MENLO PARK, Calif. & TOKYO, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sansan Inc., the #1 contact management service provider in Japan, today announced that it raised $14 million USD (¥1.46 billion JPY) in funding led by venture capital firm DCM, with participation from institutional and strategic investors. Sansan, which has already attracted over 2,000 corporate customers in Japan, will use the funds to launch its cloud-based contact management service in the United States this month, and rapidly accelerate its expansion into international markets.
Launched in 2007, Sansan’s unique cloud based contact management service empowers business organizations to better leverage their relationships and network. Sansan’s unique technology rapidly and accurately transcribes business cards, and uploads them into a cloud-based contact management platform. Furthermore, going beyond traditional contact management, Sansan enables seamless collaboration around critical business data – who met whom, when, where and why.
“With over 10 billion business cards exchanged each year, Sansan is the first truly collaborative service for managing one of the oldest, yet most valuable, relationship building tools in the world,” said Sansan CEO Chikahiro Terada. “By automatically scanning business cards and uploading structured data to the cloud, Sansan allows organizations to more easily leverage their contacts in a collaborative way, while increasing the productivity of sales teams and enhancing customer relationships. By automatically bridging traditional offline business practices with scalable online and mobile tools, we hope to delight every business person in America with our simple yet powerful products.”
This round of financing fuels Sansan’s entrance into the U.S. market, and Silicon Valley based DCM’s lead investment adds strong strategic backing. “Business cards are a universal business tool used in every country in the world,” said Osuke Honda, partner at DCM. “With its simplicity and universal appeal, DCM is looking forward to supporting Sansan’s growth not only in Japan, but in the American market as well.”
Domestic investors and partners also participated in the round, including the Innovation Network Corporation of Japan, Nikkei Digital Media, Energy and Environment Investment, Inc, and GMO Venture Partners. These partners will strengthen Sansan’s market leadership in Japan, furthering product innovation and marketing reach. Previous investors include salesforce.com.
About Sansan, Inc.
Since its founding in 2007, Sansan has focused on delivering its cloud-based contact management service to customers in Japan and beyond. Sansan’s business card transcription service and cloud-based collaborative contact management software has empowered businesses to leverage and share their network as a team, enhancing productivity and unlocking new opportunities. In May 2014, Sansan is launching its platform for the U.S. market as the beachhead to further international expansion. Sansan is based in Tokyo, Japan.
About DCM
DCM is an early stage venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley, Beijing, and Tokyo with more than $2.5 billion under management. DCM has invested in more than 200 technology companies across the United States and Asia, and provides hands-on operational guidance and a global network of business and financial resources. DCM has backed industry leading companies such as 51job, 58.com, About.com, BitAuto, Clearwire, Dangdang, eDreams, Fortinet, Foundry Networks, Kabu.com, Luxin, PGP Corporation, Pokelabo, Renren, SandForce, Sling Media, SMIC, StarFlyer, Tuniu, VanceInfo, and Vipshop. DCM also invested in exciting, upcoming startups such as Analogix, Arrayent, Bill.com, BitTorrent, Kakao, Happy Elements, SoFi, Wandoujia, and Youxinpai.