A1A

A1A Corporation, established on June 26, 2018, by Shuhei Matsubara, is a specialized SaaS provider targeting the inefficiencies within the manufacturing procurement sector. The company’s inception was driven by Matsubara's direct observations as a sales representative at Keyence Corporation, where he questioned the price discrepancies for identical products across different companies and witnessed the operational burdens on purchasing managers. This experience, combined with a subsequent tenure as a venture capitalist at Colopl Next, crystallized his vision to modernize B2B transactions.

The company operates in the vertical SaaS market, focusing on procurement departments within the manufacturing industry, particularly automotive OEMs and their Tier 1 suppliers. A1A generates revenue through a subscription model for its cloud-based data platform, "UPCYCLE". This platform addresses the critical need for digital transformation in a traditionally paper-based and siloed operational area. Following a significant pivot in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, A1A shifted from its initial product, "RFQ Cloud," to develop the more advanced "UPCYCLE" solution, which was launched in August 2024 after two years of intensive development.

"UPCYCLE" is designed to structure and centralize procurement data, which is often fragmented across quotations, technical drawings, and communication logs. By leveraging AI, the platform automates the creation of a structured database from these disparate sources. This frees procurement professionals from time-consuming data entry, which can consume up to half of the 40-60% of their time spent on quotation-related tasks. Key features include the automated capture and database creation of detailed information from complex quotes, centralized management of negotiation histories, and the visualization of project progress. Ultimately, this enables data-driven decision-making, helping clients to standardize procurement activities, assess quotations more effectively, and identify opportunities for cost optimization.

The company has secured notable funding, including a Series A round of approximately 300 million yen in October 2019 and a subsequent 400 million yen financing in August 2024, which included a strategic capital and business alliance with Toyota Tsusho. This partnership is aimed at accelerating product adoption and joint business development, initially focusing on the automotive sector.

Keywords: procurement SaaS, manufacturing tech, supply chain management, cost optimization, automotive industry, data platform, B2B software, procurement automation, RFQ management, vertical SaaS