fondi
Tokyo, JP · 2 known investors
Fondi uses technology, design, and community to help people explore and discover different aspects of identity and self-expression beyond their default circumstances. The company focuses on creating opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery through its platform.
Also known as fondi Inc · フォンディ · 株式会社fondi
Investors · 2
Company profile
researched Aug 2026fondi Inc (株式会社fondi) is a Tokyo-headquartered company that develops and operates "fondi", a smartphone-based metaverse for language learning, positioned around the concept of a "virtual life abroad that starts with broken English". Users join 3D virtual environments modelled on study-abroad settings — plazas/parks, bars, shared-living spaces — and converse with other English learners worldwide through 3D avatars, so that no camera is required and users can practise at any time. Conversation content, casual in-world games and an "AI conversation practice area" with AI avatars supplement peer-to-peer interaction.
Alongside the consumer app, the company offers "fondi for schools", launched in November 2023, which produces metaverse campuses for educational institutions and education businesses end-to-end, from proposal through feature development and operation, combining 3D immersion, generative AI and access to fondi's international user community. Deployments and pilots have included a GPT-4o-equipped metaverse campus for study-abroad agency Suma-Ryu, and joint proof-of-concept projects with Chuo University and Tokyo Metropolitan University on global talent development. Later product extensions include fondi Buddy Talk, an English-conversation service launched in December 2024, and participation in co-developing an inbound hospitality English training programme announced in March 2025.
The company was established on 8 August 2017 and is based in Ebisu Garden Place Tower, Shibuya, Tokyo, with Tatsuto Nohara as representative director/CEO. Its stated business areas are study-abroad support and education support. The team is small (around 10 people or fewer) and includes members with backgrounds in game and VR companies; roles span Unity and backend engineering, technical art, 3D modelling, product management, design, marketing and community management, with the Ebisu office combined with remote work.
Business model
fondi operates a consumer language-learning app for English learners plus a B2B/B2E line, fondi for schools, which produces and operates metaverse campuses and content for educational institutions and education providers, and corporate English training programmes (for example for employees of an Indonesian company). A subscription English-conversation service, fondi Buddy Talk, was launched in December 2024 at a stated 3,980 yen per month.
Sources indicate a consumer service alongside paid services for schools and education businesses, including the fondi Buddy Talk subscription priced at 3,980 yen per month; further pricing details are not stated.
Traction
One million cumulative app installs were passed in February 2024; users span 196 countries with over 94% from outside Japan. Cumulative funding reached approximately 420 million yen as of November 2024. Headcount is reported at 10 or fewer.
Latest developments
In November 2024 fondi announced cumulative funding of about 420 million yen (ANRI as lead investor, with CyberAgent Capital and Canal Ventures, including a capital-type loan), began an English training programme for employees of a fast-growing Indonesian company, and announced a partnership with Classy English School to give Japanese students practice with non-Japanese speakers. In December 2024 it launched fondi Buddy Talk at 3,980 yen per month, and in March 2025 it joined the joint development of an inbound-oriented hospitality English training programme.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
The company describes itself as a Japan-originated global startup in the language-learning metaverse category; a Japanese startup database classifies it under EdTech, XR/metaverse, language learning and AI. It was selected for Nikkei Cross Trend's "100 companies creating future markets" in December 2023 and has been covered by Nikkei, Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, DIAMOND SIGNAL and TV Tokyo's World Business Satellite.
The service uses 3D avatars so learners speak without appearing on camera, which the company frames as removing embarrassment about making mistakes; it combines a multinational peer community, simulated overseas-living environments, generative-AI conversation partners and a productised offering for schools.
Technology
The product is built as a mobile 3D metaverse using Unity (Unity 2020, uGUI) with 3D avatars, clothing and space items authored in Maya/Blender and Photoshop/XD; backend work references Laravel (Lumen) and GitHub Actions CI, with Notion and Slack for internal tooling. Generative AI is applied in conversation features, including an AI conversation practice area and a metaverse campus built with GPT-4o. Engineering emphasis includes network latency and device compatibility for users across more than 100 countries and territories.
Go-to-market
Distribution is through the mobile app supported by influencer alliance and community-management functions, combined with business partnerships across the English-education value chain — English schools and coaching providers (GLOBE ENGLISH SCHOOL, 90 English, TORAIZ/Trion, M's International, Classy English School), study-abroad agency Suma-Ryu, and online English service SkyTalk — as well as university proof-of-concept projects and corporate training programmes.
English learners worldwide, with over 94% of users outside Japan concentrated in Southeast Asia and Africa; plus educational institutions, English schools and coaching providers, study-abroad agencies, and companies seeking employee English training.
Geography
Headquartered in Ebisu, Shibuya, Tokyo, with users in 196 countries and monthly access from more than 100 countries and territories; overseas users exceed 94% of the base, centred on eight countries and nine regions in Southeast Asia and Africa. Expansion activity includes market research and corporate training in Indonesia.
History
Established 8 August 2017 in Tokyo. Cumulative funding of about 250 million yen was announced in July 2022, followed by product work on the core conversation area ("Plaza" renewal, in-world casual games) in 2022, fondi ClassRoom (beta) and an AI conversation practice area in April 2023, and the launch of fondi for schools in November 2023. The app passed one million cumulative installs in February 2024. In November 2024 the company announced cumulative funding of about 420 million yen, and in December 2024 launched fondi Buddy Talk.
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 · 22
launches, deals, and filingsPartnership to provide Japanese students with opportunities to practise English conversation with non-Japanese speakers.
Round led by ANRI with CyberAgent Capital and Canal Ventures; cumulative funding of about 420 million yen including a capital-type loan, to be used for hiring for global expansion and investment in generative AI and other technology.
Demonstration project using a virtual space gathering English learners worldwide.
Partnership with M's International, a provider of online international schooling.
Partnership with a subscription English-conversation school operating in Tokyo and Osaka.
Partnership with 90 English, which provides English coaching by Japanese bilinguals.
The metaverse specialised in English-conversation learning announced cumulative fundraising of about 250 million yen.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- fondifondi.co.jp · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does fondi do?
- Tokyo-based fondi runs an English-conversation metaverse app where learners in ~196 countries practice via 3D avatars.
- Who are fondi's investors?
- fondi's investors include Canal Ventures, NOW Japan.
- Where is fondi headquartered?
- fondi is headquartered in Tokyo, JP.