Basic
Basic Inc. is a Tokyo-based Japanese SaaS company offering an AI workflow automation platform for BtoB enterprises and SMBs, combining marketing automation tools (ferret One, formrun) with cross-departmental AI workflow products (workrun, askrun) to address Japan's labor shortage.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Basic does
Basic Inc. is a Tokyo-based Japanese SaaS company that operates an AI workflow automation platform targeting BtoB enterprises and SMBs facing labor shortages. The company's product portfolio combines customer touchpoint digital transformation (DX) tools with AI-powered workflow automation (AX), centered on its flagship platforms: workrun (cross-departmental AI workflow automation), ferret One (integrated BtoB marketing platform combining CMS and MA capabilities), and formrun (no-code form builder). Supplementary modules include askrun (AI chatbot), bookrun (scheduling), ferret Sales Agent (autonomous sales AI), and AIBOW (AI workflow). The company operates a dual go-to-market model: a product-led growth (PLG) motion for SMB adoption of workrun/formrun/askrun/bookrun via self-serve websites, and an enterprise field sales motion for ferret One deployments, supplemented by ferret Solutions professional services and the ferret Media content platform (2M+ monthly PV, 200K members) that functions as both an inbound marketing engine and a BtoB marketing intelligence asset.
Basic monetizes primarily through tiered SaaS subscriptions across its product suite, with annual and monthly billing options, augmented by professional services revenue from ferret Solutions and AI transformation engagements. The company also runs a freemium tier (askrun at ¥0/month) and an enterprise quote-based pricing model that includes an SFA/MA migration campaign offering up to ¥3.18M in switching benefits. Listed enterprise customers span diverse industries including LIFULL (real estate), KOSE (cosmetics), Meiji (food manufacturing), dip (HR services), transcosmos (BPO), Hakuhodo (advertising), CTC (IT services), and au Commerce (e-commerce). The company was founded in March 2004 by Akiyama Masaru, achieved its first full year of profitability in FY2025 with revenue of ¥2,275M and net income of ¥344M, and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market (ticker 519A) on March 25, 2026.
Basic firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Basic
- Legal name
- 株式会社基本情報
- Website
- http://www.basicinc.jp/
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Ipo
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Basic Inc. is a Tokyo-based Japanese SaaS company offering an AI workflow automation platform for BtoB enterprises and SMBs, combining marketing automation tools (ferret One, formrun) with cross-departmental AI workflow products (workrun, askrun) to address Japan's labor shortage.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Basic industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marketing Automation and AI Workflow Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- iBPMS (Intelligent BPM Suites) & Process Automation Suites (HDAEAHAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- B2B SaaS & Enterprise Personalization (CRM, Sales, Support) (HDAAAGAJ), Telesales & Inside Sales Outsourcing (B2B/B2C) (BPAAADAE)
Keywords
Where Basic is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Basic business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- SaaS Subscriptions: Subscription-based SaaS revenue from ferret One, workrun, formrun, askrun, and bookrun platforms. Tiered pricing with different feature levels. Annual and monthly billing options.
- ferret Solutions Services: Full-service BtoB marketing support including site appeal design, marketing strategy, site production, and effectiveness analysis.
- AI Transformation Services: AI workflow implementation and transformation services for enterprise customers looking to automate business processes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | askrun free tier |
| Subscription | Annual | Enterprise/カスタム pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Basic product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Basic develops and sells an AI workflow platform that automates B2B marketing and cross-departmental business processes. Its core SaaS offerings are ferret One (integrated B2B CMS and marketing automation), workrun (AI workflow automation across departments), and formrun (no-code form creation with CRM/payment/scheduling integration), complemented by AI add-ons such as askrun (chatbot) and ferret Sales Agent (sales AI). The company also runs ferret Media, a B2B marketing portal, and ferret Solutions, a professional services arm.
Product overview
Basic operates as an AI workflow company with a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on workflow automation and front-office DX. Core products include workrun (AI workflow automation), ferret One (BtoB marketing CMS/MA), and formrun (form-based automation), supplemented by specialized modules including askrun (AI chatbot), ferret Sales Agent (sales AI), ferret Solutions (marketing services), ferret Media (marketing portal), bookrun (scheduling), and AIBOW. The portfolio progresses from DX-based customer contact foundation toward AI-powered AX (Automation Transformation) for end-to-end business process automation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- workrun: AI workflow platform that connects business processes, automates decisions, and drives operations across departments.
- ferret One
- formrun
- askrun
- ferret Sales Agent
- AIBOW
Products and services
- ferret One
Quantifiable outcome
- Achieved profitability in FY2025 with ¥270 million operating profit and ¥344 million net income after years of losses
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Basic
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Basic technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability7 records
Feature6 records
Basic partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- FC町田ゼルビアminorGold partner sponsorship with FC Machida Zelvia football club. Basic supports the club's continued challenges and growth while promoting its technology-driven business philosophy through sports marketing.
- Mujin Co., Ltd.minorJoint survey partnership with Mujin Co., Ltd. conducting survey of 504 BtoB marketers on 2025 results and 2026 strategies. Mujin is a BtoB marketing support company based in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Basic competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HubSpot: HubSpot's Marketing Hub and CRM offer B2B CMS, lead nurturing and sales tools that directly overlap with ferret One. formrun's HubSpot integration confirms the two compete and complement each other in Japan's B2B marketing stack.
- SATORI: SATORI is a leading Japanese B2B marketing automation platform with anonymous IP identification and MA capabilities, a direct domestic competitor to ferret One in the Japanese mid-market.
- Cybozu kintone: kintone is a leading Japanese no-code business application platform with which Basic's workrun/AIBOW competes for workflow digitization; formrun already integrates with kintone, indicating ecosystem overlap.
- BowNow: BowNow is a Japanese B2B-focused MA tool popular with mid-market and SMB customers, directly competing with ferret One on lead nurturing and email automation.
- Plugdize (Plaza-i): Plaza-i is a Japanese B2B marketing automation and sales enablement platform, a direct domestic competitor to ferret One and the ferret Sales Agent product.
Broad incumbents
- Adobe Marketo Engage: Marketo (Adobe) is a global MA leader with deep enterprise features; ferret One competes against it for Japanese enterprise MA deals where Adobe has a direct presence.
- Salesforce Marketing Cloud: Salesforce Marketing Cloud Account Engagement (Pardot) and Marketing Cloud are broader enterprise incumbents that Basic competes with for enterprise B2B marketing and CRM-driven workflows.
- Money Forward: Money Forward is a Japanese SaaS conglomerate offering back-office and business platform tools; relevant comparable for Basic's transition into broader workflow/AI business automation.
- freee: freee is a Japanese cloud SaaS leader in accounting/HR; a useful comparable for capital-efficient Japanese SaaS scaling, PLG adoption and category expansion strategy.
- ZOHO: Zoho offers an integrated suite of CRM, marketing and workflow tools that competes with ferret One, workrun and formrun globally; relevant comparable for SMB self-serve + enterprise motion.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Basic social profiles
Digital presenceBasic compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Basic financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Basic leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Basic funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Basic M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Basic
What does Basic do?
Basic develops and sells an AI workflow platform that automates B2B marketing and cross-departmental business processes. Its core SaaS offerings are ferret One (integrated B2B CMS and marketing automation), workrun (AI workflow automation across departments), and formrun (no-code form creation with CRM/payment/scheduling integration), complemented by AI add-ons such as askrun (chatbot) and ferret Sales Agent (sales AI). The company also runs ferret Media, a B2B marketing portal, and ferret Solutions, a professional services arm.
Is Basic a public or private company?
Basic is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently ipo.
When was Basic founded?
Basic was founded in 2004. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Basic based?
Basic is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Basic make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. SaaS Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are ferret Solutions Services and AI Transformation Services.
Who are Basic's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HubSpot, SATORI, Cybozu kintone, BowNow and Plugdize (Plaza-i). Broad incumbents are Adobe Marketo Engage, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Money Forward, freee and ZOHO.
Does Basic have an API?
Yes. ferret One MCP server enables AI agents (Claude Code, Codex) to directly access and utilize ferret One data and functionality through the Model Context Protocol.
What industry is Basic in?
Basic's product category is Marketing Automation and AI Workflow Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAEAHAG, iBPMS (Intelligent BPM Suites) & Process Automation Suites, with a secondary code of HDAAAGAJ, B2B SaaS & Enterprise Personalization (CRM, Sales, Support). Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7372.