From Saitama to the World: Happy Smile, Inc. Secures Funding

Happy Smile, Inc. (headquartered in Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture; President and CEO: Kenichi Sato), operator of the photo sales platform service 'Minnanoomoide.com' (https://minnanoomoide.com/, hereinafter 'the service'), announces the completion of a third-party allotment capital increase with the 'Saitama Prefecture Shibusawa MIX Innovation Creation Support Investment Business Limited Liability Partnership' (hereinafter 'Saitama Shibusawa MIX Innovation Creation Support Fund')—a fund jointly established by Saitama Prefecture, Japan Finance Corporation, regional financial institutions in Saitama, and Miraido Corporation.

Background of the Funding

Since its founding, the company has operated under the corporate philosophy of 'creating fans and increasing fans,' providing a comprehensive service that handles everything from photo display and sales to payment collection, printing, and shipping. The service is currently used by a wide range of organizations, including kindergartens, nurseries, schools, sports teams, theater groups, event organizers, and elderly care facilities.

As we continue to enhance our services and improve operational efficiency, we have determined that securing talent—particularly in system development—and strengthening our organizational structure are essential to simultaneously grow our existing business and launch new services. Therefore, we have decided to proceed with this third-party allotment capital increase.

Overview of the Funding

Method: Third-party allotment capital increase

Subscriber: Saitama Shibusawa MIX Innovation Creation Support Fund

Payment completion date: August 31, 2026

Use of funds: Investment in talent acquisition, focusing on system development and organizational strengthening

Fund Utilization Plan

The funds raised will be primarily allocated to recruitment efforts, with a focus on hiring system development talent to strengthen our organizational foundation. By enhancing our talent acquisition, we aim to improve the usability of our service and develop new offerings, creating a secure and reliable environment for all organizations and users involved in selling and purchasing memories.

Comment from President and CEO Kenichi Sato

We are honored to have the 'Saitama Shibusawa MIX Innovation Creation Support Fund'—named after the spirit of Shibusawa Eiichi, a revered figure from our hometown—as the subscriber for this third-party allotment capital increase.

Since our inception, we have consistently challenged the status quo of photo sales culture, based in Saitama Prefecture. Having previously been selected as a finalist for the 'Shibusawa Eiichi Business Award,' we deeply feel a sense of responsibility and mission in receiving support from a fund that embodies Shibusawa's spirit of 'pursuing public benefit.'

Happy Smile is not merely a 'company that sells photos.' We are a company that solves various pain points related to photography and creates a chain of gratitude expressed through 'thank you.' The funds raised this time will be primarily allocated to building the next-generation platform to realize our vision of 'bringing surprise and emotion to memories,' as well as to strengthening our organization and securing outstanding talent as its foundation.

No matter how advanced the technology, it is ultimately 'people' who operate it and deliver感动 to our customers. From this land of Saitama, we will strive as one team to become a visionary company that evolves autonomously and delivers surprise and emotion to the world.

About the Saitama Shibusawa MIX Innovation Creation Support Fund

The fund was jointly established by Saitama Prefecture, Japan Finance Corporation, regional financial institutions in Saitama, and Miraido Corporation. Its purpose is to provide investment-based funding to startups, companies in their second stage of growth, and businesses facing succession challenges (limited to specific themes), aiming to support sustainable regional industry development and the creation of new industries and innovations.

Company Overview: Miraido Corporation (https://www.fvc.co.jp/)

Miraido Corporation manages various types of funds, including 'Regional Revitalization Funds' to support local venture companies, 'CVC Funds' to promote open innovation for corporations, and 'Thematic Funds' targeting specific investment areas to energize industries. Beyond financial investment, the company also provides long-term support such as business development, talent cultivation, and business consulting to ensure sustainable growth.

Company Name: Miraido Corporation

Head Office: Roppongi First Building, 14F, 1-9-9 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

President and CEO: Daisuke Sawada

Company Overview: Happy Smile, Inc. (https://happysmile-inc.jp/)

'Bringing Surprise and Emotion to Memories'

Happy Smile believes its mission is to solve the 'problems' of everyone involved with photography and to increase the number of delighted customers. Never satisfied with the status quo, we continuously create new ideas and aim to become the leading company in the field of memories.

Head Office: Oya Building, 1-477 Minamihara, Kita-ku, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture

Labo: 1753 Yabure, Nishi-ku, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture

Number of organizations using the service: 9,300 (as of July 2026)

President and CEO: Kenichi Sato

Business: Operation and provision of the photo sales platform service 'Minnanoomoide.com'

About the Photo Sales Platform Service 'Minnanoomoide.com' (https://minnanoomoide.com/)

The service incurs no platform setup or registration fees for organizations. Viewers can browse photos for free without the need for membership registration. Users who wish to can purchase photos. In recent years, the service has been widely adopted not only in the childcare sector but also in sports (various kids' schools and professional teams), entertainment (theater groups and idol groups), and elderly care facilities.

Press Inquiries

Happy Smile, Inc. – Contact / Media Inquiries

TEL: 048-919-3306

E-mail: [email protected]