What Inspire High does

Inspire High is a Japan-based EdTech company that operates an online learning platform for middle and high school students (ages 10-19) centered on inquiry-based learning (探究学習). The platform delivers three core product experiences: Session (approximately 50 professionally produced video sessions featuring scientists, UN officials, entrepreneurs, and other adult mentors from 15 countries, structured in a 4-step framework); Project (a 13-module inquiry workflow that auto-generates slide-format student outputs); and Inspired100 (an annual program recognizing 100 student inquiries through a published yearbook). The platform additionally offers Inspire High English (a textbook-aligned English learning program launched April 2026), a cross-school feedback exchange network spanning all 31 Japanese prefectures (with 925,671 feedback exchanges recorded), and a proprietary Well-being Assessment tool supervised by Professor Takashi Maeno of Keio University.

The company generates revenue primarily through annual B2B2C subscription contracts with Japanese schools (site or per-student licensing), with secondary individual student access. Go-to-market combines direct sales to school administrators, frequent teacher-facing webinars and seminars, content marketing through case studies, and community-driven referrals within the Japanese education sector. Approximately 11-50 employees support the platform, which claims to have reached 70,000+ students worldwide, and a pre/post survey of 2,118 students reported 88.1% felt Inspire High helped them discover values and future goals.

The company is headquartered in Tokyo (founded November 2019, spun off from CINRA by CEO Taichi Sugiura), operates a US subsidiary in Palo Alto (established August 2025), and holds seven international and domestic awards including the METI Minister's Award at e-Learning Awards 2021, HundrED Global Collection 2023 and 2025, and Forbes Japan NEXT 100. In November 2025, Inspire High entered a capital and business alliance with TBS Holdings and was selected as a demonstration partner for MEXT's generative AI in education research project.

Name

Inspire High

Legal name

株式会社Inspire High

Website

https://inspirehigh.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Inspire High operates a B2B2C online learning platform for Japanese middle and high schools that delivers inquiry-based learning experiences featuring global adult mentors, structured inquiry workflows, cross-school feedback networks, and English-language curriculum across all 31 Japanese prefectures.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Inquiry-Based Learning Platform

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Project-Based/Inquiry-Based Learning (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Assessments, Quizzes & Learning Analytics Tools (MPACALAK)

Keywords

• Online learning platform
• Inquiry-based learning
• Video learning sessions
• School subscription platform
• Cross-school feedback exchange

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. School Subscription (B2B2C): Inspire High generates revenue primarily through annual subscription contracts with middle and high schools in Japan. Schools purchase licenses for their students (aged 10–19) to access the platform. The subscription model is school-wide, with pricing based on the number of students or a site license. Schools can use Inspire High as a full inquiry learning curriculum or as supplementary material alongside existing programs.
2. Individual Student Access: The platform also accepts individual student users (aged 10–19), though the primary commercial model is through school subscriptions. Individual access may be used when a student's school has not yet adopted the platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Inspire High provides a web-based inquiry-based learning platform for Japanese middle and high schools, structured around three core programs: Session (video-based learning with 50+ global mentors from 15 countries), Project (a 13-module inquiry workflow that auto-generates slide outputs), and Inspired100 (an annual recognition program compiling 100 student inquiries). Schools subscribe annually to access the platform and use it as either a full inquiry curriculum or supplementary material alongside existing programs.

Product overview

Inspire High is an EdTech platform for Japanese middle and high school students providing three interconnected core programs: Session (video-based learning with global mentors), Project (structured inquiry-based learning with auto-generated outputs), and Inspired100 (inquiry recognition program). Add-on modules include Inspire High English (textbook-aligned English learning) and Study Trip Pre-departure Learning Sessions. The platform also offers a Well-being Assessment tool, seminars/events for teachers, and downloadable materials. The system enables nationwide student interaction through feedback exchanges, with approximately 925,671 feedback messages exchanged to date.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Inspire High English: English language learning program launched in April 2026, featuring global adults' authentic English for Japanese middle and high school students, aligned with major English textbooks.
• Inspired100
• Inspired100 探究発表会

Products and services

• Session Video-based learning experience featuring approximately 50 videos of global 'guides' — scientists, UN officials, TV directors, astronauts, and other world changemakers — sharing their life stories, values, and perspectives. Each session is approximately 40 minutes and follows a 4-step program structure: guide talk, output, feedback, and reflection. Designed for Japanese middle and high school students via school subscriptions.
• Project Inquiry-based learning program with 5 steps across 13 modules guiding students from finding their question, deepening inquiry, taking action, and reflecting on future study directions. Automatically generates slide-format output as students progress through steps, reducing teacher workload on formatting and allowing focus on content.
• Inspired100 Annual recognition program compiling 100 teenager inquiries across Japan into a yearbook. Entries are judged by companies and guide mentors, with feedback provided to selected students. The 2026 cycle attracted approximately 8,400 entries (3.4x increase from prior year). Functions as both a community-building engine and a recognition/output vehicle for participating schools.
• Inspire High English English language learning program featuring 'live English' from global adult guides. Aligned with major Japanese English textbooks for grades 7-12. Includes listening, vocabulary, shadowing, and writing exercises, each usable in 10-minute increments, with bilingual subtitles and adjustable playback speed.
• Study Trip Pre-departure Learning Sessions Six video sessions designed for pre-departure learning before school trips, covering destinations including Okinawa, Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara. Features travel writers, historians, and cultural practitioners sharing location-specific context and perspectives to prepare students.
• Well-being Assessment Assessment tool measuring student well-being across three dimensions: connection to self, connection to others, and connection to society. Developed with reference to OECD and WHO research and supervised by Professor Takashi Maeno of Keio University, a leading well-being researcher in Japan.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88.1% of students felt Inspire High helped them discover their values and future goals (pre/post survey, April 2024–February 2025, n=2,118)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• TBSホールディングス (TBS Holdings)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2025Inspire High entered a capital and business partnership with TBS Holdings to jointly develop educational content and promote sales and marketing collaboration. The partnership leverages TBS's media capabilities and Inspire High's inquiry learning platform. TBS's Edutainment division (established July 2025) is integrating generative AI services with Inspire High's program. Inspire High previously received investment from TBS Innovation Partners Fund No. 3 in 2023, which led to this deepened partnership.
• 文部科学省 (MEXT — Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2025Inspire High was selected as a demonstration partner for MEXT's generative AI research project '実証研究事業' (Evidence-based Research Project) focused on solving educational challenges through education-specific generative AI. Inspire High supports TBS HD's participation in this government-commissioned initiative, which integrates generative AI into inquiry learning to support students in developing research questions.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Outschool: Online marketplace for live small-group classes taught by independent educators, serving K-12 students globally. Comparable to Inspire High in offering diverse expert-led online learning experiences for school-age students, though Outschool operates consumer-direct rather than through school B2B sales.
• Atama Plus: Japan-based EdTech company providing AI-powered adaptive learning for K-12 students, primarily through cram schools and direct-to-consumer. Comparable to Inspire High as a Japanese K-12 learning platform pursuing school and student adoption, though focused on academic subject tutoring rather than inquiry-based learning.
• ClassDojo: Global K-12 communication and learning platform used by teachers and students in over 180 countries. Comparable to Inspire High in targeting schools with content + community features, though ClassDojo focuses on classroom management and communication rather than inquiry-based mentor content.
• TED-Ed: TED's educational video platform featuring creator-led lessons from global experts on diverse topics. Comparable to Inspire High's Session feature — professionally produced video content featuring global experts for student learning — though TED-Ed lacks the structured inquiry workflow and cross-school community layer.
• Newsela: K-12 content platform providing leveled reading, video, and assessment materials aligned to curriculum standards. Comparable to Inspire High in selling curriculum-aligned digital content to schools and measuring learning outcomes, though Newsela focuses on literacy/content rather than inquiry projects.

Broad incumbents

• Khan Academy: Global non-profit providing free K-12 video lessons, practice exercises, and teacher tools across all subjects. Comparable to Inspire High as a curated video library with global reach serving schools, though Khan Academy covers academic subjects comprehensively while Inspire High focuses on inquiry/mentor content.
• Quizlet: Global learning platform with study tools, practice tests, and content used by K-12 and higher education students. Comparable to Inspire High as a widely adopted digital learning platform, though Quizlet focuses on study tools and content mastery rather than inquiry-based mentor-led learning.
• Discovery Education: Large established K-12 digital content provider offering videos, lesson plans, and assessment tools to schools globally. Comparable to Inspire High as a school-delivered video content platform, but operates at much larger scale with broader subject coverage and English-first content.
• StudySapuri (Benesse): Japan's leading online tutoring and learning platform operated by Benesse Corporation, serving K-12 and university students. Comparable to Inspire High as a major Japanese EdTech player serving schools and students, though focused on supplemental academic tutoring rather than inquiry-based learning.

Regional players

• Global Step Academy: Japan-based online English language education provider for K-12 students featuring native English-speaking instructors. Comparable to Inspire High as a Japan-focused K-12 platform with English-language learning features and global mentor-style content, though specializing exclusively in English education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/inspirehigh
• Instagraminstagram.com/inspire_high
• Xx.com/inspirehigh_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors6 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 Inspire High