Companies Expanding Into OSAKA
Bain Capital Private Equity, LP
- Entry Date
- February 2023
- Headquarters Location
- Boston, U.S.A.
- Location in Osaka
- Kita-ku, Osaka
- Business Overview
- Founded in 1984, one of the world’s largest private equity (PE) funds, focusing on supporting business value-up as a partner in business development, investing not only in mature companies but also in start-ups and growth equity investments.
One of the founding members is Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts and Republican candidate for president. The company is headquartered in Boston. The company has 23 offices around the world.
In addition to providing funds, the company has a team of experts to support the business growth of its portfolio companies, helping them develop new products and services, enter new markets, improve productivity, and enhance their operations to increase their corporate value over the medium to long term. Assets under management total approximately 22 trillion yen (approximately $160 billion) worldwide.
Since the establishment of its Tokyo office in 2006, the company has made approximately 30 investments in Japan. At the newly established office in Osaka, the company will support companies headquartered in western Japan, particularly in Kansai region, in business succession, overseas expansion, and other growth activities, as well as carve-outs and other strategic business divestitures.
- Interview
LayerX Inc.
- Entry Date
- April 2023
- Headquarters Location
- Tokyo, Japan
- Location in Osaka
- Kita-ku, Osaka
- Business Overview
- A fintech company that provides SaaS (Software as a Service: software provided over the Internet, etc.) products that integrate invoice processing, expense reimbursement, approval requests, and expense management such as corporate cards for businesses.
The service is compliant with the Electronic Books Maintenance Act and Invoice System, achieving both operational efficiency and compliance with laws and regulations.
The company also invests in asset management businesses that utilize digital technology such as blockchain, and develops and provides proprietary privacy protection technology.
Headquartered in Tokyo, the company plans to provide SaaS products to a wide range of businesses in the Osaka and Kansai areas at its newly established base in Osaka.
SpaciaNet Japan Inc.
- Entry Date
- Within FY2024
- Headquarters Location
- Osaka, Japan
- Location in Osaka
- Kita-ku, Osaka
- Business Overview
- A company that provides “AirXpress,” a multi-language communication solution using digital technology for accommodation service providers such as guest houses.
SpaciaNet Japan Inc. established its headquarters in Osaka in June 2021, and moved its office to Osaka City in July 2022. The company plans to register as a Type II Funds Transfer Service provider and provide an overseas money transfer service for Cambodian residents to easily send money back to their home country. The company expects to utilize this service mainly in Osaka and the Kansai region, where inbound tourism is thriving.
- Intervew
Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co., Ltd.
- Entry Date
- May 2023
- Headquarters Location
- Tokyo, Japan
- Location in Osaka
- Chuo-ku, Osaka
- Business Overview
- A subsidiary of Morgan Stanley of the United States and a securities company in which Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group has an equity stake, providing investment banking, sales and trading of stocks and bonds to corporate and institutional investors.
Headquartered in Tokyo, the company has established a BCP (Business Continuity Plan) base in Osaka, which will be responsible for conducting some of the back-office operations such as transaction payments and settlements handled in Tokyo, as well as continuing to handle customer transaction payments, settlements, and management in the event of an emergency in Tokyo office.
Osaka Digital Exchange Co.,Ltd.
- Entry Date
- August 2023
- Headquarters Location
- Osaka, Japan
- Location in Osaka
- Kita-ku, Osaka
- Business Overview
- An operator of a private trading system (PTS) for Japanese equities in which several major financial institutions have invested.
In June 2022, it became the third PTS operator in Japan launching market operations for equities.
In August 2023, the company relocated its head office to Osaka, aiming to open Japan’s first trading market for security tokens (securities issued using electronic means such as blockchain) this fall. The company will promote fundraising using security tokens for businesses, etc., as well as expanding its sales functions by conducting research and other activities to promote the use of security tokens in the secondary distribution market.
- Interview
FINTECH ASSOCIATION OF JAPAN
- Entry Date
- September 2023
- Headquarters Location
- Tokyo, Japan
- Location in Osaka
- Kita-ku, Osaka
- Business Overview
- FINTECH ASSOCIATION OF JAPAN started their activities in October 2014 with the purpose of creating a networking place for Fintech industry, while forming a community as a meet-up of Fintech companies and disseminating innovations in the financial field from Japan.
In September 2015, the Fintech Association was established as a general incorporated association with the aim of contributing to the revitalization of the Fintech market and the enhancement of Japan’s presence in the global financial industry.
It has been conducting many activities, including specific proposals for legal amendments and meetings with related organizations, to create an environment that facilitates the creation of new Fintech services.
In September 2023, the Osaka Desk was established as the first branch organization. It will provide support for business development in the Kansai region for members headquartered in the Tokyo metropolitan area, promotion of Osaka as a destination for overseas affiliated Fintech organizations for the realization of Osaka as a global financial city, creation of a startup community centered on Fintech companies, business matching, and other support and cooperation.
- Interview
SOURCING BROTHERS Co.ltd
- Entry Date
- October 2023
- Headquarters Location
- Tokyo, Japan
- Location in Osaka
- Kita-ku, Osaka
- Business Overview
- A company that provides operational support for CVC (Corporate Venture Capital; investment by corporations in startups outside the company), including developing startups in which to invest and supporting open innovation through co-creation with startups.
The company established a base in Osaka in October 2023, and plans to provide CVC management support to companies in Osaka and the Kansai region, as well as support for recruiting human resources and M&A for startups.
- Interview
Chang Hwa Bank
- Entry Date
- March 2024
- Headquarters Location
- Taichung, Taiwan
- Location in Osaka
- Kita-ku, Osaka
- Business Overview
- A commercial bank founded in 1905 and headquartered in Taichung, Taiwan. In addition to Taiwan, the company’s main focus is on business development in Asia, with overseas offices in Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, China, Myanmar, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
In Japan, Tokyo branch was established in 1992, and has been engaged in deposit, loan, and foreign exchange businesses mainly for Chinese and Taiwanese customers for more than 30 years.
In recent years, Taiwan has been seeing large investments in Japan by global IT companies and real estate investments in Japan by wealthy individuals, and the company has decided to open an Osaka branch in March 2024 to take advantage of the business opportunities presented by this demand. Osaka office will promote financing transactions for private residences and commercial real estate in the Kansai region, mainly for Taiwanese investors. It will also provide capital loans to Taiwanese small and medium-sized companies in Kansai region.
Trinity Technology Co., Ltd.
- Entry Date
- July 2023
- Headquarters Location
- Tokyo, Japan
- Location in Osaka
- Chuo-ku, Osaka
- Business Overview
- A Fintech company that provides consulting services for structuring family trusts (*) with professional experts, as well as a service that allows users to manage trust funds and assets via an app after signing a trust agreement.
Headquartered in Tokyo, the company will develop business activities to promote family trusts at its newly established base in Osaka, with the aim of solving the problem of “frozen assets due to dementia” in the aging society.
(*) Family trust is a form of civil trust that entrusts the management, operation, or disposition of property to trusted family members.
- Interview
The SEED Co., Ltd.
- Entry Date
- Within FY2024
- Headquarters Location
- Tokyo, Japan
- Location in Osaka
- Osaka City
- Business Overview
- A venture capital fund that invests mainly in seed-stage startups.
Headquartered in Tokyo, the company manages approximately 3 billion yen and has made start-up investments in approximately 50 companies as of December 2023.
It plans to establish a base in Osaka by the end of FY2024 to discover and invest in promising companies in western Japan, further deepen joint research with universities (e.g., research on industry trends such as new industries to foster startup companies and discover and foster entrepreneurs within universities) and create entrepreneurial opportunities for students. In addition, the company has been running Startup Kansai, an entrepreneurship event for students for the past five years, providing a community for participating students in the Kansai region to be exposed to entrepreneurship.
- Interview
TicketMe Inc.
- Entry Date
- April 2024
- Headquarters Location
- Tokyo, Japan
- Location in Osaka
- Fukushima-ku, Osaka
- Business Overview
- A company that provides a platform to increase liquidity and activate buying and selling by using blockchain technology to ticket ownership of things and usage rights of services.
It handles a variety of NFT tickets for live music, theater, sports games, etc.
The company plans to stablish a base in Osaka in April 2024 and provide services to box-office owners and companies in Osaka and the Kansai region.
HashPort Inc.
- Entry Date
- April 2024
- Headquarters Location
- Tokyo, Japan
- Location in Osaka
- Miyakojima-ku, Osaka
- Business Overview
- A company that provides blockchain-related solutions, including Web3* wallets. Its main businesses include providing the official wallet application “Expo 2025 Digital Wallet” for the Osaka/Kansai Expo, wallet services for financial companies such as crypto asset exchangers, and Web3 business development consulting.
The company plans to establish an office in Osaka in April 2024 to promote the cashless payment and crypto assets in Osaka and Kansai by providing the official wallet application to Osaka/Kansai Expo.
*Decentralized network based on blockchain technology, which is expected to enable decentralized data usage and distributed management without intermediaries such as platform providers.
Asia Money Fintech Company
- Entry Date
- March 2024
- Headquarters Location
- Taipei, Taiwan
- Location in Osaka
- chuo-ku, Osaka
- Business Overview
- The company was established in May 2013 in Taipei, Taiwan,
Provides small financial services to individuals, including loans and deferred payment settlements based on its self-developed credit management system (utilizing Internet technology and scoring technology) for funds raised through crowdfunding.
The company also plans to conduct business activities with a view to developing a business offering its services to fintech companies that will become partners in Japan.
The company plans to register as a Type 2 Financial Instruments Business Operator at its newly established base in Osaka in March 2024, and to conduct mainly loan-type crowdfunding business.
- Interview
Sasuke Financial Lab Inc.
- Entry Date
- June 2024
- Headquarters Location
- Tokyo, Japan
- Location in Osaka
- Chuo-ku, Osaka
- Business Overview
- Established in Tokyo in March 2016, Sasuke Financial Lab is an InsurTech (*) company that provides services as an insurance agency using digital technology, as well as consulting services to insurance companies and insurance agencies, including data analysis, strategic planning, marketing, and system development all in one place.
The company plans to provide its services to retail customers, insurance companies and insurance agency companies in Osaka and the Kansai region at its newly established base in Osaka.
* A coined word combining Insurance and Technology.
Alteryx Japan GK
- Entry Date
- August 2024
- Headquarters Location
- Tokyo, Japan
- Location in Osaka
- Kita-ku, Osaka
- Business Overview
- A computer software company which provides advanced data analysis tool powered by AI for companies. Alteryx’s services feature an easy-to-use interface that allows employees without specialized knowledge, such as IT, to utilize the tools simply by dragging and dropping (using a mouse or similar device to move files or icons) with a mouse or similar device.
They provide fintech services to financial institutions to support their business operations, including measures against financial crime (including anti-money laundering), loan screening decisions, and customer analysis. These services are also utilized by other business corporations for a variety of tasks, including accounting and finance.
In their new Osaka location, they plan to offer solutions that contribute to the efficiency of business operations to a wide range of businesses such as financial institutions, in Osaka and the Kansai region.
MedTech Actuator LLC
- Entry Date
- September 2024
- Headquarters Location
- Melbourne, Australia
- Location in Osaka
- Kita-ku, Osaka
- Business Overview
- An Australian non-profit organization that provides hands-on support and funding through equity acquisition to startups mainly in the medical and healthcare fields.
It supports commercialization of these startups, utilizing its global network, including overseas venture capital.
Since its establishment in 2018, it has supported over 200 startups in the medical and healthcare fields, with a total of 120 billion yen in funding.
At the new base in Osaka, the organization plans to support global business development of startups in the medical and healthcare fields, mainly in the Osaka and Kansai regions, by providing acceleration programs and growth capital.
* Equity refers to the rights of investors in a company, such as shares in a corporation or membership interests in a limited liability company.
Monex Ventures, Inc.
- Entry Date
- October 2024
- Headquarters Location
- Tokyo, Japan
- Location in Osaka
- Kita-ku, Osaka
- Business Overview
- A venture capital firm that invests mainly in seed and early-stage startups, the company has a track record of investing in ideas and services that will revolutionize existing business models through the use of IT, as well as in businesses with the potential for global expansion. The firm not only provides funding, but also provides support for business development based on the concept of impact investment*, as well as support utilizing its own network.
As of the end of October 2024, the Tokyo-based company had approximately 8 billion yen under management and had invested in more than 100 companies in the seed and early stages.
In October 2024, the Company established a base in Osaka with the expectation of investing in promising companies in western Japan, fostering entrepreneurs, and discovering human resources who can play an active role in their own companies.
* Impact investment refers to investments that aim to create a positive and measurable impact on society and the environment in parallel with economic returns.
FinTech Global Incorporated
- Entry Date
- October, 2024
- Headquarters Location
- Tokyo, Japan
- Location in Osaka
- Chuo-ku, Osaka
- Business Overview
- As a “boutique investment bank” that provides specialized, small-scale, tailor-made investment banking services, the company, together with its group companies, engages in private equity investments and investment management business targeting real estate, movable assets, securities, and other assets. The company is also developing initiatives using advanced financial mechanisms, such as a film fund using security tokens. The company’s investment portfolio includes domestic and international companies.
The Osaka branch was established primarily to meet the growing business succession needs of small- and medium-sized companies in Osaka and the Kansai region. Through investments in funds, the company will help Osaka/Kansai companies solve their business challenges and create added value.
Altair Engineering Inc.
- Entry Date
- January, 2025
- Headquarters Location
- Tokyo, Japan
- Location in Osaka
- Kita-ku, Osaka
- Business Overview
- This is a company that provides data analysis / AI-based software, etc. to companies in a wide range of industries. The company’s services are characterized by its advanced analytical methods that systematically link data dispersed in a company. For financial institutions, the company provides fintech services that support financial crime prevention (including anti-money laundering), risk management and customer analysis.
The Osaka branch office was established in 2003, but it was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. They decided to establish a branch office in Osaka again in order to collaborate with universities in Osaka and the Kansai region and to expand their sales channels to financial institutions in Osaka, etc. The company plans to provide financial institutions and other types of businesses with solutions based on data analysis which will improve their operations.
