Basic

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.

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

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

• B2B SaaS marketing
• AI workflow automation
• Marketing automation platform
• No-code form builder
• AI sales agent

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. ferret Solutions Services: Full-service BtoB marketing support including site appeal design, marketing strategy, site production, and effectiveness analysis.
3. AI Transformation Services: AI workflow implementation and transformation services for enterprise customers looking to automate business processes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• FC町田ゼルビアminorOthers · 31 March 2026Gold 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.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2026Joint 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/basicinc_pr
• Facebookfacebook.com/basicinc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Basic