HERALBONY
HERALBONY is a Japanese creative company that licenses artworks by 153+ contracted artists with intellectual disabilities to enterprise clients while operating a direct-to-consumer fashion brand and DE&I training academy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersNegoya, Japan
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What HERALBONY does
HERALBONY Co., Ltd. is a Japanese creative company founded in 2018 and headquartered in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, that commercializes artworks created by artists with intellectual disabilities through a three-pillar business model. The Brand Business sells art-licensed fashion, accessories, and lifestyle products directly to consumers via an owned online store, pop-up retail (including a permanent HERALBONY LABORATORY GINZA location and Sendai PARCO2 popups), and event-driven channels. The Collaboration Business licenses HERALBONY's art IP to enterprise partners for product design, branding, and co-creation, with named partners spanning JINS, JR East, Daikin, Sumitomo Shoji, LIXIL, Mitsui Fudosan, JAL, Marui Group, ABeam Consulting, Nomura Kougeisha, Sangetsu, Google, and Sanrio Entertainment. HERALBONY ACADEMY delivers experiential DE&I training to corporate clients at ¥40,000-¥150,000 per person, with team-building engagements priced at ¥1.5 million per program.
The company manages a proprietary library of over 2,000 art data assets contributed by 153+ contracted artists with intellectual disabilities, with documented royalty payments to creators forming a stated 'circulation' model. Supporting initiatives include the HERALBONY Art Prize (international award launched January 2024, with the 2026 edition receiving 2,943 submissions from 77 countries and 22 corporate sponsors), ROUTINE RECORDS (experimental music label), HERALBONY CLUB (membership with BONY point rewards), and the Beyond Blue Project (CSR initiative with Tokyo Metro, Azabudai Hills, Tokyo Tower, and Sekisui House).
The company operates from Morioka (HQ), Tokyo, and Paris (HERALBONY EUROPE, established July 2024 at Station F), is B Corp certified, and was the first Japanese finalist at the LVMH Innovation Award 2024 (Employee Experience & DE&I category winner). Funding to date consists of a single seed round in December 2023 led by MPower Partners, with co-investment from Kamakura Investment Management; amount undisclosed. The company is led by co-CEOs and co-founders Takaya Matsuda and Fumito Matsuda.
HERALBONY firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HERALBONY
- Legal name
- 株式会社ヘラルボニー / HERALBONY Co., Ltd.
- Website
- https://heralbony.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- HERALBONY is a Japanese creative company that licenses artworks by 153+ contracted artists with intellectual disabilities to enterprise clients while operating a direct-to-consumer fashion brand and DE&I training academy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HERALBONY industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Art IP Licensing & Inclusive Creative Brand
- NAICS
- Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) (533), Art Dealers (45992), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (7115), Graphic Design Services (54143)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Merchandising & D2C Management (Artists) (MPAIAGAI)
Keywords
Where HERALBONY is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Negoya
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
HERALBONY business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Others, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Brand Business (自社ブランド事業): HERALBONY operates its own brand 'HERALBONY', selling art-infused fashion products, accessories, and lifestyle goods through its online store and physical popup locations. Revenue is generated through direct product sales to consumers.
- Collaboration Business (コラボレーション事業): HERALBONY co-creates products, spaces, and digital experiences with enterprise partners using its proprietary art IP. Revenue is generated through licensing fees, co-production fees, and ongoing partnership arrangements with companies including JINS, JR East, Daikin, Sumitomo Shoji, LIXIL, and others.
- HERALBONY Academy (アカデミー事業): DE&I training programs delivered to enterprise clients as organizational training. Programs include DE&I workshops, team building training, and event programs. Revenue is generated through direct corporate sales of training programs priced per person or per engagement.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | FUNclusion Session — 4.5-hour introductory DE&I program |
| Other | Multi-year contract | DE&I 1Day Edition — Full-day DE&I training program |
| Other | Multi-year contract | DE&I Design 3Days — Three-day intensive DE&I program with facility visit |
| Other | Multi-year contract | ISAI BUILDING team building training — 4-hour team program |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels10 records
HERALBONY product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HERALBONY manages and licenses a proprietary library of more than 2,000 art data assets created by 153+ contracted artists with intellectual disabilities. The company operates three core business lines: (1) Brand Business selling art-infused fashion, accessories, and lifestyle goods through its own online store and physical retail, (2) Collaboration Business co-creating products, spaces, and digital experiences with enterprise partners under licensing and co-production agreements, and (3) HERALBONY ACADEMY providing DE&I training, team-building, and inclusive education programs to organizations.
Product overview
HERALBONY is a creative company that creates new culture together with artists who emit 'isai' (unique brilliance/difference). The company operates three core business lines: Brand Business (direct-to-consumer products featuring licensed art by artists with disabilities), Collaboration Business (B2B partnerships with corporations), and HERALBONY ACADEMY (DE&I training programs). Supporting initiatives include HERALBONY Art Prize (international art award for disabled artists), ROUTINE RECORDS (experimental music label), and HERALBONY CLUB (membership program). The company manages licensing for over 2,000 artworks by 150+ artists with disabilities, with a subsidiary HERALBONY EUROPE established in Paris in 2024.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- HERALBONY (Brand): Brand business segment that brings art to everyday life, creating a new culture through fashion and lifestyle products featuring art by artists with disabilities.
- Collaboration Business
- HERALBONY ACADEMY
- HERALBONY Art Prize
- ROUTINE RECORDS
- HERALBONY LABORATORY GINZA
- HERALBONY CLUB
- FUNclusion
Products and services
- HERALBONY Brand Business Brand business delivering art created by artists with disabilities to everyday life through fashion items, accessories, and lifestyle products sold via online store and physical retail. Targeted at consumers seeking values-driven, art-infused products.
- Collaboration Business B2B co-creation business partnering with corporations and brands to develop inclusive products, spaces, and digital experiences using HERALBONY's proprietary art IP under licensing and co-production agreements. Targeted at enterprise clients seeking differentiated brand content and authentic DE&I alignment.
- HERALBONY ACADEMY Training, research, and education business providing DE&I training programs, team-building programs, and public school courses to organizations. Includes structured tiers such as FUNclusion Session, DE&I 1Day Edition, DE&I Design 3Days, and ISAI BUILDING team training. Targeted at HR, DE&I, and CSR leaders in corporations, government, and educational institutions.
- HERALBONY Art Prize International art award established in 2024 for artists with disabilities worldwide. Includes Grand Prix (¥3 million), jury awards, and corporate awards. Includes exhibitions of winning works and serves as both a talent discovery platform and brand awareness driver for HERALBONY.
- ROUTINE RECORDS Experimental music label focusing on repetitive sounds created by artists with intellectual disabilities. Highlights daily sounds they create and promotes understanding of their talents, supporting HERALBONY's broader mission of reshaping perceptions of disability through creative work.
- HERALBONY CLUB Customer membership program offering point-based rewards (BONY), exclusive content, and event invitations to HERALBONY supporters. Drives repeat purchases and community engagement with the brand.
- Google Pixel 10a HERALBONY Special Edition Co-branded Google Pixel 10a smartphone special edition featuring exclusive 'Isai Blue' color, matching bumper case, custom UI elements, and Pixel-inspired stickers. Available exclusively through the Japanese Google Store, with proceeds supporting neurodivergent artists through HERALBONY's partnership program.
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% satisfaction rate and 89% behavioral change reported by HERALBONY Academy trainees
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use HERALBONY
Customer profileNamed customers23 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
HERALBONY technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
HERALBONY partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
29 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton)coreLVMH Innovation Award 2024 finalist and category winner (Employee Experience, Diversity & Inclusion). First Japanese company to be selected as finalist. Gained access to La Maison des Startups LVMH accelerator program, supporting HERALBONY's global expansion.
- Galerie Christian Berst (Paris)minorArt gallery in Paris Marais district hosting HERALBONY's first overseas exhibition 'Artistes et HERALBONY' from September 24 to October 1, 2024, coinciding with Paris Fashion Week. Featured art silk scarves and other HERALBONY products.
- LIVE BOARDminorLIVE BOARD participated in Heralbony's Beyond Blue Project aligned with World Autism Awareness Day (April 2, 2026), displaying blue-themed art on approximately 50 digital out-of-home media locations in Tokyo from April 2–15, 2026.
- Azabudai Hills (Mori Building)minorPartner in Beyond Blue Project for World Autism Awareness Day (April 2, 2026). Azabudai Hills displayed blue artworks by artists with disabilities as part of the project from April 2–12, 2026.
- Tokyo MetrominorPartner in Beyond Blue Project, displaying blue-themed artworks at Tokyo Metro stations for World Autism Awareness Day (April 2, 2026).
- Sekisui HouseminorPartner in Beyond Blue Project for World Autism Awareness Day 2026, supporting autism awareness through art installations.
- Mizuho Financial GroupminorPartner in Beyond Blue Project for World Autism Awareness Day 2026, supporting autism awareness through art installations.
- Sumitomo Life Mutual InsuranceminorPartner in Beyond Blue Project for World Autism Awareness Day 2026, supporting autism awareness through art installations.
- Tokyo TowerminorPartner hosting 'Light It Up Blue' event for World Autism Awareness Day (April 2, 2026). Heralbony organized a talk show with Sesame Street characters at Tokyo Tower as part of the Beyond Blue Project.
- Sanrio EntertainmentminorCo-creation project to develop inclusive entertainment at Sanrio Puroland theme park. On March 21, 2026, conducted trial experience inviting people with various disabilities to test accessibility improvements (subtitles, sign language guides, audio descriptions) during parade viewing. Full implementation targeted for spring 2027.
- GoogleminorGoogle collaborated with Heralbony lifestyle brand to launch a special edition Pixel 10a smartphone in Japan with exclusive 'Isai Blue' color, matching bumper case, custom UI elements, and Pixel-inspired stickers. Supports neurodivergent artists through Heralbony's partnership program. Available exclusively through Google's Japanese storefront.
- Tokyo Tatemono (東京建物)flagshipPlatinum Partner of HERALBONY Art Prize 2026 ('Presented by 東京建物｜Brillia'). Sponsors the Tokyo Tatemono | Brillia Prize at the Art Prize. Engaged in public art projects including Brillia仮囲いアート (construction site art).
- Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMBC Group)coreGold Partner of HERALBONY Art Prize 2026. Sponsors the SMBC Group Prize. Also provides exhibition venue (SMBC East Building Earth Garden) for HERALBONY Art Prize 2026 Exhibition.
- Nishimura & Asahi (西村あさひ)coreGold Partner of HERALBONY Art Prize 2026. Sponsors the 西村あさひ賞.
- JINScoreGold Partner of HERALBONY Art Prize 2026. Sponsors the JINS賞. Active art licensing and co-creation partner with JINS products featuring HERALBONY artist works.
- Seiko EpsoncoreGold Partner of HERALBONY Art Prize 2026. Sponsors the Epson Prize.
- Sangetsu (サンゲツ)coreGold Partner of HERALBONY Art Prize 2026. Sponsors the sangetsu賞. Art licensing partner for interior design products.
- KAI Corporation (貝印)coreGold Partner of HERALBONY Art Prize 2026. Sponsors the 貝印賞.
- East Japan Railway Company (JR東日本)coreGold Partner of HERALBONY Art Prize 2026. Sponsors the JR東日本賞. Engaged in Yamanote Line wrapping train campaigns and station art installations.
- Toyota Motor Corporation (トヨタ自動車)coreGold Partner of HERALBONY Art Prize 2026. Newly joined as Gold Partner. Sponsors the Toyota Prize.
- Nomura Kougeisha (乃村工藝社)minorSilver Partner of HERALBONY Art Prize 2026. Provided sensory-friendly bags for exhibition accessibility and is an active co-creation partner.
- ABeam ConsultingminorSilver Partner of HERALBONY Art Prize 2026. Active co-creation partner.
- LIXILminorSilver Partner of HERALBONY Art Prize 2026. Active co-creation partner.
- Hit Co. (株式会社ヒット)minorMedia Partner of HERALBONY Art Prize 2026.
- Hearst Fujingaho (ハースト妇人画報社)minorMedia Partner of HERALBONY Art Prize 2026.
- Nippon Broadcasting System (ニッポン放送)minorMedia Partner of HERALBONY Art Prize 2026. Produced special radio program '異彩を放つ表現者たち～HERALBONY Art Prize～' and art appreciation audio content for the exhibition.
- News Technology Inc.minorMedia Partner of HERALBONY Art Prize 2026.
- SUNNY SIDE UPminorPR/Event Partner of HERALBONY Art Prize 2026.
- Station F (Paris)minorWorld's largest startup facility in Paris, France. HERALBONY EUROPE's base of operations since September 2024, supporting the company's European business development.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
HERALBONY competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Specialisterne: Global social enterprise focused on employment and inclusion of people with autism and neurodivergent conditions. Comparable to HERALBONY in its mission-driven positioning around disability, but operates through workforce-placement and consulting rather than art licensing — a parallel model addressing the same community.
- Creative Growth Art Center: Oakland-based nonprofit supporting artists with developmental disabilities through studio programs, exhibitions, and sales. Direct parallel to HERALBONY's contracted-artist model: both provide platforms for artists with intellectual disabilities to create, exhibit, and commercialize work.
- Meow Wolf: US-based art and entertainment company creating immersive art experiences from a community of artists. Comparable to HERALBONY in building artist-driven experiential products for consumers and corporate partners, though at much larger scale and without the disability-artist focus.
- Outsider Art Fair: Annual art fair dedicated to outsider and self-taught artists, including those with disabilities. Comparable to HERALBONY's HERALBONY Art Prize in creating a curated commercial platform for disability/outsider art — both expand market visibility and commercial pathways for underrepresented artists.
Emerging players
- Artolution: International nonprofit using collaborative art to address social issues with marginalized communities. Comparable to HERALBONY in combining art with social mission and corporate partnerships, though focused more on community workshops than commercial licensing.
Broad incumbents
- TOMS: Mission-driven apparel and lifestyle brand known for its one-for-one giving model. Comparable to HERALBONY's brand business in using consumer products to advance a social mission and command premium pricing on storytelling — a model benchmark for HERALBONY's apparel/lifestyle growth.
- Artsy: Global online art marketplace connecting collectors with works and artists. Comparable to HERALBONY's marketplace role for disability-artist IP at scale, though Artsy serves the fine-art collector market rather than licensing for commercial product design.
- EVERFI: Large-scale corporate training and DE&I education provider used by global enterprises. Comparable to HERALBONY Academy in delivering DE&I training to corporate clients, but at vastly greater scale via digital distribution — represents the competitive ceiling HERALBONY Academy must scale toward.
- Warby Parker: Mission-driven direct-to-consumer eyewear brand known for its buy-a-pair-give-a-pair social model. Direct comparable to HERALBONY's collaboration with JINS: a purpose-led consumer brand that licenses or partners with disability/social missions, illustrating how HERALBONY's brand business could scale internationally.
Others
- Bridgeman Images: Major art licensing and image rights agency representing works from museums and artists globally. Comparable to HERALBONY's licensing infrastructure — represents the broader commercial art-licensing market in which HERALBONY competes for enterprise deals.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HERALBONY social profiles
Digital presenceHERALBONY compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
HERALBONY financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HERALBONY leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
HERALBONY subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
HERALBONY funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HERALBONY M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HERALBONY
What does HERALBONY do?
HERALBONY manages and licenses a proprietary library of more than 2,000 art data assets created by 153+ contracted artists with intellectual disabilities. The company operates three core business lines: (1) Brand Business selling art-infused fashion, accessories, and lifestyle goods through its own online store and physical retail, (2) Collaboration Business co-creating products, spaces, and digital experiences with enterprise partners under licensing and co-production agreements, and (3) HERALBONY ACADEMY providing DE&I training, team-building, and inclusive education programs to organizations.
Is HERALBONY a public or private company?
HERALBONY is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was HERALBONY founded?
HERALBONY was founded in 2019. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is HERALBONY based?
HERALBONY is headquartered in Negoya, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does HERALBONY make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Brand Business (自社ブランド事業) is the primary driver. The others are collaboration Business (コラボレーション事業) and HERALBONY Academy (アカデミー事業).
Who are HERALBONY's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Specialisterne, Creative Growth Art Center, Meow Wolf and Outsider Art Fair. Artolution is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are TOMS, Artsy, EVERFI and Warby Parker. Bridgeman Images is listed as an others.
Does HERALBONY have an API?
No public API is recorded for HERALBONY.
What industry is HERALBONY in?
HERALBONY's product category is Art IP Licensing & Inclusive Creative Brand. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAGAI, Merchandising & D2C Management (Artists). Its NAICS code is 533 and its SIC code is 7330.