#Japan #Tokyo #Rayout #CheckBack #Creative PMO

Rayout, Inc. Secures 145 Million Yen in Series A Funding

Rayout, Inc., based in Shibuya, Tokyo, has recently completed a significant milestone by raising a total of 145 million yen in its Series A funding round. This achievement marks a cumulative fundraising total of approximately 184 million yen since its establishment in April 2019.

Background of the Funding

This funding round received high praise for Rayout's vision and business growth potential, with significant investment being made by QXLV (Quantum Leap Ventures), SMBC Venture Capital, and Asahi Media Lab Ventures. In today’s landscape, addressing business challenges is intricately tied to creativity, which forms the core of Rayout's approach. The investment will further support the company’s concept of 'Creative PM', which involves addressing corporate issues with a consultancy-like involvement followed by comprehensive execution in production and public relations.

Additionally, Rayout aims to enhance its proprietary IT service, CheckBack, streamlining various non-core tasks within production progress, thereby contributing to the expansion of the creator economy.

Defining the Role of Creative PMO

The term 'Creative PM' refers to a position that comprehensively promotes necessary creative outputs in response to the understanding of a business's challenges. In modern times, creativity is pivotal across various departments including HR and executive planning, yet many companies face challenges in recruiting specialized personnel and establishing internal frameworks.

To remedy this, Rayout presents the 'Creative PM' service in the form of a Project Management Office (PMO), empowering companies to request everything from attending regular meetings to executing projects seamlessly. This model removes unnecessary subcontracting structures that add to PM costs.

Using the CheckBack tool developed by Rayout, companies can efficiently manage projects, allowing their personnel and creators to focus on core tasks. This ultimately cultivates an environment where each participant’s value is maximized.

These efforts enable faster, higher-quality outputs and foster a greater number of projects, enhancing overall fluidity in both project execution and the industry, thereby contributing to the growth of the creator economy. Rayout’s Creative PMO seeks to create an environment where all project stakeholders can realize their intrinsic value.

Vision for CheckBack

CheckBack is a cloud-based tool designed for creative PM professionals that facilitates the checking, sharing, and approval of various production outputs including videos, web content, graphics, documents, and materials. Launched in 2023, CheckBack has already been adopted by over 5,000 teams and has successfully streamlined the efficiency of non-core tasks such as revisions and confirmations in projects.

No matter the location or time, internal and external team members can access the platform, enabling smooth confirmations and feedback, thus enhancing overall communication throughout the production process.
If you want to know more, visit the official site: CheckBack.

The cycle of creative production typically follows the phases of "1. Planning" → "2. Production" → "3. Communication" → "4. Evaluation/Measurement." With the recent advancements in generative AI, steps 1 and 2 have significantly accelerated, while step 4 has also seen improvements through automation.

However, the inherently human processes of communication, particularly for confirmation and approval (step 3), remain a challenge, compounded by increasing workload demands. CheckBack addresses these hurdles by delivering an “advancing AI” that:

• - Automates confirmation tasks
• - Applies customized confirmation guidelines tailored to each organization
• - Supports decision-making through the reuse of past feedback

By implementing these solutions, Rayout aims to move the entire production process forward smoothly.

Summary of Funding Details

• - Amount Raised: 145 million yen
• - Method: Third-party allocation increase
• - Series: Series A
• - Use of Funds: Product development for CheckBack growth, marketing, and organizational expansion
• - Lead Investors:

- QXLV (Quantum Leap Ventures)

• - Follow-on Investors:

- SMBC Venture Capital No. 8 Investment Limited Partnership
- Asahi Media Lab Ventures No. 2 Investment Limited Partnership

Investor Comments

Atsushi Nakazawa, Representative Partner of Quantum Leap Ventures

"Rayout's concept of ‘Creative PM’ is grounded in addressing real-life challenges, playing a crucial role in supporting the future of the creator economy. Their meticulous strategy and execution capabilities, paired with their genuine client engagement, demonstrate their strength as a startup."

Yoshiki Oda, Deputy General Manager of SMBC Venture Capital

"Rayout supports branding, PR, creative production, and management in a one-stop manner, becoming increasingly crucial as the market grows, propelled by the rise of the creator economy."

Takuma Ishikawa, Asahi Media Lab Ventures

"The commitment and energy of Rayout's team to solving client issues leave a strong impression. As labor shortages intensify, Rayout's project management capabilities will become even more essential to society."

CEO Sota Yoshida's Remarks

"In recent years, the significance of optimized communication design for stakeholders has risen, making the application of PR and creativity indispensable across departments. Especially with the advancements in AI technology, implementation and production times have been significantly reduced. However, many companies are seeing execution bottlenecks emerging. Our focus is on transforming the workforce’s participation in society into something more romantic and creative through our services."

About Rayout, Inc.

Founded in April 2019, Rayout specializes in providing PMO services with expertise in resolving issues in hiring, HR, PR, marketing, and executive planning. The company has collaborated on over 2,300 projects for more than 500 firms, creating an infrastructure capable of deeply understanding internal challenges and comprehensive project implementation. Rayout also develops and operates CheckBack, a cloud tool for streamlining the confirmation and approval process for productions through to delivery.

Company Information:

• - Location: 4-29-3 Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo
• - CEO: Sota Yoshida
• - Established: April 16, 2019
• - Capital: 62,588,50 Yen
• - Website: Rayout
• - CheckBack: CheckBack Tool