Japan microlending startup taps mutual funds in sign of funding shift

TOKYO — A Japanese microcredit company and potential unicorn has raised capital from three asset managers, a sign that looser limits on their investments in unlisted stocks could help startups get long-term funding.

Gojo & Co. Asset Management One raised ¥12.5 billion ($82.3 million) as part of its latest equity financing round, including funds from Rheos Capital Works and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management. The funding round valued the company at about ¥134 billion, or about $880 million, bringing it closer to the $1 billion threshold for unicorn status.