How Much Did Mercari Raise? Funding & Key Investors

Mercari has successfully raised significant funding through multiple rounds, with notable investors such as Japan Post Capital and Yamato Transport. The platform offers a consumer-to-consumer marketplace for buying and selling items via a mobile app and website.

Keep reading to explore the intricacies of Mercari's fundraising journey and the investors backing this innovative platform.

What Is Mercari?

Mercari, founded in 2013, is a prominent player in the e-commerce and mobile marketplace industries. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, the company operates a community shopping app that facilitates the buying and selling of second-hand items via smartphones.

With an employee count ranging between 101-250, Mercari has established itself as a significant platform in the online marketplace sector. The company is publicly listed under the stock symbol TYO:4385 and continues to expand its presence through various acquisitions and investments.

How Much Funding Has Mercari Raised?

1. Pre-Seed Round
   • Amount Raised: ¥10M
   • Date: March 2013
   • Lead Investors: Not publicly disclosed
   • Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
   • Motivation Behind the Round: Initial funding to develop the platform and launch the business.
2. Seed Round
   • Amount Raised: ¥50M
   • Date: July 2013
   • Lead Investors: East Ventures
   • Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
   • Motivation Behind the Round: To support early-stage growth and platform development.
3. Series A
   • Amount Raised: ¥300M
   • Date: August 2013
   • Lead Investors: UNITED
   • Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
   • Motivation Behind the Round: To expand market presence and enhance technology.
4. Series B
   • Amount Raised: ¥1.5B
   • Date: March 2014
   • Lead Investors: Global Brain Corporation
   • Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
   • Motivation Behind the Round: To scale operations and enter new markets.
5. Series C
   • Amount Raised: ¥2.4B
   • Date: October 2014
   • Lead Investors: Global Brain Corporation, WiL (World Innovation Lab)
   • Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
   • Motivation Behind the Round: To further expand market reach and enhance platform capabilities.
6. Series D
   • Amount Raised: ¥8.4B
   • Date: March 2016
   • Lead Investors: Not publicly disclosed
   • Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
   • Motivation Behind the Round: To boost global expansion, especially in the US, and develop new business at Souzou.
7. Venture Round
   • Amount Raised: ¥5B
   • Date: March 2018
   • Lead Investors: Japan Post Capital, Yamato Transport
   • Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
   • Motivation Behind the Round: To expand market presence and enhance technology.

Total Amount Raised: ¥18.65B. Current Valuation: Not publicly disclosed.

Key Investors

• Global Brain Corporation
  • Details: Global Brain Corporation is a venture capital firm that invests in startups globally. They focus on providing growth capital and strategic support to innovative companies.
  • Investment Focus Areas: IT, healthcare, consumer products
  • Notable Investments: Mercari, SmartNews, Spiber
• WiL (World Innovation Lab)
  • Details: World Innovation Lab (WiL) is a venture capital firm that bridges Japan and Silicon Valley. They aim to support startups that can create significant market impact.
  • Investment Focus Areas: Technology startups, market bridging between Japan and the US
  • Notable Investments: Mercari, Asana, Raksul
• UNITED
  • Details: UNITED is a venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage investments. They provide financial and strategic support to help startups grow.
  • Investment Focus Areas: Not publicly disclosed
  • Notable Investments: Not publicly disclosed
• East Ventures
  • Details: East Ventures is a seed and early-stage venture capital firm. They have a strong presence in Southeast Asia and Japan.
  • Investment Focus Areas: Not publicly disclosed
  • Notable Investments: Not publicly disclosed
• Globis Capital Partners
  • Details: Globis Capital Partners is a venture capital firm based in Japan. They focus on early to growth-stage investments in various sectors.
  • Investment Focus Areas: Technology, healthcare, consumer services
  • Notable Investments: GREE, Medley, Mercari

What's Next for Mercari?

Mercari's future is brimming with opportunities, particularly in global expansion and new business ventures. With over 25 million downloads in Japan and 7 million in the US, the platform is poised to capture a larger international market. The development of new business at Souzou, a subsidiary, and strengthening the team for mergers and acquisitions are key strategies for growth.

Future fundraising efforts will likely focus on supporting these expansive initiatives. The increasing popularity of C2C marketplace apps and the trend of Japanese tech companies entering global markets provide a fertile ground for Mercari's growth. However, challenges such as intense competition in the US market and managing new ventures and acquisitions could pose significant hurdles.

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