[Tokyo] Arches Corporation raised 410M yen, totaling 640M, to expand “Expert Matching” and develop new services like “Expert Knowledge Bank.”

Arches Corporation (Headquartered in Tokyo; Hiroki Kato, CEO; hereinafter referred to as “Arches”) is a global provider of knowledge-sharing services. The company announced today that it has raised an additional 410 million yen in funding. Investors include KUSABI, VISIONAL Corporation, SMBC Venture Capital, Grove Advisors Ventures, and seven angel investors from Japan and abroad. With this round, Arches’ total funding has reached 640 million yen. The company plans to use the funds to expand its “Expert Matching” service. It will also develop new businesses, such as the “Expert Knowledge Bank,” a database service for transcribing expert interviews.

■ Knowledge Sharing Developed by Arches

Arches operates in five locations worldwide, including Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. Its mission is to “Share knowledge, Empower Asia.”

Over the years, the company has built a “knowledge-sharing business” that helps companies find experts to explore new opportunities or solve business challenges. One of its key services is “Expert Matching,” where clients can interview experts by the hour. This service is trusted by over 300 clients globally, mainly consulting firms and investment companies that need specialized knowledge fast.

With a database of over 100,000 experts, mostly in Asia, Arches stands out from competitors. Thanks to its strong recruiting system and offshore BPO centers in Vietnam and other countries, the company can connect clients with experts in niche markets and cutting-edge industries that others struggle to reach.

■ Arches’ New Business “Expert Knowledge Bank”

Arches has launched a new business called the “Expert Knowledge Bank.” This service provides expert insights not only through one-on-one hourly interviews but also through a searchable database of transcribed interviews.

By collecting and storing interviews with experts from around the world, Arches aims to make expert knowledge more accessible and affordable. Customers can search and view insights anytime without the need for direct interviews.

In 2023, Arches introduced the service in beta, with investment firms using it mainly for listed stock research. Moving forward, the company plans to expand its content library, especially expert interviews. Additionally, it will enhance features like article summaries and trend analysis using AI.

■ Future Prospects

The funds raised will be used to grow Arches’ expert network and expand its “Expert Matching” service. Additionally, the company will develop the “Expert Knowledge Bank,” which turns expert insights into valuable assets. By building a trusted platform of specialized knowledge, Arches aims to make expert insights more accessible. It also plans to expand its client base to corporations and financial institutions.

Arches is also exploring opportunities in the human resources field. The company plans to move beyond knowledge sharing to resource sharing by using its expert database. In the long run, it aims to build a global human resource sharing platform. This platform will connect talent across different regions and industries.

■ Our Investors

・KUSABI
・VISIONAL
・SMBC Venture Capital
・Globe Advisors Ventures
・Hiroaki Sugita（Ex Representative of Boston Consulting Group Japan)
・Kenji Sugiyama
And 5 other angel Investors

Total 11 Investors　

■ Comment from CEO, Hiroki Kato

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the investors who participated in this additional financing. Thanks to your support, since our establishment in 2019, our services have been used by more than 300 customers across more than 20 countries.

While the recent revitalization of the AI market has made it possible for anyone to easily access a wide range of information, highly specialized and rare knowledge and experience are still accumulated in specific individuals without being visualized, making it difficult for companies to utilize them. In addition, in many cases, the data sources of information provided by AI-related services are weak, and we feel that the need for atypical knowledge with guaranteed reliability, which cannot be obtained from open sources, is rather increasing.

We have a one-stop service lineup that can provide individual expertise in the form of article databases, interviews, research/consulting, and talent dispatch/introduction, starting with our database of experts. Using the funds raised this time, we will deepen each of these services and expand our geographic coverage, aiming to become a ‘comprehensive platform of global knowledge.

■ Comments from Our Investors

Mr. Yuki Watanabe, Representative Partner, KUSABI
Expert network services have gradually become popular in Japan over the past few years, but they have yet to really take off, especially in Japan and the rest of Asia. Although there are similar and competing companies, we believe that we are approaching a sufficiently attractive market. Arches is also a rare startup that, despite being in its early phase, has a winning edge globally at this stage.

In addition, Arches is adjacent to a vast market of consulting, BPO, and human resources businesses, which allows for significant expansion of TAM. Furthermore, we see the potential for business development not only by solving issues for corporate clients but also by evolving value-added services for experts. In response to the above opportunities, I had no choice but not to invest in the company, as it has a talented team that reminds me of Userbase, a company I once invested in myself. As a lead investor, I look forward to a slow and significant return in the future.

Mr. Wataru Iizuka, SMBC Venture Capital

“I am pleased to invest in Arches, a global provider of expert knowledge-sharing services. Today, businesses face increasingly complex challenges. To stay competitive in the global market, they need access to external expertise.

Arches has built a unique business model that keeps costs low by operating in Vietnam while maintaining high-profit margins and excellent service quality. Beyond expert network services, the company has the potential to expand into information databases, recruiting, and BPO services. Its global growth prospects are strong.

With a proven track record, Mr. Kato and his management team are well-positioned to drive international success. We are committed to supporting Arches in its future growth.”

■ Company Overview

Company Name: Arches Corporation
CEO: Hiroki Kato
Address: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Established: May 2019
Number of Employees: 131
Website: https://arches-global.com

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