Helpfeel Inc.
京都, JP · 9 known investors
Helpfeel provides a knowledge data platform that uses search technology and AI to organize and deliver company knowledge to customers and employees. The platform bridges information gaps between enterprises and their stakeholders by converting dormant organizational knowledge into actionable information.
Also known as Helpfeel · Nota Inc. · 株式会社Helpfeel
Founders & leadership
Investors · 9
Also in the syndicate · 3
Funding
SEC filings, press & company announcements- Undisclosed amountSeries ESep 2025 · 2 sources
Global Brain Corporation (lead), JP Investment Co., Ltd., SMBC Venture Capital Management
Source ↗ - Undisclosed amountSeries EAug 2025
Global Brain Corporation, JP Investment Co., Ltd., SMBC Venture Capital Management Co., Ltd.
Source ↗
Source: company announcements and press reports — follow each round's link for the claim.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Helpfeel Inc. (株式会社Helpfeel, formerly Nota Inc.) is a Japanese software company headquartered in Kyoto with an additional office in Tokyo. It develops an AI-powered knowledge and enterprise-search platform intended to collect, analyze and structure insight data from customer touchpoints and turn it into knowledge that customer success, marketing and corporate planning teams can use. The company positions structured, machine-readable "knowledge data" as the information layer that determines the accuracy and reliability of generative-AI and LLM-based systems inside enterprises.
The product portfolio comprises three named products: the self-service AI FAQ system Helpfeel, the AI knowledge base Helpfeel Cosense, and the visual capture/memory tool Gyazo. Within the Helpfeel line the company markets several modules: Helpfeel Agent Mode (a conversational AI agent that answers from internal documents and the web), Helpfeel FAQ (patented AI search-based FAQ), Helpfeel Analytics (call-log analysis), Helpfeel Growth (marketing, AI-search optimization, CVR and VoC analysis), Helpfeel Call (operator assistance) and Helpfeel Voice Agent (voice response). Use cases span customer support, marketing, internal help desks and contact centers, with the company citing outcomes such as reduced inquiry volume, higher self-resolution rates and shorter handling times. Helpfeel holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022+Amd 1:2024 (ISMS) certification, has capital of ¥100 million and banks with MUFG Bank and Mizuho Bank.
Founding story
The business was founded on 21 December 2007 and the current Japanese corporate entity, Helpfeel Inc., was established on 4 December 2020; the company previously operated as Nota Inc. It is led by founder and CEO Isshu Rakusai (legal name Shuichi Nagata).
Business model
B2B subscription software with an accompanying services and consulting component: customers deploy the AI FAQ, knowledge base and agent products, and Helpfeel provides a dedicated team and proprietary methodology to support implementation, ongoing operation and issue resolution — described by the company as an "autopilot" operating model for support.
Subscription SaaS complemented by services and consulting engagements around deployment and ongoing knowledge operations.
Traction
Deployed on more than 900 sites according to the company site (over 700 websites and more than 700 companies supported per 2025 reporting), with roughly 45% of contracts held by listed companies and their groups. Reported customer outcomes include up to 70% reduction in inquiries, 5.2x increase in internal users and 25% shorter handling time. Headcount reached 213 as of August 2025.
Latest developments
In August 2026 the company launched Helpfeel Growth, a product for converting customer touchpoints into revenue in an AI-mediated search environment, and published research reporting a 3.2x year-on-year increase in help-site traffic arriving via generative AI. In July 2026 it took first place in four chatbot, FAQ and VoC categories of the IT Trend first-half 2026 rankings.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Established Japanese vendor in the FAQ system and support-chatbot category, cited as a leader in ITreview Grid Award FAQ rankings for six consecutive periods and first place in several 2026 IT Trend and BOXIL category rankings; comparable companies identified include Karakuri, PKSHA Technology and User Local.
Patented AI search technology aimed at self-resolution rather than keyword matching, a combined product suite covering FAQ, knowledge base and capture tools, and a hands-on operating model in which the vendor's team works alongside customers from deployment through ongoing knowledge maintenance.
Technology
AI-based search and retrieval technology, including patented AI search used in the FAQ product, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) over uploaded corporate documents, conversational AI agents, voice agents and call-log analytics. The stated technical thesis is that accurate AI output depends on well-structured, AI-readable knowledge data.
Go-to-market
Direct enterprise sales supported by demo requests and downloadable materials on the company site, case-study marketing, and visibility through Japanese SaaS review and ranking platforms (ITreview, IT Trend, BOXIL). The Series E proceeds are earmarked for international expansion beginning in North America.
Enterprises of varied size and industry using the platform for customer support, marketing, internal help desks and call centers; roughly 45% of contracts are with listed companies or their groups, and buyer functions include customer success, marketing and corporate planning.
Geography
Headquartered in Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, with a Tokyo office in Hatchobori, Chuo-ku, and partial remote work; funding is intended to support international expansion starting in North America.
History
Founded in December 2007 and incorporated in its present Japanese form in December 2020, the company was formerly known as Nota Inc. before adopting the Helpfeel name. It raised successive venture rounds including a ¥2.0 billion round led by Globis Capital Partners announced in December 2023 and a ¥2.6 billion Series E first close announced in August 2025, cumulative funding of ¥5.9 billion. Awards include a 2021 Good Design Award, the Mizuho Innovation Award and ICC Summit wins in 2021 and 2023, selection by Nikkei Cross Trend in 2024, and 32nd place in Deloitte Tohmatsu's Technology Fast 50 2024 Japan.
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.
Competitors · 2
by search overlap
Companies competing with Helpfeel Inc. for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
Timeline · 11
launches, deals, and filingsHelpfeel published survey findings that traffic to help sites arriving via generative AI grew 3.2x in one year, framing it as a customer touchpoint in a zero-click search environment.
Helpfeel began offering Helpfeel Growth, a marketing-oriented product for turning customer touchpoints into revenue, positioned for a shift from human-to-AI toward AI-to-AI interactions.
Ranked first in chatbot, FAQ and VoC categories of the IT Trend first-half 2026 rankings.
Named Leader in the FAQ system category for the sixth consecutive period.
First close of a Series E round via third-party allotment of new shares with Global Brain Corporation, SMBC Venture Capital Management and JP Investment, bringing total raised to ¥5.9 billion; proceeds for the AI knowledge data platform, product development and international expansion starting in North America.
The company holds certification to the ISO/IEC 27001:2022+Amd 1:2024 information security management standard.
Helpfeel announced it raised ¥2,000 million led by new investor Globis Capital Partners, with new investors Investment Lab and Traders Holdings and returning investors Salesforce Ventures and One Capital No. 1 Fund, bringing cumulative funding to ¥3,300 million.
Also won the Guardian Catapult and overall Guardian Award at ICC Summit KYOTO 2023 for a second consecutive title.
Also named first champion of the SaaS RISING STAR CATAPULT at ICC Summit KYOTO 2021.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- Helpfeel Inc.helpfeel.com · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Helpfeel Inc. do?
- Kyoto-based Helpfeel Inc. builds an AI knowledge data platform spanning FAQ search, knowledge base and support automation products.
- Who founded Helpfeel Inc.?
- Helpfeel Inc. was founded by 洛西 一周 (Shūichi Nagata).
- Who are Helpfeel Inc.'s investors?
- Helpfeel Inc.'s investors include Global Brain, Globis Capital Partners, Z Venture Capital, One Capital, Salesforce Ventures, SMBC Venture Capital.
- Where is Helpfeel Inc. headquartered?
- Helpfeel Inc. is headquartered in 京都, JP.