Total amount raised
¥6.5 Billions
Latest funding date
3/1/2023
Location
Funds has successfully raised significant capital through multiple funding rounds, with its latest being a Series D. The platform offers a unique investment model where users' money is lent to companies, primarily publicly listed ones, in return for fixed interest rates.
Keep reading to explore the intricacies of Funds' fundraising journey and the investors backing this innovative platform.
What Is Funds?
Funds, founded on November 1, 2016, is a financial services company based in Tokyo, Japan. The platform allows investors to lend money to companies, primarily publicly listed ones, in return for fixed interest rates.
Founded by Yo Shibata, Funds has grown to employ between 11 and 50 people. The company emphasizes low-risk investments with predetermined returns and investment periods.
Funds collaborates with major banks and securities companies, ensuring a secure and reliable investment environment for its users.
How Much Funding Has Funds Raised?
- Seed Round
- Amount Raised: ¥212.8M
- Date: December 2017
- Lead Investors: Not publicly disclosed
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To kickstart the platform and develop initial offerings.
- Series B
- Amount Raised: ¥700M
- Date: August 2019
- Lead Investors: ITOCHU Technology Ventures
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To expand the platform's capabilities and user base.
- Venture Round
- Date: August 2019
- Lead Investors: ITOCHU Corporation
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To secure strategic partnerships and enhance market reach.
- Venture Round
- Date: January 2020
- Lead Investors: Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To strengthen financial stability and support growth initiatives.
- Corporate Round
- Date: August 2020
- Lead Investors: Dentsu Group
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To leverage corporate synergies and expand market presence.
- Venture Round
- Date: October 2020
- Lead Investors: Not publicly disclosed
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To continue scaling operations and enhance platform features.
- Series C
- Amount Raised: ¥2B
- Date: April 2021
- Lead Investors: Global Brain Corporation
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To accelerate growth and expand into new markets.
- Series D
- Amount Raised: ¥3.6B
- Date: March 2023
- Lead Investors: Not publicly disclosed
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To further scale the platform and enhance technological infrastructure.
Total Amount Raised: ¥6.5128B. Current Valuation: Not publicly disclosed.
Key Investors
- ITOCHU Technology Ventures
- Details: ITOCHU Technology Ventures is the venture capital arm of ITOCHU Corporation, one of Japan's largest trading companies. They focus on investing in innovative technology startups.
- Investment Focus Areas: Technology, healthcare, energy.
- Notable Investments: Mercari, Preferred Networks, SmartNews.
- Global Brain Corporation
- Details: Global Brain Corporation is a Tokyo-based venture capital firm that invests in early to growth-stage technology companies. They have a strong presence in both domestic and international markets.
- Investment Focus Areas: AI, robotics, fintech.
- Notable Investments: SmartHR, Rapyuta Robotics, Spiber.
- Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank
- Details: Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank is one of Japan's leading financial institutions, offering a wide range of financial services. They are known for their strong focus on trust banking.
- Investment Focus Areas: Real estate, asset management, financial services.
- Notable Investments: Not publicly disclosed.
- Dentsu Group
- Details: Dentsu Group is a global advertising and public relations company headquartered in Tokyo. They are one of the largest advertising agencies in the world.
- Investment Focus Areas: Media, marketing, technology.
- Notable Investments: Not publicly disclosed.
- ITOCHU Corporation
- Details: ITOCHU Corporation is a major Japanese trading company with a diverse portfolio of businesses. They are involved in various sectors including textiles, machinery, and food.
- Investment Focus Areas: Textiles, machinery, food.
- Notable Investments: Not publicly disclosed.
What's Next for Funds?
Funds is poised to capitalize on the burgeoning fintech sector, with nearly $27 million raised in its latest Series D round. This influx of capital positions the company to expand its platform capabilities and tap into new markets, riding the wave of increasing interest in fintech solutions in Japan.
Future fundraising opportunities seem promising, given the successful rounds so far. Investors are likely to be drawn to Funds' potential for growth and innovation in the financial services industry. However, the company may face challenges such as market competition and regulatory hurdles, which could impact its expansion plans.
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