LOCALWORKS

LOCALWORKS Inc., founded by Yusuke Shimizu in February 2014, is a technology company focused on updating the Japanese construction industry. The firm aims to solve information disparity and inefficiencies by increasing transparency and supporting the growth of small and medium-sized construction businesses.

Shimizu's background inspired the company's direction. Having grown up with a father who was a sole proprietor, he developed an interest in supporting small to medium enterprises by integrating technology with real-world business. His experience includes business development at startups like Racoon and IDOM (formerly Gulliver International), management consulting at Corporate Direction Inc., and serving as Vice President at Green Innovations Holdings, where he first encountered the challenges of the construction sector. This exposure to what he described as an industry with deceptive practices and payment issues motivated him to establish LOCALWORKS to create a more equitable environment.

The company operates several platforms to address different market needs. For consumers, it runs 'Refoma,' a fixed-price home renovation comparison site that connects users directly with contractors to reduce costs and provides a warranty for quality assurance. For businesses, it offers 'Local Works Search,' a B2B matching platform that helps contractors find reliable subcontractors based on skills, experience, and transaction data, addressing labor shortages. To tackle financial instability among smaller contractors, LOCALWORKS provides 'Local Works Payment,' a payment guarantee and settlement service. It also offers 'Maintenance Support,' a BPO service that outsources contractor sourcing and quality control, which has been integrated with insurance products for disaster recovery.

The business model generates revenue through matching fees on its platforms and service fees from its payment and BPO solutions. The company has secured significant funding from venture capital firms and corporate partners, including SMBC Venture Capital, Sumitomo Forestry, Nissei Capital, and Mizuho Capital, among others.

Keywords: construction technology, ConTech, B2B matching platform, renovation comparison site, contractor search, subcontractor management, construction payment services, property technology, home improvement, construction industry data, contractor network, project management BPO, fixed-price renovation, quality assurance, financial services for construction, labor shortage solution, Yusuke Shimizu, Refoma, Local Works Search, Local Works Payment