〜Pre-Series A financing from venture capitalists, operating companies, and individual investors to expand the temporary childcare matching platform and hands-on childcare services.
- The following is content from the press release -
(Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Keiko Kowaki), which provides a matching platform for temporary childcare and a "hands-on childcare" service that turns childcare opportunities into invaluable time for children, has completed a pre-series A round of financing from ANRI, Daiwa House Group Growth Fund, Blue Incubation Co. (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Keiko Kowaki, CEO), a provider of "hands-on" childcare services that transform children's precious time, has completed a pre-series A round of financing from ANRI, Daiwa House Group Growth Fund, Blue Incubation, Kirabo Consulting, Inc.
All of society, to the excitement of children.
With the mission of "making all of society exciting for children," Asuiku Co., Ltd. is developing services aimed at reducing the burden of childcare and improving the quality of childcare experiences, centered on Asuiku, a matching platform for searching and booking temporary childcare services that connects parents and childcare facilities.
Currently linked with approximately 100 daycare centers mainly in the Tokyo metropolitan area, parents can search and reserve daycare facilities in one minute from LINE. 13,000 users have registered for the service, which is highly regarded for its convenience and can be used anytime, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Experience-based childcare" created with railroad operators, department stores, and local companies
From 2024, in addition to the matching platform, we have also started full-scale provision of "hands-on childcare programs" that turn temporary childcare time into time for exciting experiences for children in collaboration with companies, and have been enthusiastic about the children.
Eki-iku," in which children are taken care of at stations while they explore the premises with station staff and learn how trains work, is conducted in cooperation with JR East, Seibu Railway, Tobu Railway, and other companies. The "Explore" program, in which the children peek into the back yards of department stores and shopping centers and learn about the work of professional clerks, is co-sponsored by Tokyu Department Stores, Atre, Lumine, Parco, and others.
This hands-on childcare program is designed to eliminate the "guilt" that about 70% of Japanese mothers feel about childcare, so that children can enjoy their favorite activities while their parents can relax and spend time alone. By bringing smiles to the faces of parents and children, Asuiku hopes to solve a social problem in Japan, where the burden of childcare is heavy.
The average parent satisfaction rating for hands-on childcare programs is 9.7 (out of 10). An increasing number of programs sell out immediately after notification, and in addition to having already formed a capital and business alliance with East Japan Railway Company, the company plans to form a capital and business alliance with the Seibu Group with this latest financing, and conduct programs utilizing the group's assets such as stations and hotels.
We hope to continue to work with many companies that want to create a childcare-friendly society by combining their various assets with ASUKU's knowledge and the skills of childcare professionals to create value that has never existed before.
Comments from our funders
Asuiku, led by Mr. Kowaki, is taking on the challenge of establishing a culture in which "all of society is exciting for children" and "leaving children with us = children's joy". In addition to the already very popular "Eki-iku," Asuiku is creating exciting experiences for children one after another. This value system is not an outlandish idea, and while it has existed for some time, it has been difficult to materialize, Asuiku is steadily taking shape.
Mr. Kowaki is a passionate and can-do person who is always looking for excitement. I am amazed at his ability to keep the children's perspective in mind, his ability to take action to make it happen, and his ability to get his colleagues and partners involved. I have high expectations for the nationwide expansion of ASUKUIKU, which will provide an opportunity for our partners to gain a new fan base, along with its driving force.
The Seibu Group and Asuikusha began co-creating this service when it was adopted by JTOS, a consortium for cross-railway social implementation. We deeply sympathize with the idea of temporary childcare that can bring smiles to the faces of both parents and children by eliminating the guilt that parents tend to feel about leaving their children in the care of others and connecting it with their children's interests and learning.
We are looking forward to the great synergy effect that will be created by combining the diverse assets of the Seibu Group, including its real estate and stations, with the expertise of Asuiku. By taking this investment as an important step and further strengthening the collaboration with ASUKU, we hope to make the Seibu Line attractive for those who want to raise their children, and by extension, provide an irreplaceable space and time to those who use the facilities of the Seibu Group.
We are very pleased to announce that the Daiwa House Group Growth Fund has decided to invest in Asuiku.
The company's temporary childcare services and hands-on childcare content are unique in that they provide value to both the childcare users (children and their parents) and the asset providers (childcare facilities and operating companies).
We look forward to Asuiku's further growth in the future and will continue to support its business activities in full cooperation with the company's management team.
Based on the management philosophy of "making all of society exciting for children," Asuiku Co., Ltd. provides a temporary childcare search and reservation service that can be reserved in one minute from LINE, as well as hands-on childcare programs at facilities such as train stations and department stores where children can learn new things while enjoying themselves with excitement.
Since the improvement of the childcare environment today is an extremely important issue for society, we at KIRABOSHI CONSULTING have decided to invest in ASUKINOKU Inc. because we believe that supporting its growth will also lead to the development of the local community as a whole.
During SusHi Tech Tokyo 2025, "Maneiku," a program that we supervised, was held in the booth of Tokyo Kiriboshi Financial Group, giving parents an opportunity to have time for themselves, children an opportunity to learn about money while having fun, and us an opportunity to convey the importance of money, For us, it was an opportunity to teach the importance of money while having fun. We hope that "ASUKU" will continue to spread throughout the world as a service that solves the social issue of childcare, which is a problem that everyone is struggling with.
About this fundraising
With this financing, in addition to our existing shareholders, we were able to meet shareholders who are even more strongly supporting the growth and development of ASUKU.
While talking with them, not only do they share Asuikku's business, but they often give us ideas for how to do things better. We are very much looking forward to working together with Asuikku as partners who aim for business growth together.
With this funding, ASUKUIKU will expand its recruitment and co-creation with companies, further develop attractive programs and expand nationwide in earnest, aiming to grow as a valuable business not only for parents and children, but also for companies and childcare workers. We are looking forward to hearing from companies that want to change society together with ASUKU and from people who want to work with ASUKU as childcare workers and business planners!
About Us
Company name: Asuiku Co.
Location: Sumitomo Fudosan Toranomon Tower 2F G-STA SQUARE, 2-2-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Keiko Yukiwaki, Representative Director
Established: December 2017
Business activities: Temporary childcare search and reservation service, planning and operation of hands-on childcare programs
Web:https://ad.asuiku.net/
