Ocean Secures Series A Funding
Ocean, a company specializing in providing tax-free systems and digitalizing tax-free procedures, announced on September 15, 2026, that it has closed a Series A funding round. The exact amount raised remains undisclosed. The round saw participation from a diverse group of investors including Z Venture Capital, Delight Ventures, Bluefin Partners, Japan Asia Investment, H.I.S., ZUU Funders, and Dual Bridge Capital.
Expanding Tax-Free and Refund Services
Ocean offers a platform called Ocean Tax Refund, which simplifies the process of conducting tax-free sales for retailers catering to inbound tourists. Their service allows stores to use smartphones or tablets to handle tax-free sales, featuring functionalities such as optical character recognition (OCR) to read passport data, and automatic aggregation of refund and sales information. The platform is integrated with point-of-sale (POS) systems and offers a management dashboard for retailers.
For tourists, the system supports procedures via apps, the web, and popular messaging platforms like WeChat and LINE, making it easy for them to use familiar services. As Japan prepares to change its tax refund system this November, Ocean is readying its platform to accommodate these changes, including offering refunds after customs confirmation at departure.
Strategic Use of Funds
With the newly secured funding, Ocean plans to enhance its support systems to help member stores transition to the new tax refund systems. The company is also focused on expanding its inbound marketing capabilities and strengthening partnerships with major players in the inbound tourism sector, as well as with financial institutions and POS vendors.
Broadening Investor Base
The Series A round not only includes existing investors such as Z Venture Capital, Delight Ventures, and Bluefin Partners, but also welcomes new participants like Japan Asia Investment, H.I.S., ZUU Funders, and Dual Bridge Capital. This broadening of the investor base reflects confidence in Ocean's approach to optimizing tax-free sales processes for the retail and tourism industries.