() is a Japanese technology conglomerate based in Tokyo, founded by Hiroshi Mikitani in 1997. Centered around the online retail marketplace Rakuten Ichiba, its businesses include financial services utilizing Fintech, digital content and communications services such as the messaging app Viber, e-book distributor Kobo, and Japan's fourth mobile carrier Rakuten Mobile. Rakuten has more than 28,000 employees worldwide, operating in 30 countries and regions, and its revenues totalling US $12.8 billion as of 2021. Rakuten was the official sponsor of the Spanish football club FC Barcelona from 2017 until 2021, and the Golden State Warriors of the NBA as of 2022. It is often referred to as the "Amazon of Japan". Some past significant investments include Buy.com (now Rakuten.com in the US), Priceminister (France, now Rakuten.fr), Ikeda, Tradoria, Play.com, Wuaki.tv, Pinterest, Ebates, Viki, The Grommet. The company also holds and has held stakes in Ozon.ru, AHA Life, Lyft, Cabify, Careem, Carousell and Acorns. Businesses Rakuten, Inc. has more than 70 services operating via the three segments: Internet Services, FinTech, and Mobile. The services constitute the Internet Services segment are as follows: E-commerce Rakuten Ichiba Rakuten.co.uk Rakuten.fr Messaging app Viber Food delivery Rakuten Delivery Travel booking Voyagin Online cash-back Rakuten Rewards (formerly Ebates) Internet portal and digital content sites Kobo Inc. OverDrive, Inc. Rakuten DX (formerly Aquafadas) Rakuten TV Viki Marketing and data analysis Rakuten Advertising Online Survey Rakuten insight The FinTech segment operates the following businesses: Banking and securities Credit cards Life insurance Digital wallet The services operating under the Mobile segment are: Telecommunications network & sale of mobile devices Rakuten Mobile History Early years (1997–1999) Rakuten was founded as MDM, Inc. by Hiroshi Mikitani on 7 February 1997. The online shopping marketplace was officially launched on May 1, 1997. The company had six employees and the website had 13 merchants. The name was changed to Rakuten in June 1999. The Japanese word "rakuten" (楽天) means "optimism". Harvard-educated former banker Mikitani envisioned the site as an online shopping mall, offering the opposite of what the larger companies like IBM were trying to do with similar services, by offering empowerment to merchants rather than trying to tightly control the virtual storefront. The service was offered for a smaller fee than the larger Internet malls were charging, and merchants were given more control, such as the ability to customize their storefronts on the site. 2000s The company went public through an IPO