MicroAd

What MicroAd does

MicroAd, Inc. (株式会社マイクロアド) is a Tokyo-based digital advertising technology company founded in 2007 as a 100% subsidiary of CyberAgent and now operating as an independent public company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market (ticker: 9553.T) since 2022. The company operates an integrated platform-plus-modules architecture anchored on the UNIVERSE first-party data platform, which aggregates online and offline consumer behavioral data from 400 million unique browser profiles across Japan. Layered on top of UNIVERSE are MicroAd BLADE (a demand-side platform for advertisers, launched 2011), MicroAd COMPASS (a supply-side platform for publishers with real-time bidding, launched 2014), and UNIVERSE Ads (a demand-side advertising platform launched 2021). Vertical-specific products include Shiraler (B2B), IGNITION (automotive), Pantry (food/beverage), Vesta (cosmetics), IASO (healthcare), and Circus (entertainment), alongside add-on modules for brand lift measurement (LinX), digital signage (MONOLITHS, 外テレ), and publisher trading desk services through subsidiary Enhance.

The company's revenue model combines subscription/recurring fees for data platform services (UNIVERSE), usage-based programmatic advertising fees through DSP/SSP transactions (BLADE, COMPASS, UNIVERSE Ads), and transaction-fee-based digital marketing services for cross-border and inbound tourism campaigns. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales to large B2B clients and Japanese local governments, partner agency/reseller distribution, self-serve programmatic access for SMBs, and strategic platform partnerships including TikTok (IZULCA joint venture for live commerce), ANA (Japaholic inbound tourism platform), and Taiwanese and Korean tourism organizations.

MicroAd serves enterprise clients and local government municipalities across Japan, with international expansion into Taiwan (2009 onward), China (via MicroAd Hong Kong Holdings and Shanghai operations since 2008), Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines, and a network of regional offices across Japan including Tokyo headquarters, Osaka, Fukuoka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Sendai, and Kyoto. The group has expanded into adjacent verticals via inorganic moves — acquiring CDP operator UNCOVER TRUTH (2024) for PostCookie data capabilities, launching IP mixer for IP-based product sales (2025), creating IZULCA and UNIVERSE PULSE for TikTok Shop and live commerce (2025), and establishing MaBullz for global influencer agency services (2026).

Name

MicroAd

Legal name

株式会社マイクロアド

Website

https://microad.co.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

MicroAd (株式会社マイクロアド, TSE Growth: 9553) is a Japan-based digital advertising technology company operating the UNIVERSE first-party data platform alongside DSP (BLADE), SSP (COMPASS), and advertising platform (UNIVERSE Ads) to serve enterprise B2B clients, local governments, and cross-border marketers across Japan and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Advertising Technology

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)

akta.pro primary industry

API Development, Integration & Microservices Modernization (BPAEAFAD)

Keywords

• Programmatic advertising
• Digital marketing platform
• Data management platform
• Demand-side platform
• Supply-side platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Data Platform Services: First-party data platform services enabling audience targeting and marketing analytics for enterprise clients
2. Advertising Platform Services (DSP/SSP): Programmatic advertising platform fees through UNIVERSE Ads, MicroAd BLADE DSP, and MicroAd COMPASS SSP
3. Digital Marketing Services: Additional advertising services and marketing solutions for cross-border and inbound tourism campaigns

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MicroAd provides data-driven digital advertising technology solutions for advertisers and media companies, anchored by the UNIVERSE first-party data platform (built on 400 million unique browser profiles in Japan) and an integrated ad tech stack including the MicroAd BLADE DSP, MicroAd COMPASS SSP, and UNIVERSE Ads platform. The company enables automated programmatic ad buying, precise audience targeting, brand-safe ad delivery, and cross-border Japan-Taiwan and inbound tourism marketing solutions for enterprise clients, local government bodies, and publishers.

Product overview

MicroAd operates a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on its data platform UNIVERSE, which aggregates online/offline consumer behavioral data for marketing applications. The core advertising technology stack includes UNIVERSE Ads (demand-side advertising platform), MicroAd BLADE (DSP for advertisers), and MicroAd COMPASS (SSP for publishers). Industry-specific marketing products include Shiraler (B2B), IGNITION (automotive), Pantry (food/beverage), Vesta (cosmetics), IASO (healthcare), and Circus (entertainment). Recent expansions include TikTok Shop support through IZULCA and UNIVERSE PULSE, IP product sales via IP mixer, and local government marketing through Machiage. Additional services cover brand lift measurement (LinX), digital signage management (MONOLITHS, 外テレ), and media monetization consulting (Enhance). The company serves enterprises across Japan and Asia with both domestic and cross-border marketing solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• シラレル (Shirareru): B2B marketing data platform for targeting advertising
• SPcollect
• UNIVERSE
• LinX
• MONOLITHS
• 外テレ

Products and services

• UNIVERSE Data platform that aggregates and analyzes consumer behavioral data (both online and offline) to help companies maximize customer lifetime value through integrated marketing solutions; covers approximately 400 million unique browsers in Japan.
• UNIVERSE Ads Unified advertising platform for demand-side services enabling optimized ad delivery using MicroAd's UNIVERSE first-party data assets for targeted digital advertising campaigns.
• MicroAd BLADE Demand-Side Platform (DSP) service for advertisers to manage and optimize programmatic advertising campaigns across multiple ad exchanges.
• MicroAd COMPASS Supply-Side Platform (SSP) service for media publishers to maximize advertising revenue through real-time bid optimization and full-flat auction functionality. Includes real-time domain spoofing attack detection and automatic ad delivery suspension.
• Shiraler (シラレル) B2B marketing data platform offering targeted advertising using IP addresses, business card app data, and business media targeting with over 10 million data points, designed for B2B enterprise marketing campaigns.
• IP mixer Subsidiary offering IP-based product planning and sales services, including VTuber and international IP collaborations such as SPcollect.
• IZULCA (イヅルカ) Joint venture with Pinspace Group providing comprehensive TikTok Shop operations support and live commerce services for brands in Japan.
• UNIVERSE PULSE Specialized subsidiary providing comprehensive TikTok Shop support services in Japan, including seller operations, creator matching, and promotional support.
• Enhance Publisher Trading Desk Media monetization service enabling publishers to segment targeting users based on their data and deliver targeted advertising; provided by MicroAd subsidiary Enhance.
• Enhance Media Monetization Consulting Comprehensive media monetization consulting combining content and technology to maximize media value, delivered by MicroAd subsidiary Enhance.
• MicroAd COMPASS for Apps SSP SDK functionality built specifically for app developers, providing RTB-focused integration designed to maximize ad revenue per impression in mobile applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400 million unique browser data points available for audience targeting
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration55 records

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• WAKEI (和慧株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Capital and business alliance for Japan-Taiwan digital marketing initiatives, combining MicroAd's data platform with WAKEI's regional expertise for cross-border marketing expansion
• FLYING JAPANmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 May 2026Partnership for Korean tourist promotion, supporting inbound tourism marketing initiatives to attract Korean visitors to Japan
• MISS LIN CONSULTINGminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 April 2026PR partnership in Taiwan for public relations and communications support in the Taiwanese market
• Pinspace GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Joint venture partner for IZULCA, TikTok live commerce solution enabling brands to conduct live streaming e-commerce on TikTok platform
• ビーウェル (Bwell)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 September 2025Korean marketing partnership for cross-border promotional activities between Japan and Korea
• 1SECmajorTechnology or Integration · 26 June 2025Partnership for PEEPS platform, integrating social commerce and influencer marketing capabilities into MicroAd's marketing ecosystem
• ANA (All Nippon Airways)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 June 2025Partnership for Japaholic coupon site, providing digital marketing support for ANA's inbound tourism platform featuring discount coupons for international visitors
• CCCMK HoldingscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2025Strategic partnership for V Point data integration, enabling first-party data enhancement through loyalty point program data

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves18 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/microad_pr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@microad_pr
• Facebookfacebook.com/microad
• TikToktiktok.com/@microad_pr

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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

M&A2 records

Investments6 records

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

Frequently asked questions about MicroAd