HQ

What HQ does

HQ (株式会社HQ) is a Tokyo-based SaaS company founded in March 2021 that operates an integrated employee benefits (EX) platform for large Japanese enterprises. The platform bundles six core services under a single login and shared data layer: Cafeteria HQ (AI-powered selection-type cafeteria plan at ¥200/employee/month), Tokutoku HQ (discount coupons at ¥180/employee/month with Amazon Business integration, launched July 2025), Meal Assistance HQ (tax-compliant meal subsidies via Visa Business Card), Coaching HQ (corporate coaching at ¥5,000-9,000 per session), Remote HQ (remote work equipment rental with tax-compliant utilities, protected by Japanese Patent No. 7515178), and Health Promotion HQ (gym and health product access at ¥300/employee/month). The company is led by Representative Director and CEO Shoji Sakamoto and VP of Engineering Tomoyuki Saso, is headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, and has 51-100 employees.

HQ's underlying technology centers on a text-based AI recommendation engine that personalizes benefit suggestions for each employee, combined with AI-OCR receipt verification and a proprietary tax-compliance framework derived from National Tax Agency guidelines. The company has raised approximately $18.1M in cumulative funding across two rounds (November 2022 and December 2024, the latter led by Global Brain), and serves a roster of named enterprise customers including MIXI (1,717 employees), FamilyMart (5,574), LION (7,654), SmartHR (1,492), NTT Data With (3,700), Iyogin Holdings (4,200), ORBIS (1,000), and Cybozu. Five additional services (Book Learning HQ, Internal System HQ, Incentive HQ, Thanks Card HQ, Childcare Support HQ) are under development for 2025-2026 release, signaling a deliberate platform surface expansion.

HQ pursues a sales-led B2B enterprise motion targeting HR and executive buyers at large Japanese corporations through content marketing, downloadable guides, and case-study-driven sales conversations, with no disclosed channel partners. Revenue combines recurring per-employee subscriptions across Cafeteria/Tokutoku/Kenko HQ, usage-based coaching session fees, and Remote HQ equipment rental, all delivered as cloud-based SaaS. HQ positions itself as a disruptor to Japan's legacy employee benefits industry on three axes: industry-leading low pricing enabled by digital transformation, an all-in-one platform replacing multiple point solutions, and consumer-app-grade UI/UX with embedded tax-compliance.

Name

HQ

Legal name

株式会社HQ

Website

https://hq-hq.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HQ is a Tokyo-based SaaS company founded in 2021 that provides an integrated employee benefits platform for large Japanese enterprises, bundling cafeteria plans, meal subsidies, coaching, remote work, discount coupons, and health benefits under one AI-personalized login.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Employee Benefits Software

NAICS

Professional Employer Organizations (561330), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Benefits Administration (BPACAPAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

HRIS/HCM Managed Services & Support (BPAEAGAF), Wellbeing, Mental Health & Employee Assistance (EAP) (BPACAPAO), Human Capital Management (HCM) & Payroll Platforms (HDAEAEAJ)

Keywords

• Employee benefits platform
• Cafeteria plan software
• Corporate coaching services
• Remote work support
• Health benefits management

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. カフェテリアHQ Subscription: Monthly subscription model at 200 yen per employee per month. Provides access to the full cafeteria plan platform with AI recommendations, point management, and all included benefit categories.
2. トクトクHQ Subscription: Monthly subscription at 180 yen per employee per month for discount coupon-based benefits with Amazon Business integration.
3. 健康促進HQ Subscription: Monthly subscription at 300 yen per employee per month for health promotion benefits including gym access and Amazon health product discounts.
4. コーチングHQ Per-Session Fees: Usage-based pricing per coaching session: 5,000 yen (30 min), 7,500 yen (45 min), 9,000 yen (60 min). Minimum order of 50,000 yen per company. Enables democratization of coaching through low-cost access.
5. リモートHQ Equipment Rental: Equipment rental fees for work-from-home equipment (desks, chairs, monitors, peripherals) provided at low corporate rates. Utility expense support for electricity, internet, and book expenses processed through the platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HQ provides an integrated SaaS platform for Japanese enterprise employee benefits, combining AI-powered cafeteria plans, discount coupons (via Amazon Business), meal subsidies (via Visa Business Card), corporate coaching, remote work equipment rental, and health promotion benefits under a single login. The platform uses an AI recommendation engine to personalize benefits for each employee and is sold on a per-employee monthly subscription basis to large Japanese corporations.

Product overview

HQ provides an all-in-one employee benefits platform consisting of six core services: Cafeteria HQ (AI-powered selection-type cafeteria plan), Tokutoku HQ (discount coupon service with Amazon integration), Meal Assistance HQ (meal subsidy via Visa card), Coaching HQ (corporate coaching), Remote HQ (remote work equipment rental), and Health Promotion HQ (gym and wellness benefits). The platform serves as an Employee Experience (EX) Platform, combining multiple benefit services under a single login ID with unified data infrastructure. Five additional services are under development including Book Learning HQ, Internal System HQ, Incentive HQ, Thanks Card HQ, and Childcare Support HQ, scheduled for 2025-2026 release.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• カフェテリアHQ: AIを活用した次世代カフェテリアプラン（選択型福利厚生）
• トクトクHQ
• コーチングHQ
• リモートHQ
• 健康促進HQ
• 食事補助HQ

Products and services

• Cafeteria HQ (カフェテリアHQ) Next-generation selection-type cafeteria plan (選択型福利厚生) for Japanese enterprises. Employees receive an annual points allocation and choose from a wide range of benefit options (reskilling, healthcare, lifestyle, etc.), with an AI engine recommending optimal selections for each individual. Priced at 200 yen per employee per month as a monthly subscription. Used by HR departments at enterprises such as MIXI, SmartHR, Iyogin Holdings, and ORBIS to replace legacy fixed-allowance benefits programs.
• Tokutoku HQ (トクトクHQ) Discount coupon type employee benefits service that provides nationwide discount coupons via deep integration with Amazon Business, enabling one-click purchase of discounted products directly within the platform. Includes AI-powered personalized coupon recommendations and is priced at 180 yen per employee per month. Addresses the challenge of urban-centric benefit availability by giving all employees, regardless of location, access to a broad product catalog.
• Meal Assistance HQ (食事補助HQ) Meal subsidy benefit service that issues a physical Visa Business Card to employees for use at any Visa-accepting restaurant nationwide. Supports tax-exempt meal assistance with automated receipt verification, AI-OCR scanning, and compliant non-taxable benefit administration, removing the need for company cafeterias or limited-location meal vouchers.
• Coaching HQ (コーチングHQ) Corporate coaching service for enterprise employees and managers, offering professional coaching sessions with certified coaches across approximately 20 themes. Sessions are available in 30, 45, and 60 minute formats priced at 5,000 yen, 7,500 yen, and 9,000 yen respectively (excluding tax), with a minimum initial order of 50,000 yen per company. Targets professional development, new manager support, and engagement improvement for enterprise workforces.
• Remote HQ (リモートHQ) Remote work environment setup platform that enables employees to rent optimal work-from-home equipment (desks, chairs, monitors, keyboards, peripherals) with tax-exempt electricity, internet, and book expense coverage. Built on a proprietary non-taxable framework (Patent No. 7515178) aligned with Japanese National Tax Agency guidelines. Includes professional concierge support for personalized equipment recommendations and a catalog of 1,000+ products across 50+ categories. Used by enterprises such as Cybozu with a 93% satisfaction rate.
• Health Promotion HQ (健康促進HQ) Health management-focused employee benefits service providing access to major gyms at 550 yen per session, Amazon Business integration for health product purchases, and diverse wellness discounts. Priced at 300 yen per employee per month and claims a 30%+ cost reduction versus self-managed corporate gym contracts, supporting corporate health-management (健康経営) initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Productivity improvement: 20% median increase for RemoteHQ users
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Visa (Visa Business Card)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 April 2025Visa Business Card issued to employees for meal expense subsidy benefit (食事補助HQ). Enables employees to use the benefit at any Visa-accepting restaurant nationwide. Card serves as the physical interface for the meal support benefit program.
• 株式会社NTTデータ・ウィズflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025First enterprise customer for the integrated next-generation benefits platform combining Cafeteria HQ and Tokutoku HQ (beta). Created from merger of NTT Data Smart Sourcing and NTT Data Management Service. NTT Data With is providing feedback for product improvement while using the platform for 3,700 employees. Deep strategic partnership for product co-development.
• Amazonビジネス (Amazon Business)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Amazon Business integration enabling Tokutoku HQ and Kenko HQ users to purchase discounted products directly through the HQ platform with one-click ordering. Provides nationwide access to employee benefits regardless of employee location, addressing the challenge of urban-centric benefit availability. Key competitive differentiator for discount coupon and health product services.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Benefit One: One of Japan's largest employee benefits/cafeteria plan providers, serving thousands of corporate clients with a broad menu of perks and welfare services. Direct competitor to HQ's Cafeteria HQ and Meal Assistance HQ, but with a much larger legacy catalog and broader corporate footprint.
• Relo Club (Relo Holdings): Major Japanese employee benefits club and cafeteria plan operator with nationwide merchant network and deep relationships with HR departments at large enterprises. Closest direct competitor to HQ's cafeteria plan business in terms of segment focus and enterprise GTM motion.
• Kyocera Communication System (KCCS) - Cafeteria / Welfare Solutions: Japanese IT services company offering corporate welfare and cafeteria plan solutions to enterprises, with broader IT services portfolio. Comparable in the cafeteria plan and welfare benefits space, particularly to mid-large enterprise buyers.

Direct peers

• Forma: US-based employee benefits/stipends platform that lets employers offer personalized lifestyle benefits via flexible Lifestyle Spending Accounts. Highly comparable to HQ's Cafeteria HQ in concept (selection-type benefits with personalization), though operates in US market — useful as a comparable business model and product reference for HQ's international trajectory.
• Compt: US-based employee benefits platform providing personalized lifestyle benefits and stipends via a single platform with employer dashboards. Closely comparable to HQ's selection-type cafeteria and remote work stipend offerings in product concept and target buyer (HR teams at mid-large enterprises).
• Perks (Welfan / Wellness / Japanese perks platforms): Japanese employee perks and benefits platform serving SMEs and mid-market companies. Directly competes with HQ's Cafeteria HQ and Tokutoku HQ at smaller end of enterprise market.

Emerging players

• SmartHR: Leading Japanese cloud HRIS/HR-tech company serving thousands of mid-to-large Japanese enterprises with employee data and onboarding workflows. Both a customer and a potential platform competitor — SmartHR could expand from HRIS into benefits administration, threatening HQ's positioning.
• Pleo: European spend management and employee expense platform with corporate cards and reimbursements workflows. Comparable to HQ's Visa-based Meal Assistance HQ and expense verification features (AI-OCR for receipts).
• Deel: Global HR and payroll platform increasingly expanding into benefits, equity, and contractor management. Relevant adjacent comparison as a rapidly scaling HR-tech platform that has built platform breadth across HR-adjacent categories, similar to HQ's expansion strategy.

Regional players

• Ben (employee benefits): Employee benefits platform and corporate welfare solutions provider focused on Japanese market. Comparable in cafeteria-style benefits delivery and enterprise customer profile, though with more traditional (non-AI-driven) product positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors10 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HQ