Image Credit: Funds
On November 27, 2025, Funds, a direct finance platform, announced a capital and business alliance with PKSHA Technology. The partnership aims to develop artificial intelligence (AI) agents that will enhance credit screening, pricing, and monitoring processes, with the goal of creating an AI-native direct finance market. The financial terms of the investment have not been disclosed.
Funds operates an online platform enabling individuals to lend indirectly to listed companies, with investments starting from just ¥1. Since its inception, the company has solicited 551 funds formed by 113 companies, primarily publicly listed, and has maintained a flawless record with zero distribution delays and defaults as of the end of October 2025. Meanwhile, PKSHA Technology specializes in AI software, particularly in natural language processing and inference, catering to various sectors such as finance, manufacturing, and education. Its offerings include AI solutions and software as a service (SaaS) products like “PKSHA AI Helpdesk” and “PKSHA Chat Agent.”
The AI agents under development will autonomously handle tasks from information gathering to analysis and decision support during corporate financial screenings and evaluations of credit recipients. By leveraging historical solicitation data and market trends, the agents aim to optimize fundraising conditions by predicting investor demand based on fund characteristics, thereby maximizing the amounts raised. This initiative seeks to digitally unify often fragmented processes related to screening, sales, and monitoring, allowing screening professionals to concentrate on advanced decision-making and analytical tasks.
Looking ahead, Funds aims to achieve highly automated operations that streamline the entire funding process, from application to fund disbursement, thereby transforming the direct financing experience. The company is also striving to develop “AI Native Securities” and “AI Native Ratings,” which would integrate AI capabilities into securities and credit rating functions.
As of October 2025, Funds has successfully raised a cumulative total of ¥100 billion, with distributions exceeding ¥1 billion, all while maintaining a record of zero distribution delays or principal losses. This achievement underscores the company’s commitment to fostering a reliable and efficient financing ecosystem.
This collaboration with PKSHA Technology not only signifies a strategic move toward integrating AI into the finance sector but also reflects a broader trend within the industry as companies increasingly seek to leverage technology to enhance operational efficiency and customer experience. As the direct finance market evolves, the potential for AI-driven innovations will likely reshape the landscape of lending and investment strategies.
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