AVCJ

VCs commit $14.3m to Japan online printing start-up

  • Andrew Woodman
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A consortium of Japanese venture capital investors including Global Brain, World Innovation Lab (WiL), Itochu Technology Ventures and GMO Ventures have invested JPY1.45 billion ($14.3 million) in Raksul, a Tokyo-based start-up providing online printing services.

Strategic investors Plus, an office stationary firm, and Mixi, a social networking site, also took part in the round.

Set up in 2009, Raksul provides printing services in partnership with more than 1,600 printing facilities across Japan as of November 2013. The company is able to offer users discounted services by taking advantage of downtime at its partnership printers to complete orders.

AVCJ Research shows that the company previously received JPY120 million from Yahoo! Japan and independent VC firm Anri last November. Prior to that Nissay Capital invested JPY100 million in the company in April 2012.

According to a release, this latest round of funding will be used to launch a new online service which will allow merchants to distribute their flyers via newspapers to consumers at affordable rates. In addition, the firm is looking to build its team with a view to expanding the business overseas.

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