SMBC Venture Capital

Upsider is a provider of corporate cards and payment tools designed for fast-growing companies, particularly startups preparing for public offerings. The company focuses on facilitating B2B transactions by offering high card spending limits and intuitive spending management solutions. Its platform integrates with external services, including accounting software, to enhance governance and administration. Upsider aims to streamline financial and operational processes for its clients, enabling them to manage their expenses more effectively while fostering trust in business transactions.

Payn is a developer of a digital billing tool that streamlines the cancellation fee billing process for businesses. The company's platform automates key functions such as billing, message sending, billing reminders, and collections, thereby simplifying the management of cancellation fees. By enhancing operational efficiency, Payn aims to foster fair relationships between businesses and consumers, ensuring that workers are appropriately rewarded while providing benefits to customers.

Smartpay offers a unique buy now, pay later (BNPL) payment solution tailored for Japanese consumers with credit cards. Distinct from traditional BNPL services, Smartpay charges no fees, including sign-up, interest, settlement, or late charges. It features a user-friendly payment process that allows consumers to complete transactions in as little as 10 seconds, facilitating cross-merchant and cross-platform checkout. The payment structure is straightforward, requiring customers to make three equal installments over an eight-week period, eliminating the need for in-person payments at convenience stores or bank transfer fees. By enhancing the consumer payment experience while supporting merchant growth, Smartpay aims to improve overall transaction efficiency in the Japanese market.

Paytner is a company focused on providing financial support services specifically tailored for freelancers in Japan. As the freelance workforce continues to grow, the company addresses various challenges faced by this demographic, including funding issues and workplace harassment. Paytner has developed an online invoicing platform that allows freelancers to sell their invoices to business partners for immediate payment, typically within an hour. By facilitating the purchase of invoice information before deposits are made, Paytner enables clients to access funds quickly while managing their payment cycles more effectively. This innovative approach aims to enhance the financial stability of freelancers and improve the overall working environment in the evolving landscape of freelance employment.

Omise Co., Ltd. is a Bangkok-based company founded in 2013 that develops and operates an online payment platform designed for seamless integration on both web and mobile. The platform facilitates money transfers to third-party bank accounts, enables refunds to customers, and allows users to store payment information for future transactions. Omise caters to businesses by offering a variety of payment processing solutions, addressing the challenges faced by online stores in Thailand, Japan, and Singapore, where the existing payment systems often require cumbersome documentation and high fees. The company aims to simplify the payment process, enabling instant acceptance of credit and debit card payments, as well as bill payments through online banking and ATMs. Omise also provides APIs for developers, ensuring easy integration and high security standards, as evidenced by its compliance with PCI-DSS 3.1. The company's mission is to enhance the online payment experience, bridging the gap between physical and digital transactions for both merchants and consumers.

Kyash Inc. is a Japanese fintech company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Tokyo. It specializes in developing a wallet application and payment platform that enables consumers to make payments at Visa merchants and conduct peer-to-peer transactions. Kyash offers a range of services through its mobile application, including the ability for users to send and request instant money from friends using virtual and prepaid cards. Additionally, the company provides a proprietary technology platform that allows businesses to issue their own Visa cards to customers through its APIs, enhancing the payment experience. Through these services, Kyash aims to facilitate safe, quick, and convenient money transfers for both consumers and businesses.

Pring Inc. is a company that develops and provides a smartphone application designed for seamless money transfer. The application facilitates various financial transactions, enabling users to pay bills, make personal remittances, and conduct payments at stores. It allows for easy collection of funds from friends without charging any commission, thereby enhancing user convenience. Additionally, Pring is committed to driving financial innovation through digital transformation, with a focus on compliance measures such as anti-money laundering and preventing financing for terrorism and proliferation.

BASE, Inc., established in 2012 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in the development and operation of Web services. The company offers a range of services, including an online shop opening service and a smartphone shopping app under the BASE brand. Additionally, it provides financial services such as YELL BANK, which facilitates fundraising for shop owners using the BASE platform. BASE also offers PAY.JP, an online service for implementing credit card payments, and PAY ID, an ID-type payment service for consumers. The company's services are primarily focused on the Japanese market.

Kyash Inc. is a Japanese fintech company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Tokyo. It specializes in developing a wallet application and payment platform that enables consumers to make payments at Visa merchants and conduct peer-to-peer transactions. Kyash offers a range of services through its mobile application, including the ability for users to send and request instant money from friends using virtual and prepaid cards. Additionally, the company provides a proprietary technology platform that allows businesses to issue their own Visa cards to customers through its APIs, enhancing the payment experience. Through these services, Kyash aims to facilitate safe, quick, and convenient money transfers for both consumers and businesses.

Valuedesign Inc. is a Japanese company based in Tokyo, established in 2006, that specializes in payment solutions. It offers a Valuecard ASP service that facilitates the issuance and management of e-money, gift cards, and point cards. In addition to this service, Valuedesign provides data processing solutions for prepaid and gift card systems, serving merchants through its server management systems. The company also markets related devices, cards, and promotional tools, thereby enhancing customer engagement and supporting cashless payment systems in the region.

GMO Financial Gate, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company established in 1999 that specializes in cashless payment infrastructure. The company offers a range of solutions including multi-payment terminals, embedded payment systems, and payment center services. Its focus on enhancing the payment experience encompasses various methods such as credit cards, debit cards, and electronic money, positioning it as a significant player in the evolving payment industry.