.5 million registered users on its Eight platform, Sansan continues to set the standard for contact management services in Japan and seeks to enhance networking through innovative technology.

Freee

Series D in 2016
Freee is a developer of cloud-based accounting software designed for small and medium-sized businesses in Japan. Launched in March 2013 and originally named CFO K.K., the company was founded by Daisuke Sasaki, who previously led SMB marketing for Google in the Asia Pacific region. Freee's automated online accounting software seamlessly syncs with bank accounts, allowing users to automatically categorize entries and generate financial reports. In addition to its core accounting product, Freee also offers cloud-based HR labor software and cloud ERP solutions for midsize companies. The company operates on a freemium model, with paid plans starting at approximately 980 JPY per month. Freee gained recognition by winning the Invinity Ventures Summit Launch Pad in 2013, a prestigious demo event in Japan.

BizReach

Series A in 2016
BizReach is a leading online career networking service in Japan, transforming the executive recruitment landscape by allowing career-oriented professionals to connect directly with employers and recruiters. Often likened to "LinkedIn of Japan," BizReach enables over half a million executives to explore career opportunities through a secure platform where they can share their resume information exclusively with talent-seeking organizations. This service has disrupted traditional executive search methods by functioning as a cloud-based talent sourcing platform. Complementing BizReach, CareerTrek focuses on connecting young professionals in their 20s and early 30s with potential employers, leveraging a recommendation engine to enhance job matching. Additionally, Stanby serves as a comprehensive job search engine that aggregates postings from numerous job sites, allowing users to access over 4 million job listings in one search. Stanby also offers a free cloud-based applicant tracking system for employers, streamlining job posting and candidate management processes. Together, these platforms aim to modernize and enhance recruitment practices in Japan's HR services industry.

Mercari

Series D in 2016
Mercari, Inc. is a leading marketplace application operating in Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Founded in 2013 and based in Tokyo, the company facilitates the buying and selling of new and used items, including electronics, clothing, and books, through its user-friendly mobile platform. Mercari has gained significant traction, with over 100 million downloads and a strong presence as one of the largest peer-to-peer selling platforms globally. In Japan, it dominates the consumer-to-consumer (C2C) marketplace, holding over 70% of the market share and reporting more than 22 million monthly active users. In fiscal year 2022, the application recorded a gross merchandise value of over JPY 893 billion, with the domestic segment contributing over 95% of its total GMV. Furthermore, Mercari is involved in the development and management of internet services, enhancing its position as a comprehensive solution for consumers looking to engage in the second-hand goods market.

Freee

Series C in 2015
Freee is a developer of cloud-based accounting software designed for small and medium-sized businesses in Japan. Launched in March 2013 and originally named CFO K.K., the company was founded by Daisuke Sasaki, who previously led SMB marketing for Google in the Asia Pacific region. Freee's automated online accounting software seamlessly syncs with bank accounts, allowing users to automatically categorize entries and generate financial reports. In addition to its core accounting product, Freee also offers cloud-based HR labor software and cloud ERP solutions for midsize companies. The company operates on a freemium model, with paid plans starting at approximately 980 JPY per month. Freee gained recognition by winning the Invinity Ventures Summit Launch Pad in 2013, a prestigious demo event in Japan.

The Mitsui Trust & Banking Company

Acquisition in 2012
Chuo Mitsui Trust & Banking Co., Ltd. was formerly known as Mitsui Trust & Banking Co., Ltd. and changed its name to Chuo Mitsui Trust & Banking Co., Ltd. in April 2000. Mitsui Trust & Banking Company provides trust banking and related services in Japan and internationally. The company offers individual services comprising investment trusts; annuity insurance; various deposit and trust products; investment trust wrap accounts; loans; real estate services; and testamentary trust and inheritance-processing services.

USEN

Corporate Round in 2001
USEN Corporation, founded in 1961 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, operates primarily in the music distribution and ICT sectors. The company is recognized as a leader in Japan's music broadcasting industry, offering over 500 channels of music and information tailored for restaurants, shops, and offices. In addition to music services, USEN provides a range of ICT solutions, including internet connectivity, security, data center, cloud, and video distribution services. The company also manufactures business management systems, such as automatic checkout machines for various facilities, and offers customer attraction and store management support services. Furthermore, USEN is involved in the electric power sector, illustrating its diverse business portfolio. As of March 2017, it has been operating as a subsidiary of U-Next Co., Ltd.
Spot something off? Help us improve by flagging any incorrect or outdated information. Just email us at support@teaserclub.com. Your feedback is most welcome.