INCJ invests $4m in Japan's Customer Communications

Set up in 2000, the Tokyo-based company offers a customer analysis platform based on ID-POS (identification point-of-sale) data. Unlike traditional POS data - which provides information on the type, timing, pricing and quantity of purchases - ID-POS combines purchasing data with details on individual customers, such as age, sex and address. This is collected from customer loyalty cards.

CCL has three main services: Customer Scan, which provides purchasing analytics to retailers; Map Scan, which provides location-based data on consumers; and Shopping Scan, which provides purchasing data to manufacturers.

According to a release, the business plans to use the extra funding to expand and improve its platform and seek new business partnerships. In addition to providing capital, INCJ will also appoint outside directors to the firm.

Set up in 2009, INCJ is a public-private partnership with a remit of promoting business innovation in the Japan. It has JPY280 billion of capital under management while the government guarantees up to JPY1.8 trillion of additional capital.

INCJ - which engages in large-caps buyouts as well as venture capital - has stepped up its early stage investments in recent times. CCL represents its 10th VC investment this year; it made 13 VC investments last year and seven in 2012.

 

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• Topics
• Technology
• North Asia
• Early-stage
• Technology
• Innovation Network Corp. of Japan (INCJ)
• Venture
• Japan