Tokyo-based startup Dinii has successfully raised ¥7.5 billion ($52 million) in a Series B funding round led by Chinese billionaire Zhang Lei’s Hillhouse Investment Management and U.S. venture capital firm Bessemer Venture Partners. This marks Hillhouse’s and Bessemer’s first startup investment in Japan. Dinii offers cloud-based restaurant management software that enables mobile ordering and provides restaurant operators with a platform to manage orders and analyze sales and customer preferences. The company recently launched a cashless payment processing feature and plans to expand its products to become a one-stop platform for restaurant operators. Dinii also aims to expand into other Asian markets such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and India over the next one to two years.
Founded six years ago by CEO Mao Yamada, who dropped out of the University of Tokyo, Dinii was created to address inefficiencies in traditional restaurant operations in Japan. Many restaurants in the country still rely on on-premise machines for orders and payments, which can be costly to set up and limit customer accessibility. Dinii’s software is currently being used by thousands of restaurants, including popular Japanese hotpot chain Tsukada Nojo. The company’s mission is to become a world-class company that showcases the best of Japan’s industry and culture on a global scale.
In addition to Hillhouse and Bessemer, other investors in the Series B round include Eclectic Management, an affiliate fund of Thrive Capital, which backs OpenAI. While the exact valuation of the funding round was not disclosed, Dinii plans to utilize the fresh capital to introduce new features such as employee shift and payroll management by the end of the year. The startup’s ultimate goal is to provide a comprehensive platform that meets all the needs of restaurant operators and enhances their overall efficiency and customer service.
Hillhouse Investment Management, known for its investments in tech giants like Tencent and JD.com, has also supported startups in Hong Kong, including logistics unicorn Lalamove and AI-powered drug discovery company Insilico Medicine. Bessemer Venture Partners, an early investor in LinkedIn and Pinterest, has previously backed Hong Kong travel booking startup Klook. This funding round represents a significant milestone for both Hillhouse and Bessemer as they expand their investment portfolios into the Japanese startup ecosystem, further solidifying Dinii’s position as a leading player in the restaurant management software industry.
With the rise of digital innovation in the restaurant industry, Dinii’s cloud-based platform offers a solution for operators to streamline their operations, improve customer service, and increase efficiency. The company’s focus on mobile ordering, data analysis, and cashless payment processing aligns with the growing trend of technology adoption in the food service sector. As Dinii continues to grow and expand across Asia, it seeks to leverage its success in Japan to become a globally competitive company that embodies the best practices of the industry and culture in the region. CEO Mao Yamada’s vision for Dinii is to showcase the excellence of Japanese innovation on an international stage and set new standards for restaurant management software worldwide.
