Inq

What Inq does

INQ is a Tokyo-based professional services firm founded in 2018 that provides debt financing advisory to Japanese startups, primarily at seed to Series A stage. The firm helps entrepreneurs navigate Japan's institutional debt landscape—including Japan Policy Finance Corporation loans, credit guarantee association financing, and bank lending—by acting as an intermediary that prepares documentation, coaches founders through interviews, and selects optimal funding routes. INQ holds certified support institution (認定支援機関) status, enabling it to formally facilitate applications to public financing programs.

INQ operates three engagement tiers: spot (one-time consulting), accompaniment (ongoing BPO-style support for startups lacking internal finance staff), and advisory (strategic consulting). It also runs a free web-based diagnostic tool (sb.inq.finance) that estimates loan approval probability against a database of 1,000+ annual consultations, and publishes INQ MAG, a content platform aimed at reducing information asymmetry in startup finance. Distribution is built on a network of 11+ referral partners spanning VCs (ANOBAKA, OASIS FUND, Gazelle Capital), venture debt providers (Fivot, Siiibo Securities), tax/accounting firms (Gemstone), government institutions (Japan Policy Finance Corporation), and commercial banks (Resona). Reported cumulative track record is 1,300+ companies supported and ¥13 billion+ in client financing facilitated, with 130+ cases per year exceeding ¥1 billion annually.

The business is bootstrapped (no disclosed funding rounds), runs on a small 1–10 person team led by CEO Wakabayashi Teppei (a certified administrative scrivener / 行政書士), and derives revenue from quote-based professional service fees. There is no proprietary technology platform beyond the diagnostic tool; the offering is fundamentally human advisory supported by content marketing and partner referrals.

Name

Inq

Legal name

株式会社INQ

Website

https://inq.finance

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

INQ is a Tokyo-based startup financing advisory firm founded in 2018 that helps Japanese seed-to-Series A startups secure debt financing through institutional lenders, with 1,300+ clients supported and ¥13B+ cumulative financing facilitated.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Financing Advisory

NAICS

Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (52231), Activities Related to Credit Intermediation (5223), Finance and Insurance (52)

SIC

Loan Brokers (6163), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Capital Raising Advisory (Equity & Equity-Linked) (FSAEAGAC)

Keywords

• Startup financing advisory
• Loan consulting services
• Financial advisory firm
• Venture debt support
• Financing diagnostic tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Startup Financing Support Services: INQ provides financing advisory services for startups, helping them secure debt financing (創業融資). They offer three service models: スポット型 (spot/one-time), 伴走型 (ongoing accompaniment with BPO), and アドバイザリー型 (advisory). The company generates revenue through professional service fees for financing advisory and support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

INQ provides professional financing advisory services to Japanese venture startups seeking debt-based fundraising. The company operates three engagement models (spot, ongoing accompaniment with BPO, and advisory consulting) and offers a free web-based diagnostic tool plus the INQ MAG finance media platform to address information asymmetry in startup loan access.

Product overview

Inq operates as a startup financing support company offering three distinct service models: (1) スポット型 (Spot) for one-time consulting, (2) 伴走型 (Accompaniment) for ongoing BPO-style support with dedicated team involvement, and (3) アドバイザリー型 (Advisory) for strategic consulting on loan-based fundraising. The company also provides a free web-based diagnostic tool called 創業融資診断サービス that evaluates loan approval probability and potential borrowing amounts for entrepreneurs. Additionally, Inq publishes INQ MAG, a finance media platform delivering insights on startup financing trends and regulatory updates. Together, these offerings address the information asymmetry that entrepreneurs face when navigating the complex landscape of startup debt financing in Japan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• INQ MAG: ファイナンス情報の非対称性を解消するため、最新の制度情報や、ベンチャー・スタートアップファイナンスの最前線で実践・挑戦する方々の知見を発信しているメディアブランド。

Products and services

• Startup Loan Diagnostic Service (創業融資診断サービス)
• Spot Service (スポット型サービス)
• Accompaniment Service (伴走型サービス)
• Advisory Service (アドバイザリー型サービス)
• INQ MAG

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,300+ companies supported with cumulative financing exceeding ¥13 billion
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ANOBAKA (株式会社ANOBAKA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerANOBAKA is a VC firm that refers portfolio companies to INQ for debt financing support. They have co-hosted study sessions with INQ since 2019 to address information asymmetry in seed-stage startup finance. Representative Hagiya Satoshi Testimonial: 'INQ contributes to resolving information asymmetry in startup finance'
• OASIS FUND (OASISFUND)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOASIS FUND operates SHIBUYA STARTUP OASIS and refers entrepreneurs and fund portfolio companies to INQ. They provide joint financing advisory for startups needing debt financing. Representative Takahagi Testimonial: 'Strong ally for young entrepreneurs'
• Gazelle Capital株式会社minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGazelle Capital operates YouTube channel 'Startup Investment TV' featuring INQ and refers investment portfolio companies for debt financing support. Representative Kondo Testimonial: 'Latest information-oriented supporter'
• 株式会社FivotminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFivot provides venture debt services and refers entrepreneurs to INQ for debt advisory support. Representative Abe Testimonial: 'Partner that thinks first for entrepreneurs'
• 株式会社YoiiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYoii is a Fintech company providing Revenue-Based Financing (RBF) and collaborates with INQ through joint events and mutual startup referrals. Representative Uno Testimonial: 'Hub connecting startups and financial players'
• 株式会社IPPOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIPPO provides startup office solutions and refers companies to INQ for financing needs. Representative Sekiguchi Testimonial: 'Quick and sincere support regardless of startup stage'
• 株式会社StartPasscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStartPass operates an entrepreneurship platform for startup management resources and includes INQ as debt financing expert. They co-host webinars and make introductions. Representative Ohara Testimonial: 'Entrepreneurs always grateful for their service'
• Gemstone税理士法人 (Gemstone Tax Attorney Corporation)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerTax accounting firm that refers startup clients needing financing to INQ. Representative Ishikatsu Testimonial: 'Reliable startup support partner'
• Siiibo証券株式会社 (Siiibo Securities)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSecurities firm providing mid-stage bond issuance services for startups, collaborates with INQ on debt financing strategy. Representative Komura Testimonial: 'Debt strategy compass considering future mid-to-later stage'
• 日本政策金融公庫 (Japan Policy Finance Corporation)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment financial institution providing startup loans. INQ serves as a certified support institution (認定支援機関) helping startups apply for and obtain financing from this institution.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Clearco: Clearco (formerly Clearbanc) is a global revenue-based financing provider to startups and SMBs. It addresses the same underlying need — non-dilutive capital for early-stage companies — that INQ serves in Japan through debt origination.
• Pipe: Pipe operates a revenue-based financing platform that lets startups convert recurring revenue into upfront capital. Comparable to INQ's startup debt advisory positioning, with overlap on customer profile and funding instrument type.
• Lighter Capital: Lighter Capital is a US-based provider of venture debt (revenue-based financing) specifically to startups and tech companies. It competes for the same debt capital allocation to early-stage companies that INQ advises on.
• Capchase: Capchase provides revenue-based financing to SaaS startups, addressing non-dilutive capital needs at early stages. Comparable target customer (venture-backed SaaS startups) and similar debt alternative to equity offering.
• Crowdcredit: Crowdcredit is a Japan-based P2P / marketplace lending platform serving SMBs and earlier-stage companies. It is a regional peer that intermediates non-bank credit to businesses in Japan, overlapping with INQ's debt-financing intermediation role.
• Yoii: Yoii is a Japanese fintech that offers Revenue-Based Financing (RBF) to startups, and like INQ, operates in the Japanese startup debt-finance ecosystem. The two co-host events and mutually refer clients, making Yoii a directly overlapping player in debt-side startup capital.
• Fivot: Fivot is a Japanese venture debt provider serving startups, formally partnered with INQ for referral flow. They sit on the same debt-financing value chain for startups and share many of the same target customers and referral partners.

Others

• ANOBAKA: ANOBAKA is a Japanese early-stage VC that has partnered with INQ since 2019 to refer portfolio companies for debt financing. As a deep ecosystem partner, ANOBAKA represents the equity-side of startup funding that INQ complements on the debt side.

Broad incumbents

• Resona Bank (りそな銀行): Resona Bank is one of INQ's partner banks providing startup loan products. It is a large incumbent bank that originates debt capital to early-stage companies, sitting on the supply side of the same market INQ advises clients into.
• Japan Finance Corporation (JFC / 日本政策金融公庫): JFC is the Japanese government-backed financial institution that is the largest single source of startup debt (創業融資). INQ is formally a certified support institution of JFC, making JFC a key institutional counterparty and the dominant incumbent lender that INQ routes clients toward.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/INQ_finance
• YouTubeopen.spotify.com/show/26kH2Hgi05fycgJ2PiHIca
• Facebookfacebook.com/wakabayashi.teppei

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Inq