LAPRAS Welcomes Sparkle as a New Shareholder to Enhance IT Talent Recruitment

LAPRAS and Sparkle: A Strategic Partnership to Boost IT Recruitment

LAPRAS Inc., based in Shibuya, Tokyo, has announced a strategic partnership with Sparkle Inc., a venture capital firm located in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Through a round of third-party allocation capital increase and the transfer of existing shareholders' shares, this collaboration aims to fortify LAPRAS's capital foundation and optimize its shareholder structure as well as enhance networking with local regions.

Overview of the Capital Increase and Share Transfer

The primary objectives behind this capital raise include:

- Strengthening the capital base for business growth
- Optimizing shareholder composition
- Expanding collaboration with regional networks

The method involves inviting Sparkle Inc. as a new shareholder, which is recognized for its independent VC status and fund management in the Tohoku region. The funds collected will be channeled towards:

- Enhancing AI-based talent matching capabilities
- Strengthening sales and marketing strategies
- Building a talent ecosystem in collaboration with local entities and universities

Background and Future Initiatives

Since its debut in 2019, LAPRAS has established itself as a premier platform connecting skilled IT engineers with companies looking to hire. As of June 2025, the user base has grown to about 40,000 registered users. The number of active corporate users has seen a remarkable increase of over 180% year-on-year, highlighting the platform's effectiveness in facilitating job matches.

The company is also looking to launch a recruitment service focused on Korean talent starting from July 2025, aiming to expand its talent ecosystem on a global scale. With this new partnership, LAPRAS plans to strengthen its collaboration with Sparkle's extensive regional network to accelerate recruitment and job opportunities nationwide.

A Comment from Sparkle's CEO

Hidetsugu Fukutome, CEO of Sparkle Inc., expressed his enthusiasm regarding this investment via a secondary transaction:

"We are pleased to invest in LAPRAS through this secondary transaction. The dense pool of top-tier engineering talent that LAPRAS possesses, along with its AI-driven skill visualization technology, holds tremendous potential to address the human resource challenges faced by local companies. I am confident that this partnership will facilitate the movement of skilled personnel within the region, thereby invigorating the local economy. Together, let's contribute to building a better Japan."

About Sparkle Inc.

Sparkle's mission is to create a new economic cycle to foster a thriving world. It operates in various sectors including fund management, incubation, and management solutions, continuously striving to collaborate with others to elevate the Tohoku region on a global stage.

Company Overview:

- URL: https://spurcle.jp
- CEO: Hidetsugu Fukutome
- Location: 4-4-19, Aobadai, Sendai, Miyagi
- Founded: August 1, 2018
- Contact Information: [email protected]

About LAPRAS Inc.

LAPRAS operates with the mission of matching everyone with the best available options through the use of AI and crawling technology, transforming existing matching models into a more effective platform. The company provides recruitment-related services that ensure the best fit for individuals.