Yup

Yup, which rebranded to Paytner Inc. in January 2022, is a Japanese financial technology company specializing in early payment services for freelancers and small businesses. The firm was founded in February 2019 by Yusuke Sakai, who was inspired to address the cash flow challenges faced by freelance workers. Sakai's background includes roles at NTT Docomo and Coiney Inc. (now part of hey Inc.), experiences that informed his understanding of the financial needs of small-scale enterprises.

The company's core offering was a service called 'Saki-barai' (meaning 'advance payment' in Japanese), now known as 'Paytner Factoring'. This online factoring service allows freelancers to receive payment for their issued invoices almost immediately, rather than waiting for the standard net 30 or 60-day payment terms. Users register their outstanding invoices on the platform, and after a screening process that can take as little as 60 minutes, the funds are advanced. This service is designed to improve cash flow and provide financial stability for independent workers, allowing them to focus on their core business activities. The service has reported high user satisfaction, with over 70% of users being repeat customers.

To enhance its service delivery, the company has formed strategic partnerships. A notable collaboration with Seven Bank enables 24/7 fund transfers, allowing freelancers to receive their money at any time, including weekends and holidays. Yup also integrated with freee, a major cloud accounting software provider in Japan, to streamline the process for mutual users. In July 2020, the company announced it had raised a total of 130 million yen in funding from investors including Incubate Fund and East Ventures.

Keywords: Paytner, Yusuke Sakai, freelancer finance, invoice factoring, early payment service, cash flow management, small business financing, Japanese fintech, Saki-barai, accounts receivable financing, working capital solutions, online factoring, freelance economy, Seven Bank partnership, freee integration, Incubate Fund, East Ventures.