News list

maneo Inc., the pioneer in social lending in Japan announced today the closing of a 187 million yen round of venture financing. The round was led by Yasuda Enterprise Development, based in Tokyo, Japan, with participation from DIT Partners, iSigma Capital, Neostella Capital, and GMO VenturePartners.

“We are very pleased to have secured 187 million yen during this last round of financing,” remarked Tadatoshi Senoo, CEO and co-founder of maneo. “It is reassuring to receive such strong financial backing and support from established organizations despite the ongoing global financial crisis.”

“We are pleased to continue to assist in the financing of this exciting and new organization and we believe there is an enormous upside for members participating in maneo’s social lending service,” said Akihiro Yoshijima, general manager of Yasuda Enterprise Development. “We are very optimistic about the future of maneo.”
maneo Inc.
maneo Inc. was incorporated in April 2007 and operates Japan’s first online marketplace for people to borrow and lend money through an auction system. maneo is about helping people lend money to and borrow money from each other, sidestepping the expense and inconvenience of traditional banks and consumer finance companies. People who want to borrow money register with maneo and create loan listings. Potential lenders register with maneo and bid on the loan listings they are interested in. maneo aggregates the bids with the lowest rates to fund the relevent loans and handles all of the administrative matters relating to the loans. For more information about maneo, visit http://www.maneo.jp.

Contact:

maneo Inc.
Tel: +81-3-3580-1231
e-mail: wakasugi@maneo.jp
URL: http://www.maneo.jp

The former CEO of Livedoor Co., Takafumi Horie (a.k.a. Horiemon) cited maneo in the December 15 issue of "AERA"magazine.

In his comment, Japan's most famous net entrepreneur mentioned maneo as an example of a new and interesting online service.

For more information, please visit the website. (Japanese version)

1 December 2008

Please join us for our “End of the Year Party” at the cozy Ruby Café in Azabu-Juban.

All are welcome, for a good time of networking and holiday cheer! Get a little tipsy and expand your network with new people.

DATE: Tuesday, December 9, 2008, 7:00-9:30 p.m.
VENUE: RUBY BAR, 1-4-5 Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo; Tel 03-3586-6383
MAP & DIRECTIONS: 1-minute walk from Azabu Juban Metro Station (Oedo Line and Nanboku Line). Turn left coming out of Exit 7 (near Ichinohashi intersection).
ENTRANCE: FREE, No registration required.

English: http://gmap.jp/?sid=674

For further information, please contact:

J-Seed Ventures Inc.
info@j-seed.com

maneo's representative director, Mr. Senoo was interviewed on maneo's social lending service in "Market Watch" program in Nikkei CNBC on November 21.

For more information please visit their website. (Japanese version)

After starting their auction service on October 22, finally maneo debuted in the English magazine!

Mr. Senoo, a representative director of maneo is featured in Japan's favorite English magazine, J@pan Inc.
In his interview, he talks about the possibility of maneo.

Read the full article here.

maneo's social lending service is selected and listed as one of the hottest products/services in 2009 in Nikkei Trendy magazine's "List of Prospective Hot Products".

Expect a big boom of social lending service in 2009!

maneo Inc. today announced the launch of its social lending service in Japan. maneo operates Japan’s first social lending marketplace for people to borrow and lend money through an auction system. More than twenty social lending services exist overseas. Social lending is becoming an increasingly attractive financing alternative compared to more traditional sources of capital like banks and consumer finance companies.

■Addressing the needs of real people
People sometimes find themselves a little short of cash at certain special points in their life, for example when they get married, have children or move homes. Up until now, financing for such life events was only available from banks and consumer finance companies. Now maneo offers Japanese consumers a new alternative to address such special needs. maneo's social lending marketplace features social networking service functionality plus an online loan auction platform to enable borrowers to meet lenders who can lend them a helping hand to realize their dreams.

■How to use maneo's social lending service
After intially registering as a member with maneo, borrowers and lenders can utilize maneo's social networking service. Registered members can easily and effectively communicate with other members utilizing “mane blog,” “maneo message,” and “mane tomo.”

■Creating an auction
People who want to borrow on maneo create loan listings explaining how much they desire, why they want to borrow and the maximum interest rate they are willing to pay lenders. Potential lenders select the loan listings they are interested in and bid on these loans. maneo connects borrowers with lenders through an auction process in which the lender willing to provide the lowest interest rate “wins” the borrower's loan.

■Member requirements
Members must be between 20-65 years old and reside in Japan.

■Borrower requirements
Borrowers must be between 20-60 years old and have annual income of at least 3 million yen. Borrowers must also successfully pass maneo's credit check and submit the following documentation: proof of identity and annual income.

■Lender requirements
Lenders must be between 20-65 years old. Lenders must also successfully pass maneo's review process and submit proof of identity.

maneo Inc.
maneo Inc. was incorporated in April 2007 and operates Japan's first online marketplace for people to borrow and lend money through an auction system. maneo is about helping people lend money to and borrow money from each other, sidestepping the expense and inconvenience of traditional banks and consumer finance companies. People who want to borrow money register with maneo and create loan listings. Potential lenders register with maneo and bid on the loan listings they are interested in. maneo aggregates the bids with the lowest rates to fund the relevent loans and handles all of the administrative matters relating to the loans. For more information about maneo, visit http://www.maneo.jp
Money Lending Registration: Governor of Tokyo (1) No. 30795
Japan Financial Services Association: Membership No. 001935

maneo market Inc.
maneo market Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of maneo Inc. and was established to manage the relationship with lenders.
Kanto Financial Bureau - Type II Financial Instruments Firm Registration No. 2011

maneo escrow Inc.
maneo escrow Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of maneo Inc. and was established in order to hold deposits from lenders separately from the funds of maneo Inc.

Contact:

maneo Inc.
Tel: +81- 3-3580-1231
e-mail: wakasugi@maneo.jp
URL: http://www.maneo.jp

maneo's representative director, Senoo talks about the story behind the birth of maneo.

Read the full article here. (Japanese Version)

Japan's first social lending service by maneo is featured in ZDNet Japan.

Read the full article here. (Japanese Version)

maneo's representative director, Mr. Senoo speaks on social lending service to YOMIURI ONLINE.

Read the full article here. (Japanese Version)

It's the right time and place to start learning about maneo. With their launch date approaching, here is a closer look at this social lending service.

Friendly outline of maneo's service is featured in ASCII.jp. (Japanese Version)

maneo is featured in the weekly magazine, "Diamond"

For more information, please visit the website. (Japanese Version)

maneo Inc. is featured on GyaO Trend.

A video clip of an interview with maneo’s representative director is posted in the article.

Read the full article here. (Japanese Version)

maneo’s representative director is interviewed on social lending in ITmedia’s "Enterprise" section

Read the full article here. (Japanese Version)

maneo's social lending service was featured in "World Business Satellite", a trend TV program by TV Tokyo.

For more information on the TV program, please visit the website.

Zenlok Inc. representative director speaks on their free e-mail security service in weekly magazine, "Economist"

For more information, please see the website of "Economist". (Japanese only)

Mr. Senoo, representative director of maneo is featured at CNET JAPAN. He talks about Japan's first social lending service maneo will launch shortly.

Read the full article here. (only in Japanese)

Japan's first social lending service is featured in NBonline (Nikkei Business Online)

Read the article at NBonline (only in Japanese)

maneo Inc.'s new social lending service is featured in NikkeiPC21. The service is expected to launch soon.
See NikkeiPC21 here. (only in Japanese)

maneo Inc. is featured in the August 25, 2008 issue of Nikkei Business magazine.
For more information on Nikkei Business magazine, click here. (only in Japanese)

Zenlok and Wall Street Associates launch test run of Zenlok's new secure E-mail system to protect personal information.

- Read a full article (only in Japanese)

maneo Inc. is featured in CNET JAPAN on their new social lending service that is expected to launch this summer.

Read the article here in CNET JAPAN.

Former CEO of PGP Japan Joins Zenlok
For more details, please read an article here (in Japanese.)

Please come and join us for a fun networking event at RUBY BAR in Azabu-Juban on May 28, Wednesday night.

DATE: Wednesday, May 28, 2008, 7:00-9:30 p.m.

VENUE: RUBY BAR, 1-4-5 Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo; Tel 03-3586-6383

MAP & DIRECTIONS: 1-minute walk from Azabu Juban Metro Station (Oedo Line and Nanboku Line). Turn left coming out of Exit 7 (near Ichinohashi intersection).

Map: http://gmap.jp/?sid=674

For further information, please contact:
info@j-seed.com

We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Zenlok launched free secure e-mail service. Full article is available here (only in Japanese.)

Tokyo, Japan, April 21, 2008 – (JCN Newswire) – J-Seed Ventures Inc. announced the successful completion of the JPY 80 million round of financing by maneo Inc., the pioneer in social lending in Japan. The round was led by J-Seed Ventures and Yasuda Enterprise Development Co., Ltd. J-Seed Ventures also led the company’s first round of financing in April 2007.

maneo expects to be the first company to successfully introduce a social lending market in Japan. The company’s corporate website was launched in March 2008 and the company expects to launch its service this summer.

“We’re excited about launching Japan’s first social lending market,” said Tadatoshi Senoo, CEO and co-founder of maneo. “It's very simple. By cutting out the banks and consumer finance companies, borrowers get lower rates and lenders get higher ones. We are delighted to find in J-Seed Ventures and Yasuda Enterprise Development partners which share our passion for improving the personal financial lives of people all over Japan.”

“Social lending embraces the trends that are defining the current times and we expect it to provide an important alternative to traditional bank lending and consumer financing,” said C. Jeffrey Char, Representative Director of J-Seed Ventures. “We are excited about the company's ability to help people achieve their financials goals and improve their quality of life.”

About maneo Inc.
maneo Inc. plans to offer a user friendly and highly secure online community for people to borrow and lend money through an online auction system. maneo is about helping people lend and borrow money with each other, sidestepping the expense and inconvenience of traditional banks and consumer finance companies. People who want to borrow money register with maneo and create loan listings. Potential lenders register with maneo and bid on the loan listings they are interested in. maneo aggregates the bids with the lowest rates to fund the relevent loans and handles all of the administrative matters relating to the loans. For more information about maneo, visit http://www.maneo.jp/.

J-Seed Ventures Inc.
J-Seed is a Tokyo-based venture incubator and provider of management and technology consulting services. The Company maintains a close relationship with its various group companies and leverages its network to assist ventures to quickly attain profitability. The Company also assists foreign clients in establishing operations in Japan. For more information about J-Seed Ventures, visit http://www.j-seed.com.

# # #
Contact:

J-Seed Ventures Inc.
Tel: +81-3-3580-1256
e-mail: info@j-seed.com
URL: http://www.j-seed.com/

A new J-Seed partner company, maneo Inc. has launched their corporate website.

maneo Inc. has looked to launch an online marketplace for individual borrowers & lenders, relatively the first stand in Japan.
We are happy to announce that the new innovative business model of P2P finance has been prepared to be introduced by maneo Inc.

What is maneo Inc.?
maneo plans to offer a user friendly and highly secure online community for people to borrow and lend money with a win-win deal system.
maneo hopes people will learn and enjoy the whole new way of money lending system in Japan.