Japan’s One Tap Buy closes $13.3m round from Softbank, Mizuho

Urban cityscape of Tokyo, Japan.

By Shiwen Yap

February 22, 2017

Tokyo-based One Tap Buy, which previously operated under the brand of MyBanker, has secured an investment of 1.5 billion yen (~$13.3 million) from Mizuho Capital, Mobile Internet Capital, Softbank and Mizuho Securities.

The venture has been focused on developing a mobile app that is targeted at helping individuals manage their savings and investments in a simple and efficient manner.

Previous funding raised by the venture includes 1 billion yen ($8,802,000) from Softbank in July 2016. as well as an undisclosed sum from Mobile Internet Capital, DBJ Capital and Mitsui Life Insurance’s Sansei Capital in June 2015. This particular deal also saw the participation of other undisclosed VC firms.

The mobile app was evaluated and refined in a closed beta test for almost a year before being launched in June 2016/ According to One Tap Buy, it has acquired in excess of 150,000 downloads to date, with user demographics indicating individuals in their 20s and 30s. 70 per cent of them have previously not engaged in investing before.

This user profile indicates that most of its customers are Millennials, who span a cohort born between 1980 to 2000, broadly making up one of the largest generations in history and surpassing the baby boomer generation (1948-1964).

In terms of financial behaviour, Millennials are investing, lending, and sharing money very differently to their parents and preceding generations, assisted by a growing suite of tools.

The mobile app allows its users to select and purchase US-listed stocks and Japanese exchange traded funds (ETFs) rather than using conventional trading platforms.

Proceeds from the latest funding round will be used to accelerate system development efforts for new services and offerings, in addition to strengthening marketing efforts and boosting brand recognition of the service.

With the emerging fintech opportunities growing in the Asia Pacific, and with Japan seeing significant amounts of personal cash savings and corporate cash present, this will drive the emergence of digital money management solutions catering to individuals and SMEs (small & medium enterprises), as well as investment advisory, robo-advice, and personal financial management tools.

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Singapore Reporter/s

In Singapore, we are looking to double our reporting team by this year-end to comprehensively cover the fast-moving world of funded startups and VC, PE & M&A deals. We want reporters who can tell our readers what is really happening in these sectors and why it matters to markets, companies and consumers. The ability to write precisely and urgently is crucial for these roles. Ideal candidates must have to ability to work in a collaborative, dynamic, and fast-changing environment. We want our new hires to be digitally savvy and ready to experiment with new forms of storytelling. Most importantly, we are looking for hard-hitting reporters who work well in a team. Collaboration and collegiality are a must.

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).   

  • A reporter to track companies/startups that have raised private capital, and have the potential to become unicorns. SEA currently has over 40 companies with a valuation of over $100 million and under $1 billion.
  • A reporter who can get behind the scenes and reveal how funding rounds are put together, or why they’ve failed to materialise. She/he in this role will largely focus on long-format stories. 
  • A journalist to track special situations funds, distressed debt and private credit (from the PE angle) across Asia.
APPLY NOW

Singapore Reporter/s

In Singapore, we are looking to double our reporting team by this year-end to comprehensively cover the fast-moving world of funded startups and VC, PE & M&A deals. We want reporters who can tell our readers what is really happening in these sectors and why it matters to markets, companies and consumers. The ability to write precisely and urgently is crucial for these roles. Ideal candidates must have to ability to work in a collaborative, dynamic, and fast-changing environment. We want our new hires to be digitally savvy and ready to experiment with new forms of storytelling. Most importantly, we are looking for hard-hitting reporters who work well in a team. Collaboration and collegiality are a must.

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).   

  • A reporter to track companies/startups that have raised private capital, and have the potential to become unicorns. SEA currently has over 40 companies with a valuation of over $100 million and under $1 billion.
  • A reporter who can get behind the scenes and reveal how funding rounds are put together, or why they’ve failed to materialise. She/he in this role will largely focus on long-format stories. 
  • A journalist to track special situations funds, distressed debt and private credit (from the PE angle) across Asia.
APPLY NOW