Akippa

About Akippa

Akippa operates a peer-to-peer marketplace for parking spaces in Japan, connecting drivers with property owners who have underutilized spots. The company was founded in 2009 by Genki Kanaya and is headquartered in Osaka. Initially established as Galaxy Agency, a sales and recruitment agency, the company pivoted to its current business model and launched the parking reservation app "akippa" in April 2014. The inspiration for a service that would be "indispensable" came to Kanaya during a blackout. By February 2015, the company officially changed its name to akippa Inc. and by July 2017, it had sold off its other business ventures to focus solely on the parking sharing service.

The platform allows drivers to find and reserve parking in advance via a website or mobile app, addressing urban challenges of high costs and limited availability. Reservations can be made for as short as 15-minute intervals or for long-term periods. For property owners, Akippa offers a way to generate passive income from unused private garages, vacant lots, and commercial parking areas with no initial setup costs. The company handles reservations, payments, and customer support, taking a commission only when a space is used. As of February 2026, the service has over 5.1 million members and lists more than 55,000 parking spots across Japan. The business model includes a subscription service, "Value Plus," which offers members benefits like early booking access and discounts for a monthly or annual fee.

Akippa has raised a total of $22 million over four funding rounds. Its latest funding round was a Series A in May 2018, raising $7.4 million from investors including Japan Post, Sumitomo Corporation, and JR East Startup. The company has formed strategic partnerships with major corporations like Toyota and Sompo Holdings to expand its service offerings and corporate client base.