Timee

Timee (株式会社タイミー) is a Japanese company operating a spot-work (gig) matching service under the brand name "Timee" (タイミー). Founded by Rei Ogawa while he was a university student, the service launched its iOS app on August 2, 2018, and its Android app on September 2, 2019. The platform allows workers to find and start short-term jobs without interviews or resumes, and to receive wages immediately after finishing a shift. It is legally operated as a paid employment placement business (license number 13-ユ-311381). The company is headquartered in Shiodome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, and has been listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market since July 26, 2024. The service is characterized by a high volume of job listings in the food and beverage industry, and by its real-time payment system, which was enabled through a partnership with Seven Bank in 2019. As of February 2024, the platform had approximately 7 million cumulative registered workers and about 98,000 client companies. The company also operates "Timee Travel," a service that matches people wanting to experience work and life in rural areas with local businesses, and "Timee Career Plus," launched in February 2024, which supports workers in finding full-time employment by visualizing their work history and skills. Timee has attracted significant venture funding, raising 3 billion yen in 2018, 2 billion yen in Series B in 2019, 1.34 billion yen in Series C in 2020, 5.3 billion yen in Series D in 2021, and 18.3 billion yen in 2022, followed by 13 billion yen in 2023. The company has also formed business alliances with several local governments and sports clubs. However, it has faced controversies, including criticism over insufficient vetting of job listings after a suspicious "dark part-time job" posting in 2024, and issues related to unpaid wages for workers whose shifts were shortened or cancelled. In 2025, a worker recruited through Timee died after feeling unwell during a cleaning job, prompting an investigation by labor authorities. In 2026, a group lawsuit was reportedly planned over unpaid wages. Despite these challenges, Timee remains a major player in Japan's spot-work market.

Timee was founded by Rei Ogawa, who was a university student at the time. The idea for the service was inspired by his grandfather's death, which made him conscious of the finite nature of time; the company and service name derive from the word "time." The service initially used the spelling "Taimee" but changed to "Timee" in 2019. The iOS version of the Timee app was released on August 2, 2018, followed by a funding round of 300 million yen from Fujita Fund and others on August 10, 2018. In 2019, the company launched the beta version of "Tada Tabi" (later Timee Travel) on April 23, partnered with Seven Bank on June 11 to start real-time payment services, released the Android version on September 2, officially released Timee Travel as an app on October 3, raised 2 billion yen in Series B on October 31, and began airing a TV commercial featuring Kanna Hashimoto on November 25. In 2020, Timee obtained a patent for QR code-based employment contract conclusion and attendance management on April 9, launched a delivery service "Timee Delivery" on May 19 (now discontinued), moved its headquarters to Ikebukuro on July 13, and raised 1.34 billion yen in Series C on September 14. In 2021, it established the "Gig Work Research Institute" on February 1, released the owned media "Gig Labo" on July 15, ended the app version of Timee Travel and started web version on August 25, raised 5.3 billion yen in Series D on September 15, and renamed the research institute to "Spot Work Research Institute" and the media to "Timee Labo" on November 30. In 2022, cumulative workers exceeded 3 million on August 10, the company raised 18.3 billion yen on November 16, and signed a business alliance with Gunma Prefecture on December 1. In 2023, cumulative workers exceeded 4 million on January 11, a club sponsor contract with FC Tokyo was signed on January 31, a business alliance with Gero City, Gifu Prefecture was signed on March 7, the headquarters office was expanded and moved to Shiodome on March 16, an izakaya with the concept "all part-time workers are spot workers" opened on May 22, cumulative workers exceeded 5 million on June 28, a business alliance with Yamagata Prefecture was signed on August 9, 13 billion yen was raised on September 25, a regular radio show with Machine Guns started on October 3, cumulative workers exceeded 6 million on October 23, and a "badge function" to visualize skills and achievements was added on December 14. In 2024, Timee ranked 12th in the medium-sized category of the "Great Place to Work" ranking on February 8, four major logistics companies invested on February 21, the new business "Timee Career Plus" started on February 22, cumulative workers exceeded 7 million on February 22, a partnership agreement with Otaru City was signed on March 28, an "alumni function" was implemented on April 23, and the company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market on July 26. In 2025, on August 6, it announced the acquisition of Sukima Works, which operates the spot-work matching site "Sukima Works." Throughout its history, Timee has faced various controversies, including a 2020 incident where it was pointed out on social media that it was used to recruit workers for forging signatures in a recall campaign against Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura, leading the company to issue an apology. In 2024, a suspicious job posting led to criticism and a pledge to strengthen vetting. In 2025, a worker died after feeling unwell during a cleaning job, and in 2026, a group lawsuit over unpaid wages was reported.

• iOS version of Timee app released and service started

• Raised 300 million yen from Fujita Fund and others

• Beta version of 'Tada Tabi' (predecessor of Timee Travel) launched

• Business partnership with Seven Bank; real-time payment service started

• Android version of Timee app released

• Timee Travel officially released as an app

• Raised 2 billion yen in Series B funding

• TV commercial featuring Kanna Hashimoto began airing

• Obtained patent for QR code-based employment contract and attendance management

• Launched delivery service 'Timee Delivery' (now discontinued)

• Headquarters office moved to Ikebukuro

• Raised 1.34 billion yen in Series C funding

• Established 'Gig Work Research Institute'

• Released owned media 'Gig Labo'

• Ended app version of Timee Travel; started web version

• Raised 5.3 billion yen in Series D funding

• Renamed 'Gig Work Research Institute' to 'Spot Work Research Institute' and 'Gig Labo' to 'Timee Labo'

• Cumulative workers exceeded 3 million

• Raised 18.3 billion yen

• Signed business alliance with Gunma Prefecture

• Cumulative workers exceeded 4 million

• Signed club sponsor contract with FC Tokyo

• Signed business alliance agreement with Gero City, Gifu Prefecture

• Headquarters office expanded and moved to Shiodome

A spot-work platform enabling immediate, interview-free short-term employment with instant pay.

• Timee (spot-work app)

  A spot-work matching app that allows workers to find short-term jobs without interviews or resumes and receive wages immediately after work.

• Timee Travel

  A service that matches people wanting to experience work and life in rural areas with local businesses, helping them find a second hometown.

• Timee Career Plus

  A service launched in February 2024 that supports workers in finding full-time employment by visualizing their work history and skills.

1. 1【タイミー】スキマ時間にすぐ働ける！1,470万人が利用している単発バイトアプリtimee.co.jp
2. 2タイミー - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
3. 3Timee - Wikidatawikidata.org