#Japan #Tokyo #SmartESG #ESG Journal #Sherpa

Sherpa's Recent Financial Milestone

Sherpa & Company, headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo, is gaining notable attention in the market after securing approximately 900 million yen from various financial institutions. This new funding initiative accelerates the development of their sustainability data platform, "SmartESG," which is aimed at merging profitability with sustainability. Following this raise, Sherpa's total funding since its inception has reached roughly 2.4 billion yen.

Background of the Funding

Sherpa's primary focus lies in the provision of the "SmartESG" platform, designed to centralize sustainability information and standardize disclosure practices, alongside advanced analytics. The company also operates a media outlet specialized in ESG topics, named "ESG Journal," and offers consulting services through their "ESG Advisory." With these initiatives, Sherpa is supporting enterprises in their sustainability journeys.

In around three years, the SmartESG platform has attracted over 70 businesses, including prominent companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's Prime market. Notably, 15% of companies with a market capitalization exceeding 500 billion yen have integrated the platform as of August 2025. Recently, Sherpa also expanded its support to include supply chain investigations and sustainability assessments, responding to the increasing demand from evaluators.

Details of the Recent Financing

The latest fundraising round saw Sherpa successfully securing a total of 600 million yen through bank loans from Mizuho Bank, Resona Bank, and Hokuriku Bank. This funding was structured without collateral or guarantee requirements, balancing both short-term and long-term borrowing to ensure operational flexibility and stability. In addition, Sherpa obtained about 300 million yen for business operational funds through a mix of capital loans from Japan Finance Corporation, venture debt financing from Funds Startups, and revenue-based financing from Yoii.

Funds raised in this round will primarily be allocated to enhancing the development and support functions for the SmartESG brand, ultimately aiding in improving service quality and operational speed. The current fundraising effort has cumulatively increased Sherpa's total capital raised, including debt, to approximately 2.4 billion yen. By coupling this with a Series B first close equity financing executed earlier this year, Sherpa’s mixed funding approach minimizes equity dilution while strategically securing necessary funds for further growth investments.

Overview of the Fundraising

• - Total Amount Raised: 900 million yen

• - Funding Sources:

- Bank Loans:
- Mizuho Bank
- Resona Bank
- Hokuriku Bank
- Japan Finance Corporation

- Venture Debt Financing:
- Funds Startups

- Revenue-Based Financing (RBF):
- Yoii

Insights from Sherpa's CEO

Junya Sugimoto, CEO of Sherpa, expressed confidence in their recent hybrid funding strategy that combines equity and debt, stating that this approach enables the company to invest boldly without missing growth opportunities. He emphasized the importance of participation from major banks and the successful long-term borrowing as a validation of Sherpa's sustainability and growth potential. Sugimoto affirmed the commitment to accelerate business expansion both domestically and internationally moving forward.

Company Overview

• - Company Name: Sherpa & Company, Inc.
• - CEO: Junya Sugimoto
• - Location: 3-6-32 Nishi Gotanda, Shinagawa, Tokyo
• - Established: September 2019
• - Capital: 100 million yen
• - Business: Development and provision of the "SmartESG" sustainability information disclosure platform, operation of the ESG-focused media "ESG Journal Japan," and consulting service "ESG Advisory."

Corporate Website: Sherpa Corporate Site
Recruitment Site: Sherpa Recruitment Site