#Japan #Tokyo #PLAINER #Angel Bridge #Software Demo Platform

PLAINER Secures 570 Million Yen in Series A Funding

PLAINER, a software-enablement company based in Shibuya, Tokyo, has recently announced a successful Series A funding round, raising approximately 570 million yen. This funding was led by Angel Bridge and included contributions from existing investors like CyberAgent Capital and ALL STAR SAAS FUND. This latest financial inflow of about 400 million yen marks a significant milestone, pushing the total funds raised by PLAINER to around 570 million yen.

The PLAINER platform, designed for software demonstrations, has shown remarkable growth in the past year, with revenue increasing more than tenfold. The newly acquired funds will be allocated towards talent acquisition and organizational strength, as well as the development of new products aimed at further expanding their market presence.

Overview of the Fundraising

• - Total Funds Raised: Approximately 570 million yen
• - Recent Round Amount: Approximately 400 million yen
• - Investors: Angel Bridge (Lead Investor), LTS, ALL STAR SAAS FUND, CyberAgent Capital, Mizuho Capital, and MIRAISE (in alphabetical order, excluding the lead investor).

PLAINER’s mission is to create a new purchasing and utilization experience for software that allows everyone to benefit from technology. They are addressing the critical challenge of ensuring the value of software is clearly communicated, which often remains a barrier to Japan’s corporate competitiveness and overall economic productivity.

The Challenge of Communication

Software products, no matter how exceptional, fail to deliver value if they are not effectively communicated to potential users. PLAINER addresses this disconnect by offering a software-enablement platform that connects people and software interactions. Their software demo platform serves as a pivotal tool in this mission.

The funds raised will facilitate the further enhancement of PLAINER’s features, including automating demo creation through AI, and developing new products and services that seamlessly connect sellers and buyers in the software purchasing experience. Additionally, there are plans for expanding the sales, marketing, and customer success teams to support service growth.

Since its launch, PLAINER has garnered significant traction, being adopted by a range of forward-thinking companies, including publicly listed organizations like freee. Over 1.5 million end-users have viewed demos created on the platform, which is a testament to its effectiveness in communicating software value through experiential rather than textual means.

PLAINER is also listed as the only service from Japan in the 'Demonstration Creation' category of the Japan SalesTech Landscape 2024, published by Matsurika.

Investor Insights

Yutaro Kawanishi and Hiroshi Miyoshi from Angel Bridge highlighted that PLAINER plays a crucial role for companies in conveying their product appeal effectively. The platform has been adopted by a wide range of users from large corporations to startups, and its application has expanded beyond lead acquisition and conversion rates to include onboarding and manual creation, indicating significant market opportunities ahead. They expressed their confidence in the management team, led by CEO Daisuke Kobayashi and CXO Sano, who possess a unique understanding of the product and exceptional execution capabilities.

Shinji Iwata from MIRAISE mentioned their deep appreciation for CEO Kobayashi’s strategic vision and operational execution. They believe PLAINER has the potential to evolve significantly, addressing broader challenges in education and training sectors as well.

Hiro Maeda from ALL STAR SAAS FUND noted that PLAINER transcends being a mere demo tool; it is a platform that can transform the sales processes in the software industry. The ability to offer personalized product experiences tailored to customer needs has positioned PLAINER for rapid growth in the domestic market, bolstered by recent multilingual capabilities.

Vision and Plans

Daisuke Kobayashi, CEO of PLAINER, emphasized that navigating the vast array of software products—numbering over 10,000 in the Japanese market—can be daunting for businesses. Effective selection now requires not just evaluating features but also intangible factors like support quality and future viability. PLAINER aims to enhance the entire ecosystem around software sales and use, aspiring to elevate technology to a utility similar to water or electricity.

In celebrating the successful funding round, PLAINER has launched a special site that provides insights into their employment opportunities and future outlook. For those interested in joining the team, a casual meeting can be arranged through their recruitment page.

PLAINER continues to strive for excellence in its mission to redefine the software purchasing experience, ensuring that both buyers and sellers can derive maximum value through clear and impactful communication—from experience, not just words.

Future Aspects

In connection with the fundraising announcement, PLAINER is offering free demo content creation for the first 30 companies that sign up. This campaign further showcases PLAINER's commitment to innovation and customer service as they position themselves robustly in the SaaS landscape.

For more information on PLAINER, including recruitment details, check out their official website at PLAINER Service Site or the dedicated recruitment page linked in their announcements.

As they embark on this new chapter with the support of their investors and partners, PLAINER looks toward the future with the goal of becoming the go-to platform for software demonstration and enablement.