Globee

What Globee does

Globee Inc. (株式会社Globee) is a Tokyo-headquartered Japanese edtech company that builds and operates the AI-powered English learning application abceed, and derived institutional and coaching products on top of it. The core platform combines mobile delivery (iOS/Android), a catalog of English-dubbed entertainment content (anime such as Lupin III and Dandadan, and Hollywood and Japanese films from Paramount Pictures and Gaga Corporation), voice streaming with dictation exercises, automated mark sheet grading, and a recommendation engine intended to optimize per-user study time. The company serves three customer layers: (1) individual English learners via the freemium consumer app, which had reached approximately 3 million users by December 2022; (2) Japanese junior high schools, high schools, and corporate enterprises through abceed for school, a flipped-learning management platform with 200+ teaching materials, assignment creation, progress analytics, and chat features; and (3) premium consumers through ABCEED ENGLISH, an AI-augmented English coaching school.

The company monetizes primarily through recurring subscriptions: an individual Pro membership tier offering unlimited anime and film streaming, institutional B2B subscriptions via abceed for school, and premium coaching fees from ABCEED ENGLISH. Distribution is multi-channel: direct app-store acquisition, an embedded partnership with DMM (abceed for DMM, launched July 1, 2025), and direct B2B sales into schools and enterprises. Globee has been public since its June 14, 2023 listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market (ticker 5575), was founded June 12, 2014 by Ken Saburo Ikushima, and as of April 2023 had 48 employees including temporary and contract staff. The company also maintains a CTO (Ikushima joined-2017 hire with University of Tokyo graduate background) and a CFO with prior investment banking experience (Yusuke Sashida, appointed December 2020). Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed per the source material, though operating profitability has shifted to positive territory from 2022 onward.

Name

Globee

Legal name

株式会社Globee

Website

https://globee.io

Company type

Public

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Globee (TSE Growth: 5575) operates abceed, an AI-powered English learning app with 3 million users, plus abceed for school for Japanese institutions and the ABCEED ENGLISH coaching school, monetizing via subscriptions augmented by Hollywood and anime content licensing partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

AI Language Learning Software

NAICS

Language Schools (611630), Software Publishers (5132), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Language Learning Apps & Self-Study Platforms (EDAFAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate & Workforce Language Training Platforms (EDAFAOAJ), Online Language Learning Platforms (Self-Paced) (EDAMAFAC), General Language Tutoring (Conversation & Fluency) (EDANACAA), Online Learning Content & Course Publishing Platforms (BPAMAJAL)

Keywords

• AI English learning
• Language learning software
• Mobile learning apps
• Flipped learning platform
• English coaching services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. abceed Subscription (Individual): Subscription-based revenue from individual users accessing AI English learning app abceed. Pro membership provides unlimited access to anime and movie content with English dubbing. Subscription auto-renews unless cancelled.
2. abceed for school: B2B subscription revenue from educational institutions and enterprises. Provides learning management tools, progress tracking, and assignment creation for managing student/employee English learning programs.
3. ABCEED ENGLISH: English coaching school with high-performance coaching services, operating as a separate premium service offering.
4. Content Partnership (abceed for DMM): Revenue from DMM partnership providing access to abceed content through DMM platform, integrating entertainment content (movies, dramas) for English learning purposes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Globee develops and operates "abceed," an AI-powered English learning mobile application used by approximately 3 million people, combining voice streaming, dictation, mark sheet grading, and personalized AI-driven study on iOS and Android. The company also sells "abceed for school," a B2B learning management platform with 200+ textbooks used by Japanese schools and enterprises to manage English instruction, and "ABCEED ENGLISH," an AI-powered high-performance English coaching school.

Product overview

Globee operates a multi-product AI English learning ecosystem centered on the AI English learning app abceed (3 million users). The portfolio includes abceed for school — a flipped learning management platform for educational institutions and enterprises with over 200 textbooks, assignment creation, progress tracking, and chat features — and ABCEED ENGLISH — an AI-powered English coaching school. The products share a unified AI technology layer and are sold through consumer subscriptions, institutional licensing, and coaching services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• abceed: AI English learning app with 3 million users, featuring content streaming from popular movies and anime for English learning.
• abceed for school
• ABCEED ENGLISH

Products and services

• abceed AI-powered English learning application serving approximately 3 million users, delivering personalized English study through audio, video content (including English-dubbed anime and films), mark sheet analysis, and adaptive learning features. Operates on iOS and Android platforms with subscription-based pricing for individual Japanese consumers.
• abceed for school Flipped learning management platform enabling schools and enterprises to create assignments from over 200 textbooks, monitor student learning time and progress, and manage learning outcomes through analysis and chat tools. Sold via B2B subscriptions to Japanese junior high schools, high schools, and corporate enterprises.
• ABCEED ENGLISH AI-powered English coaching school offering high-performance English learning instruction, positioned at industry-leading execution speed and effectiveness for individual professionals seeking premium outcomes.
• abceed for DMM Subscription plan version of abceed distributed through DMM, integrating DMM's premium movie and drama streaming content with English learning features for Japanese consumers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300万人が利用する英語学習アプリ - 3 million users by December 2022
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major.

• ギャガ (Gaga)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2025Gaga content distribution partnership including Green Book (グリーンブック) and other popular films. English learning content from major Japanese releases.
• DMMmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2025abceed for DMM partnership launched July 1, 2025. Integrates DMM's movie and drama streaming content (映画やドラマ) into the abceed platform for English learning. Users can access premium entertainment content through DMM plan.
• アニメ『ダンダン』制作委員会majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2025Dandan anime English dubbing collaboration. Pro members get full access to Season 1, Season 2 episodes update weekly from July 3. Content available starting July 1, 2025.
• Paramount PicturesmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 May 2025Mission: Impossible and Top Gun film series distribution for English learning. Special promotional pricing to celebrate Mission: Impossible Final Reckoning release. All 9 films available at special prices.
• アニメ『ルパン三世』制作委員会majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 2025Lupin III anime English dubbing distribution on abceed platform. Pro members get unlimited access to the series.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Duolingo: Global AI-driven language learning app with freemium model. Most comparable direct competitor in product category, target user (self-paced language learners), and mobile-first PLG distribution.
• Babbel: Subscription-based language learning platform with professionally produced content. Direct peer in B2C language learning subscription model and self-study positioning.
• Busuu: Language learning app with AI features and community-based practice. Comparable peer targeting adult self-paced learners with mobile subscription model.
• Speexx: Enterprise-focused language training platform with B2B workforce development offerings. Closest peer to Globee's 'abceed for school' corporate/enterprise channel.
• Cake (English learning app): Korea-origin language learning app using short video clips from real-world content. Closest peer to abceed's entertainment-content-driven learning approach.
• PROGRIT: Japanese English coaching school focused on high-performance business English training. Direct peer to ABCEED ENGLISH coaching product.
• VoiceTube: Taiwan-based English learning platform built around video content with subtitles and learning tools. Directly comparable entertainment-content-based language learning approach.

Regional players

• RareJob: Japanese online English conversation service focused on the Japan market with online lessons. Regional peer addressing the same Japanese English learner segment.

Broad incumbents

• Rosetta Stone: Established language learning incumbent with broad product portfolio including consumer subscriptions and enterprise solutions. Comparable across multiple customer segments though not entertainment-led.
• EF Education First: Global education company with English language training, corporate L&D, and online learning platforms. Broad incumbent with overlapping corporate/enterprise English training offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/globee_japan
• Facebookfacebook.com/globee.jp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/abceed

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Globee