Japan-based holiday reservation platform Asoview raised ¥1.3bn ($12.5m) yesterday in a series D round featuring internet company Yahoo Japan and insurance firm Mitsui Life.
The round included financial services firms Tokyo Kiraboshi Financial Group, Nanto Bank and Shinsei Bank, which participated through Kiraboshi Capital, Nanto CVC and Shinsei Corporate Investment respectively. YJ Capital and Sansei Capital invested on behalf of Yahoo Japan and Mitsui Life.
All-Japan Kanko Rikkoku Fund, the tourism-oriented investment fund formed by some 60 Japanese corporates, filled out the equity portion of the round along with public-private partnership Innovation Network Corporation of Japan, while Japan Finance Corporation supplied debt financing.
Founded in 2011, Asoview has created an online marketplace that allows users to book holiday packages and purchase tourism-related gift vouchers. It also has a data analytics platform enabling corporate clients to leverage its information to personalise advertising and marketing campaigns.
YJ Capital had taken part in a $5m series A round for the company in 2015, investing with travel agency JTB, education services provider Globis (through subsidiary Globis Capital Partners) and Jafco, the last two having already contributed to a $1.9m round the year before, according to The Bridge.
