ROYAL GATE

About ROYAL GATE

Founded in September 2007 by Keiji Umemura, ROYAL GATE Inc. operates in the financial technology sector, providing comprehensive payment processing solutions. Mr. Umemura, who previously founded a student business in Canada and worked in trading and sports event management, drew upon his diverse experiences to enter the IT industry. An everyday frustration while online shopping for a Mother's Day gift inspired him to address complexities in e-commerce, leading to a business model patent and the establishment of ROYAL GATE.

The company's core offering is the PAYGATE platform, a multi-faceted payment service. This system provides an all-in-one solution that includes payment terminals, applications, gateway services, and payment processing, which allows for more competitive pricing. Its flagship product is the "PAYGATE Station," a single mobile terminal that handles various payment methods including credit cards, NFC touch-to-pay, FeliCa-based e-money, and QR code payments. The technology is built on an Android OS, features high-level security with Trend Micro's IoT security, and has achieved PCI P2PE Solution Provider certification, ensuring that merchants can handle card information securely.

Initially, ROYAL GATE offered a range of IT services, including consulting, system development, and web design, before focusing on payment solutions. The company's trajectory includes significant milestones such as securing substantial funding, including a Series A round in 2014. In April 2018, Daiwa House Industry acquired a 99.9% stake, making ROYAL GATE a subsidiary and providing the capital to accelerate development and market penetration. Subsequently, in December 2021, the company was acquired by Smaregi, a provider of cloud-based POS systems. This latest acquisition aims to integrate ROYAL GATE's payment processing capabilities directly with Smaregi's POS systems, creating a more seamless product for merchants and strengthening Smaregi's position in the market.