Graffer

About Graffer

Graffer is a Japanese startup that provides digital transformation services for corporations and government agencies. It was founded on July 18, 2017, by Daichi Ishii. Ishii, who serves as CEO, has a unique background; he initially enrolled in the University of Tokyo's medical school before transferring to the faculty of literature. He became a professional novelist after winning the 48th Bungei Prize in 2011, and later gained experience in business at companies including Recruit Holdings before establishing Graffer.

The company's initial focus was on the GovTech sector, spurred by an investor's suggestion about the social significance of resolving inefficiencies in Japan's public services. Despite the founding team's lack of prior experience in the public sector, Graffer has become a fast-growing GovTech startup in Japan. Its core offering is the "Graffer Platform," a digital government platform that streamlines processes for both citizens and administrative staff. This platform is used by over 250 municipalities in Japan, including 70% of its designated cities, reaching more than 70 million people. Services include tools for online applications, window reservations, and AI-powered voice guidance. A notable success was the "Graffer Nursing Care Certification Inquiry" service, which became the first to be adopted through the Digital Agency's new Digital Marketplace.

Expanding on its experience with public sector security and data governance, Graffer launched "Graffer AI Solution" for business clients. This suite includes the "Graffer AI Studio," a secure, enterprise-grade platform for utilizing generative AI, which helps companies with tasks like data analysis and document creation while ensuring high levels of security and compliance. This division also offers consulting, training, and custom development of specialized AI agents to help corporations integrate AI into their operations and transform business processes. The company's business model is primarily based on subscription services for its platforms.

Graffer has secured significant funding through several rounds, including approximately 450 million JPY in a Series A round in 2019, 1.2 billion JPY in a Series B round in 2021, and 920 million JPY in a Series C round in 2023. In October 2021, Graffer was selected for the "J-Startup" program, a government initiative to support and promote promising startups.