Management Coach Mento Raises 1.6 Billion Yen in Series B Funding to Develop "Management Success" Platform

Mento has raised a total of 1.6 billion yen in its Series B round. Eight Roads Ventures Japan led this round as the lead investor, with follow-on investment from existing shareholder WiL, as well as new third-party allotment of shares to Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Capital and AG Capital, plus financing from Shoko Chukin Bank.

Mento aims to "increase the total labor energy of this country" by supporting middle managers through the power of professional coaches and AI. Currently, the company provides management coaching "Mento" for businesses and personal coaching for individuals. The newly raised funds will be used for expanding existing services, developing a new platform that realizes "Management Success" to support middle managers in the field, and for talent acquisition.

Funding Overview

• Amount: 1.6 billion yen

• Method: Third-party allotment of shares, financing

• Investors:

  • Eight Roads Ventures Japan (Lead Investor)

  • WiL (Existing Shareholder)

  • Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Capital

  • AG Capital

• Financing:

  • Shoko Chukin Bank

Past Achievements: Growth of Management Coach "Mento"

As labor shortages become more serious due to the "2025 Problem," improving the engagement of each individual in organizations is essential for corporate competitiveness. Meanwhile, middle managers, who form the core of organizations, are said to be in a "punishment game" situation, facing increased psychological burdens from excessive work, being caught between superiors and subordinates, and managing diverse personnel.

In this context, the management coach "Mento" has been providing one-on-one coaching by external professional coaches to support middle managers who are struggling in the field. By offering individually optimized approaches to each person's concerns and adaptive challenges, Mento has been supporting Japanese middle managers to become better at nurturing others, demonstrating true leadership, and increasing organizational energy.

Since the service launch in 2020, it has been adopted by major companies such as Panasonic, Denso, and Itochu Corporation, with the cumulative coaching time exceeding 60,000 hours. Through Mento's coaching, middle managers are "changing," contributing to reforms in major Japanese companies.

Purpose of Funding: From a Coaching Company to a Product Company for Middle Managers

The newly raised funds will be used for expanding the existing "Management Coach" business, developing a new platform that realizes "Management Success" to support middle managers in the field, and for talent acquisition. Based on the challenges of middle managers identified through coaching, Mento will develop a new platform that supports middle managers through the trinity of people, products, and AI, not limited to one-on-one coaching.

From an era where only super managers handle management to an era where anyone can fulfill management roles. Through the coaching business, it has become apparent that the background of the "punishment game" of middle managers includes the imposition of excessive management ideals and a muscle-training mindset to make middle managers acquire skills. However, pushing everything onto middle managers alone will not solve anything.

Mento will develop a "Management Success" platform that supports middle managers struggling in the field by having AI and products handle team status monitoring, feedback, and outcome visualization. Professional coaches will support middle managers in solving their own challenges and empowerment, while AI and products will take over the smooth operation of teams and performance improvement. This will create a world where management roles can be "shared" by professional coaches, products, and AI. By extending well-being from individual middle managers to the entire team, Mento aims to make "passion normal" for more people.