G.I.F.T

What G.I.F.T does

G.I.F.T Co., Ltd. (G.I.F.T株式会社, marketed as Gates Innovative Financial Technology) is a Tokyo-based, Japan-only licensed financial services firm operating a social lending platform under the Smart Lending® brand. Founded in 2012 as Plus Ultra Line Investment Co., Ltd. and rebranded in 2022 following its acquisition by GATES Co., Ltd., the company holds dual Japanese financial licenses — a Type II Financial Instruments Business registration (Kanto Finance Bureau Kinsho No. 2720) and a Money Lending Business registration (Tokyo Governor (4) No. 31564) — making it a member of both the Japan Securities Dealers Association and the Japan Finance Lenders Association.

The core product is a lending-type crowdfunding platform that issues real estate-collateralized investment funds structured as anonymous partnerships. Individual retail investors register online, complete identity verification via Proost KYC, and apply for funds with a minimum ticket of JPY 100,000 (10 units at JPY 10,000 each). Active funds include Fund #1 (JPY 12,000,000 target, 8.0% expected annual return, 6-month term) and Fund #2 (JPY 4,900,000 target, 10.5% expected annual return, 9-month term). The platform features lottery-based fund allocation, segregated investor accounts, and a dedicated investor portal.

G.I.F.T generates revenue through three streams: (1) the spread between borrower loan rates (10.0–12.0% p.a.) and investor target distributions (8.0–10.5% p.a.), (2) upfront lending execution fees (1.0–1.5% of loan principal) charged to borrowers, and (3) annual operator fees (1.5–2.0% of outstanding fund balance) deducted from fund assets. The company also engages in direct lending to corporate and individual borrowers outside the fund structure. Distribution is entirely digital via its proprietary online platform and email/newsletter communications. G.I.F.T operates exclusively in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, with non-residents, foreign PEPs, and non-Japanese entities prohibited from registering. GATES Co., Ltd. is both the 100% parent shareholder and the disclosed primary borrower for the platform's flagship funds.

Name

G.I.F.T

Legal name

G.I.F.T株式会社

Website

https://gift-finance.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Short description

G.I.F.T Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-based, Japan-only licensed financial services firm operating the Smart Lending® social lending platform, which issues real estate-collateralized investment funds to Japanese retail investors and provides direct lending to corporate and individual borrowers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Lending

NAICS

Real Estate Credit (522292), Sales Financing (52222)

SIC

Loan Brokers (6163), Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153), Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162)

akta.pro primary industry

Hard Money & Private Mortgage Lending Intermediation (FSAEAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Senior Secured Direct Lending (FSANADAA), Private Credit & Direct Lending Fundraising Placement (FSAEALAE)

Keywords

• Social lending platform
• Real estate crowdfunding
• Lending-type investment funds
• Money lending services
• Type II financial instruments

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest rate spread income: The primary revenue stream is the spread between the interest rate charged to borrowers (e.g., 10.0-12.0% per annum on real estate-backed loans) and the projected distribution rate paid to investors (e.g., 8.0-10.5% per annum). This spread is supplemented by a lending fee charged upfront to borrowers.
2. Lending fee (front-end): Borrowers pay a lending execution fee upon drawdown, calculated as 1.0% of the loan principal (for Fund #1). This is a one-time fee charged at loan origination.
3. Operator fee from fund: G.I.F.T charges an annual operator fee of 2% (Fund #1) or 1.5% (Fund #2) of the outstanding loan balance per annum, deducted from the fund's assets before investor distributions.
4. Lending business income: General lending operations to corporate and individual borrowers for business capital, working capital, and other funding needs, generating interest income on the loan portfolio.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

G.I.F.T operates a social lending (lending-type crowdfunding) platform called Smart Lending® that structures anonymous-partnership (匿名組合) investment funds backed by real estate collateral, enabling individual investors to lend to borrowers and receive interest distributions on projected returns of 8.0–10.5% per annum. In parallel, the company runs a direct money-lending business providing working capital, business expansion, and real estate acquisition financing to corporate and individual borrowers at rates of 10.0–12.0% per annum. The company's parent GATES Co., Ltd. is the primary borrower for its own flagship funds.

Product overview

G.I.F.T is a licensed financial services company operating as a unified platform combining Type II Financial Instruments Business and Money Lending services. The core product is スマートレンディング®, a lending-type real estate crowdfunding platform that connects investors with borrowers through anonymous partnership structures. The platform operates alongside the company's direct lending business, offering property-collateralized investment funds with returns ranging from 8% to 10.5% annual interest. All funds are currently structured as self-issued products (自社商品) backed by real estate collateral, with the company leveraging expertise from parent GATES株式会社 in real estate investment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• スマートレンディング® (Smart Lending): Lending-type real estate crowdfunding platform operated by G.I.F.T株式会社, connecting investors with borrowers secured by real estate collateral, offering funds with targeted annual returns of 8–10.5%.

Products and services

• Smart Lending® (スマートレンディング) social lending platform A lending-type crowdfunding platform that connects individual investors with borrowers through anonymous partnership (匿名組合) structures, offering real estate-collateralized funds with projected annual yields of 8.0–10.5% and minimum investments from JPY 100,000. Investors register online, complete identity verification via Proost, browse and apply for funds, and manage investments through a dedicated investor portal on lending.gift-finance.co.jp.
• Type II Financial Instruments Business services (第二種金融商品取引業) Fund structuring (anonymous partnerships and similar vehicles), private placement operations, and financial consulting for the real estate and finance industries, performed under Type II Financial Instruments Business registration (Kanto Finance Director Kinsho No. 2720).
• Money lending services (貸金業) Direct lending to corporate and individual customers, providing flexible financing solutions for business capital, working capital, and various funding needs at interest rates of 10.0–12.0% per annum, performed under Money Lending Business registration (Tokyo Governor No. 31564).
• Nishikawaguchi Residence Collateralized Loan Fund (Fund #1) (西川口レジデンス担保付融資ファンド) A residential property-backed loan fund with target募集 amount of ¥12,000,000 and expected annual return of 8.0% (pre-tax) over a 6-month term; minimum investment ¥100,000 (10 units of ¥10,000). Loan proceeds are extended to GATES Co., Ltd. for purchasing saleable real estate. Application amount reached ¥15,450,000 (128% subscribed).
• Kanemachi Residence Collateralized Loan Fund (Fund #2) (要町レジデンス担保付融資ファンド) A residential property (1K rental mansion)-backed loan fund with target募集 amount of ¥4,900,000 and expected annual return of 10.5% (pre-tax) over a 9-month term; minimum investment ¥100,000 (10 units of ¥10,000). Borrower rate 12.0% p.a.; 1.5% operator/lending fee. Application amount reached ¥10,550,000 (215% subscribed).

Quantifiable outcome

• Projected annual yield of 8.0-10.5% for investors on real estate-backed loans
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rimple (リンプル): Japanese real estate crowdfunding platform offering property-backed investment products to retail investors via an online interface. Comparable product category (real estate-collateralized social lending) and target demographic.
• LENDEX (レンデックス): Japanese social lending / real estate crowdfunding platform offering collateralized loan funds to individual investors. Comparable regulatory profile and product structure to G.I.F.T's Smart Lending funds.
• SBI Social Lending (SBIソーシャルレンディング): SBI Group-affiliated Japanese social lending platform offering real estate-collateralized and SMB loan funds to retail investors. Closest direct peer in combining Type II Financial Instruments licensing with a parent-affiliated brand and significant distribution.
• CRE Funding: Japanese real estate crowdfunding platform under CRE Group that structures real estate-collateralized investment funds for retail investors. Directly competes in the same product category and similar investor demographic as Smart Lending.
• OwnersBook: Japanese real estate crowdfunding platform operated byロードスターキャピタル, offering secured real estate loans to retail investors via an online platform. Closely aligned business model, collateral type and target investor profile.
• Funds (ファンズ / Funds, Inc.): Japan's largest social lending platform, operating lending-type crowdfunding funds for individual investors with focus on SMB and real estate-backed loans. Directly comparable to G.I.F.T in business model, regulatory category (Type II Financial Instruments) and target retail investor base.
• CrowdBank (クラウドバンク): Japanese securities firm operating an online investment platform for SMB, real estate and renewable energy loan funds. Comparable Type II Financial Instruments structure and retail-focused social lending model.
• maneo marketplace (マネー): Pioneer Japanese social lending platform that aggregated SMB loan funds for retail investors. Directly comparable business model and regulatory registration even though its fund focus is broader than G.I.F.T's real estate emphasis.

Broad incumbents

• GA Technologies (TATERU Funding, Renosy): Larger Japanese proptech / real estate platform that has operated social lending-style funds (e.g., TATERU Funding) for retail investors. Broader incumbent in the proptech space with overlapping real estate crowdfunding activities.

Emerging players

• J-Ren (オーナーズブック等運営会社系列): Japanese real estate-backed social lending platforms. Comparable emerging players in the same niche, focusing on collateralized loan funds for retail investors.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 G.I.F.T