#Japan #AI Technology #Tokyo #Bookleverage #Qureka

Qureka Raises 100 Million Yen for Bookleverage

Qureka Inc., based in Nakano-ku, Tokyo, has announced a new funding round totaling 100 million yen to strengthen and expand its innovative book knowledge Q&A service, Bookleverage. The company, led by CEO Yuta Madate, aims to utilize generative AI to transform how users interact with book knowledge. The funding round was led by ON&BOARD, alongside investors Crest Skill Partners and mint.

Mission and Vision

Qureka’s mission is to cultivate curiosity worldwide and deliver “discoveries that thrill the heart” in life and society. The Bookleverage service is designed to provide instant answers to user queries based on a vast database of books, particularly business and specialized literature. This initiative enhances the reading experience, improves the efficiency of knowledge utilization in business, and elevates internal company knowledge.

According to Yuta Madate, “We envision a world where the abundant knowledge embedded in books can be accessed easily and deeply. Through this funding, we intend to refine the value of Bookleverage and significantly enhance the 'knowledge productivity' for individuals and enterprises alike.”

Enhancements and Plans

With the funding acquired, Qureka plans to focus on several key areas:

• - Accelerating product development: This includes expanding functionality, improving UI/UX, and refining accuracy.
• - Expanding book content: Qureka will significantly increase the number of titles available, especially within business and specialized categories.
• - Strengthening corporate solutions: Creating more avenues for knowledge utilization within businesses, digital transformation of trainings, and further penetration into the education sector.

Investors' Perspectives

Shunsuke Hasegawa from ON&BOARD expressed his enthusiasm for the successful funding round, stating, “I am delighted to see Qureka ready to soar with a stronger foundation. Their challenge to link the most reliable asset of knowledge, books, with generative AI has the potential to further accelerate humanity’s wisdom.”

Similarly, the investor team from Crest Skill Partners, Akihiro Minami and Kaori Umeda, remarked on the increasing value of reliable knowledge in the age of AI. They emphasized the significance of Qureka's mission to deliver the long-accumulated knowledge of books in a suitable format for the AI era.

Keisuke Kogure from mint shared insights on the unique challenge of raising book knowledge to a usable level, recognizing Qureka’s approach of ensuring publisher collaboration in its business model.

Future Outlook

Looking ahead, Qureka plans to promote the concept of a “knowledge access revolution” powered by generative AI. Key initiatives include:

• - Reading DX: Shaping the future of reading experiences through digital transformation.
• - Knowledge Management: Enhancing corporate knowledge systems.
• - Educational Sectors: Expanding into training and educational offerings.

Business Model and Copyright Protection

Bookleverage strictly uses only licensed book data, ensuring that copyright holders are adequately compensated and that existing sales are not undermined. Qureka is committed to creating a sustainable knowledge infrastructure that benefits both users and publishers, with revenue from Q&A usage rights returned to the publishers.

Invitation for Collaboration

Qureka is currently looking to collaborate with publishers and authors interested in joining the Bookleverage initiative. Additionally, corporations exploring the implementation of Bookleverage for their needs are encouraged to request further information.

For more details, visit Qureka, where the mission of fostering curiosity and providing joyous discoveries through knowledge is continuously being realized.