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Kazuma Ieiri is the Representative Director and CEO of CAMPFIRE and a General Partner at NOW Venture Capital in Tokyo, Japan. A self-taught programmer, he founded the web hosting firm paperboy & co. in 2001 and became the youngest CEO to list a company on the JASDAQ exchange in 2008 at age 29, reaching 850 million yen in annual revenue with 72 employees. He subsequently co-founded the e-commerce platform BASE in 2012 and established CAMPFIRE, which operates as a leading Japanese crowdfunding network. Transitioning into institutional investing, Ieiri launched the seed-stage firm NOW Venture Capital in 2017, later announcing a 5 billion JPY second fund in 2021 to back early-stage founders. His current focus centers on scaling consumer internet startups and expanding the Japanese creator economy through early-stage venture capital and alternative financing platforms.
Kazuma Ieiri is a highly influential figure in Japan's startup ecosystem, renowned for his multifaceted career as a serial entrepreneur and now a leading venture capitalist. As a General Partner at NOW (Japan), he brings a unique founder-centric perspective to early-stage investing. His role involves identifying and nurturing promising startups, providing not just capital but also invaluable strategic guidance drawn from his extensive operational experience.
Ieiri's investment focus at NOW (Japan) spans a wide array of technology sectors, with a particular interest in disruptive innovations that address real-world problems. Given his background, he often seeks out companies in areas such as consumer internet, e-commerce, fintech, and software-as-a-service (SaaS), though his portfolio is diverse. He is known for backing founders with strong vision and execution capabilities, often those who are building platforms that empower individuals and small businesses, mirroring his own entrepreneurial journey.
Before transitioning into venture capital, Kazuma Ieiri built an impressive track record as a serial entrepreneur. He founded paperboy&co., a web services company that went public on JASDAQ. Following this success, he founded BASE, Inc., an e-commerce platform designed to make online store creation simple for anyone, which later listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers. He also founded CAMPFIRE, one of Japan's largest crowdfunding platforms, further solidifying his reputation as a builder of impactful internet services.
His deep understanding of the challenges and triumphs of building a company from the ground up makes him an invaluable partner for founders. At NOW (Japan), Ieiri leverages this firsthand experience to support portfolio companies through their critical early growth phases, offering mentorship on product development, market strategy, and team building. While specific individual investments are often confidential, NOW (Japan)'s portfolio reflects a commitment to fostering innovation across various industries, from B2B solutions to consumer-facing applications, all guided by Ieiri's strategic insights. His transition from a celebrated founder to a venture capitalist underscores his enduring commitment to cultivating the next generation of Japanese tech leaders.
Kazuma Ieiri is a prominent Japanese entrepreneur and venture capitalist. He is a General Partner at NOW (Japan) and is widely recognized for founding successful internet companies like paperboy&co., BASE, Inc., and CAMPFIRE.
As a General Partner at NOW (Japan), Kazuma Ieiri primarily invests in early-stage technology startups. His focus areas often include consumer internet, e-commerce, fintech, and SaaS, backing founders with strong vision and execution capabilities.
Kazuma Ieiri works as a General Partner at NOW (Japan), a venture capital firm based in Japan.
