Habitto bags $11.7m in Series A round from QED Investors & DG Daiwa Ventures

By Gloria Mathias

Habitto, a Japan-based digital bank that aims to end financial anxiety for younger Japanese people, has raised $11.7 million (JPY1.8 billion) in its Series A financing round.

The digital bank, offering a connected financial experience and accessible financial advice via its mobile app, has attracted venture firms QED Investors, DG Daiwa Ventures (DGDV), and Scrum Ventures. This marks QED Investor’s first investment in Japan, following several high-profile investments in similar B2C FinTechs, including Nubank in Brazil, Klarna in Sweden, and Jupiter in India. Habitto’s Series A round also saw returning investors Anthemis Group and other existing shareholders.

The Series A funding will enable Habitto to accelerate its mission of reducing financial anxiety among Japan’s younger generations, who often face economic uncertainties and lack access to appropriate financial advice.

Samantha Ghiotti, Co-founder and CEO, said, “We’re fortunate to have the support of a globally experienced investor like QED paired with the local expertise of DGDV. It’s certainly a challenging funding environment, but in these two investors, we’ve found partners with deep experience and knowledge in FinTech. Habitto saw strong interest in the Japanese market from global investors throughout this round, and we’re excited for those making their way into the market for the first time.”

In September 2021, Habitto initially raised a $3.4 million seed round led by Saison Capital, followed by a $3.9 million pre-A financing round in February 2023, co-led by Saison Capital and Cherubic Ventures. With the recent completion of this $11.7 million Series A round, Habitto’s total capital raised now stands at $19 million.

“We are enthusiastic about partnering with Habitto. Japan’s FinTech market is primed for innovation, with recent economic shifts drawing investor attention. Sam and Liam, and the experienced team at Habitto have shown early success, securing key partnerships and licenses, and are well set to build a compelling proposition for the market. This is our first investment in Japan, and we are thrilled to be a part of the community,” commented Sandeep Patil, Partner & Head of Asia at QED Investors.