Yoshiharu Global Co. Announces Strategic Transition to Vestand Inc.

Rhea-AI Summary

Yoshiharu Global (NASDAQ: YOSH) announced a strategic transformation into a PropTech company, including a corporate name change to Vestand Inc. The company has secured $6.0 million in strategic funding from U.S. and Korean investors and acquired four residential properties in California.

The company plans to raise an additional $30.0+ million by H1 2027, targeting $100 million in real estate investments. Through collaboration with Good Mood Studio, Vestand will implement AI-powered valuation models and renovation strategies, expecting over 30% ROE on projects. The company has also invested in Wealthrail, a fractional real estate investment platform, and strengthened its internal control framework.

Positive

• Secured $6.0 million in strategic funding from U.S. and Korean investors
• Successfully acquired four residential properties in California
• Projects expected to yield over 30% Return on Equity (ROE)
• Strategic partnership with Good Mood Studio, experienced in 1,400+ real estate transactions
• Enhanced internal control framework and governance practices

Negative

• AI talent recruitment only began recently, indicating early development stage
• Significant business model pivot from restaurant operations carries execution risk
• Substantial additional capital needs of $30.0+ million by 2027

Insights

Financial Analyst

Yoshiharu secures $6M funding for transition to PropTech, early-stage pivot from restaurants to real estate technology shows promise but carries execution risks.

Yoshiharu's strategic pivot from restaurant operations to PropTech represents a fundamental business model transformation with significant implications. The secured $6 million investment provides initial capital for this transition, already deployed toward corporate restructuring, debt reduction, and acquiring four California residential properties. Their ambitious plans to raise an additional $30+ million by H1 2027 and target $100 million in real estate investments signal a substantial scaling strategy.

The collaboration with Good Mood Studio brings valuable real estate expertise (1,400+ transactions) and enables AI-powered valuation models and renovation strategies. Their buy-and-resell approach targeting 30%+ ROE based on comparable property prices suggests an aggressive but potentially achievable return profile if market conditions remain favorable.

However, the CEO's candid admission that they "only began recruiting AI talent in earnest last week" reveals how early-stage this transformation truly is. This transition involves significant execution risks, including:

• Technology development capabilities still unproven
• Potential revenue gaps during business model transition
• Capital requirements for scaling real estate operations
• Dependency on continued favorable real estate market conditions

The early investment in Wealthrail's fractional real estate platform suggests a forward-thinking approach to digital assets and tokenized securities, but implementation timelines remain unclear. The strengthened internal controls policy appears to be a positive governance development, particularly important during this significant business transformation.

This transition reflects broader market trends where traditional businesses are pivoting toward technology-enabled models, though success will depend on execution quality, market timing, and effective capital deployment during this early transformation phase.

BUENA PARK, Calif., July 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yoshiharu Global Co. (NASDAQ: YOSH) (the "Company"), today announced that it plans to change its corporate name to Vestand Inc., and has secured $6.0 million in strategic funding from U.S. and Korean investors to support this transition into a PropTech company. The Company also announced a substantial enhancement of its internal control policy, reinforcing its commitment to transparency and long-term growth as a publicly listed entity.

Corporate Name Change and Business Transition
On July 10, 2025, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the name change to Vestand Inc., marking its transformation from a traditional restaurant operator into a diversified brand that also includes real estate development and digital asset ventures. The Company has initiated the renaming process, including a symbol change on Nasdaq, which will be publicly announced upon completion.

Strategic Investment and Asset Expansion
The $6.0 million in strategic capital, funded by U.S. and Korean investors, was executed in March and April of 2024. These funds have supported corporate restructuring, debt repayment, and the successful acquisition of four residential properties in California. The Company aims to raise an additional $30.0+ million by the first half of 2027, targeting a cumulative $100 million in real estate investments.

PropTech Strategy and Collaboration
The Company has entered into a collaboration with Good Mood Studio, a U.S.-based developer with experience in over 1,400 real estate transactions, to deploy:
- AI-powered Automated Valuation Models (AVM),
- Renovation strategies, and
- A short-term buy-and-resell model

Several projects are expected to yield over 30% Return on Equity (ROE), based on the average transaction prices of comparable properties in surrounding areas.

In addition, the Company has made an early investment in Wealthrail, a fractional real estate investment platform that integrates digital assetization, including tokenized securities (STO). This strategy blends short-term flipping with long-term hold opportunities, creating a next-generation distributed real estate investment ecosystem.

Strengthening Internal Controls
Under the leadership of its CEO and CFO, the Company has launched a new initiative to fortify its internal control framework and embed it into the Company’s corporate culture. With a robust monitoring and audit system now in place, Yoshiharu aims to ensure strict compliance with regulatory requirements and to align its governance practices with the expectations of shareholders and the broader market.

The enhanced internal control policy was reviewed and formally approved by the Board of Directors on July 10, 2025, and the Company resolved to publicly disclose the initiative in the interest of transparency and accountability.

Comments from the CEO
"We are actively preparing to position Vestand as an evolved iBuyer that differentiates itself from companies like Opendoor and Offerpad by combining asset-backed revenue models with AI-driven technology," said Ji-Won Kim, Director and CEO of Yoshiharu. "That said, it may be a stretch to describe us as having already reached that point. In reality, we only began recruiting AI talent in earnest last week, so we are still early in the expansion phase. However, we are seriously reviewing the model and actively working toward it.

"We are no longer just a restaurant brand. Vestand will be a smart investment platform that fuses real-world assets with digital technology, and we're confident that this approach will set us apart.

Mr. Kim concluded, "Transparency and trust are fundamental to long-term corporate value. With our strengthened internal control framework, we are building a more transparent and resilient management system. We will continue to make improvements and maintain open communication with our investors, shareholders, and the market, reinforcing trust and long-term confidence in our future."

About Yoshiharu Global Co.

Yoshiharu is a fast-growing restaurant operator and was born out of the idea of introducing the modernized Japanese dining experience to customers all over the world. Specializing in Japanese ramen, Yoshiharu gained recognition as a leading ramen restaurant in Southern California within six months of its 2016 debut and has continued to expand its top-notch restaurant service across Southern California and Las Vegas, currently owning and operating 15 restaurants.

For more information, please visit www.yoshiharuramen.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including without limitation, statements regarding our position to execute on our growth strategy, and our ability to expand our leadership position. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the Company's beliefs, plans, goals, objectives, expectations, assumptions, estimates, intentions, future performance, other statements that are not historical facts and statements identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates" or words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views about our plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects, which are based on the information currently available to us and on assumptions we have made. Although we believe that our plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects as reflected in, or suggested by, these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that the plans, intentions, expectations or strategies will be attained or achieved. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, as a result of various factors including those risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of our filings with the SEC including our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and subsequent reports we file with the SEC from time to time, which can be found on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Investor Relations Contact:
Larry W Holub
Director
MZ North America
YOSH@mzgroup.us
312-261-6412

FAQ

Why is Yoshiharu Global (YOSH) changing its name to Vestand Inc.?

The company is transforming from a restaurant operator into a PropTech company focused on real estate development and digital asset ventures, marking a strategic shift in its business model.

How much funding has YOSH secured for its PropTech transition?

The company has secured $6.0 million from U.S. and Korean investors in March-April 2024, and aims to raise an additional $30.0+ million by first half of 2027.

What is Vestand's (formerly YOSH) target ROE for its real estate projects?

The company expects its projects to yield over 30% Return on Equity (ROE), based on comparable property transaction prices in surrounding areas.

Who is Vestand's (YOSH) strategic partner for real estate development?

The company has partnered with Good Mood Studio, a U.S.-based developer with experience in over 1,400 real estate transactions, to implement AI-powered valuation models and renovation strategies.

What is YOSH's total real estate investment target?

The company is targeting $100 million in cumulative real estate investments, combining short-term flipping with long-term hold opportunities.