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UPSIDER Selected as a Finalist in ALB Japan Law Awards 2025

The company UPSIDER, led by executives Toru Miyagi and Tomonori Mizuno, has been proudly announced as a finalist in two categories for the prestigious ALB Japan Law Awards 2025. This award, organized by Asian Legal Business (ALB), acknowledges the remarkable contributions of corporate legal departments and law firms that have demonstrated excellence in Japan.

Overview of ALB Japan Law Awards

The ALB Japan Law Awards, hosted by the international legal professional platform Asian Legal Business (part of Thomson Reuters), celebrates companies and law firms that have made significant impacts within the legal sector in Japan. The awards recognize exceptional achievements and contributions to the industry.

UPSIDER's Award Categories

1. In-House Team of the Year: Financial Services (Atsumi & Sakai)
This category focuses on financial institutions, evaluating the organization's ability to navigate complex regulatory environments efficiently. UPSIDER's commitment to fostering new business ventures was highlighted as an essential factor. The firm utilizes technology to streamline legal inquiries and construct scalable support systems. Furthermore, the company plays a proactive role in policy activities involving industry regulations and collaborations with governmental bodies.

2. In-House Team of the Year: Technology, Media, and Telecommunications
This category intends to honor companies in the tech space. Given the ever-evolving nature of legal challenges due to emerging technologies, UPSIDER has demonstrated flexibility and accuracy in its legal functions that support business operations. The company has also led significant legal initiatives concerning the establishment of a venture debt fund in collaboration with Mizuho Financial Group, pushing for innovation while ensuring regulatory compliance.

Comments from the Legal & Compliance Head

Kensuke Kumamoto, the head of UPSIDER's Legal & Compliance division, emphasized the team's proactive approach in identifying challenges and working collaboratively towards solutions. The team's members often embed themselves within dynamic project environments to facilitate on-the-ground communication, ensuring that legal support is integrated seamlessly into business operations. They not only identify legal ramifications but also design operational frameworks to guide departments on necessary actions grounded in legal outcomes. This interplay of roles contributes to a stimulating environment for the Legal & Compliance team.

UPSIDER's Mission and Services

Founded with a mission to create a global financial platform that supports challengers, UPSIDER provides services including the corporate card "UPSIDER" and the invoice payment card service "Shiharai.com." To date, over 80,000 businesses have benefited from these solutions.

The "UPSIDER" corporate card addresses various financial challenges, boasting a credit limit of over 1 billion yen. Users appreciate features such as virtual card issuance and management, along with SaaS functionalities designed to accelerate accounting processes. Additionally, UPSIDER boasts an impressive user retention rate of over 99% as of February 2024, with total transaction amounts exceeding 6,500 billion yen by March 2025.

On the other hand, "Shiharai.com," developed in collaboration with Credit Saison, allows both sole proprietors and corporations to make payments via credit card without lengthy procedures, thus improving cash flow management for users.

Starting from May 2023, UPSIDER launched a subsidiary, UPSIDER Capital, to facilitate lending to growth-stage companies. By November 2023, UPSIDER announced the establishment of a startup debt fund, "UPSIDER BLUE DREAM Fund," in partnership with Mizuho, with an initial amount of 10 billion yen, marking a new era for debt financing tailored for growth-stage startups.

As UPSIDER evolves from offering corporate cards to becoming an AI-driven comprehensive financial institution that bolsters Japan's competitive edge globally, the company remains committed to fostering innovative solutions for its clientele.

Conclusion

UPSIDER is rapidly adapting to the financial landscape by not only enhancing its product offerings but also ensuring that its legal frameworks align with its ambitious goals. With its recognition at the ALB Japan Law Awards, UPSIDER demonstrates its influence in shaping the future of financial services in Japan.

For more information, reach out at pr@up-sider.com.