Coconala
Coconala (ココナラ) is a privately held Japanese skill-sharing marketplace, founded in 2012 in Tokyo, connecting freelance professionals with consumer and business buyers across 740+ categories and over 1 million service listings via a commission-based transaction model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersShibuya, Japan
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Coconala does
Coconala (ココナラ) is a privately held Japanese skill-sharing marketplace headquartered in Tokyo, founded in 2012 and operating at a headcount of 251-500 employees. The platform connects freelance professionals with both consumer and business buyers across more than 740 service categories, with over one million individual service listings spanning illustration, design, web development, video production, marketing, IT consulting, writing, translation, music production, business consulting, and generative AI services. Coconala self-reports status as Japan's largest skill-sharing marketplace based on a September 2024 third-party survey by Mira Trends Research Institute (㈱未来トレンド研究機構), and operates 365-day buyer protection with itself as payment intermediary.
The core product is the Coconala web marketplace complemented by native iOS and Android applications, with services delivered entirely online via text, video chat, phone, or digital content files. Service providers individually set prices ranging from ¥500 to over ¥600,000, and the platform monetizes via transaction commissions on each completed sale. Recent technical investments include the Order AI Assistant, a conversational AI feature launched in June 2026 that helps buyers navigate the platform's deep catalog, and the prior Coconala for ChatGPT integration that surfaces Coconala listings inside third-party AI assistants. No API or SDK is publicly exposed, indicating a closed marketplace rather than a platform-as-a-service model.
The go-to-market is product-led and self-serve, with marketplace listings and category pages functioning as the primary acquisition surface alongside app store and SEO channels. Customer segments are intentionally hybrid: freelance providers seeking distribution and reputation-building, business buyers procuring professional services, and individual consumers sourcing personal-project, creative, or lifestyle services. The company has not disclosed revenue and has not raised new dilutive capital since a 2019 Fidelity International-led round, suggesting a mature operating profile with selective product innovation rather than aggressive external scaling.
Coconala firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Coconala
- Legal name
- Coconala
- Website
- https://coconala.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Coconala (ココナラ) is a privately held Japanese skill-sharing marketplace, founded in 2012 in Tokyo, connecting freelance professionals with consumer and business buyers across 740+ categories and over 1 million service listings via a commission-based transaction model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Coconala industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Freelance Services Marketplace
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local Services & Experiences Generalist Marketplaces (CRAFAAAD)
Keywords
Where Coconala is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shibuya
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Coconala business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Marketplace Commission/Transaction Fees: Coconala acts as an intermediary for buying and selling services, taking a commission on each transaction. Sellers list services across 740+ categories, buyers purchase and pay through the platform, and Coconala facilitates the transaction with buyer protection.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Service provider listings with individual pricing set by sellers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Coconala product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Coconala operates Japan's largest skill marketplace platform, connecting freelance service providers with buyers across 740+ categories and 1 million+ services including illustration, design, web development, video production, marketing, IT consulting, writing, translation, music, and AI services. The platform facilitates secure online transactions with Coconala acting as payment intermediary, offering 365-day buyer protection and enabling fully online service delivery via text, video chat, phone, or digital content files.
Product overview
Coconala operates as a unified skill marketplace platform connecting freelance professionals with customers seeking services. The core offering is the Coconala marketplace (ココナラ), which functions as a multi-category service platform offering over 740 categories including illustration, design, web development, video editing, marketing, business operations, IT consulting, music production, writing, translation, and generative AI services. The platform recently expanded its AI capabilities through the Order AI Assistant (launched June 2026) for conversational service discovery, building upon its earlier Coconala for ChatGPT integration. Mobile apps for iOS and Android extend platform accessibility. The platform includes job matching features for sellers and operates with Coconala as payment intermediary for buyer/seller protection.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Coconala Skill Marketplace (ココナラ) Japan's largest skill marketplace platform connecting freelance service providers with buyers, offering over 740 service categories and 1 million services across illustration, design, web development, video, marketing, IT, writing, music, AI services, and more. Transactions are facilitated with Coconala as payment intermediary providing 365-day buyer protection.
- Coconala Mobile Apps (iOS and Android) Native mobile applications for iOS and Android allowing users to access the Coconala skill marketplace, browse services, communicate with sellers, and manage transactions on mobile devices.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces initial project consideration time to 30-60 seconds with AI Assistant
Companies that use Coconala
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Coconala technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability9 records
Feature2 records
Coconala partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Coconala competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Guru: Guru is a global freelance marketplace connecting companies with professional service providers. Comparable as a two-sided freelance marketplace, though with smaller scale and primarily US/European user base.
Direct peers
- Lancers: Lancers is one of Japan's largest freelance/crowdsourcing marketplaces, directly competing with Coconala for Japanese freelance talent and buyers across categories such as design, development, and writing. Operates a similar transaction-fee model and is the most direct domestic comparable.
- CrowdWorks: CrowdWorks is a leading Japanese crowdsourcing and freelance platform offering similar categories to Coconala, including design, writing, and development services. Competes head-to-head in Japan's freelance marketplace market.
Emerging players
- 99designs (by Vista): 99designs operates a marketplace specifically for design services, a core Coconala category. Useful as a focused comparable for design-creative category dynamics within the broader freelance marketplace space.
- Skillshare: Skillshare is an online learning and skill-sharing community where creators monetize classes. Adjacent to Coconala's knowledge-and-skill marketplace positioning, though monetizes via subscriptions rather than per-transaction fees.
- TaskRabbit: TaskRabbit is a marketplace for local, task-based freelance services (errands, handyman, moving help). Comparable as a two-sided services marketplace model, though focused on physical in-person tasks rather than digital services like Coconala.
Broad incumbents
- Fiverr: Fiverr operates a global freelance services marketplace with a similar commission-based model across thousands of service categories. While broader in geographic reach, its category breadth and self-serve marketplace structure make it a key comparable for Coconala's model.
- Upwork: Upwork is the largest global freelance talent marketplace, connecting buyers with professionals across similar service categories. Comparable as a marketplace operator with similar transaction-fee economics, though it spans more enterprise/project-based work.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Coconala social profiles
Digital presenceCoconala financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Coconala leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Coconala funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Coconala M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Coconala
What does Coconala do?
Coconala operates Japan's largest skill marketplace platform, connecting freelance service providers with buyers across 740+ categories and 1 million+ services including illustration, design, web development, video production, marketing, IT consulting, writing, translation, music, and AI services. The platform facilitates secure online transactions with Coconala acting as payment intermediary, offering 365-day buyer protection and enabling fully online service delivery via text, video chat, phone, or digital content files.
Is Coconala a public or private company?
Coconala is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Coconala founded?
Coconala was founded in 2012. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Coconala based?
Coconala is headquartered in Shibuya, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Coconala make money?
One revenue line is on record: marketplace Commission/Transaction Fees.
Who are Coconala's main competitors?
Guru is listed as an others. Direct peers are Lancers and CrowdWorks. Emerging players are 99designs (by Vista), Skillshare and TaskRabbit. Broad incumbents are Fiverr and Upwork.
Does Coconala have an API?
No public API is recorded for Coconala.
What industry is Coconala in?
Coconala's product category is Online Freelance Services Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAFAAAD, Local Services & Experiences Generalist Marketplaces.