NETSTARS Japan

Netstars Co., Ltd. is a fintech company that provides a multi-QR code payment gateway service, "StarPay", which integrates multiple domestic and international cashless payment services into a single platform for merchants. Founded in February 2009 by CEO Tsuyoshi Ri, who has a background as an IT engineer, Netstars pioneered the introduction of QR code payments in Japan. Ri, born in China, graduated from Jilin University with a degree in physics before moving to Japan and gaining experience at companies like CSK (now SCSK) and Nippon Steel Solutions. He established Netstars to bridge Japan and China through internet technology.

The company launched its flagship product, StarPay, after becoming the first official acquiring partner for WeChat Pay in Japan in 2015. This service allows merchants to accept numerous payment methods, including PayPay, LINE Pay, AliPay, and credit cards, through a single device or software integration, simplifying the process for businesses. The company's business model is primarily BtoBtoC, earning revenue from transaction fees based on the gross payment volume processed through StarPay, without charging monthly fees for the service. As of early 2024, StarPay was used in over 450,000 locations across Japan, with an annual transaction volume of 1.3 trillion yen.

In addition to its core payment gateway, Netstars has expanded its offerings to include DX (Digital Transformation) solutions under the "StarPay-DX" brand. These services feature "StarMini," a platform for developing mini-applications on super-apps like LINE and PayPay, and "StarPay-Order," a cashless, register-free ordering system for businesses. The company has also ventured into global markets, providing its payment gateway to financial institutions overseas and participating in the "JPQR Global" initiative to enable interoperability between Japan's unified QR code and those of other countries.

Netstars has achieved significant financial milestones, including raising $60 million in a 2021 funding round led by KKR to fuel domestic and international expansion. The company was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market in September 2023.

Keywords: QR code payment, cashless payment gateway, fintech, multi-payment solution, StarPay, payment aggregator, digital transformation, merchant services, point-of-sale, mobile payments, cross-border payments, StarPay-DX, mini-app development, cashless society, JPQR, WeChat Pay, AliPay, payment processing, retail technology, financial services