Aging demographic datalabor deficiencies, adoption Genai and 2023 Implementation They run corporations to automate finance, taxes, orders and HR in Japan. Already Only 16% of digital transformations will succeed, And it’s only 4-11% in traditional industries. Main barriers? Poor leadership involvement, rigid culture and lack of digital talents. Layer It offers the AI Saas platform, which helps corporations scale back-office automation.
LayerThe Japanese startup AI Saas, which allows corporations to limit the back-office load, collected $ 100 million in the B Round of Series B led by Technology Cross Ventures (TCV), marking the first investment of the American Fund in a Japanese startup.
The company refused to disclose the valuation, but said that each the valuation and the size of the round belong to the largest, which they have ever raised by seven -year -old Japanese startup at the B series. Other investors, including Mufg Bank, Mitsubishi Ufj Innovation Partners, Jafco Group, Keyrock Capital, Coreline Venture and JP Investment, also They joined the round of series B, bringing the total number to USD 192.2 million.
The key startup offers include Bakuraku, a platform that automates corporate expenditure, including expenditure management, invoice processing and corporate card operations – for over 15,000 corporations; Alterna, retail investment platform of digital securities developed in cooperation with Mitsui & Co.; and AI Workforce, AI generative solution designed to improve work flows and company data.
Founded in 2018 by the serial entrepreneur Yoshinori Fukushima, who studied machine learning at the University of Tokyo, and earlier launched the Gunosa information application, which was later mentioned on Tokyo Stock Exchange, Layerx grew out of one of his digital transformation (DX) and Blockchain projects.
The founder launched layer after identifying a significant bottleneck in the Japanese flow of work of the company: processing invoice based on paper. This insight prompted the team to rotate to Saas thanks to a platform based on AI, (*100*), Fukushima said TechCrunch, adding that the family of AI Platforma quickly gained adhesion, helping Layerx the important strategic partnerships, including muff or mitsubishi ufj financial group, and launch a way to its latest funds.
Despite the wave of digitization, many Japanese corporations still relied on paper and improving the reimbursement of costs and invoice processing, the general director continued. In the country, the startup competes with Money Forward Cloud Keihi, Freee and Rakurak Seisan. Globally, his rivals include SAP Concur, Fainling, Brex, Rampa, Spendesk and Airbase. Fukushima noticed that in the working space AI he is in the face of Harvey’s competition.
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(*100*) stands out thanks to the user’s impression based on artificial intelligence. The company always updates automation functions, resembling “Auto-ENRRY and SEPTING Document”, and also invests in AI and Outsourcing of business processing (BPO). His team includes “over 12 former CTO and artmaster Kaggle”. Bakuraku offers a comprehensive, integrated platform including “expenditure management, invoice processing, corporate cards, work flows, e-LEDGER compatibility, attendance and receivables-all in one solution,” added Fukushima.
The startup closed the B -financing of series B lower than two years after securing the series A in November 2023 its characteristic platform, Suite Bakuraku, recorded a significant growth, said a seven -year -old company.
“We passed 10,000 customers in February 2024 and arrived until 15,000 to April 2025, and more business clients will board,” said the general director. “Headcount also grew out of about 220 employees in October 2023 to around 430 at the end of July 2025.”
According to Layex, it is on the right track to reach $ 68 million, which corresponds to 10 billion, faster than any Saas company in the history of Japan. “Benchmark growth known as T2D3 They were achieved in front of the schedule and we expect to exceed the previous national record, which took eight years since the premiere of the product, in less than five years, “said Fukushima.
Ai Workforce counts Mitsui & Co. And MUFG Bank among its clients, while Bakuraku serves customers resembling IPPUDO, Iris Ohyam, The Imperial Hotel and Sekisui Chemical.
Looking to the future, the company goals to about $ 680 million (100 billion) annual revenues repetitive to the 2030 tax 12 months, while about half are expected to come from the activities of AI agents. It also plans to develop workforce to about 1000 employees by 2028.