Kenzo

What Kenzo does

KENZO Corporation (株式会社KENZO) is a Japanese vertical SaaS company founded in February 2020 and headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, that builds Construction PAD (建設PAD), a cloud-based electronic transaction platform purpose-built for the Japanese construction industry. The platform digitizes the full back-office workflow between general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers — covering contracts, purchase orders, and invoices — with legally compliant electronic contracts (timestamped via Seiko Solutions), JIIMA-certified electronic records under the Electronic Bookkeeping Act, and Invoice system compliance. Construction PAD serves as the entry point, complemented by a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) service that places KENZO engineers on-site at client offices to implement Microsoft 365 tools and a proprietary zero-cost low-code platform called OUKAGAI (based on Pleasanter).

The company has extended into AI Solutions, offering a portfolio of domain-specialized applications: an AI rough estimation app that reduces cost variance from ±15% to ±5% using historical project data, a construction achievement management system with schedule and risk prediction, a work plan generator, a PDF diff checker, and a building code compliance checker. KENZO also runs tiered generative AI training programs for construction professionals and operates an internal M&A business succession matchmaking service. The go-to-market blends self-serve cloud access, direct enterprise sales (anchored by a strategic IP partnership with Toda Corporation), trade show presence (CSPI-EXPO, Japan Build, Hokkaido and Kyushu exhibitions), and government-subsidy channeling via repeated IT Introduction Subsidy support operator approvals (2023, 2025, 2026 AI subsidy).

KENZO is venture-backed with ¥240M (~$1.6M) in cumulative pre-Series A funding from Saison Ventures, Coconala Skill Partners, GOLDEN EGG Ventures, and UNITED, supported by ¥323M in stated capital. The platform had over 1,500 registered companies as of March 2023, and the company operates regional offices in Sapporo, Kitakyushu, and Naha alongside its Tokyo headquarters. The business model spans SaaS subscriptions, transaction fees on Settlement DX, FDE professional services, AI training program fees, and M&A matchmaking fees.

Name

Kenzo

Legal name

株式会社KENZO

Website

https://kenzo.tech

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KENZO is a Japanese vertical SaaS company that provides Construction PAD, a cloud-based electronic transaction platform for managing contracts, purchase orders, and invoices for SMB construction companies and general contractors, supplemented by AI construction tools and on-site DX support services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Back-Office Software

NAICS

Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) & Document Generation/Templating (HDAEAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) & Document Automation (BPAEAPAD), Construction & Engineering ERP (Job Costing, Project Controls) (HDAEAEAE)

Keywords

• Construction back-office software
• Electronic contract platform
• Procurement management software
• Construction DX solutions
• Invoice management system

Headquarters

HQ city

Minami-aoyama

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 建設PAD SaaS Subscription: Monthly/annual subscription fees for cloud-based procurement, ordering, and invoicing platform. Users pay for platform access to manage contracts, purchase orders, and invoices electronically, reducing stamp duty and paper costs.
2. 建設PAD決済DX (Payment Processing): Transaction-based payment processing fees for DX payment features integrated into the platform, charging per transaction processed.
3. 建設業界特化型 M&A事業継承サービス: M&A matchmaking service for construction companies facing successor shortages; fee-based matching between buyers and sellers of construction businesses.
4. 建設FDE (Forward Deployed Engineer) DX Services: On-site IT/DX consulting and implementation services; KENZO engineers stationed at client offices to guide digital transformation with tools like Microsoft 365 and OUKAGAI.
5. 生成AI研修プログラム: Tiered AI training programs (beginner, intermediate, advanced) for construction company employees covering generative AI tools and construction-specific applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

KENZO operates 建設PAD (Construction PAD), a cloud-based BtoB electronic transaction platform for the Japanese construction industry that manages the complete lifecycle of contracts, purchase orders, and invoices digitally, eliminating stamp duty costs and paper-based processes. The platform is JIIMA-certified (No. 614800-00) for compliance with Japan's Electronic Books Preservation Law and uses Seiko Solutions timestamps for Electronic Contract Act compliance. KENZO complements the SaaS with an AI Solution suite for construction estimation, work plan generation, and regulatory compliance, plus an on-site FDE (Forward Deployed Engineer) DX support service and a construction-industry M&A/business succession matching service.

Product overview

KENZO offers a unified product portfolio centered on 建設PAD (Construction PAD), a cloud-based electronic transaction platform for the construction industry, supplemented by AI solutions and on-site DX support services. 建設PAD serves as the core platform for managing contracts, purchase orders, and invoices digitally, while AIソリューション provides specialized AI applications (工事実績管理システム, 建築概算見積アプリ, 工事施工計画書作成アプリ, PDF差分チェックアプリ, 建築法規チェックアプリ) and training programs. 建設FDE (Forward Deployed Engineer) provides on-site IT support that complements the software products by ensuring adoption and optimization at client sites. The company also offers construction industry-specific M&A succession services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 建設PAD (Construction PAD) Cloud-based BtoB e-commerce and electronic transaction platform for the Japanese construction industry that manages the complete lifecycle of contracts, purchase orders, and invoices digitally. Enables paperless operations and stamp duty savings while ensuring compliance with Japan's Electronic Contract Law and Electronic Books Preservation Law. Used by general contractors, specialty contractors, and civil engineering firms.
• AIソリューション (AI Solution Suite) Comprehensive AI solution suite for the construction industry, including specialized AI applications for construction operations (estimation, work plan generation, PDF diff checking, building code compliance) and tiered generative AI training programs for construction employees.
• 建設FDE (Construction Forward Deployed Engineer) On-site IT/DX support service where KENZO engineers work directly at client offices, providing hands-on guidance for digital transformation in construction companies, including Microsoft 365 (Forms, SharePoint, Power Automate, Power BI) implementation, OUKAGAI deployment, usage training, and ongoing optimization support.
• 生成AI研修プログラム (Generative AI Training Program) Construction industry-specific generative AI training program with three tiers: Beginner (basic AI knowledge and tool usage), Intermediate (industry-specific applications for estimation, schedule management, quality control), and Advanced (custom AI model building, API integration, data analysis, and organizational AI strategy).
• 建設業界特化型M&A事業承継サービス (Construction M&A and Business Succession Service) M&A and business succession matching service specialized for construction companies, targeting small-to-medium construction businesses facing succession challenges due to lack of successors. Operated through an internal M&A division headed by Nose Koji (野坂幸司).
• OUKAGAI (ローコード基盤) Pleasanter-based open-source low-code platform customized by KENZO for the construction industry, offering zero license cost and unlimited users for building custom business applications such as daily reports, leave requests, check sheets, and approval workflows.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,500 registered construction companies on the platform
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability8 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 株式会社エビーシーエスエス (ABKSES)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 October 2025Construction PAD featured on ABKSES's official website as a recommended construction-industry cloud-based electronic transaction platform compliant with electronic bookkeeping and construction laws.
• 福井コンピュータースマート株式会社 (FC Apps Direct)coreTechnology or Integration · 10 October 2025Construction PAD is featured on FC Apps Direct, Fukui Computer Smart's construction-industry-specific service platform. KENZO's CEO also appeared on a webinar hosted by Fukui Computer Smart discussing AI-powered Construction PAD features for construction transaction efficiency.
• 戸田建設株式会社coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2024Strategic collaboration announced October 2024 where KENZO utilizes Toda Corporation's intellectual property to develop a new recommend matching system. The system aims to further enhance the value proposition of Construction PAD and create new services for the construction industry.
• 蜂谷工業株式会社minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 May 2024Co-exhibited at CSPI-EXPO 2024 with KENZO, jointly showcasing KENZO's Construction PAD alongside蜂谷工業's削孔Palette product. Collaborative presence at major construction industry trade show in Chiba.
• 戸田建設株式会社 ( speakers at KENZO Reception)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2024Saito Hiroaki from Toda Corporation presented at the 2nd KENZO Reception on construction site IT adoption. This speaker engagement deepened the relationship between KENZO and Toda Corporation, eventually leading to the IP collaboration announced in October 2024.
• 大高建設minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 December 2023Presented at the 1st KENZO Reception in December 2023, sharing insights on construction DX challenges and opportunities. Active participant in KENZO's industry community events.
• CeSSA (クラウド型電子署名サービス協議会)minorOthers · 1 April 2023Joined as a regular member (正会員) from April 2023. CeSSA is a national organization for cloud-based electronic signature service providers, working to promote awareness and adoption of cloud-based electronic signatures as an alternative to traditional stamps and signatures.
• セイucoーソリューションズ株式会社 (Seiko Solutions)coreTechnology or IntegrationSeiko Solutions provides the timestamp service used in Construction PAD's electronic contracts, ensuring compliance with Japan's Electronic Contract Act. The timestamp is embedded in every electronic contract and purchase order generated on the platform.
• Microsoft Japan (Microsoft 365)coreTechnology or IntegrationConstruction PAD's FDE (Forward Deployed Engineer) service utilizes Microsoft 365 tools (Forms, SharePoint, Power Automate, Power BI) to help construction companies digitize workflows. KENZO builds custom solutions using these tools at client sites.
• 北海道土木・建築未来技術展実行委員会minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organizer/exhibitor at the Hokkaido Civil Engineering and Architecture Future Technology Exhibition (annual event in Sapporo), used as a customer acquisition and brand awareness channel for KENZO's Construction PAD in the Hokkaido region.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ANDPAD: ANDPAD is Japan's largest construction industry SaaS platform, providing project management, ordering, and field collaboration tools for general contractors and subcontractors. It is the most direct competitive comparable to KENZO's Construction PAD, though ANDPAD is broader in scope and significantly more mature.
• Infomart: Infomart operates B2B electronic ordering and invoicing platforms (BtoBプラットフォーム) across multiple verticals including food service and manufacturing. Its core B2B e-commerce model is structurally analogous to Construction PAD's contract/order/invoice workflow, and it represents the most proven electronic-transaction SaaS playbook in Japan.
• SpiderPlus: SpiderPlus provides construction site management and inspection SaaS, including drawing management and field reporting. It targets similar SMB-to-mid-market Japanese contractors and overlaps with KENZO's Construction PAD workflow around site-to-back-office digitization.
• Kensetsu Dot Web (建設ドットウェブ): Kensetsu Dot Web runs a construction industry procurement matching platform that connects general contractors with subcontractors and suppliers. It is a comparable electronic procurement platform serving the same SMB construction segment in Japan.

Broad incumbents

• Fukui Computer (福井コンピュータ): Fukui Computer is the leading Japanese provider of construction-industry CAD and ERP software. KENZO's Construction PAD is distributed via Fukui Computer's FC Apps Direct marketplace, making Fukui both a partner and a broad incumbent that could expand into adjacent contract/invoice automation.
• freee K.K. freee offers cloud accounting and HR/payroll SaaS in Japan with industry-specific verticals including construction. As a much larger, well-funded cloud finance platform, it represents the broader incumbent that could expand down-market into Construction PAD's invoicing/compliance territory.
• Money Forward: Money Forward provides cloud accounting, payroll, and back-office SaaS to Japanese SMBs including construction firms. Its Money Forward Cloud suite overlaps with Construction PAD's invoice and contract management functionality from a finance-first rather than industry-first angle.

Regional players

• IERABU (いえらぶ): IERABU provides real estate and housing industry digital platforms primarily in Japan's Okinawa and Kyushu regions. KENZO also operates in Okinawa/Naha and Kyushu, and IERABU's vertical SaaS approach to adjacent construction-adjacent workflows makes it a regional comparable.

Others

• Cybozu (サイボウズ): Cybozu's kintone low-code platform is the underlying technology that KENZO customizes for its OUKAGAI construction workflow product. As a broader workflow and collaboration incumbent, Cybozu could expand vertical-specific construction templates that compete with OUKAGAI.

Emerging players

• Buildoo (ビルドール): Buildoo operates a construction industry procurement and ordering platform for SMB contractors in Japan, with overlapping order management and digital transaction functionality to Construction PAD. It is a smaller emerging player in the same niche.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KENZO_constdx

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors4 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 Kenzo