Skyland Ventures Invests in Ageless for Senior Talent Services

Skyland Ventures Invests in Ageless

Recently, Skyland Ventures, based in Shibuya, Tokyo, announced its investment in Ageless, a company dedicated to providing talent-related services specifically for middle and senior professionals. This investment is part of Ageless' Series A funding round, aimed at bolstering their operations in the field of human resources and consulting.

About Ageless

Ageless was founded with a mission to eliminate age-related barriers in the job market. The company focuses on elderly professionals, particularly those with experience as software engineers, project managers, and IT consultants. The founder and CEO, Takao Koide, has a noteworthy background. He became a director at a publicly listed company at the young age of 27, which fueled his desire to create a supportive environment for aging professionals aiming for career transitions.

The prevalence of an aging workforce and a shrinking talent pool in Japan, as a result of low birth rates, has put significant pressure to enhance employment opportunities for seniors. Ageless aims to address this gap in the job market, offering tailored services for those in their 50s and 60s who are seeking IT jobs, thus addressing the growing need for talent in the tech industry.

Since its establishment in October 2021, Ageless has seen staggering growth, boasting over 200% in gross profit each period. As they forecast profitability for the current period as well, this investment rounds out their efforts to further scale their operations. The company aims to leverage this momentum to expand within the rapidly growing IT consulting and systems integration market, while adhering to its guiding principle of balancing social responsibility with business objectives.

Strengthening Recruitment

With the fresh capital influx, Ageless plans to enhance its recruitment efforts by bringing in unique and talented middle and senior professionals across various roles, including sales, engineering, design, and product management. Special emphasis is being placed on executive roles such as COO, CFO, CHRO, and CTO, inviting prospective candidates to reach out directly to CEO Takao Koide.

Overview of the Funding Round

Ageless successfully raised 560 million yen (equity) in this funding round, bringing their total investment to 670 million yen. Key investors include DBJ Capital, Skyland Ventures, Gōgin Skyland Next, Kiraboshi Capital, and others, contributing a wealth of experience and networks to the company.

Comments on the Investment

Takao Koide expressed his gratitude towards Skyland Ventures, highlighting their support since the seed stage of Ageless. He shared his excitement about the additional investment decision made by General Partner/CEO Keihiko Kinoshita, feeling reassured by the partnership as they work towards realizing their vision of an 'ageless society.'

On the other hand, Keihiko Kinoshita from Skyland Ventures remarked on Ageless’s commitment to matching qualified senior engineers in the job market, noting the increasing presence of senior employees within their ranks. He envisions Ageless becoming a representative company in the senior market in the long run.

About Skyland Ventures

Skyland Ventures operates as a seed venture capital firm, investing in startups both domestically and internationally. Known as ‘The Seed Maker,’ SV focuses on young entrepreneurs and internet startups, while enhancing investments in sectors like Web3 and generative AI since 2022. The firm also launched incubation programs including CryptoLand and Aranami for developing seed-stage startups. In 2023, they acquired naming rights for the Awa Odori dance venue in Tokushima City, engaging more deeply with Japan's startup ecosystem.

- Company Name: Skyland Ventures
- Representative: Keihiko Kinoshita
- Location: Sakura Front Building II, 16-13 Sakuragaokacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Website: Skyland Ventures
- Twitter: Skyland Ventures Twitter
- YouTube: Skyland Ventures YouTube
- Press Kit: Skyland Ventures Press Kit