Forward Inc. Raises 200 Million Yen in Debt Financing from Financial Institutions

Forward Inc. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kohei Nagoya, hereinafter "Forward"), provider of the generative AI-powered recruiting support service "Ace Job", executed a debt finance round totaling 200 million yen on April 15, 2026. This includes a combined loan of 150 million yen from Hokkoku Bank, Ltd. and Mizuho Bank, Ltd., alongside a 50 million yen capital loan from Japan Finance Corporation (JFC). With this, the cumulative funds raised have reached 840 million yen. The newly raised capital will be allocated to enhancing the functionality of the generative AI-powered recruiting support service "Ace Job", strengthening the customer success system to maximize client outcomes, and developing the organizational foundation to support future business growth. Click here for details on Ace Job. ◾️ Background and Purpose of Funding Forward operates the generative AI-powered recruiting support service "Ace Job" under the mission, "Unleash talent around the world." In recent years, corporate recruiting activities have required multifaceted and highly sophisticated approaches, such as building candidate pools, screening applicants, operating scout systems, designing selection experiences, and optimizing recruiting operations. Conversely, challenges have surfaced at the recruiting front lines where a lack of human resources and the personalization of know-how make it difficult to improve the reproducibility of hiring outcomes. Forward has approached these challenges from both the utilization of generative AI and practical operations, providing support tailored to the specific recruiting issues of each company. Its strength lies in offering not just a mere tool, but seamlessly integrated operational design and execution support that leads to tangible recruiting results. This round of funding was executed to accelerate immediate business expansion and strengthen the organizational structure to deliver superior outcomes to even more companies. ◾️ Future Developments Moving forward, Forward will promote the further sophistication of recruiting support utilizing generative AI, centered around "Ace Job". Specifically, in addition to expanding product features adapted to the recruiting strategies and workflows of individual companies, they will tackle the visualization of hiring results and the improvement of reproducibility through data utilization, sincerely committing to clients' recruiting success. Furthermore, in parallel with product evolution, Forward will enhance its customer success and alliance structures, realizing practical value provision to a larger number of companies. In the medium to long term, beyond merely improving the efficiency of recruiting tasks, they aim to establish a new standard in the recruiting field as a foundational platform that realizes better matching between companies and individuals. ◾️ Comments from Financial Institutions (in no particular order) Shuhei Chiaya, Chief Account Manager, Tokyo Sales Department, Hokkoku Bank "While recruiting operations are a critical area directly linked to corporate competitiveness, they involve significant labor and reliance on individual skills on the front lines. We determined that the generative AI-powered recruiting support service provided by Forward addresses this challenge and contributes to business growth, leading to our decision to execute this loan. We expect that this funding will further strengthen Forward's business foundation and advance its value provision in the recruiting domain." Yohei Fujii, Deputy General Manager, Hamamatsucho Corporate Division 1, Mizuho Bank "Forward Inc. realizes recruiting that 'leads to results' for many companies through its innovative recruiting support product utilizing AI. Mizuho Bank highly evaluated the company's strong technological capabilities and the business driving force of CEO Nagoya and the management team, thus executing this loan. We will continue to support the company's further growth financially and contribute to solving structural issues in the massive human resources market. Under our purpose 'Challenge together. Bear fruit together.', will proactively promote initiatives to build a sustainable future and contribute to the development of local communities and economies as a comprehensive financial partner supporting corporate challenges." Shunta Sato, Tokyo Startup Support Plaza, Micro Business and Individual Unit, Japan Finance Corporation "Japan Finance Corporation's Tokyo Startup Support Plaza has executed a 50 million yen capital loan to Forward Inc., which operates the generative AI-powered recruiting support SaaS 'Ace Job'. Many companies..."