パラレル
6 known investors
Japanese developer of Parallel, a mobile voice-chat app where friends hang out online while playing games and sharing media.
Also known as Parallel Inc. · Parallel: Your Hangout Place · React Inc. · React株式会社 · パラレル株式会社
Investors · 6
Also in the syndicate · 4
Company profile
researched Aug 2026パラレル株式会社 (Parallel Inc., English name Parallel Inc.; formerly React株式会社 / React Inc.) is a Tokyo-based consumer app company that develops and operates "パラレル" (Parallel), a voice-call social app for hanging out with friends online. The app, released in August 2019 for iOS and Android, lets users talk in real time while playing mini-games, watching videos such as YouTube, listening to music, singing karaoke, drawing, and sharing screens. Communication features include online/offline friend status, a voice changer, voice stamps, sticker-based invitations, in-call background music, and in-call text chat.
The product is organized around two types of spaces: a "Lobby" where online friends can drop in and gather, and "Private" rooms for closed groups, clans, and communities. A core technical positioning is that Parallel routes voice through media audio rather than phone-call audio, so game sound is not attenuated during voice chat — a point emphasized for FPS and other mobile titles where audio cues matter. Screen sharing continues when the app is in the background, and calls can be started or ended from the notification bar.
The company is headquartered at 3-19-10 Nishiazabu, Keyaki House, Minato-ku, Tokyo, and is co-led by representative directors Joe Aoki (青木穣) and Daiki Toshihara (歳原大輝). It was established in July 2017 under the name React, a coined term from "Real × Connect"; the corporate name, logo and service design were changed to パラレル株式会社 on 11 June 2021 alongside its Series B round. Capital stock was reported at 100 million yen in January 2021 and 257.91 million yen in early 2021. The company also lists other apps, including Piik and FlyingTuna, under the Parallel Inc. developer account.
Founding story
The company was established on 7 July 2017 under the name React株式会社. According to co-founders Joe Aoki and Daiki Toshihara, the name React was a coined word from "Real × Connect," reflecting a concept of connecting the virtual with the real. The team built several services and experienced failures before concentrating on Parallel, which launched in August 2019; in June 2021 the company renamed itself パラレル株式会社 to signal a focus on that single product.
Business model
Parallel operates a free-to-download consumer mobile application distributed through the App Store and Google Play. The Google Play listing indicates the app contains ads and offers in-app purchases, and all in-app content is described as free to play with no additional downloads required.
Monetization indicators available are advertising and in-app purchases within the Parallel app.
Traction
Cumulative call time surpassed 3 billion minutes by 5 January 2021, about a year and a half after the August 2019 launch, with average daily call time per user exceeding three hours. Comparing February 2020 to December 2020, monthly users grew 710% and monthly call minutes 660%. Registered users passed 1 million and monthly total call time reached 400 million minutes by mid-2021, and registered users reached 4 million by March 2024. A game event held in August 2023 drew participation from 9,555 schools. The Google Play listing shows more than 1 million downloads (with the description citing 5 million-plus installs) and a 4.3 rating across about 34,100 reviews.
Latest developments
Following the March 2024 Series C round, the company said it would use proceeds for hiring, feature development and alliances with entertainment operators. In February 2025 Parallel was recognized as "Best Online Hangout App" in Sensor Tower's APAC Awards 2024, and in late 2025 it held collaboration events with SBI Securities (October 2025) and Kawaijuku Manavis (November 2025). App updates continued through August 2026, with version 6.72.2 released on 19 August 2026. A post-money valuation of 7,780 million yen (including potential shares) was reported as of 16 September 2025 by a startup data service.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Parallel has been characterized in press coverage as a mobile-first counterpart to Discord for smartphone gamers, addressing issues such as unclear presence status and game audio being suppressed during calls. By 2021 its monthly total call time of 400 million minutes was described as among the largest in Japan, and the app received a Sensor Tower APAC Awards 2024 "Best Online Hangout App" recognition.
The app is differentiated by handling voice through media audio so that in-game sound cues remain audible during calls, by bundling free mini-games, video, music and karaoke inside voice rooms without extra downloads, and by combining drop-in Lobby spaces with persistent Private group rooms.
Technology
The app uses media sound controls rather than phone-call audio so that game audio remains at normal levels during voice chat, with per-friend volume adjustment. Other implemented capabilities include cross-app screen sharing that persists in the background, notification-bar call controls, a voice changer, voice stamps, in-call chat and built-in mini-games (Solitaire, Reversi, Air Hockey, Keyword Werewolf, Animal Collection) requiring no additional downloads. Voice chat has also been made available to third parties, as with the GameTector integration.
Go-to-market
Distribution is direct-to-consumer through mobile app stores, with growth described as spreading by word of mouth among Gen Z users. The company also pursues integrations and alliances with entertainment and gaming partners, such as embedding its voice chat into the GameTector esports tournament platform and running collaboration events with brands, and has stated plans to strengthen development, marketing and overseas expansion using funding proceeds.
Consumers, particularly Gen Z users and mobile gamers who play titles such as Call of Duty Mobile, PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, ROV, Minecraft, Roblox and Brawl Stars, as well as friends, families and couples who want to share entertainment content online. Roughly half of users were reported to use the app with friends they had never met in person.
Geography
Headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, with a domestic user base centered on Japan and stated efforts to expand internationally; the app is published in English on Google Play and referenced for games popular in overseas markets.
History
Founded in July 2017 as React, the company released the Parallel app in August 2019. Usage grew during the COVID-19 stay-at-home period: comparing February 2020 with December 2020, monthly users rose 710% and monthly call minutes rose 660%. In January 2021 the company announced cumulative call time had passed 3 billion minutes and launched a "Party" feature set including simultaneous YouTube viewing, screen sharing, Keyword Werewolf and drawing shiritori. In February 2021 it began a partnership with GameTector, an esports tournament platform operated by GameTector Inc., embedding Parallel's voice chat inside the GameTector app for PvP tournaments registered from 26 February 2021. On 11 June 2021 the company announced a 1.2 billion yen Series B round and renamed itself from React to Parallel, refreshing its corporate brand and service design. A Series C round of approximately 1.2 billion yen followed in March 2024, bringing cumulative funding to about 2.9 billion yen. In February 2025 Parallel was named "Best Online Hangout App" in Sensor Tower's APAC Awards 2024, and in 2025 it ran collaboration events with SBI Securities and Kawaijuku Manavis.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 11
launches, deals, and filingsRound with JAFCO Group, KDDI Open Innovation Fund, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, NTT Docomo Ventures, Adways Ventures, Shizuoka Capital, Yamaguchi Capital and Resona Capital; cumulative funding reached about 2.9 billion yen, to be used for hiring, feature development and entertainment alliances.
The company announced it would begin full-scale international expansion of Parallel, strengthening development and marketing for overseas markets.
Third-party allotment round with JAFCO Group, KDDI Open Innovation Fund, ANRI, W ventures and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital; proceeds allocated to development, marketing and global expansion.
Effective 11 June 2021 the corporate name changed from React株式会社 to パラレル株式会社, with a new corporate logo and a redesign of the Parallel service.
Parallel's voice chat function was made available inside GameTector's esports tournament app; usable for PvP tournaments registered from 26 February 2021 via the latest iOS/Android releases.
Parallel added party features including simultaneous YouTube viewing, screen sharing, Keyword Werewolf and drawing shiritori, announced alongside the 3 billion cumulative call minutes milestone.
The Parallel app for iOS and Android was released, targeting smartphone gamers who want to talk while playing.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does パラレル do?
- Japanese developer of Parallel, a mobile voice-chat app where friends hang out online while playing games and sharing media.
- Who are パラレル's investors?
- パラレル's investors include Global Brain, W Inc..