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Gakushii's Innovative Approach to Scholarships

Gakushii, headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, has recently announced the successful closure of its Series B funding round, securing an impressive total of 4.25 billion yen. This funding, which combines equity and debt, is led by Nissay Capital alongside notable investors such as Terrace Sky Ventures, MUFG Trust, and STATION Ai Central Japan fund.

Addressing the Challenges of Financial Support for Students

In Japan, while many students are eager to pursue higher education, financial constraints often limit their options. On the other hand, there exists a growing number of individuals and corporations who wish to support these young talents and return wealth to society. However, challenges such as uncertainty over where to donate, reflecting personal intentions in support efforts, and concerns over the operational transparency, prevent these good intentions from being fully realized. Gakushii aims to redesign the scholarship system to not only facilitate the search for scholarships but also to establish a framework for creating them. The company projects to support the establishment of around 100 new scholarship programs by 2025, benefiting approximately 900 students with a total funding exceeding 1.27 billion yen.

This transition from distributing existing scholarships to creating and circulating new ones is pivotal, and the recent funding will catalyze the expansion of participation from both individuals and corporations, enhancing the overall structure of the scholarship ecosystem.

The Corporate Value of Scholarships

In the corporate world, scholarships are evolving from mere CSR activities to becoming integral to recruitment strategies and branding. They allow companies to connect with talented and motivated students early in their academic journey. Some ways these initiatives add value include:

• - Facilitating connections with specific groups of students, such as those in STEM fields, professional qualifications, and athletics.
• - Utilizing scholarship programs for building relationships and exploring new educational collaborations.
• - Enhancing corporate brand image through social contributions.

This innovative approach allows companies to form natural relationships with a previously hard-to-reach demographic—students—by interacting through the scholarship channel.

Examples of Collaborative Scholarship Creation

1. Collaboration with Willtec: Gakushii has partnered with Willtec to bridge career path communication for engineering students, integrating talent development with recruitment practices.
Learn more here

2. Partnership with a Publishing Venture: Gakushii has launched a scholarship program aimed at helping students during their job search period through a collaboration with a publishing venture.
More information here

3. New Support Models with Major Manufacturers: By teaming up with large manufacturers, Gakushii is introducing a support model that includes providing household appliances as part of scholarship supplies.
Details available here

These collaborative efforts demonstrate how scholarships can evolve into a tool that connects recruitment, education, and societal issues.

The Role of Individuals in Scholarship Creation

Gakushii also facilitates a process for individuals who wish to establish scholarships that directly benefit students. The "Together Walking Scholarship," supported by Gakushii Foundation, allows donors who aim to use their assets for social good to create scholarships tailored to their intentions.

Individuals can personally choose the recipients, while Gakushii manages the selection and operations, ensuring that supporters can see the growth of the students they assist. There are plans to expand the scale of this support in the future.

Focus Areas for Fund Allocation

The funds raised in this round will be invested in key areas to spur growth and impact:
1. Enhancing the Gakushii Platform: Improving functionalities and user experiences.
2. Promoting Digital Transformation: Developing products to push scholarships into the digital age.
3. Facilitating Individual and Corporate Scholarship Creation: Initiatives like "New Scholarships".
4. Innovating Scholarship Models Tied to Recruitment and Branding.

Gakushii aims to put a robust system in place that ensures continuous growth in scholarship availability, ultimately creating a society where diverse stakeholders—from individuals to corporations—participate in circulating educational opportunities.

Investing in the Future

Investor comments echo the commitment to Gakushii's mission:

• - Nissay Capital: "It’s thrilling to collaborate once again with Gakushii, aiming for a society where no student has to give up on their dreams."
• - Terrace Sky Ventures: "Scholarship DX combined with societal significance presents an opportunity for business growth, and we're excited to support Gakushii in this endeavor."
• - MUFG Trust Bank: "Creating new educational funds through scholarships is vital for supporting the next generation of leaders."
• - STATION Ai: "We believe in Gakushii's business model addressing real-world challenges, and we're committed to supporting their growth."

Company Overview

Gakushii, aiming for a society where students can pursue their dreams without financial concerns, is generating innovative financial solutions. Its operations include the largest scholarship information site in Japan and tools that facilitate the easy creation of scholarships by interested parties.

Company Name: Gakushii Inc.
CEO: Ryosuke Matsubara
Founded: March 1, 2019
Location: Shibuya, Tokyo
Capital: 100,000,000 yen (as of January 2026)
Business Activities: Operation of scholarship platform, original scholarship establishment support, promoting scholarship digital transformation.
Website: Gakushii

For those keen on exploring Gakushii's impact, interviews with scholarship recipients and reports on the company’s business can be found on their website.