bgrass, Inc. has raised 125 million yen in a pre-Series A funding round to expand its initiatives supporting women in IT and to develop a new project aimed at improving fairness in recruitment processes.

Target Company Overview

bgrass Inc., headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, under the leadership of CEO Taeyoung Han, has successfully raised a total of 125 million yen (approximately $1.25 million) in a pre-Series A funding round. This investment comes from notable partners, including NEXTBLUE, WPower Fund, CyberAgent Capital, and Japan Finance Corporation, through a third-party allocation of shares alongside loans.

The newly acquired funds will primarily enhance the company's women IT career support initiatives, particularly "WAKE Career" and "WAKE Freelance," while also accelerating the development of a new business project aimed at improving equity in hiring processes, tentatively named "Fair Pass." This dual approach focuses on empowering individuals while fostering structural reform within companies, ultimately aiming for a society where unbiased evaluations and opportunities are the norm.

Industry Overview in Japan

Japan's technology sector has been undergoing rapid changes, driven by increasing demand for digital transformation and innovation. However, there remains a significant gender gap within the IT workforce. Ac