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LIFULL and CAMPFIRE Collaborate for Community Development

In an exciting development for local governance, LIFULL and CAMPFIRE have officially announced their partnership aimed at supporting city and community revitalization projects through crowdfunding. This collaborative effort is set to launch a dedicated websites by May 2026, providing municipalities with a platform to showcase their unique local projects.

Background: New Funding Avenues for Community Projects

Across Japan, local initiatives are gaining momentum, with projects focused on business startups, leveraging vacant houses, and activities led by regional revitalization teams. As interest in crowdfunding surges, it has emerged as a viable funding alternative alongside traditional public support.

Recognizing this, LIFULL, which has established relationships with over 770 municipalities, seeks to amalgamate its extensive network with CAMPFIRE’s expertise in crowdfunding. This partnership aims to introduce diverse funding options to local governments and entrepreneurs who previously had limited access to such opportunities. This strategy is expected to enhance both the sustainability and potential of community development efforts.

Overview: A Crowdfunding Platform for Each Municipality

The upcoming website, scheduled for launch in May 2026, will serve as a hub where local projects can be aggregated. This platform will display the array of challenges and initiatives undertaken in each community—from revitalizing vacant properties to developing local specialties and fostering lively community gatherings. By centralizing these initiatives, the site will function as a promotional tool for urban development in the respective areas.

Roles of the Companies

LIFULL will utilize its long-standing relationships with municipal and regional experts to unearth and create projects that address local challenges. By tapping into community projects that have the potential to thrive, LIFULL will facilitate the connection between these initiatives and engaging platforms.

Meanwhile, CAMPFIRE will offer its crowdfunding platform alongside its extensive knowledge in fundraising and community engagement. With its track record as one of Japan’s leading crowdfunding platforms, CAMPFIRE will assist innovators in reaching a national audience of supporters, turning them into future customers and stakeholder relationships.

In addition, CAMPFIRE will collaborate with its specialized crowdfunding initiative, HIOKOSHI, which supports regional revitalization teams. By leveraging the network of local teams already connected through LIFULL, they will create pathways for efficient fundraising and help sustain local activities.

Municipal Involvement

Through this collaboration, the dedicated website will become a platform for communities to communicate their challenges and aspirations. Municipalities will not have to screen projects or bear financial burdens. Instead, they will serve as advocates, promoting the local projects showcased on the website through specially designated pages and supportive messages from local government officials. This model proposes a new way of community development where municipalities take on a supportive role while allowing innovators to lead.

Future Developments

LIFULL plans to begin outreach to around 20 municipalities, including Kamaishi City in Iwate Prefecture, to demonstrate early examples of successful projects. Following this, the goal is to extend the initiative nationwide to support community development projects in its diverse range of municipal partners.

About CAMPFIRE

Founded with a mission to empower individuals and create value through ideas, CAMPFIRE is one of Japan’s largest crowdfunding platforms. It supports various groups, including individuals, creators, businesses, and local governments, to raise capital for projects that resonate within their communities. For more information, visit CAMPFIRE.

About LIFULL

Operating with the corporate message, “Enhancing every LIFE,” LIFULL strives to address social issues through its businesses. They provide solutions for individuals' challenges as well as broader societal issues. Their expanded services include real estate and housing information through LIFULL HOME'S, support for elderly living via LIFULL介護, and investment information through 健美家. To learn more, visit LIFULL.