Hajimari

What Hajimari does

Hajimari is a privately-held Japanese HR tech and freelance talent marketplace company headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, founded in February 2015 by Naoto Kimura (originally as IT Pro Partners, rebranded to Hajimari in April 2020). The company operates a multi-brand portfolio centered on its "Pro Partners" matching series — IT Pro Partners, HR Pro Partners, Marketing Pro Partners, Finance Pro Partners, and Mentor Pro Partners — which collectively connect companies with domain-specialized freelance professionals. As of its 10th anniversary year (2025), the platform serves approximately 100,000 registered freelancers and 4,000+ client companies across Japan.

The technology stack combines traditional marketplace matching with newer AI-driven capabilities. The flagship SokuPRO人事 product, launched in June 2026, uses conversational AI trained on 20+ years of recruiter tacit knowledge to interview enterprise HR challenges and match candidates from a database of 10,000+ HR freelancers, with candidates proposed within three days. Supporting services include HR University (B2B e-learning subscription platform), intee (first-career support for graduates), TUKURUS (regional IT talent development with a Nagano satellite office), Freelance Job (job portal), and TechFeed (IT engineer media, acquired in January 2026 as the company's first M&A transaction).

The business model spans multiple revenue streams: transaction-based marketplace commissions on successful freelancer placements across the Pro Partners series, recurring subscription revenue from HR University, advertising/monetization from TechFeed media, and professional services fees from intee. Go-to-market combines product-led matching platforms with direct enterprise field sales, supplemented by large-scale industry events (HR EXHIBITION, HR LEADERS CONFERENCE) and earned media across major Japanese outlets (NHK, Nikkei, Asahi). The company has set a BHAG of ¥100 billion in revenue by 2035 and has been included in the FT/Statista High-Growth Companies Asia-Pacific ranking for three consecutive years (2024–2026).

Name

Hajimari

Legal name

株式会社Hajimari

Website

https://hajimari.inc

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hajimari is a Japanese multi-brand freelance talent matching marketplace operating Pro Partners series across IT, HR, marketing, finance, and mentorship, serving 4,000+ client companies and 100,000 freelancers with AI-powered matching and enterprise e-learning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Freelance Marketplace

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Data, AI/ML & Analytics Staffing (BPACADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entrepreneurship & Freelance Employability (Self-Employment Readiness) (EDAAAKAM), Recruiting Administration Outsourcing (Recruitment Support, Scheduling, Onboarding Ops) (BPACAKAG)

Keywords

• Online freelance marketplace
• AI HR matching
• Freelance talent platform
• Corporate HR e-learning
• Contingent workforce staffing

Headquarters

HQ city

Shibuya

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Freelance Matching Marketplace Commissions: Hajimari operates the 'プロパートナーズ (ProPartners)' series — a portfolio of matching platforms connecting freelance professionals (IT, HR, marketing, finance, mentoring) with companies. The company earns commissions/transaction fees from successful freelancer-company placements. Revenue is transactional and recurring as companies re-engage freelancers.
2. HR University E-learning Subscriptions: A subscription-based e-learning platform for corporate HR and management training. Offers short-video courses, skill mapping tools, behavior change surveys, and group training packages for enterprise clients. Revenue is recurring via annual/subscription contracts.
3. TechFeed - IT Engineer Media: IT engineer-focused information media platform providing news and content for IT professionals. Revenue generated through content/audience monetization.
4. intee - First Career Support Platform: Fresh graduate career support service helping students and companies connect for recruitment. Revenue model tied to corporate recruitment services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hajimari operates multiple online freelance talent marketplaces under the "Pro Partners" brand (IT Pro Partners, HR Pro Partners, Marketing Pro Partners, Finance Pro Partners, and Mentor Pro Partners) that connect Japanese companies with vetted freelance professionals across IT engineering, human resources, marketing, finance, and executive mentorship. Complementing the marketplaces, the company provides an AI-powered HR staffing matching service (SokuPRO人事), a corporate HR e-learning subscription platform (HR University), a new-graduate first-career support platform (intee), a regional revitalization initiative (TUKURUS), a freelance job board (Freelance Job), and the recently acquired IT engineer media property (TechFeed).

Product overview

Hajimari operates a multi-brand freelance talent matching platform portfolio built around its core 'Pro Partners' series, which provides domain-specific matching services across IT (IT Pro Partners), HR (HR Pro Partners), marketing (Marketing Pro Partners), finance (Finance Pro Partners), and executive mentorship (Mentor Pro Partners). This core matching business is complemented by a job-search portal (Freelance Job), a first-career guidance service (intee), a regional development and developer support service (TUKURUS), and an AI-powered instant HR staffing product (SokuPRO人事). Supporting the talent ecosystem, Hajimari also operates an HR e-learning platform (HR University) and an IT engineer media platform (TechFeed, acquired in 2026). The portfolio spans the full freelancer lifecycle from career discovery through professional placement, upskilling, and information resource.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IT Pro Partners (ITプロパートナーズ) Online freelance talent marketplace specializing in IT engineers, developers, and technical specialists, connecting Japanese companies with vetted freelance technology professionals for project-based or augmentative engagements. Targets IT departments, engineering managers, and CTOs at mid-market and enterprise companies.
• HR Pro Partners (人事プロパートナーズ) Online freelance talent marketplace focused on HR specialists, HR leaders, and HR professionals, enabling Japanese companies to engage fractional or interim HR talent for transformation, restructuring, or specialized projects. Targets CHROs, HR directors, and HR business partners.
• Marketing Pro Partners (マーケティングプロパートナーズ) Online freelance talent marketplace for marketing professionals, growth marketers, brand strategists, and creative specialists, supporting Japanese companies in campaign, growth, and digital transformation projects. Targets CMOs, marketing directors, and growth leads.
• Finance Pro Partners (ファイナンスプロパートナーズ) Online freelance talent marketplace for finance specialists, fractional CFOs, controllers, and finance professionals, supporting Japanese companies with interim finance leadership and finance transformation engagements. Targets CFOs, finance directors, and founders.
• Mentor Pro Partners (メンタープロパートナーズ) Online marketplace for executive mentorship and advisory engagements, pairing executives and founders with senior mentors. Targets Japanese executives, founders, and senior leaders seeking experienced advisors.
• SokuPRO人事 (即プロ人事) AI-powered HR staffing service that uses conversational matching to connect Japanese companies with freelance HR professionals quickly. Targets HR departments needing rapid access to vetted HR talent.
• HR University Subscription e-learning platform providing structured training for in-house HR teams on recruitment, evaluation systems, compensation, and labor management. Targets Japanese enterprises investing in HR team capability uplift.
• intee Online platform that supports new graduates in identifying and securing their first career role, including career assessment, job matching, and first-job support resources. Targets Japanese new graduates entering the workforce.
• TUKURUS Regional revitalization initiative and platform connecting regional employers and job seekers with talent and economic development support. Targets Japanese regional employers, municipalities, and workers seeking regional opportunities.
• Freelance Job (フリーランスジョブ) Online job board aggregating freelance job opportunities across multiple professional domains for Japanese freelancers and employers. Targets Japanese freelance professionals and the companies that hire them.
• TechFeed Media platform covering IT engineer news, technical content, and information for the Japanese IT engineering community, acquired by Hajimari to extend reach into the IT engineer audience. Targets Japanese IT engineers and the broader developer community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rapid HR freelancer deployment: matched candidates proposed within 3 days of AI consultation completion
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PeopleXcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2026PeopleX is a co-host of the HR LEADERS CONFERENCE 2026 alongside Hajimari and Leading Mark. PeopleX develops AI-powered HR products including AI interview and HR agentic platforms. The three companies co-host the conference to bring together HR leaders for learning and networking.
• Leading Mark (株式会社リーディングマーク)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2026Leading Mark co-hosts the HR LEADERS CONFERENCE 2026 with Hajimari and PeopleX. Leading Mark provides 'Personality Tech' HR services including the Mikiwame AI aptitude test and wellness survey products. The partnership combines HR matching, AI HR tech, and personality analytics for comprehensive HR solutions.
• TechFeed (テックフィード)coreOthers · 14 January 2026Hajimari completed its first M&A transaction, acquiring 100% of TechFeed's shares. TechFeed operates an IT engineer-focused information media platform. This acquisition strengthens Hajimari's content offering and audience reach among IT professionals, enabling more comprehensive support for IT engineers.
• PCA士業コンソーシアム (PCA Professional Services Consortium)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 August 2025Hajimari's HR University was recognized as a certified 'supporting enterprise' of the PCA Professional Services Consortium, a network of tax accountants, social insurance specialists, and small-to-medium business consultants. The partnership allows consortium members to recommend HR University as a talent development tool to their client companies.
• YOUTRUSTminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 July 2025YOUTRUST partnered with Hajimari on a CxO recruitment webinar titled '事業を託せる「右腕」と出会えるCxO採用戦略'. YOUTRUST has supported over 1,500 companies with hiring. The joint webinar shared strategies for recruiting C-suite and executive talent even for lesser-known companies.
• yup (Yup Corporation)minorOthers · 21 May 2020yup provides an instant payment service ('先払い') allowing freelancers to receive their fees on the same day they invoice, rather than waiting for standard payment cycles. Hajimari partnered with yup to offer this as part of its IT Pro Partners Total Support package. Freelancers using Hajimari's platform receive free first-time usage of yup's service and discounted subsequent usage.
• CBAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHajimari partnered with CBA on a joint project launching a 'generation AI × recruitment marketing' practical support program for 20 selected companies. CBA provides recruitment marketing expertise while Hajimari contributes its freelancer matching capabilities. The 2-month program offers practical recruitment marketing support free of charge to participating companies.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lancers: One of Japan's largest freelance and crowdsourcing marketplaces, connecting companies with freelance professionals across IT, creative, and business tasks. Most direct comparable to Hajimari's Pro Partners portfolio of freelance matching services.
• Pe-Bank: Japanese IT freelance matching platform focused on registered engineer placements with contract and project-based engagements. Closely comparable to Hajimari's IT freelance matching business in scope and customer base.
• CrowdWorks: Japan's leading crowdsourcing platform matching enterprises with freelance talent for IT, design, writing, and business tasks. Direct competitor to Hajimari's IT Pro Partners and Marketing Pro Partners services in the Japanese market.
• Midworks: Japan-based IT freelance matching platform specializing in engineer and developer placement with mid-to-long-term project engagements. Highly comparable to Hajimari's IT Pro Partners in target customer and freelancer profile.
• Wantedly: Japan-based talent platform connecting companies with prospective employees through company profile storytelling and direct scouting. Comparable to Hajimari's intee recruitment and HR Pro Partners in targeting Japanese enterprises seeking talent.

Broad incumbents

• Upwork: Global freelance marketplace connecting businesses with independent professionals across software development, design, marketing, and consulting. Comparable to Hajimari's multi-domain freelance matching model, though at much larger global scale.
• BizReach: Japan's leading high-class talent and HR tech platform, operating job matching for experienced professionals and direct recruiting services. Comparable to Hajimari's HR Pro Partners and broader HR tech ambitions, though at significantly larger scale.

Emerging players

• PeopleX: Japan-based AI HR tech company developing AI interview and HR agentic platforms. Co-hosts HR LEADERS CONFERENCE 2026 with Hajimari, indicating ecosystem overlap and partial product overlap in AI-driven HR automation.
• YOUTRUST: Japan-based referral-based talent platform supporting over 1,500 companies with hiring. Partners with Hajimari on CxO recruitment webinars; comparable in targeting Japanese mid-market companies seeking executive and professional talent.
• SmartHR: Japan-based HR tech company providing cloud-based HR and labor management software for SMBs. Comparable to Hajimari's HR University and HR Pro Partners in addressing Japanese enterprise HR needs through technology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Hajimari_recruit
• Instagraminstagram.com/hajimari_recruit?igsh=Z3hwZGJnNjN1MXU2
• Xx.com/hajimariinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/Hajimari.Co.Ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

M&A1 record

Investments2 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Hajimari