Unicorn
Unicorn (株式会社ユニコーン) is a Tokyo-based, Kanto-Finance-Bureau-registered equity crowdfunding platform that connects early-stage Japanese startups with individual retail investors under a 20% success-based fee model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Unicorn does
Unicorn Inc. (株式会社ユニコーン) is a Tokyo-based equity crowdfunding platform operator registered as a Type I Small Amount Electronic Offering Provider (第一種少額電子募集取扱業者) with the Kanto Finance Bureau (registration no. 3110) and a specific business member of the Japan Securities Dealers Association. Founded in December 2018 and headquartered in Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Unicorn operates the web-based platform at unicorn-cf.com, which connects Japanese early-stage startups seeking growth capital with individual (retail) investors under Japan's regulated ECF framework. The company is a group/subsidiary of ZUU Co., Ltd., the operator of the financial media property ZUU online (~4M users), and is led by Representative Director and CEO Yasuda Jiro with Director Fujita Tsutomu (appointed August 2021).
The product surface comprises three integrated offerings: the core equity crowdfunding platform with project listing, investor registration, and application processing; standardized Shareholder Agreement templates in both Standard and Extension variants that codify post-funding exit mechanics (IPO/M&A); and Angel Tax System support services that assist investors in claiming Japan's venture-investment tax benefits. The revenue model is a 20% success-based take rate on capital raised per project (plus consumption tax), with no upfront or review fees for issuers; investor registration is free, and individual investments are capped at 500,000 yen per investee company per year under regulatory rules. Across 38+ projects since 2019, cumulative gross capital raised exceeds 900M JPY, with several campaigns substantially exceeding targets (e.g., Riken World at 608% of target, Snap Dish at 533%, Disbii 4th round at 399%).
Operationally, Unicorn serves a domestic Japanese investor and issuer market only and has pursued regional ecosystem partnerships with Saga Prefecture, the Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework Promotion Organization, the Osaka SDGs Business Meet-UP program, and Tokyo University of Science Investment Management. The company experienced multiple high-traffic system failures between 2019 and 2021 (notably the 9th campaign in October 2020, which saw a 60x traffic spike and required an 800% database scaling event), prompting operational remediation. Unicorn was certified as an Angel Tax System business operator by METI in October 2020, received an Excellence Award in the Support Organization category at the Innovation Business Awards 2021, and was certified as a Tokyo-designated ECF handling operator in July 2023. In April 2025, the company publicly warned the market about a "J-Unicorn" impersonator misusing its brand and Kanto Finance Bureau registration number in apparent investment fraud schemes.
Unicorn firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Unicorn
- Legal name
- 株式会社ユニゴン
- Website
- https://unicorn-cf.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Unicorn (株式会社ユニコーン) is a Tokyo-based, Kanto-Finance-Bureau-registered equity crowdfunding platform that connects early-stage Japanese startups with individual retail investors under a 20% success-based fee model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Unicorn industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Equity Crowdfunding Platform
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)
- SIC
- Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Equity Capital Introduction & Prime Services (FSACAFAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Accelerator / Incubator-Backed ETA Programs (FSANALAD), Micro-PE / Lower Middle Market ETA Funds (FSANALAG)
Keywords
Where Unicorn is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Unicorn business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Success-based platform fees: Unicorn charges a 20% fee (plus consumption tax) on the total amount raised by issuers through the platform. This is a pure success-based model with no upfront fees or review fees. The fee applies to the gross capital raised per project.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Platform fee: 20% of capital raised (success-based, no upfront costs) |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Investor annual investment cap: 500,000 yen per company per year |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Unicorn product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Unicorn operates a regulated Japanese equity crowdfunding platform that enables early-stage startups to raise capital by issuing shares directly to individual investors through online securities offerings. The platform charges a 20% success-based commission (plus consumption tax) on the total capital raised per project, with no upfront fees. It also provides standardized shareholder agreement templates and angel tax filing support services.
Product overview
Unicorn operates a unified equity crowdfunding platform that connects startup companies seeking capital with individual investors. The core offering consists of the web-based crowdfunding platform at unicorn-cf.com, supplemented by shareholder agreement services to facilitate post-investment equity management and exit mechanisms. The company also provides Angel Tax system support to help investors access tax benefits when investing in qualifying ventures.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Unicorn Equity Crowdfunding Platform (Unicorn 株式投資型クラウドファンディング) A web-based equity crowdfunding platform enabling Japanese startups to raise capital by issuing shares directly to individual investors. It provides project listing, investor registration and identity verification, application processing during fundraising windows, and ongoing shareholder management services. Targeted at Japanese startups seeking growth capital and at Japanese retail investors with 2M+ JPY in financial assets seeking early-stage venture exposure.
- Shareholder Agreement Service (株主間契約)
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple projects exceeding 200%+ of fundraising targets, with some reaching full capacity within minutes of opening
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Unicorn
Customer profileNamed customers19 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Unicorn technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Unicorn partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, minor and core.
- Angel Lunch Program PartnersstrategicLunchtime acceleration program 'Angel Lunch' — a joint initiative targeting entrepreneurs and aspiring startup founders. The program includes pitching events and business contests aimed at discovering companies with 100 billion yen valuation potential.
- 福島イノベーション・コースト構想推進機構 (Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework Promotion Organization)minorJoined as a supporter of FukushimaTechCreate initiative to support startups in the Fukushima region through ECF.
- Osaka SDGs Business Meet-UP サプライヤー企業minorSupporting organization for Osaka SDGs Business Meet-UP, promoting sustainable business development in the Osaka region.
- 東京理科大学インベストメント・マネジメント株式会社 (Tokyo University of Science Investment Management Co., Ltd.)strategicInubation partnership agreement for joint acceleration programs. Collaborated on the 'Japan Tech-based Venture Competition 2021' and other technology venture pitching events to identify and support high-potential startups.
- 株式会社ZUU (ZUU Co., Ltd.)coreCapital and business alliance partner. ZUU operates ZUU online, a financial media platform reaching 4 million users. ZUU is the parent group company of Unicorn, providing brand credibility, user traffic, and financial industry connections.
- 佐賀県 (Saga Prefecture)minorCloud utilization cooperation agreement to promote ECF and support local startup ecosystem development in Saga Prefecture.
- 日証金信託銀行株式会社 (Nikkin Shim Trust Bank)minorTrust bank holding investor application funds separately from company assets to ensure fund safety and protection.
- 日本証券業協会 (Japan Securities Dealers Association)minorUnicorn is a member of the Japan Securities Dealers Association and has designated the Securities and Financial Instruments Mediation Consultation Center (FINMAC) as its dispute resolution body.
- 証券・金融商品あっせん相談センター (Securities and Financial Instruments Mediation Consultation Center, FINMAC)minorDesignated dispute resolution institution (指定紛争解決機関) as required under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act.
- 経済産業省 / 金融庁 (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry / Financial Services Agency)coreUnicorn is registered as a Type I Small Amount Electronic Offering Provider (第一種少額電子募集取扱業者) with the Kanto Finance Bureau (Registration No. 関東財務局長（金商）第3110号), subject to oversight by the Financial Services Agency and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Unicorn competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- FUNDINNO: Japan's largest equity crowdfunding platform and Unicorn's most direct domestic competitor. Both operate as FSA-registered Type I Small Amount Electronic Offering Providers, facilitating equity raises from Japanese startups via individual investors under identical regulatory framework.
- Crowdcube: UK-based equity crowdfunding platform connecting private companies with individual investors. Highly comparable business model and operating mechanics — standardized nominee structures, regulated intermediary status, and dual-sided issuer/investor marketplace.
- Republic: US-based equity crowdfunding and investment platform (post-merger with Seedrs) operating under SEC Regulation Crowdfunding. Comparable retail-investor-to-startup matching model and scale positioning within a major English-language market.
- WeFunder: US equity crowdfunding platform operating under Regulation Crowdfunding. Comparable dual-sided marketplace connecting retail investors with early-stage private companies; useful cross-jurisdictional comparison for fee structure and growth model.
- StartEngine: SEC-registered US equity crowdfunding platform operating under both Reg CF and Reg A+, enabling individual investors to access private company shares. Among the largest US volume operators in the same regulatory category as Unicorn.
- Seedrs: UK/EU equity crowdfunding platform (combined with Republic since 2022) using a comparable nominee-based secondary market mechanism and standardized shareholder structure. Highly comparable functionality for cross-border benchmarking.
Broad incumbents
- AngelList: US platform providing rolling funds, syndicates, and deal-flow services for venture investment. Operates in adjacent fundraising-for-startups space with broader portfolio including venture fund administration and job matching.
- SBI Investment: Part of Japanese SBI Group encompassing venture capital, brokerage, and broader financial services. Represents the broader Japanese financial ecosystem in which Unicorn operates — encompasses but extends well beyond the ECF focus area.
- Rakuten Securities: Major Japanese online securities broker providing retail investors with broad access to financial products. Not a direct ECF competitor but represents the broader retail-brokerage landscape competing for Japanese retail capital allocation; potential future adjacency.
Others
- ZUU Co., Ltd. Parent entity of Unicorn, operating the financial media platform ZUU online with approximately 4M users. Provides capital, distribution leverage, and brand credibility support to Unicorn's equity crowdfunding operations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Unicorn social profiles
Digital presenceUnicorn compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Unicorn financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Unicorn leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Unicorn funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Unicorn M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Unicorn
What does Unicorn do?
Unicorn operates a regulated Japanese equity crowdfunding platform that enables early-stage startups to raise capital by issuing shares directly to individual investors through online securities offerings. The platform charges a 20% success-based commission (plus consumption tax) on the total capital raised per project, with no upfront fees. It also provides standardized shareholder agreement templates and angel tax filing support services.
Is Unicorn a public or private company?
Unicorn is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Unicorn founded?
Unicorn was founded in 2018. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Unicorn based?
Unicorn is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Unicorn make money?
One revenue line is on record: success-based platform fees.
Who are Unicorn's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are FUNDINNO, Crowdcube, Republic, WeFunder, StartEngine and Seedrs. Broad incumbents are AngelList, SBI Investment and Rakuten Securities. ZUU Co., Ltd. is listed as an others.
Does Unicorn have an API?
No public API is recorded for Unicorn.
What industry is Unicorn in?
Unicorn's product category is Equity Crowdfunding Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSACAFAK, Equity Capital Introduction & Prime Services, with a secondary code of FSANALAD, Accelerator / Incubator-Backed ETA Programs. Its NAICS code is 52394 and its SIC code is 6211.