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Japan Forward
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Japan Forward
Utsunomiya Brex Triumph in BCL Asia Final
Tournament MVP DJ Newbill nailed a game-winning 3-pointer in the final minute to lead the Utsunomiya Brex past Al Riyadi in the title game in Dubai. Utsunomiya Brex guard Hironori Watanabe and his teammates celebrate after winning the 2025 Basketball Champions League Asia in Dubai on June 13. (©BCL ASIA/via KYODO) After losing their first game at the 2025 Basketball Champions League Asia, the Utsunomiya Brex rattled off four straight victories to capture the title on Friday night, June 13. In the title match in Dubai, the 2024-25 champions defeated Al Riyadi Beirut Club 94-93 at Coca-Cola Arena. Utsunomiya star DJ Newbill, a former Penn State standout, sank a go-ahead 3-pointer with 33 seconds remaining to account for the final score. Al Riyadi's Hayk Gyokchyan missed a potential game-winning shot from the right side with 7 seconds remaining. Makoto Hiejima shoots a jumper in the BCL Asia championship game. (©FIBA) Star guard Makoto Hiejima paced the Brex with 30 points, including 6-for-10 from 3-point range. He added nine rebounds and five assists. Newbill, who was named tournament MVP, finished with 21 points, making 5 of 10 attempts from beyond the arc, and dished out five assists. In five games in Dubai, Newbill, who was also named MVP in each of the past two seasons, averaged 24.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 7.4 assists. BCL Asia MVP DJ Newbill (©FIBA) New Zealand-born forward Finn Delany, who signed a short-term contract to play for the Brex at this tourney, poured in 19 points, snared seven rebounds and handed out five assists. Isaac Fotu finished with 12 points and Yusuke Endo had six points, while Seiji Ikaruga contributed a team-best two steals. The Brex held a 50-46 lead over the reigning BCL Asia champs at halftime. The title-winning Utsunomiya Brex revel in the post-final euphoria. (©FIBA) After the match, Utsunomiya head coach Zico Coronel praised his players' competitive spirit. "This is kind of what we've continued to do: no matter what situation we're in, we just fight," Coronel said, according to "We stayed together and made big plays." He described the team's second championship in as many months as "very pleasing." Hiejima said his team made important adjustments in the final. "The other team got into a rhythm at the start of the game, but we gradually got into a rhythm from our defense and focused on rebounding," Hiejima told reporters. "It was a game that either team could have won. But in the end we were able to win by doing the small things, so it was a good game." DJ Newbill shoots a layup in the championship match. (©FIBA) In the tourney's group stage, the Brex dropped their opener, losing 97-86 to the Meralco Bolts of the Philippines on June 8. A day later, Utsunomiya beat Dubai's Shahab Al Ahli 105-99. In the quarterfinals on June 11, the Brex topped Iran's Tabat Basketball 94-93. On Thursday, June 12, Utsunomiya outplayed Mongolia's Broncos, winning 94-93 to clinch a berth in the championship match. Joji Takeuchi (©SANKEI) Osaka Evessa forward/center Joji Takeuchi, who has played in the since its inception in 2016, represented the team at a ceremony at Toyonaka City Hall on Friday, June 13. During the ceremony in Osaka Prefecture, Yoshitsugu Iwamoto, Toyonaka's superintendent of education, gave Takeuchi a letter of appreciation for the Evessa's recent donation of 68 basketballs to 17 junior high schools throughout the city. The Evessa teamed up with local charity partner Asahi Denso, an outdoor advertising company, to make the donation. It's a part of the club's SDGs initiative (Sustainable Development Goals), The Sankei Shimbun reported. Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks starter Livan Moinelo pitches to a Yokohama DeNA BayStars batter on June 13 in Fukuoka. (©SANKEI) Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks starter Livan Moinelo improved to 6-0 in the 2025 NPB season on Friday, June 13. The veteran left-hander allowed three hits and went the distance in the Hawks' 4-1 victory over the visiting Yokohama DeNA BayStars in interleague play. Moinelo struck out 13 batters in his first complete game of the season. He threw 118 pitches. Looking back on his performance, Moinelo said fatigue was not a factor. "I didn't [throw] many pitches, so I felt I had a lot of energy left in me," he said, according to Jiji Press, referring to the eighth inning. The Hawks, who are in fourth place in the Pacific League, improved to 30-27-3 with Friday's triumph. Moinelo has a Pacific League-best 89 strikeouts in 78⅓ innings. The Cuban-born pitcher has issued only 16 walks. He has a sparkling 1.26 ERA. "My main goal is for the team to win no matter what the situation is," Moinelo was quoted as saying by Jiji Press. "As long as we win, that's all that matters." On June 6, Moinelo fanned 18 batters, one shy of the NPB record, in eight innings against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. The 29-year-old made his NPB debut with SoftBank in 2017. Japanese players depicted on manhole covers. (Courtesy of MLB) Major League Baseball and innovative artists have joined together to promote the 12 current Japanese MLB players. Twelve unique manhole covers, one representing each of the dozen players, will be installed in cities across Japan where they grew up, starting on Monday, June 16. A trio of Iwate Prefecture natives ― Shohei Ohtani, Yusei Kikuchi and Roki Sasaki ― will have their manhole covers unveiled on Monday in Oshu City, Morioka and Rikuzentakata, respectively. The list includes Lars Nootbaar, a St Louis Cardinals outfielder who played for Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Although he was born in the United States, Nootbaar's mother is from Higashimatsuyama, Saitama Prefecture, where his manhole cover will be displayed. This celebration of the players through public displays of art will also incorporate modern technology to transform the manhole covers into portals of interactive activity. "The manholes will feature content exclusive to those that experience the excitement on-site, through short AR movies that can be viewed on mobile devices by scanning the manholes," a news release explained. Check out the full installation schedule for the manhole covers published in this news release on MLB's official website. Japanese boxers (from left) Daigo Higa, Kenshiro Teraji and Kyosuke Takami attend a news conference on June 11. (©SANKEI) Kenshiro Teraji, the WBA and WBC flyweight champion, will meet American challenger Ricardo Sandoval in the main event of the July 30 fight card at Yokohama Buntai. An announcement was made on Wednesday, June 11. Teraji (25-1, 16 knockouts) earned a 12th-round TKO victory in his previous match on March 13 against Seigo Yuri Akui at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan. Sandoval is 26-2 with 18 KOs in his pro career. Also scheduled to fight in the world title tripleheader, WBA bantamweight champ Daigo Higa vs American Antonio Vargas, and Dominican WBA light flyweight titlist Erick Rosa vs challenger Kyosuke Takami. Junto Nakatani Beats Ryosuke Nishida with a 6th-Round TKO Aiko Sugihara is seen competing at the NHK Trophy on May 17 in Tokyo. (KYODO) Aiko Sugihara maintained her excellent form of late at the 12th Senior Women's Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships. On June 12, in Jecheon, South Korea, Sugihara collected the gold medal in the women's all-around final. Sugihara amassed 54.765 points in the all-around's four disciplines. Japanese compatriot Haruka Nakamura was the runner-up (54.365), followed by Xinyi Qin of China (53.599). The 25-year-old Sugihara triumphed in the same competition at the NHK Trophy on May 17 at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. It was her first all-around title at the prestigious Tokyo meet since 2015, edging Paris Olympian Rina Kishi by 0.033 points. What was Sugihara's reaction after winning at the NHK Trophy? "I never imagined I'd win after 10 years," a thrilled Sugihara told reporters, according to "We all bloom at different times. I'm just glad I found a way to bloom." [ODDS and EVENS] Gymnast Carlos Yulo Honored by Japan's Embassy in Manila A file photo of the Royal Windsor Triathlon. (Courtesy of ROYAL WINDSOR TRIATHLON) Descente is the official triathlon sportswear partner for the 2025 Royal Windsor Triathlon, it was announced on Tuesday, June 10. The Japanese sportswear company has had a long association with the British Triathlon. And now, from a brand visibility standpoint, Descente will receive additional major exposure at another triathlon in the United Kingdom. The Royal Windsor Triathlon, first held in 1991, is scheduled for Sunday, June 15 in Windsor, Berkshire. "Partnering with a global performance brand like Descente is a major milestone for the Royal Windsor Triathlon," said Matt Wood, co-founder of RunThrough, the operator of Royal Windsor Triathlon, according to a news release. "We're thrilled to be the UK platform for Descente's AWAKEN program and proud to showcase our event on a truly international stage. This partnership brings together a world-class brand with [a] strong presence and the unique heritage of Windsor." In highlighting this partnership, a news release stated, "While Descente remains a rising name in the UK sportswear scene, its presence across Asia has long been associated with technical excellence and sleek performance design. By aligning with one of the UK's most distinguished triathlons, the brand aims to introduce its cutting-edge triathlon apparel to a new wave of European athletes." Author: Ed Odeven Find Ed on JAPAN Forward' s dedicated website, SportsLook . Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven .
Gulf Today
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Utsunomiya overcome Al Riyadi to clinch FIBA BCL Asia title in Dubai
DJ Newbill nailed arguably the biggest shot of his career to help Utsunomiya Brex dethrone Al Riyadi, 94-93 and claim 2025 FIBA Basketball Champions League Asia title. With the clock ticking down and Utsunomiya trailing by two, Newbill delivered the shot of a lifetime — a perfectly timed, high-arching, step-back three-pointer over the outstretched arm of Marcus Georges-Hunt with 23.6 seconds remaining. It wasn't just a basket — it was a championship dagger. The Brex edged Al Riyadi 94–93 in a rollercoaster finale Friday night at Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena, snatching the BCL Asia 2025 title in breathtaking fashion. Newbill's late-game heroics turned despair into euphoria for the Japanese side, sparking pandemonium on the Utsunomiya bench and leaving the once-raucous Lebanese faithful stunned into silence. For Newbill, who finished with 21 points, the moment represented the culmination of grit, leadership, and unwavering confidence. While his numbers were solid throughout, it was that one perfect shot — under the brightest lights and heaviest pressure — that defined his night, and perhaps, his career. 'This is why you play the game,' Newbill said after the win. 'You live for these moments. We've been working for this all season, and to come through for the guys when it mattered... it's everything.' With the win, Utsunomiya became only the second Japanese club ever to win the BCL Asia championship, following Alvark Tokyo's victory over the same Al Riyadi side in the 2019 final held in Thailand. The symmetry made the triumph even sweeter for Brex, who have now firmly established themselves among the continent's basketball elite. Acting head coach Zico Coronel called the title a testament to the team's belief and unity under adversity. 'This is what we're all about,' Coronel said. 'No matter what situation we're in, we just fight. We stayed together, trusted each other, and made big plays when it mattered most. This second championship is something we're incredibly proud of — especially considering the quality of opposition we faced.' While Newbill's shot sealed the outcome, it was Makoto Hiejima who carried the load for most of the night with a spectacular all-around performance. The veteran swingman poured in 30 points, including 6-of-10 from deep, and added 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Time and again, Hiejima battled through defensive pressure, created scoring chances, and pushed the tempo in transition — embodying the heart and hustle of a champion. Finn Delany added 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Isaac Fotu chipped in 12 points in a balanced offensive display. But the real story was Utsunomiya's shooting barrage: the Brex drained 17 three-pointers in the final alone and hit a record-setting 75 triples over the tournament — the most in a single BCL Asia edition since China Kashgar's 76 in 2016. The Brex also broke a decade-long record for most threes per game, surpassing Al Riyadi's 13.8 average from 2024 and sending a clear message: this team wins with precision, pace, and perimeter firepower. Despite falling short, Al Riyadi showed immense heart and quality, delivering a championship-level performance of their own. Marcus Georges-Hunt led the fightback with 24 points and 8 assists, particularly dominating the second half as the Lebanese champions erased multiple deficits to seize a late lead. Ali Mansour was electric with 22 points, while Hayk Gyokchyan turned in a powerful double-double of 19 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists. Both players made critical plays down the stretch — with Mansour tying the game at 91 and Gyokchyan giving Al Riyadi the 93–91 lead on a heads-up second-chance putback after a missed shot by Thon Maker. Maker and Karim Zeinoun each added 13 points in a courageous effort by a team running on a shortened rotation, hampered by the tournament-ending absences of Amir Saoud and Wael Arakji, two of the squad's long-time cornerstone guards. 'This was a battle,' said Al Riyadi coach Ahmad Farran. 'We played with everything we had. Missing key players hurt us, but I'm proud of our guys — they showed what it means to wear this jersey.' When the final buzzer sounded and Gyokchyan's last attempt bounced off the rim, jubilation erupted on one side while heartbreak unfolded on the other. Utsunomiya Brex had pulled off the improbable — dethroning the reigning giants and bringing continental glory back to Japan.
CNBC
10-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
39. Navan
Founders: Ariel Cohen (CEO), Ilan TwigLaunched: 2015Headquarters: Palo Alto, CaliforniaFunding: $2 billion (PitchBook)Valuation: $9.2 billion (PitchBook)Key Technologies: Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, machine learningIndustry: Enterprise technology, travelPrevious appearances on Disruptor 50 list: 1 (No. 38 in 2024) Business travel has long been associated with clunky legacy tools and fragmented workflows. But Navan is betting that simplicity, and AI, can modernize the industry. The Palo Alto-based travel and expense startup, formerly called TripActions, has transformed itself into what it calls the first "all-in-one super app" for corporate travel and expenses. It can handle everything from flight bookings to hotel recommendations to real-time expense tracking. Moreover, the platform gives companies a consolidated view of employee travel and spending. The platform has been catching on. Navan said it has grown bookings twentyfold since the pandemic, that it ended 2024 with a record $550 million in revenue, and is on track to hit profitability this year. It now has 11,000 customers, including Unilever, Adobe, Christie's, Blue Origin and Geico. It's also processing corporate travel spending via Navan Connect, a card-linking technology that lets businesses offer automated expense management and reconciliation without having to change corporate card providers. Behind all that growth is a strong push into AI. Navan's virtual assistant, named Ava, now fields about 150,000 support chats a month and resolves more than half without human involvement. The company says the virtual assistant matches human agents on customer satisfaction ratings. Navan also recently introduced Concierge by Ava, a tool that uses real-time data and user travel patterns to suggest hyper-personalized hotel bookings. Those AI features played a starring role last summer during the Microsoft-CrowdStrike outage. The company said Ava helped shoulder the surge in support volume, keeping wait times down and satisfaction scores up. The company also struck unexpected partnerships, including one with competitor Brex to integrate travel booking with BrexPay, and launched co-branded offerings with Citizens and Rho. Still, competition is fierce. Navan is jostling for market share against expense and travel startups like fellow Disruptor Ramp, TravelPerk, and Brex, as well as incumbents like SAP Concur and American Express Global Business Travel. It's a crowded field — and Navan's all-in-one approach means it's fighting on multiple fronts.
Japan Forward
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Japan Forward
B.League Unveils Best Five Team and Other Awards
Teammates DJ Newbill and Makoto Hiejima of the title-winning Utsunomiya Brex were named to the Best Five Team for the second straight year. chairman Shinji Shimada (left) and Utsunomiya Brex coach Zico Coronel pose with Brex players during the league's annual awards show on May 30, 2025, in Tokyo. Coronel and Kevin Braswell, his predecessor who died in February, share the Head Coach of the Year Award. (©SANKEI) The 2024-25 Award show was held on Friday, honoring players and teams for their achievements during the season. At the annual event in Tokyo, the top accolade went to Utsunomiya Brex veteran guard DJ Newbill, who was named season MVP for the second straight year. The Penn State alum also received the Finals MVP accolade after helping lead the Brex past the Ryukyu Golden Kings in the championship series on Tuesday, May 27. Newbill averaged 21.7 points and 6.0 assists, leading all players in both categories, in the three-game series. During the regular season, he averaged 17.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.1 assists. He was eighth in scoring and second in assists in the 24-team league. Above all, Newbill's confidence, productivity and on-court leadership were instrumental in the Brex's overall success. Utsunomiya had a league-best 48-12 record and Newbill was the team's best player this past season. MVP DJ Newbill receives the MVP award for the second year in a row. (©SANKEI) At the banquet, Newbill paid tribute to his late mentor Kevin Braswell, the team's head coach who passed away on February 24. He thanked Braswell for his positive influence on his career. "I'd like to dedicate the MVP award to him," Braswell told the audience, Sankei Sports reported. "I want give a shout-out to my former coach, Coach KB," Newbill said on the stage. "[And] I think this season he really lit a fire under me and challenged me to take my game to new heights, and even with this season being as difficult as it was, losing him, I think everything that he's taught me from Day 1 and taught us from Day 1 ... our team just kept the determination each and every day in practice and each and every game." MVP DJ Newbill (©SANKEI) Newbill, who turned 33 on May 22, two days before the Finals started, headlines the Best Five Team for the second year in a row. Players are selected for their overall excellence throughout the season. Also named to the Best Five Team was Brex shooting guard Makoto Hiejima, who was selected for the fourth time and for the second straight year. Hiejima averaged 13.2 points and 4.2 assists in 58 games. He was at his best in the fourth quarter in Game 3 of the Finals, when he scored 14 of his 17 points to ignite the Brex comeback. Hiejima was also recognized for being the top 3-point shooter in the He led all players with 44.3% shooting accuracy (133 of 300) from beyond the arc. Brex star Makoto Hiejima (©SANKEI) "I've acquired the ability to finish off shots when the opponent is more cautious," Hiejima said, reflecting on his success as an outside shooter in 2024-25. "I think this award shows my growth." Ryukyu forward Vic Law (16.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists) was named to the Best Five Team for the first time. San-en NeoPhoenix swingman David Nwaba (17.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists) and NeoPhoenix point guard Ryusei Sasaki (who led the in assists with 6.5 per game and scored 11.5 ppg) were also both first-time honorees. Ryukyu's Masahiro Waki ( NeoPhoenix guard Sota Oura, who averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 assists off the bench in 59 games (zero starts) received the Best Sixth Man accolade. Chibs Jets guard/forward Shuta Hara received the Best Defender Award for the second time. He also won it in the 2022-23 campaign. Golden Kings shooting guard Masahiro Waki was chosen as the Rookie of the Year. The Kumamoto native contributed 7.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 60 games (49 starts) for Ryukyu. The 2024-25 champion Utsunomiya Brex attend the awards ceremony. (©SANKEI) Braswell and Brex acting head coach Zico Coronel were named co-winners of the Head Coach of the Year Award. Appropriately, the league recognized the coaching leadership of both men and the challenge that Coronel faced. Hired as Braswell's assistant, the New Zealander stepped in to guide the team after Braswell had a heart attack in January and died a few weeks later. Second Team honors went to guards Yuki Togashi (Chiba Jets) and Seiya Ando (Shimane Susanoo Magic) and frontcourt standouts Ryan Rossiter (Alvark Tokyo), Yante Maten (NeoPhoenix) and Brock Motum (Shiga Lakes). Kashima Antlers forward Leo Ceara scores in the ninth minute against Gamba Osaka on May 31 in Suita, Osaka Prefecture. (KYODO) Entering June, the fifth month of the 2025 season, the Kashima Antlers appear to be well on their way to claiming their ninth league title. There's, of course, a slew of matches still to be played. But the Antlers (13 wins, one draw, five defeats) have excelled since the start of the season in February and sit atop the table with 40 points. Sitting in second and third place, respectively, are Kashiwa Reysol (34 points for 19 matches) and Sanfrecce Hiroshima (32 points for 18 matches). On Wednesday, June 4, Hiroshima will play its 19th game, facing host Avispa Fukuoka, to equal the total to date of Kashima and Kashiwa. The Antlers earned their latest victory ― a 1-0 away decision over Gamba Osaka ― on Saturday, May 31. Brazilian Leo Ceara scored the lone goal in the ninth minute at Panasonic Stadium Suita. It was Kashima's fourth win in four matches, a stretch in which manager Toru Oniki's club allowed zero goals three times and a single tally on two occasions. Oniki acknowledged his team set the tone for the win with its first-half effort. "The players worked hard and the supporters supported us," the veteran manager told reporters after the match. "I think that was the only thing that mattered in the first half." With 29 goals scored and only 15 allowed so far, the Antlers have strong overall productivity on offense and defense. And they look like the clear-cut favorite to win another title. ODDS and EVENS | Season is Providing Compelling Competition Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits a solo home run in the first inning against the New York Yankees on May 30 at Dodger Stadium. (Jason Parkhurst/IMAGN IMAGES/via REUTERS) The reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees 8-5 on Friday, May 30 at Dodger Stadium. Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani belted a pair of solo home runs for the hosts in the opener of a three-game series. Ohtani homered off Yankees starter Max Fried in the first inning. He added a bases-empty blast off Fried in the sixth. The pride of Iwate Prefecture leads MLB in home runs (22) in the 2025 season. Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto is slated to start the series finale on Sunday. Yamamoto (6-3) is among MLB's ERA leaders (1.97, fifth-lowest average through May 30). Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga plays catch on May 30 in Chicago. (KYODO) In other MLB news, Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga is making progress in his recovery from a left hamstring strain, according to manager Craig Counsell. Imanaga has not pitched in a game since sustaining the injury on May 4. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on May 23. On Wednesday, May 28, Imanaga had an on-field test for his physical recovery. It included fielding practice and running along with a 28-pitch bullpen session, The Associated Press reported. What was Counsell's assessment of Imanaga's workout? "So all in all, a very good workday," Counsell was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. "Kind of repeat that this weekend, assuming everything turns up well tomorrow, and then go from there." For Imanaga, a trip to the Cubs spring training complex in Mesa, Arizona, would be the next step in making preparations for his return to the starting rotation. Highly touted Japanese baseball prospect Rintaro Sasaki played in all 52 of the Stanford University baseball team's games during the 2025 season. The Cardinal (27-25) lost their final game to Virginia Tech in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Championship on May 20. Sasaki finished his freshman season with a .269 batting average with seven homers and 41 RBIs. He also had a team-high 25 walks. Doubles partners Hiroto Shinozuka (left) and Shunsuke Togami react after winning the men's final at the World Table Tennis Championships on May 25 in Lusail, Qatar. (AP/via KYODO) For the first time since 1961, Japan claimed the men's doubles title at the World Table Tennis Championships on Sunday, May 25. Hiroto Shinozuka and Shunsuke Togami teamed up for a 6-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-6, 11-6 victory over Taiwan's Cheng Jui Kao and Yun Ju Lin in Lusail, Qatar. Shinozuka and Togami were the No 2 seeds. Their Taiwanese opponents were seeded sixth. After winning the title, Togami, 23, was euphoric. "I'm so happy," Togami said, according to Kyodo News. "We dropped the first game because of my errors, but a fired-up Hiroto Shinozuka was alongside me." In Beijing, Nobuya Hoshino and Koji Kimura triumphed at the 1961 World Table Tennis Championships. ―Former NPB pitching star Kimiyasu Kudo , who won five Japan Series titles as the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks manager (during his tenure from 2015-21), on his baseball aspirations for Indonesia. Kudo, 62, participated in a baseball clinic, featuring junior high and high school students, in Jakarta on May 17, NHK reported. Author: Ed Odeven Find Ed on JAPAN Forward' s dedicated website, SportsLook . Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven .
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Accounting technology startup Rillet raises $25m
Rillet, an accounting technology startup, has secured $25m in its Series A funding led by Sequoia Capital. The investment, which follows Rillet's previous fundraising round ten months ago, includes participation from existing investors such as First Round Capital, Creandum, Susa Ventures, and angel investors such as former NetSuite CFO Ron Gill and former Twilio CFO Lee Kirkpatrick. Rillet intends to use the funds to speed up the integration and rollout of artificial intelligence (AI) in its platform, while also strengthening its marketing, sales, and customer service operations. Founded in 2024, the startup aims to address the challenges faced by accounting teams reliant on legacy enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems from the 1990s, which hinder the full adoption of AI. Rillet stated that many products are sluggish, obsolete, heavily manual, and overly complicated due to extensive customisation. It emphasised that fully leveraging AI demands a unified, reliable data source with clean, precise data. Rillet's platform is designed to 'redefine' ERP for the AI age by integrating with tools such as Salesforce, Stripe, Ramp, Brex, and Rippling. Its AI agents are designed to automate key accounting workflows, including accruals, reconciliation, and board reporting, facilitating faster and more efficient financial operations. By providing 'real-time', 'fully reconciled' financial data, Rillet says it empowers customers to close their books in hours rather than weeks, enabling quicker and more informed decision-making. Rillet CEO and co-founder Nicolas Kopp said: 'We are a team of accountants building for accountants. This means everything from the reports to the workflows is tailor-built for the challenges CFOs and controllers deal with on a daily basis.' Sequoia managing partner Roelof Botha added: 'Rillet has rethought the general ledger to automate accounting with real-time integrations and AI-driven workflows, allowing finance teams to work smarter and businesses to scale faster. 'This modern approach helps CFOs capture the full value of AI, and, ultimately, positions Rillet as the system of record for the next generation of finance teams.' Since its launch, Rillet claims to have experienced a fivefold year-on-year increase in revenue and the platform processing billions in transactions. Nearly 200 customers, including companies such as Windsurf, Decagon, and Postscript, have adopted Rillet to for their accounting processes. "Accounting technology startup Rillet raises $25m " was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
