CAMPFIRE
CAMPFIRE operates Japan's largest crowdfunding platform, serving individual creators, SMBs, and regional governments with purchase-based, donation, equity, and lending crowdfunding plus subscription community tools and SPA-type product commercialization services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What CAMPFIRE does
CAMPFIRE, Inc. (株式会社CAMPFIRE) is Japan's largest crowdfunding platform, founded in January 2011 and headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, with 264 employees as of July 2025 and ~7.348 billion JPY in registered capital. The company operates a multi-format crowdfunding marketplace spanning purchase-based, donation-based, equity (CAMPFIRE Angels), and lending (CAMPFIRE Owners) crowdfunding, layered with a subscription community platform (CAMPFIRE Community), an SPA-type product commercialization service (CAMPFIRE Creation), and a subsidy application support service for SMBs.
The core platform is a cloud-based, self-serve marketplace enabling creators to launch projects at zero initial cost, with a standard 12% service fee on successful raises plus approximately 5% payment processing. The technology stack integrates payment rails including PayPay, au PAY, Rakuten Pay, Apple Pay, LINE Pay, PayPal, and major Japanese card networks, and is delivered via web, iOS, and Android. Distribution extends beyond digital through retail channel partnerships with Bic Camera and Matsumoto Kiyoshi, and co-branded vertical programs in sports (JFA, Japan Rugby, Japan Athletic Association), entertainment (Yamaha's VOCALOID FAN-ding), tourism (JTB), and regional revitalization (DMM, Fukushima Bank, Hachinohe City, National Michi-no-Eki Association).
CAMPFIRE monetizes through a mix of transaction fees (12% take-rate, 5% payment processing, 0% on Social Good), recurring community subscriptions, SPA productization revenue, and success-based professional service fees. Following a November 2024 leadership transition from founder Kazuma Ieiri to Makoto Nakajima, the company reorganized in March 2026 under a new CGO (Masashi Mita), completed an absorption merger with Web3 subsidiary Livefor Inc., and refreshed its corporate mission — while simultaneously discontinuing underperforming products (BOOSTER, ENjiNE, polca, CAMPFIRE Bank, TOMOSHIBI) and managing a 2026 unauthorized access incident.
CAMPFIRE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CAMPFIRE
- Legal name
- 株式会社CAMPFIRE
- Website
- https://campfire.co.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- CAMPFIRE operates Japan's largest crowdfunding platform, serving individual creators, SMBs, and regional governments with purchase-based, donation, equity, and lending crowdfunding plus subscription community tools and SPA-type product commercialization services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CAMPFIRE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Crowdfunding Platform
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Creator Fundraising & Crowdfunding Platforms (Recurring/Project-Based) (MPACAFAJ)
Keywords
Where CAMPFIRE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
CAMPFIRE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Crowdfunding Platform Commission: CAMPFIRE charges commission fees on successful crowdfunding projects. Standard service fee is 12% of funds raised. The platform also charges 5% payment processing fee for disaster relief programs.
- CAMPFIRE Community Subscription: Monthly subscription-based community platform where creators can build ongoing supporter communities. Revenue generated from subscription fees and activity-based sales commissions.
- CAMPFIRE Creation SPA: Product development crowdfunding where creators can bring design ideas to market with full support from planning to sales management.
- Subsidy Support Service: Success-based fee model where professional staff support subsidy applications. Zero initial fee with compensation only upon successful approval.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Crowdfunding - 12% commission on successful projects |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Disaster Support Program - Reduced fees for affected project owners |
| Outcome Based/ Performance | Pay-as-you-go | Subsidy Application Support - Zero initial fee, success-based compensation |
| Subscription | Monthly | CAMPFIRE Community - Subscription-based community platform |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
CAMPFIRE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CAMPFIRE operates Japan's largest crowdfunding platform enabling creators to raise funds with zero initial costs across purchase-based, donation-based, and investment-based models. The platform supports individual creators, small businesses, nonprofits, and government entities through vertical-specific programs including CAMPFIRE Community for subscription support, CAMPFIRE Creation for SPA-type product commercialization, and supplementary services including equity crowdfunding, loan-type crowdfunding, and subsidy application support.
Product overview
CAMPFIRE operates as a multi-platform crowdfunding ecosystem positioned as Japan's largest crowdfunding operator. The core CAMPFIRE platform serves as the main purchase-type crowdfunding service, while the portfolio includes: CAMPFIRE Community (subscription-based community platform for ongoing creator support), CAMPFIRE Creation (SPA-type crowdfunding for design-to-product commercialization), and 補助金申請サポート (subsidy application support service for SMBs). Additional services include BOOSTER (PARCO joint venture for retail channel support), CAMPFIRE Angels (equity crowdfunding), CAMPFIRE Owners (loan-type crowdfunding), GoodMorning (social good donation-based crowdfunding), HIOKOSHI (regional revitalization specialized), Livefor (co-creation community app with Web3 focus), and specialized domain programs like CAMPFIRE for Entertainment, CAMPFIRE for Sports, and JFAクラウドファンディング. Educational and analytics tools include CAMPFIRE Academy (online learning) and CAMPFIRE DATABASE (market intelligence). The company also acquired polca (friend-funding app) and operated ENjiNE (B2B SaaS platform, discontinued). This platform-plus-specialized-modules architecture enables creators, businesses, and social enterprises to access diverse funding models from traditional crowdfunding to equity, lending, and subsidy support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CAMPFIRE: Japan's largest-scale crowdfunding platform allowing anyone to raise funds without initial costs
- CAMPFIRE Community
- CAMPFIRE Creation
- Subsidy Support Service
Products and services
- CAMPFIRE Japan's largest-scale crowdfunding platform enabling anyone to attempt fundraising without initial costs. Supports creators, entrepreneurs, and businesses in raising capital from a broad supporter base across multiple project types.
- CAMPFIRE Community Subscription-based community platform allowing creators to recruit supporters who share their creative vision and works. Supports ongoing fundraising through exclusive 'communities' for musicians, artists, illustrators, athletes, and other creators.
- CAMPFIRE Creation SPA (manufacturing retail) type crowdfunding service that realizes creators' design ideas into commercial products. Supports product planning to sales management, enabling ideas difficult for individuals to bring to market.
- Subsidy Application Support (補助金申請サポート) Subsidy application support service for SMBs with zero initial fee and success-based fee structure. Provides business plan drafting, document preparation, and application support with professional staff accompaniment for subsidies including Jizenhuka subsidy.
- CAMPFIRE Angels Equity-based crowdfunding service enabling startups to raise capital online through investor registration and fund investments.
- CAMPFIRE Owners Loan-type crowdfunding service providing investment opportunities in unlisted companies, enabling investors to earn returns through interest on loans.
- GoodMorning Social good specialized crowdfunding platform supporting project creators tackling social issues, with reduced commission rates to maximize donations to projects.
- HIOKOSHI Specialized crowdfunding site for Regional Revitalization Cooperator Corps (地域おこし協力隊), supporting regional revitalization activities with dedicated tools and features.
- Livefor Space (Livefor) Co-creation type community application for collaborative creation, operating under subsidiary Livefor Inc. with Web3 focus combining crowdfunding and community services.
- CAMPFIRE for Social Good Crowdfunding model where project creators receive 100% of support funds (no platform commission), designed for social good and charitable projects.
- CAMPFIRE for Entertainment Entertainment-domain focused crowdfunding program supporting creators in music, anime, games, and content creation industries.
- CAMPFIRE for Sports Sports-focused crowdfunding support program partnered with Japan Football Association (JFA) and Japan Rugby Football Union, supporting athletes and sports organizations.
- JFA Crowdfunding Japan Football Association partnership crowdfunding platform supporting football-related projects and initiatives nationwide.
- CAMPFIRE Academy Online learning platform teaching crowdfunding methodologies from basics to trends, providing comprehensive support for project creators' business growth.
- CAMPFIRE DATABASE Statistical data platform analyzing crowdfunding data to identify potential customer needs, providing market intelligence for project planning.
Quantifiable outcome
- Cumulative support amount exceeded 100 billion yen
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use CAMPFIRE
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
CAMPFIRE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration17 records
Feature4 records
CAMPFIRE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Fukushima BankminorLaunch of 'Next Lamp, Next Fukushima.' initiative to support challenges creating Fukushima's future through crowdfunding.
- DMMcorePartnership to promote regional charm and IP through 'DMM Chiiki Sousei Crowdfunding'. Collaboration combining regional attraction with intellectual property for new regional revitalization models.
- Hachinohe CityminorDisaster support agreement with special support program for affected businesses. Collaboration for disaster recovery through crowdfunding.
- Yamaha CorporationcoreLaunch of 'VOCALOID FAN-ding' crowdfunding service supporting aspiring VOCALOID creators. Partnership transforms 'wanting to become' into 'becoming' through crowdfunding.
- JFA and Related Sports Organizationscore'CAMPFIRE for Sports' support plan partnering with JFA and 4 sports organizations to support challenges in sports. Additional partnerships with Japan Rugby Football Union and Japan Athletic Association.
- IVSminor'Top Gun FUND' pitch event linked to crowdfunding. Real-time fundraising during presentations through cloud funding integration.
- JTBcoreBusiness partnership to launch 'JTB Crowdfunding'. Joint initiative for travel and tourism-related crowdfunding projects.
- National Michi-no-Eki AssociationminorPartnership to develop regional road station locations into regional industry cultivation hubs through crowdfunding. Cloud funding to support regional economic development.
- Kyoto University of the ArtsminorStudent development program using crowdfunding. Collaboration for creative education and student entrepreneurship support.
- National College of TechnologyminorPartnership agreement to support Kosen students' entrepreneurship and product development through crowdfunding. Student startup support programs.
- JFA (Japan Football Association)core'JFA Crowdfunding' partnership supporting Japanese football community dreams. Partnership to become 'the world's happiest country for football'.
- LiveforminorNew company establishment for Web3 advancement combining crowdfunding and community services. 'Livefor Space' co-creation community app beta released.
- Matsukiyo Cocokara & Companycore'matsukiyoFIRE' joint program for integrated support from crowdfunding to general sales. Product sales at flagship Matsukiyo stores.
- Bic Cameracore'BicFIRE' joint program providing end-to-end support from crowdfunding to general sales. Permanent exhibition spaces and sales at multiple Bic Camera locations.
- Creator Economy Association (BASE, note, UUUM, etc.)minorEstablishment of 'Creator Economy Association' with 7 companies including BASE, note, and UUUM. Creating environment for creator activities and democratizing fundraising.
- Marui GroupcoreCapital and business partnership for strengthened creator support through real stores and payment infrastructure. 'PARK by CAMPFIRE' permanent exchange space opened at Shibuya Modi.
- BASEcoreCapital and business partnership to promote cross-service utilization. Simple login integration and mutual promotional benefits for project owners and shop owners.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves17 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CAMPFIRE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Indiegogo: Indiegogo is a global crowdfunding platform and a strategic partner of CAMPFIRE (enabling outbound expansion of Japanese projects). Both platforms share similar creator-economy positioning and reward-based crowdfunding mechanics.
- BASE: BASE is Japan's leading SMB e-commerce platform and a strategic capital-and-business partner of CAMPFIRE (CEO Yuta Tsuruoka sits on CAMPFIRE's board). Both serve individual creators and small businesses, with BASE covering the storefront layer while CAMPFIRE covers the funding layer.
- Kickstarter: Kickstarter is the global category-leading reward-based crowdfunding platform. It operates in the same product category as CAMPFIRE with similar take-rate economics, serving as the international benchmark for CAMPFIRE's product and growth model.
- GoFundMe: GoFundMe is the global leader in donation-based personal crowdfunding. While not operating in Japan, it serves as the international benchmark for CAMPFIRE's social-good and disaster-relief offerings like GoodMorning.
Direct peers
- MotionGallery: MotionGallery is a Japanese crowdfunding platform with strong positioning in film, animation, music, and creative arts — overlapping significantly with CAMPFIRE's core individual-creator segment.
- Readyfor: Readyfor is one of Japan's largest donation-based and social-impact crowdfunding platforms, operating in a similar regulatory and market environment as CAMPFIRE with overlapping creator segments including non-profits and regional projects.
- Makuake: Makuake is Japan's other leading purchase-type crowdfunding platform, backed by Recruit. It directly competes with CAMPFIRE across consumer product launches, technology, and creative projects, and represents CAMPFIRE's primary domestic competitor.
- Kibidango (by Kibidango Inc.): Kibidango is a Japanese crowdfunding platform focused on product commercialization and import projects, with similar SPA-style product crowdfunding functionality that directly competes with CAMPFIRE Creation.
Emerging players
- Patreon: Patreon is the global leader in subscription-based creator community monetization. Its model closely parallels CAMPFIRE Community, and represents both a competitive threat and a strategic reference point for CAMPFIRE's recurring-revenue pivot.
- CrowdCredit: CrowdCredit operates investment-type crowdfunding (lending and equity) in Japan, directly competing with CAMPFIRE Owners and CAMPFIRE Angels in the alternative finance vertical of the Japanese market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CAMPFIRE social profiles
Digital presenceCAMPFIRE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CAMPFIRE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
CAMPFIRE subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
CAMPFIRE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CAMPFIRE 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 CAMPFIRE
What does CAMPFIRE do?
CAMPFIRE operates Japan's largest crowdfunding platform enabling creators to raise funds with zero initial costs across purchase-based, donation-based, and investment-based models. The platform supports individual creators, small businesses, nonprofits, and government entities through vertical-specific programs including CAMPFIRE Community for subscription support, CAMPFIRE Creation for SPA-type product commercialization, and supplementary services including equity crowdfunding, loan-type crowdfunding, and subsidy application support.
Is CAMPFIRE a public or private company?
CAMPFIRE is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was CAMPFIRE founded?
CAMPFIRE was founded in 2011. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is CAMPFIRE based?
CAMPFIRE is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does CAMPFIRE make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Crowdfunding Platform Commission is the primary driver. The others are CAMPFIRE Community Subscription, CAMPFIRE Creation SPA and subsidy Support Service.
Who are CAMPFIRE's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Indiegogo, BASE, Kickstarter and GoFundMe. Direct peers are MotionGallery, Readyfor, Makuake and Kibidango (by Kibidango Inc.). Emerging players are Patreon and CrowdCredit.
Does CAMPFIRE have an API?
No public API is recorded for CAMPFIRE.
What industry is CAMPFIRE in?
CAMPFIRE's product category is Crowdfunding Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACAFAJ, Creator Fundraising & Crowdfunding Platforms (Recurring/Project-Based). Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 6282.