Ricerqa Inc. Raises a Total of 1.7 Billion Yen in Series A Funding Round

Recerqa Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Shotaro Umeda; hereinafter referred to as "Ricerqa") is pleased to announce that it has successfully raised a total of 1.7 billion yen in its Series A funding round. With this round, the cumulative funding amount has now exceeded 2 billion yen.

This round was conducted through third-party allotment of new shares from Angel Bridge Inc. as the lead investor, existing investors Genesia Ventures, Inc. and New Commerce Ventures, Inc., individual investors, as well as debt financing from Mizuho Bank, Shoko Chukin Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Resona Bank, Jomo Bank, and Hokkoku Bank.

Concurrently, we are strengthening our management structure and governance. Co-founder Momoka Koda has been appointed as Director and COO, and Taku Hiramatsu has been appointed as Executive Officer and CTO, expanding our business promotion structure. In addition, Masayoshi Hayashi and Kansaku Nakakura, Partners at Angel Bridge, have joined as Outside Directors, and Masafumi Takahashi has been appointed as Auditor. By transitioning to a company with a board of directors, we have established a management foundation that balances growth and discipline. In conjunction with these organizational changes, we have also refreshed our corporate website and recruitment site.

The raised funds will be allocated to strengthening product development for our Agentic ERP "RECERQA," which optimizes the order and reception domain; expanding our organization, particularly focusing on AI Engineers and Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs); and commencing full-scale business development targeting major manufacturing and trading companies.

Structural Inefficiencies Remain in the Field of Business-to-Business Transactions
Order and reception operations between companies are fundamental to all industries. However, structural inefficiencies still persist in these operations.

While ERP implementation, which began in the 1990s, and the proliferation of tools such as RPA and AI-OCR during the DX movement of the 2010s have led to partial digitalization of operations, the fundamental structure of "humans reading data, making judgments, and sending instructions to systems" has not changed. We believe this premise itself is the biggest bottleneck preventing end-to-end digitalization of business operations.

The Future of ERP Realized by Recerqa
"RECERQA" is an Agentic ERP that optimizes the order and reception domain. With its proprietary 4-layer architecture "Quattro," it autonomously normalizes data and consistently supports business judgment and execution by utilizing accumulated data.

Traditional ERPs are designed with the premise that "humans operate the system." Agentic ERP reverses this premise. AI agents understand data, make judgments based on business rules, and humans focus on final decision-making. This is a shift from "System of Record" to "System of Action."

Furthermore, as operational performance data accumulates after implementation, the AI's judgment accuracy improves, and the cost of human verification gradually decreases. To fully leverage the unique characteristics of the AI era, which traditional ERPs lack, such as systems evolving through continuous use, we have completely revamped it as an Agentic ERP.

Ricerqa's Unique 4-Layer Architecture
Ricerqa's developed "Quattro" allows users to start using mechanisms optimized for their business without spending time on AI development.

Details of Quattro are as follows:

Layer 1: QUON — Data Foundation Layer
RECERQA Unified Ontology Normalizer
This layer reads documents such as quotations, purchase orders, invoices, and delivery slips from various suppliers, which differ in format, language, and notation, and normalizes them into a unified data model (ontology) using AI. For example, it structures disparate notations like "Price," "単価" (unit price), and "Unit Cost" into a single concept, building a database that can be compared and analyzed across different entries.

Layer 2: QRAFT — Business Logic Layer
RECERQA Rules And Flow Templates
This layer structures business flows, judgment criteria, and transaction practices for each industry. It converts implicit knowledge accumulated in the field, such as "quotations higher than a certain level based on past performance are subject to negotiation," "rules for matching delivery slips and inspection data," and "calculation of invoice amounts based on rebate conditions," into reproducible logic and procedures.

Layer 3: Agent — Judgment and Recommendation Layer
Referring to QUON data and QRAFT procedures, AI agents autonomously perform analysis and judgment. They provide recommendations based on evidence for tasks that traditionally relied on the experience and intuition of personnel, such as evaluating the validity of quotations, reconciling delivery data, and calculating invoice amounts.

Layer 4: Execution — Execution Layer
L4: Human Execution
Personnel review and approve AI recommendations on-screen to complete business operations. If necessary, Recerqa will execute negotiations and final confirmations as a BPO (Business Process Outsourcing).

L4+: Agent Execution
AI agents autonomously perform business operations, allowing humans to focus on exception handling. After implementation, operational results are accumulated in the QUON data foundation, continuously refining QRAFT's business rules. Through this feedback loop, the AI agent's judgment accuracy improves with continued use, and human verification and intervention are gradually reduced.
RECERQA is designed not just as an AI agent but as a "self-contained business solution" that integrates the data foundation, business rules, agents, and execution environment. By retaining the specific rules of implementing companies and continuously self-improving, it realizes constantly optimized business processes.
Currently, adoption is progressing mainly among major manufacturing companies (food, daily necessities, chemicals), various specialized trading companies, and insurance companies.

Goals for Series A
Since its founding in 2022, Recerqa has focused on building the foundation for its Agentic ERP.

First, to refine QUON as the data foundation layer, we released "RECERQA Scan," an AI-OCR. We built the technological foundation for highly accurate normalization of diverse documents generated in inter-company transactions through actual projects with several major corporations.

With the QUON foundation established, we then began constructing QRAFT to structure industry-specific business logic. Concurrently, we have conducted demonstration experiments with several major companies to have AI agents autonomously perform operations using data and rules.

In Series A, we are entering the phase of integrating "Quattro," which we have developed and demonstrated during the seed round, into our product and delivering it to major domestic corporations.

1. Product Development
•Enhancement of Agentic ERP functionalities based on the "Quattro" foundation.
•Expansion of industry templates (QRAFT).

2. Organizational Expansion
•Hiring of AI Engineers, FDEs, Product Engineers, and Consultants.

3. Full-Scale Deployment to Major Corporations
•Full-scale deployment in focus industries, primarily manufacturing and trading companies.
•Establishment of a BPO × performance-based fee model.

Agentic ERP "RECERQA" Begins Accepting Orders
Ricerqa has continuously developed and validated its Agentic ERP "RECERQA" through actual projects with a limited number of clients, primarily major manufacturing and trading companies. With the initial development complete and our sales expansion system in place, we are now commencing order acceptance, effective today.

Maintenance personnel for AS/400, widely used as core systems in manufacturing, trading, and wholesale industries, are decreasing year by year, making it increasingly difficult to secure technicians proficient in its development languages. Companies are also facing challenges where their systems cannot keep up with business changes, as domestic ERPs are often based on customization.
However, a complete overhaul of core systems is typically a large-scale project spanning several years. Operations cannot be stopped. Migration risks are uncertain. Consequently, companies often choose to "stay as they are."

Ricerqa offers a phased migration path to address these challenges. Initially, RECERQA will take over the most demanding areas within order and reception operations, used in conjunction with existing systems. It is possible to gradually optimize areas such as procurement, inventory, and sales without halting operations, while integrating with existing ERP data.

Companies facing issues such as aging core systems, increasing maintenance costs, and personalized operational procedures are encouraged to contact us.

[Investor Comments]
Angel Bridge Inc. Partner Masayoshi Hayashi (Lead Investor / Outside Director):
Recerqa's focus on the order/reception and supply chain domain addresses a vast, unsolved market that remains plagued by personalization and inefficiency, despite being fundamental to all industries. The company is striving to build a new operational foundation that handles everything from data normalization to operational judgment and execution.
Founder Umeda possesses a rare combination of deep understanding of both ERP implementation sites and actual business operations, backed by exceptional product philosophy and implementation capabilities. We highly value the effectiveness already confirmed through practical projects with major corporations.
As an outside director, I will support product advancement and enterprise deployment, and I look forward to Recerqa presenting the future of ERP from Japan and contributing to productivity improvement across industries.

Angel Bridge Inc. Senior Associate Hiroshi Miyoshi (Lead Investor):
In the field of business-to-business transactions, structural inefficiencies such as format inconsistencies and personalized operations continue to persist. Particularly, areas centered on paper and non-standard forms, where data conversion itself is difficult, have been left behind by the progress of DX. Recerqa's ability to enable data conversion in these areas, starting with highly accurate OCR technology, and to tackle fundamental business transformation, holds significant potential.
Furthermore, we are highly impressed by the management team, who combine expertise in OCR from AI inside and ERP from Works Applications, and their domain understanding and strong business drive to overcome this challenging field. We are also attracted to the structure where accumulated business templates through implementation enhance cross-applicability and competitive advantage. We wish to partner with Recerqa in establishing a new standard in the order and reception domain.

Genesia Ventures, Inc. Naoki Kurotsaki (Existing Investor):
I am pleased to announce our additional investment in Series A, following our investment in the seed round.
While challenging the difficult mountain of constructing SCM domain ERP, the company's dual engines of cutting-edge AI technology and a strong organizational culture are now in full gear and ready to accelerate.
As generative AI enters the phase of full-scale integration into business systems, applications in "easily optimizable areas" are becoming commoditized, and true value is being created by transforming "tasks that are difficult to standardize" and "operations that were previously abandoned for efficiency." This value cannot be created without understanding the customer. My own experiences deeply immersing myself in the operations of major corporations have shown me the complexity of the order and reception domain that cannot be simply "standardized." That is why I have strong conviction in an approach that "makes personalized operations efficient while keeping them personalized."
We believe the domestic market for ERP and packaged software, which provides a broader range of services compared to SaaS, will continue to be massive, and we view this as a time when market dynamics will be significantly reshaped. We strongly believe the company will be a key player in this transformation and will continue our support.

New Commerce Ventures, Inc. Representative Partner Kohei Okubo (Existing Investor):
Since our initial investment, Recerqa has made steady progress in both its organization and business, and I have witnessed firsthand the execution power and growth of the team, including Umeda and Koda. With the addition of Taku Hiramatsu as CTO, the development team has been further strengthened, which I find very reassuring. The grand vision of building an AI-native ERP in the supply chain domain is steadily taking shape, and I feel a great sense of accomplishment. The field of supply chain management in commerce is a broad and complex area that can be considered the backbone of corporate management, making the significance of redefining it with an AI-native approach immeasurable. Through this funding, I am confident that Recerqa will achieve further leaps to the next stage. As New Commerce Ventures, we will continue to walk alongside Team Recerqa and provide our full support.

[Executive Personnel Changes]
To coincide with this round, the following executive personnel changes have been made.

■ Co-founder, Director & COO Momoka Koda
Worked at Works Applications, driving the launch of products as a corporate sales representative and new business promotion manager for the AI-powered ERP "HUE." Subsequently, gained SaaS sales experience at the Ubous Group's "FORCAS," then oversaw alliances and marketing as the head of business planning at AI inside Inc. Served as Head of PR & Marketing at HashPort Inc. Co-founded Recerqa in 2022. Since its founding, has managed consulting for major corporations and AI implementation projects, overseeing everything from product development to on-site implementation.

Comment:
As someone who has witnessed the company's growth firsthand for the past four years since its inception, I feel a strong sense of responsibility to lead the next leap forward at this milestone.

As generative AI enters a phase of full-scale integration into business systems, applications in "easily optimizable areas" are becoming commoditized, and true value is now being created by transforming "operations that are difficult to standardize" and "operations that were previously abandoned for efficiency." This value cannot be created without understanding the customer. Through my experiences deeply immersing myself in the operations of major corporations, I have witnessed the complexity of the order and reception domain that cannot be simply "standardized." That is why I have strong conviction in an approach that "makes personalized operations efficient while keeping them personalized."

How to accumulate data and bridge it to AI. Our strength lies in meticulously considering the design with the same level of detail as our customers. As COO, I will leverage this customer understanding and technical capability to drive business growth.

■ Executive Officer & CTO Taku Hiramatsu (New Appointment)
After completing his graduate studies at Kyoto University, he was involved in the development of ad serving systems and the launch of new businesses at FreakOut, Inc. In 2020, he joined Kakehashi, Inc. as a full-stack engineer and led the launch of "Musubi AI Inventory Management," which semi-automates pharmaceutical inventory management and ordering through AI demand forecasting. Subsequently, he led product development for multiple products as a lead engineer. Appointed Executive Officer and CTO, recognized as a rare talent with extensive experience in designing and building ERP-level systems that support core operations like order placement and inventory management, combined with immense passion.

Comment:
Through my involvement in developing inventory and ordering systems, I've realized the complexity of order and reception operations and the significant potential for AI integration. I chose Recerqa because they are genuinely building an AI-era ERP, and the team's passion for its realization was evident.

Our role is to refine non-standardized data, structure implicit business knowledge, and integrate AI into actual operations. We aim to nurture the Agentic ERP "RECERQA" into a product that functions effectively in enterprise environments.

As CTO, my goal is to build a tech company that can quickly grasp technological advancements and turn them into competitive advantages for the business and products. To achieve this, we will build a development organization capable of consistently transforming new technologies into value and evolving RECERQA continuously.

■ Outside Director Masayoshi Hayashi (New Appointment)
Partner at Angel Bridge Inc. Graduated from Keio University Faculty of Economics, MBA from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. Spent approximately 20 years at Itochu Corporation, most recently as Branch Manager for North America in Chicago, where he was at the forefront of trading business. Subsequently served as a director of a publicly traded company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and as CEO of a consulting firm. Involved in startup support as an early angel investor in Retty, co-founding Angel Bridge in 2015. Also serves as a part-time lecturer at Aoyama Gakuin University Graduate School of Law. As lead investor for this round, he participates in Recerqa's management.

■ Outside Director Kansaku Nakakura (New Appointment)
Graduated from the Department of Mathematical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tokyo, and completed graduate studies at the Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Tokyo.

After graduate school, worked at IBM Japan on research and development of web applications.

Subsequently, joined AI inside Inc. around the same time as Representative Umeda, leading research and development in AI and deep learning. Became Executive Officer and CTO in 2019, overseeing the development department. Led the construction of the technical foundation for AI products and steered the development organization as the head of technology before and after the company's IPO.

Became independent in 2022, engaging in AI-related software development and consulting.

Now participates in Recerqa's management as an Outside Director.

■ Auditor Masafumi Takahashi (New Appointment)
Graduated from the Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, and completed graduate studies at the Graduate School of Science and Technology, Keio University.

After graduate school, worked at IBM Japan, then at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC, where he was involved in financial audits and internal control audits for major general trading companies.

Joined AI inside Inc. around the same time as Umeda and Nakakura. Became Executive Officer and CFO in 2019, overseeing the corporate division. At the company, in addition to corporate operations, he led a wide range of areas including fundraising, investor relations, and preparations for listing.

Subsequently, served as CFO and management manager at several startups.

Now joins Recerqa as an Auditor. Certified Public Accountant (USA).

[Lending Financial Institution Comments]

[Representative Director & CEO Shotaro Umeda Comment]
First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who believed in our company's vision and business. I am incredibly excited to advance our business together with you all during this AI era, which promises to reshape the world as profoundly as the internet did.

Through proposing domestic ERP solutions, I witnessed the significant value standardization could create, yet also saw the reality of operations that could never be fully standardized remaining in the field. Later, through delivering AI to thousands of companies and running my own motorcycle import business, I learned that the hands-on judgment and manual work were concentrated in areas that ERP couldn't reach. For the past three years since founding, by immersing ourselves in those sites and refining products alongside our customers, we have built the foundation for the current RECERQA.

These initial experiences converged, leading to the conviction that "we must create a new ERP where AI autonomously performs business operations." Not people conforming to systems, but systems adapting to business. This is the Agentic ERP "RECERQA," and the future we aim to realize.

I am deeply honored to be able to pursue this challenge with the best colleagues, wonderful customers, and supportive investors and financial institutions.
We will transform Japanese corporate activities, starting with the order and reception domain.

[Company Profile]
Company Name: Recerqa Inc.
Established: April 2022
Representative: Shotaro Umeda, Representative Director & CEO
Location: Nakano Spring Building 6F, 4-11-17 Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Business Description: Development and provision of Agentic ERP "RECERQA" that optimizes the order and reception domain.
URL: https://recerqa.com

Contact for inquiries regarding this matter:
Recerqa Inc. Public Relations Department
E-mail: pr@recerqa.com
URL: https://recerqa.com