CAMPFIRE

CAMPFIRE Inc. operates Japan's largest rewards-based crowdfunding platform, facilitating online capital raising for a diverse range of project creators. The company was founded in January 2011 by serial entrepreneur Kazuma Ieiri, with Kohei Ishida also credited as a founder. Ieiri's personal journey, marked by social reclusion (hikikomori) and dropping out of high school, profoundly shaped the company's mission. He found a sense of connection and purpose through the internet, which inspired him to create platforms that empower others who feel marginalized. This ethos is reflected in CAMPFIRE's objective to democratize fundraising and give a voice to as many people as possible.

The firm's core business model is centered on a success-fee structure. Project owners can launch campaigns for free, and CAMPFIRE collects a commission only if the project is successfully funded. The standard fee is a 17% commission on the total funds raised, which includes a 5% settlement fee. The platform serves a wide spectrum of clients, including individual creators, artists, entrepreneurs, non-profits, and small businesses, across categories like technology, art, social good, and fashion. By providing a space for project owners to connect with backers, the company not only facilitates funding but also enables test marketing, product sales, and fan base cultivation.

The primary service is the "CAMPFIRE" crowdfunding platform, which has hosted over 100,000 projects since its inception. It offers different funding models, including the traditional "All-or-Nothing" system and an "All-In" approach, introduced in March 2016, where creators receive the funds regardless of whether the goal is met. Beyond its main platform, the company operates several specialized services. These include "CAMPFIRE Community," a subscription-based platform for creators to secure recurring funding, and "CAMPFIRE Creation," a service that supports the entire product lifecycle from idea to manufacturing and sales. The company has also expanded through acquisitions, such as integrating the region-specific crowdfunding service "FAAVO" in 2018, and partnerships with major corporations like Parco for the "BOOSTER" platform.

Keywords: crowdfunding, rewards-based funding, fundraising platform, project financing, Japanese market, creator economy, social good, product launch, community funding, startup capital