Tooon

Tooon Inc. operates an all-in-one business management tool designed for freelancers and independent creators. The company was founded in 2018 by Yuma Sugiyama, the Representative Director and CEO, and is headquartered in Kumamoto City, Japan.

The core product, Tooon, is a platform that simplifies and consolidates freelancer workflows. It provides features for managing job requests, creating portfolio sites, secure transaction management with escrow payment, and issuing invoices. The service aims to streamline back-office tasks, allowing illustrators, designers, and other creators to focus on their creative work. An AI-powered feature assists with project design and workflow automation. The business model for its basic plan is free, generating revenue by charging a 3.6% settlement fee on transactions. It also offers tiered subscription plans for teams and businesses with more advanced features.

In addition to the main tool, Tooon operates "Tooon Mag.," a web media outlet that publishes articles and interviews for creators. The company also runs "Dooodles," an in-house creative studio that collaborates with artists on brand design, business development, and monetization. Tooon has actively secured funding, including a seed round in January 2023 and a subsequent funding round in August 2024 from investors such as FFG Venture Business Partners, Z Venture Capital, and East Ventures, to accelerate product development and business growth.

Keywords: freelancer tool, business management, back-office automation, creator economy, transaction management, SaaS, portfolio creation, invoice management, escrow payment, workflow automation, independent contractors, project management, Japanese startup, Yuma Sugiyama, creative studio