KUROFUNE Raises Pre-Series A to Scale Settlement Support App for Specified Skilled Workers

KUROFUNE, a company focused on employment and daily life support for foreign personnel in Japan, has secured pre-Series A funding for its statutory and settlement support app, KUROFUNE PASSPORT.

The round includes investment from Iyo Bank Capital through the Iyo Venture Fund No. 7, Chugin Capital Partners via the Chugin Infinity Fund No. 3, Joytam, Yamako Sangyo, and individual investor Naoki Akira.

Founded in February 2018, KUROFUNE currently operates two services. One is the KUROFUNE job search support app for foreign residents in Japan. The other is KUROFUNE PASSPORT, launched in April 2019, which provides statutory support and settlement assistance for specified skilled workers through a dedicated app.

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KUROFUNE introduces personnel through two routes. A domestic route that uses talent registered on its app, and an overseas route supported by a network of more than 100 agents across eight countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

KUROFUNE PASSPORT is designed to streamline the legally required support tasks companies must provide when accepting specified skilled foreign workers. The app offers 24-hour consultation via chat in the user’s native language, requests for accompaniment to government offices and banks, centralized management of support records, and alert notifications for residence card renewal deadlines. The company says the service is now used across 15 prefectures nationwide, from Hokkaido to Nagasaki.

From a business model perspective, KUROFUNE waives recruitment fees on the condition that worker management is handled through KUROFUNE PASSPORT. Revenue is instead linked to retention. Under the Specified Skilled Worker system, job changes are allowed, which makes retention a real challenge. By digitizing the operations of registered support organizations and combining them with legally mandated support and retention assistance, KUROFUNE is positioning its app as the operational backbone.

The additional capital will be allocated to fortify the sales framework, promote marketing and PR activities, and enlarge the KUROFUNE PASSPORT development crew. The firm informs that it will not stop incorporating worker retention supportive features.