Funds Inc. Completes Series E Funding Round Raising Approximately 4.8 Billion JPY

Funds Inc., operator of the direct finance platform "Funds" (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Yuichiro Fujita), announced the completion of its Series E funding round for approximately 4.8 billion JPY. This brings the company's total cumulative funding to over 10 billion JPY, including debt financing, with approximately 8.8 billion JPY in equity-based funding.

Following the first close of the Series E round announced in November 2025, this round included third-party allocation of shares from Sony Financial Ventures & Global Brain Frontier Inc., Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. (JAL), and others. Additionally, debt financing was provided by Mizuho Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, The Bank of Hokkoku, and The Shoko Chukin Bank. As part of this round, the company also conducted a secondary offering to optimize its shareholder structure in anticipation of a future IPO.

The company’s consolidated group revenue has grown more than twofold year-on-year for three consecutive years, with plans to exceed 10 billion JPY in the coming fiscal year.

Moving forward, Funds aims to strengthen its recruitment of financial professionals and enhance credit assessment through the application of AI. The company will also expand its business base through M&A and international operations, striving to establish itself as a market leader in "next-generation direct finance." Through these initiatives, the company will further refine its management structure.

■ Background and Purpose: Becoming a "Socially Essential Financial Infrastructure"

As a pioneer in direct finance platforms directly connecting individual investors and enterprises, the company has accumulated a track record of zero payment delays or principal losses on over 110 billion JPY in solicited funds since its inception (as of May 20, 2026; does not guarantee future results).

With the return of a "world with interest rates," individual interest in asset management is rising, while enterprises face diversified funding needs. Demand for a "third funding method"—distinct from bank loans or equity financing—has reached a major turning point.

This fundraising is more than just securing growth capital. Partnering with major financial institutions, representative Japanese corporations, and overseas investors provides a solid foundation for the group to evolve into a "socially essential financial infrastructure." The company aims to move beyond the startup phase and become a "main player in a new era of direct finance" with the reliability expected of a listed company.

Receiving financing under favorable terms from major financial institutions is recognized as a testament to the company’s sound and stable management.

As the trend from "savings to investment" accelerates, the company will utilize its solid financial base to provide "attractive yields" to individual investors and "agile capital" to enterprises, leading Japan's new capital flows.

■ Group Consolidated Total Transaction Volume Reaches 60 Billion JPY: Diversification and Global Progress

Centering on the "Funds" platform, the group has promoted business diversification and synergy creation through "Funds Real Estate," venture debt via "Funds Startups," and the integration of Taiwanese fintech firm AMFC (Asia Money Fintech Company).

As a result, the total transaction volume across the group has already reached approximately 60 billion JPY this fiscal year. The company aims to optimize capital flows on a global scale as a "global financial platform originating from Japan."

*Transaction trend over the three fiscal years from May 2023 to May 2025.
*Data basis: Gross Transaction Value (GTV) for Funds platform and Funds Real Estate; AUM and loan books in 4Q for Funds Startups and AMFC.

[Sustainability of Growth and Outlook]

In terms of financial performance, consolidated group revenue has continued to accelerate, growing more than twofold year-on-year for three consecutive years.

Furthermore, the ratio of overseas operating revenue is approximately 30%, indicating steady progress in global expansion. The company will continue to provide new value that contributes to the growth of both Japan and Asia with steady steps.

*Overseas operating revenue ratio is calculated as the average from January 2026, when financial consolidation was completed, through the end of April 2026.

■ Comment from CEO Yuichiro Fujita

We are currently at a major turning point, arguably our second founding period. This funding is a strategic move to create the "new capital flow" we aim for.

By fusing financial professionalism and technology, we aim to exist as a public entity that increases the prosperity of investors, participating companies, and society as a whole.