November 9, 2022

KDDI Corporation

KDDI invested in Gojo & Company, Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Founder & CEO Taejun Shin; hereinafter: "Gojo & Company"), a company that is deploying microfinance services for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries, through the KDDI Open Innovation Fund III (operated by Global Brain Corporation; hereinafter "KOIF III"), which aims to incubate new business co-creations with promising venture startups.

Gojo & Company is a holding company that is deploying microfinance in developing countries through its nine group companies in Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Tajikistan, and India based on a vision of "To create a world where everyone can determine their future" The company was founded in July 2014 with the mission of "To extend financial inclusion across the globe". Their goal is to enable the provision of high-quality financial services to 100 million clients in 50 countries by 2030.

Through this investment, KDDI will utilize its assets to support Gojo & Company's efforts for financial inclusion.

As "the company that customers feel closest to," KDDI will continue to promote business co-creation through investment in promising startup companies, and create new business models together with customers and partners.

(Reference)

• ■Overview of Gojo & Company, Inc.

  • (1)

    Company name: Gojo & Company, Inc.

  • (2)

    Headquarters: 3-14-5 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

  • (3)

    Founded: 2014

  • (4)

    Business activities: microfinance services for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries

  • (5)

    Representative: Founder & CEO Taejun Shin

  • (6)

    URL: https://gojo.co

• ■About KDDI Open Innovation Fund

  KDDI Open Innovation Fund is a corporate venture fund that supports a broad range of venture companies. The currently active KDDI Open Innovation Fund III focuses on the areas of AI, IoT, data marketing, fintech, B2B SaaS, and entertainment with a total operating fund of 20 billion yen.