Zeals

Zeals Co., Ltd. is a Japanese technology company specializing in conversational commerce. Founded in April 2014 by Masahiro Shimizu, the company aims to revolutionize marketing and customer service through its AI-powered chat solutions. Zeals' core offering, 'Zeals', is a chat commerce service that utilizes AI chatbots on platforms like LINE to provide online customer service and facilitate sales. This approach is designed to digitize the Japanese 'omotenashi' (hospitality) experience, creating personalized and automated conversations with consumers. By doing so, Zeals helps brands build a deeper understanding of customer preferences and deliver a seamless shopping experience.

The company has demonstrated significant growth, nearly doubling its revenue year-over-year in recent periods and attracting substantial investment. In May 2022, Zeals secured nearly $40 million in funding, with Salesforce Ventures among its backers. This capital is intended for aggressive investment in technology and personnel to further expand its market share in Japan and target the US market for future growth. Zeals serves a diverse range of industries, including e-commerce/DTC, travel, cosmetics, fitness, and fintech, with over 480 enterprise companies globally using its product, including well-known brands like L'Oreal and Nissan. The company's success has been recognized with accolades such as the LinkedIn Top Startups award, which it has received twice. Zeals is committed to fostering a global and engineer-driven company culture, with a significant portion of its Product & Technology team comprising international talent from over 20 countries. The company has established a US entity, ZEALS, Inc., in Delaware to spearhead its expansion into the American market.