Payforward
Osaka · Seed–Series A
Investment thesis
Payforward is an Osaka-based organization whose scraped profile labels it a venture capital firm, though its own website presents a quick-delivery business. The homepage describes operating a delivery-as-a-service infrastructure, including the anycarry.jp food delivery platform, where in-house drivers bring restaurant orders to customers. Its dataset record also lists a small number of investments, mostly at the seed stage with one Series A.
What they invest in
from 26 of 33 portfolio companiesSaaS ×6Marketing Tech ×5AI & Machine Learning ×4Media & Entertainment ×4B2B Marketplaces ×3Consumer ×3Fintech ×3Future of Work ×3
HQs:Japan×24
Investments · 33 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2026 · 12022 · 12 dated
Sprocket provides a marketing platform that collects and uses customer data to deliver personalized communications across web, app, push, email, and LINE, combining MA, CDP, BI, and generative AI tools.
AI & Machine LearningMarketing TechSaaS
Co-investorsAccord VenturesCanal VenturesDBJ CapitalAozora Corporate Investment
Ametsuchi Design is a Japanese company that uses customer experience design and digital technology to promote regional revitalization, including tools that turn ryokan (inn) guest rooms into showrooms and support local industry.
Media & EntertainmentTravel & Hospitality
Baby Job provides support services for childcare facilities and parents in Japan, including a diaper management system for nurseries, a childcare facility search platform for parents, and a cashless payment system for childcare-related transactions.
B2B MarketplacesFuture of WorkSaaS
Co-investorsDIMENSION
The page promotes a documentary film and references annual film licensing contracts, indicating an operation involved in distributing or licensing documentary films (in Japanese, apparently for the Japanese market).
Media & Entertainment
Congrant is a donation management platform for nonprofits and social-sector organizations, offering donation page creation, online payment processing, supporter/donor management, CRM integrations (e.g.
FintechImpact & Social GoodSaaS
Co-investorsSony Ventures CorporationGenesia Ventures
Emimen (笑美面) helps families in Japan find and select senior care homes, offering consultation and referral services at no cost.
HealthtechMarketplacesWellness & Fitness
Co-investorsACTAI VenturesAdjuvoAlliance VenturesAppian Capital AdvisoryArkam VenturesAsia2G Capital+49 more
Happy PR is a public relations agency specializing in startups, offering monthly retainer support and spot services (such as "Press Bridge") that cover PR strategy, press release creation, media kits, and direct media relations.
Marketing TechMedia & EntertainmentOsaka, JP
Ieuri (イエウリ) is an online real estate sale platform where property owners submit only property details to receive bidding-based appraisals from multiple local and major real estate agencies within about three days, keeping personal information private until the seller chooses which agents to contact.
MarketplacesPropTechSaaS
Co-investorsGenesia Ventures
Japan Together provides hands-on support for Japanese businesses looking to expand into the US market, offering services such as trade show/exhibition planning, market testing tours, cross-border e-commerce operations, FDA compliance, logistics/fulfillment, and B2B sales representation.
B2B MarketplacesConsumerE-commerce
Murai(代表 (Representative/CEO))
JobSurf operates a job matching service that connects people seeking self-fulfillment and social contribution through side jobs with social-sector organizations working on social issues.
HR TechImpact & Social GoodMarketplacesOsaka, JP
Naoya Kawaguchi(Representative Director & President)
A Japanese company that develops a capillary imaging and analysis system using a fingertip-based scope and software, including the "CAS" analysis software, the "SC-10" capillary scope, and a cloud-based "CAS-RATING" evaluation system.
AI & Machine LearningHealthtechMedical Devices
Ligua is a Japanese consulting company that supports the healthcare industry, particularly osteopathic/judo therapy clinics (接骨院), with management consulting, staff training, and business planning, and also sells health products under its Dr.Supporter brand.
FintechHealthtechWellness & Fitness
MiL develops and sells baby and toddler food under a nutrition-focused feeding brand, offering menus created by French chefs and pastry chefs and supervised by pediatricians and registered dietitians.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech
Operates a cross-border business platform.
Tomonari Hamano(Founder)in
Co-investorsDentsu VenturesDnx VenturesGlobis Capital PartnersJapan Post Capital Co. Ltd.Prime Partners
Odorana (株式会社オドラナ) develops and provides services, systems, and products aimed at reducing risk for entrepreneurs, business owners, freelancers, and independent workers.
Future of WorkSaaS
Omowaku (株式会社オモワク) is a Japanese recruitment agency that helps mid-career job seekers find and clarify their career path when changing jobs, with a focus on business and sales roles at venture and startup companies.
Future of WorkHR TechOsaka, JP
高山 敦司(代表者 (Representative))
Orchestra Holdings is a Japanese holding company whose group businesses include digital marketing and AI solutions (via subsidiary Digital Identity, offering the Forté.AI platform, LLMO analytics, and an MCP gateway) as well as game development (via subsidiary Land Ho).
AI & Machine LearningGamingMarketing Tech
orosy is a wholesale (B2B) platform that connects suppliers with buyers, offering distinctive products across categories such as interior goods, kitchenware, food and beverages, fashion accessories, stationery, and pet supplies.
B2B MarketplacesE-commerceRetail Tech
Co-investorsGxPartners
Pehr invests in early-stage startups founded by young entrepreneurs, providing growth capital, and also offers human resource services that introduce young talent and consulting support for business development.
HR Tech
Synergy Innovations is a Japanese company providing services in the corporate marketing field, focused on supporting business outcomes for its clients.
AdTechMarketing TechOsaka, JP
松尾好晃 (Yoshiaki Matsuo)(代表取締役社長 (President & CEO))
Board岩本新一 (Shinichi Iwamoto)(取締役 (Director))
Synergy Marketing offers "Synergy!", a marketing SaaS that evolved from CRM, providing email delivery, forms, and web tracking; it also offers a Salesforce AppExchange application (Synergy LEAD) for running marketing on Salesforce.
AdTechMarketing TechSaaS
Teach is an online tutoring app that matches students with tutors—mostly current university students from top schools plus veteran professional tutors—for one-on-one lessons booked on demand from a smartphone.
EdTech
TSUKURU is a hands-on consulting firm that helps launch SDGs-related new businesses, working with manufacturers, retailers, universities, and listed companies on projects such as circular economy models, community value creation, and fan marketing.
Circular EconomyFoodTechImpact & Social GoodKawasaki, JP
Yoshihiko Tsuji(代表取締役 (Representative Director / CEO))
Visual Bank operates a data library that connects data holders with AI developers, handling the management, development, provision, and compensation of datasets for AI training.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureMedia & Entertainment
Saneyuki Nagai(Founder)inFumitaka Iizuka(Founder)in
Co-investorsW Inc.Z Venture CapitalAozora Corporate Investment
WHILL designs personal electric mobility devices, including power chairs, electric wheelchairs, and mobility scooters, along with an autonomous self-driving service that transports passengers through airports and public spaces.
HardwareMobility & TransportationRoboticsTokyo, JP
Junpei NaitoKenji GohoMuneaki FukuokaSatoshi Sugie
Co-investors15th Rock500 GlobalMCP Asset ManagementNippon Venture CapitalShizuoka CapitalEight Roads Ventures+2 more
Ondeck provides M&A advisory services for Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises, handling business analysis, valuation, buyer matching, deal structuring, and closing management.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechTokyo, JP
Co-investorsAngel Bridge Co.,Ltd.
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Payforward made?
- Payforward has 32 tracked investments.
- What stage does Payforward invest at?
- Payforward invests at the Seed, Series A stages.
- Where is Payforward located?
- Payforward is headquartered in Osaka, JP.
- Who does Payforward co-invest with?
- Payforward most often shares deals with Dentsu Ventures, Dnx Ventures, Globis Capital Partners, among 19 tracked co-investors.
Images
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