What Ikigai Digital does

Ikigai Digital is a UK-registered, fully remote boutique financial-services consultancy founded in 2021 that helps banks build, launch and run digital banking platforms. The firm operates two integrated portfolios: a core-banking modernisation services practice centred on Thought Machine Vault Core and the 10x platform, and a proprietary AI platform called Ikigai Intelligence targeted at regulated banking environments.

The services practice spans core banking transformation, greenfield digital (neobank) builds, coexistence/migration, FinOps, data advisory, and platform engineering, delivered via a Crawl/Walk/Run methodology intended to transfer capability to client teams. Codified delivery IP includes the Coexistence Framework, TM Evergreen for continuous Vault Core upgrades, Kafka/Datadog-backed migration accelerators, and a BDD/Gherkin testing approach for smart contracts. The Ikigai Intelligence platform layers in Checkpoint (LLM gateway with Zero Data Retention), Overpass/Overpass Apex (CLI and generative-UI scaffolding), Guardian (agent runtime with typed-schema and JWT enforcement), Knowledge Bases, Smart Contract Studio, and Lightspeed (SDLC companion with multi-agent PR review).

Revenue is generated through professional-services engagements (project-based and multi-year contracts) and a managed service for Thought Machine Vault deployments, with the AI platform positioned as an emerging productised layer. The company employs roughly 50 practitioners across more than 12 countries, is a Thought Machine Advanced Partner, and counts Absa, Kookmin Bank, Judo Bank, CIB Egypt, Old Mutual and Union Digital Bank among its named clients. No external funding rounds have been disclosed, suggesting founder-financed, profitable growth to date.

Name

Ikigai Digital

Legal name

Ikigai Digital Limited

Website

https://ikigaidigital.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ikigai Digital is a UK-based, fully remote boutique consultancy that helps banks build, modernise and run digital banking platforms on Thought Machine Vault Core and 10x, and sells the Ikigai Intelligence AI platform for regulated banking environments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Services Consulting - Banking Technology

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

AI Integration & Orchestration Platforms (Connectors, Workflow, iPaaS for AI) (HDAEANAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Embedded Deposit Accounts & Digital Wallet Infrastructure (FSAGALAE)

Keywords

• Core banking transformation
• Digital bank builds
• Banking modernization consulting
• AI banking platform
• Thought Machine implementation services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Core Banking Transformation: Consulting services for modernizing banking systems, including strategy definition, implementation, and migration support. Services include Core Banking Transformation, New Digital Bank Builds, and Coexistence and Migration.
2. Managed Services - Thought Machine Vault: Completely managed Thought Machine Vault offering where Ikigai manages deployment, support, and operations across client environments including running the platform, continuous upgrade preparation, SRE function, and smart contract engineering support.
3. Training and Enablement: Hands-on training programs focusing on latest Vault Core features and Thought Machine certifications, leveraging extensive experience from previous implementations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ikigai Digital is a boutique Financial Services consultancy that helps banks build, launch, and run digital banking platforms. The firm specializes in core banking modernization using Thought Machine Vault Core and 10x platforms, offering services including Core Banking Transformation, New Digital Bank Builds, and Coexistence/Migration. It also operates Ikigai Intelligence, a unified AI platform for banks providing governed LLM access, autonomous agents, and smart contract engineering tools.

Product overview

Ikigai Digital is a boutique Financial Services consultancy that operates two distinct portfolios: (1) Ikigai Intelligence - a unified AI platform for banks with modules including Checkpoint (LLM gateway), Overpass/Overpass Apex (CLI scaffolding and generative UI), Guardian (agent runtime), Knowledge Bases, Smart Contract Studio, and Lightspeed (SDLC companion); and (2) Core Banking Modernization Services - consulting offerings for Thought Machine Vault Core and 10x platform implementations, including managed services, TM Evergreen upgrades, FinOps, Data Advisory, and Platform Engineering. The AI platform is designed for regulated banking environments with Crawl/Walk/Run deployment methodology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ikigai Intelligence: A unified AI platform built for banks, offering governed LLM access, autonomous agents, and AI-powered banking tools including Checkpoint, Overpass, Lightspeed, Knowledge Bases, Smart Contract Studio, Overpass Apex, and Guardian
• 10x Platform Services
• TM Evergreen

Products and services

• Ikigai Intelligence Platform A unified AI platform for banks offering governed LLM access, autonomous agents, and AI-native applications. Built specifically for regulated banking environments, it enables banks to operationalize AI safely with Crawl/Walk/Run deployment methodology.
• Core Banking Transformation Consulting services for modernizing core banking systems, helping organizations define the best approach to suit customer needs and business goals. Targeted at banks undertaking legacy-to-modern core banking transformation.
• New Digital (NEO) Bank Builds Specialized services for building new digital banks using modern thin core banking systems and event-driven architecture with modern ways of work. Designed for challenger banks and greenfield digital bank initiatives.
• Coexistence and Migration Services enabling organizations to focus on core differentiators while leveraging ready-made solutions and processes for commodity banking items during migration from legacy to modern core banking platforms.
• Thought Machine Vault Services End-to-end Thought Machine Vault Core implementation services including team building, operations streamlining, innovation driving, financial product configuration, integration, migration, and managed services for banks.
• Thought Machine Vault Managed Service Completely managed Thought Machine Vault offering covering platform operation, continuous upgrade preparation, SRE functions, and ongoing smart contract engineering support. Launched in April 2023.
• TM Evergreen Ever-greening proposition for continuous Vault Core and smart contract upgrades, providing expert consulting for seamless integration and adoption of new platform versions through small frequent changes.
• 10x Platform Services Services leveraging 10x SuperCore Fabric including tailored financial product design, polyglot runtime implementation, transaction processing systems, and real-time data streaming.
• FinOps Services Cloud financial operations consulting helping organizations optimize cloud spending through decentralized cost ownership, data-driven decisions, and cross-team collaboration.
• Data Advisory Services Specialized data strategy and capability services for digital banks including data governance, infrastructure building, operating models, and predictive analytics.
• Platform Engineering Internal Development Platform (IDP) design and development services including process automation, CI/CD pipelines, deployment automation, and design decision documentation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Complete modernization of banking services in South Africa with fully digital account creation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

AI capability10 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Thought MachineflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Ikigai Digital is a recognised Thought Machine Global Partner and Advanced Partner. Company has been at the forefront of delivering and managing the most comprehensive Thought Machine implementations. Offers full range of services including Vault Core Architecture, Smart Contract Engineering, Workflow Engineering, Platform Management, and Operations. Co-authored paper on simplifying core banking migrations.
• 10xcoreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic partnership leveraging 10x platform's capabilities from SuperCore Fabric to advanced features. Services include designing and implementing tailored financial products, building transaction processing systems, developing pricing and interest calculation engines, and optimizing data streaming with real-time event processing.
• OpenAI / Anthropic / GooglecoreTechnology or IntegrationLLM providers integrated through Ikigai Intelligence platform's Checkpoint LLM Gateway with Zero Data Retention enforcement on every call.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Thought Machine: Core banking cloud platform vendor and Ikigai's primary strategic partner. Both build, launch, and operate digital banks on Vault Core; Thought Machine increasingly competes with Ikigai for professional services delivery, while Ikigai competes with TM's own solutions team for implementation mandates.
• 10x Banking: Core banking platform vendor (SuperCore Fabric) and Ikigai's other strategic platform partner. Ikigai offers 10x Platform Services for designing tailored financial products and transaction processing systems, creating direct parallel to its Thought Machine practice.

Emerging players

• Mambu: Cloud-native core banking platform serving challenger and incumbent banks. Competes with Thought Machine for the same core banking modernization budgets that drive Ikigai's service revenue.

Broad incumbents

• Backbase: Digital banking platform provider offering engagement banking software. While focused on the front-end rather than core banking, it competes for the same digital transformation budgets at banks.
• Temenos: Established core banking platform vendor serving large incumbent banks globally. Ikigai helps banks migrate away from legacy systems like Temenos toward modern thin core platforms, putting them in direct competitive orbit.
• nCino: Cloud banking platform for financial institutions, particularly commercial and retail banks. Competes for digital banking transformation budgets across Ikigai's customer segments.
• Publicis Sapient: Global digital business transformation firm with substantial banking practice. Competes with Ikigai for digital banking transformation mandates at large financial institutions, though at significantly larger scale.
• Accenture: Global systems integrator with large banking technology practice. Competes for core banking modernization programs; Ikigai's boutique focus on Thought Machine is a differentiation point rather than a direct overlap on mega-deals.
• Capgemini: Global IT services firm with deep banking and financial services practice. Competes for digital banking transformation and core modernization programs at scale.
• Endava: IT services firm with significant banking and financial services vertical exposure. Comparable boutique-to-mid-tier services model serving banks on digital transformation programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ikigai_digital

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Ikigai Digital