TYPICA

About TYPICA

TYPICA operates a global online platform that facilitates the direct trade of specialty green coffee beans between producers and roasters. The company was founded in 2019 by Masashi Goto and Ayane Yamada, who now serve as CEO and Chief Quality Officer, respectively. The idea for TYPICA stemmed from a desire to address the challenges faced by coffee producers, such as climate change and unstable international pricing, by creating a more equitable and transparent supply chain.

The platform's business model is designed to disrupt the traditional coffee market, where prices are often dictated by futures markets and small-scale producers struggle to connect with buyers. TYPICA enables producers to set their own prices and allows roasters to purchase coffee in small quantities, starting from a single 60-kilogram jute bag, whereas conventional direct trade often requires a minimum of an 18-ton container. This system aggregates purchases from multiple roasters into a single container for import, expanding market access for producers and roasters of all sizes. The platform ensures price transparency by disclosing the breakdown of costs, showing how much money goes to the producer, as well as freight and import charges.

TYPICA Holdings Inc. has raised approximately 3.05 billion yen in total equity financing. A recent funding round in March 2024 brought in 1.55 billion yen from investors including WiL, Delight Ventures, Scrum Ventures, and new partners focused on impact investing. The company serves users in over 70 countries and has established a network of more than 110,000 producers and over 5,500 roasters. In August 2024, the company launched an updated platform, the "New Model," which includes features like a "Wish List" that allows buyers to post their sourcing requests directly to producers worldwide. This feature aims to address the information asymmetry between buyers and sellers and create a more stable trading standard based on actual demand.

The company's name is derived from the Typica coffee variety, which is considered one of the oldest and most genetically important Arabica varieties, originating from Ethiopia. This choice reflects the company's focus on the foundation and essence of coffee. TYPICA has offices in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the Netherlands, and the United States, operating on a global scale with the goal of listing on NASDAQ.