Kazuma Ieiri was bullied at school, too poor to go to university and spent years in his bedroom as a recluse. More than 20 years later, he’s aiming to take his startup public at a valuation of as much as ¥200 billion.
Campfire Inc., which helps individuals and small groups raise funds online, is seeking to list shares this year, Ieiri said in an interview. It’s a long-anticipated IPO for the popular crowdfunding operator, the biggest such business in Japan.
Ieiri, 42, is one of a growing number of chief executive officers who fell off the typical path to success in Japan but are now making their fortunes in its tech startup scene. Campfire, the third company founded by the Buddhist monk and onetime candidate for Tokyo governor, has funded more than 50,000 projects since it started in 2011.