Former CARTA HD Representative Director Shinten Usami Acquires All Shares of Supporterz

Shinten Usami, former Representative Director, President, Executive Officer, and CEO of CARTA HOLDINGS, Inc. ("CARTA HD"), has agreed to acquire all shares of Supporterz, Inc. ("Supporterz") held by CARTA HD, through the newly established Supporterz Holdings, Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Shinten Usami, "Supporterz HD"). This transaction is scheduled to be executed on April 10, 2026.

Supporterz is one of Japan's leading HR tech companies, having developed high-value-added matching services primarily specializing in career support for new graduate engineers, under the vision of "Increasing the number of cool adults" since its establishment. It boasts an overwhelming community brand for engineering students and possesses a business foundation expected to grow further in the market for young IT talent, which will support the future digital society.

Through this share acquisition, Supporterz will become independent from CARTA HD and pursue flexible and bold business strategies. Shinten Usami will fully support this independence, leveraging his extensive business development experience to strongly promote Supporterz's medium-to-long-term corporate growth.

Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1972. After graduating from Waseda University's School of Commerce, he worked at Tohmatsu Consulting (now Deloitte Tohmatsu LLC) before co-founding Axiv.com (VOYAGE GROUP) with friends in 1999. The company listed on Mothers in 2014 and the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2015. In 2019, it merged with CCI, a 100% subsidiary of Dentsu, and he was appointed Chairman and Representative Director of CARTA HOLDINGS. In 2025, he received a TOB from NTT Docomo and retired as Representative Director in December of the same year.

Comment from Shinten Usami, Representative Director of Supporterz HD

I have led various business developments at VOYAGE GROUP/CARTA HD. Among them, Supporterz has maintained its unique and wonderful culture since its inception, with the vision of "Increasing the number of cool adults." There is still much room for business development in the HR domain, including the utilization of AI and the expansion of business areas. I intend to work with the management team of Supporterz to improve its corporate value over the medium to long term.

Comment from Hiroaki Kaede, Representative Director of Supporterz, Inc.

Since its establishment in 2012, in addition to matching services for new graduate engineers, we have developed unique Supporterz services such as the Giiiku Project for career development, aiming to "Increase the number of cool adults."

It has grown into a service used by one in three students aspiring to become engineers, and since last year, we have also launched services for working professionals, continuing our challenge towards realizing our vision.

I am very much looking forward to the second founding under a new system, together with Mr. Usami, who has watched over and supported Supporterz since its founding.

Company Name Supporterz Holdings, Inc.

Representative Director Shinten Usami

Establishment Date March 5, 2026

Capital 200 million JPY (including capital reserve)

Shareholders Godo Kaisha 533 (Representative Member Shinten Usami) 100%

Business Activities Group management

Company Name Supporterz, Inc.

Website https://corp.supporterz.jp/

Representative Director Hiroaki Kaede

Establishment Date April 2, 2012

Head Office Location Toranomon Hills Station Tower 36F, 2-6-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-5536

Capital 10 million JPY (including capital reserve)

Shareholders CARTA HOLDINGS, Inc. 100% *To be changed to Supporterz Holdings, Inc. 100% on April 10, 2026

Business Activities Human resource referral business / Information processing services and information provision services / Advertising business and advertising agency business / Planning and operation of various events

*This content is reprinted from the press release issued by Supporterz HD. The original (Supporterz HD announcement) can be found here.