What TRUNK does

TRUNK株式会社 is a Tokyo-headquartered education technology company founded in July 2015 that develops platforms and products for education and recruitment businesses, operating from a single office in Shibuya with a 1–10 employee base under CEO Ryo Nishimoto (西元 涼). The company's stated mission is to convert learning "from something you have to do into something you want to do," focused on the domain of work and targeting a society where individual potential is not constrained by background. Its product portfolio centers on an enterprise Learning Management System (LMS) with original learning content production support, the Workschool consumer and enterprise online training sub-brand, and mobile-first qualification exam preparation apps specialized for the Real Estate Administrator (宅建士) and IT Passport (ITパスポート) credentials.

The technical footprint is built around three platform layers: an enterprise-grade LMS supporting bespoke content authoring for corporate training, the Workschool online vocational training platform that aggregates courses including a recently launched COBOL introductory module, and smartphone-delivered certification apps optimized for gap-time learning. Revenue is generated through four streams: enterprise LMS subscriptions, certification app subscriptions, professional services for e-Learning and internship content production (supporting 100+ enterprise e-Learning clients and 50+ internship clients over five years), and managed-services contracts with municipal governments such as the Yokohama City Web Marketing Career School program launched in August 2025.

Go-to-market is hybrid and segmentation-driven: enterprise field sales for corporate LMS and content-production engagements, product-led distribution through app-store certification apps for individual learners, and channel/distributor partnerships for municipal government programs. The company maintains a domestic Japan-only footprint, backed by two disclosed funding rounds — an earlier round with Seibu Shinkin Capital and Tokyu Fudosan (2020-11-19) and a January 2026 round with Sun Next Group Co., Ltd. (サンネクスタグループ) and School Corporation Inokashira Gakuen (学校法人井之頭学園) — with specific amounts undisclosed in both cases.

Name

TRUNK

Legal name

TRUNK株式会社

Website

https://trunk.company

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

TRUNK株式会社 is a Tokyo-headquartered education technology company that builds an enterprise LMS, the Workschool online training platform, and mobile certification exam apps (Real Estate and IT Passport), serving Japanese corporations, working professionals, and municipal governments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate E-Learning Software

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Training (61142)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Extended Enterprise LMS (Customer/Partner/Franchise Training) (EDAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Core LMS Platforms (Academic & Corporate) (EDAFAAAA), Learning Management (LMS) & Talent Development (BPACAPAG), Digital Learning Content Development (eLearning, Labs, Simulations) (BPAEANAD)

Keywords

• Corporate e-learning
• Learning management system
• Certification exam apps
• Online training platform
• Workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Enterprise LMS Solutions: B2B e-Learning system sales to corporations with customized content creation support. Provides original learning material production assistance alongside the LMS platform, creating a comprehensive corporate training solution.
2. Certification Mobile Apps: 法人向け資格学習アプリ (Enterprise certification learning apps) for professional qualification exam preparation. Mobile-first design targeting working professionals seeking credentials.
3. Internship Support and Content Production: Learning content production services including e-Learning content, training materials, internship slides, and worksheets. Services support 100+ companies for e-Learning and 50+ companies for new graduate internship programs over 5 years.
4. Municipal Government Partnerships: Government contracts delivering career development programs in partnership with local administrations like Yokohama City. Programs provide free employment matching services to graduates.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

TRUNK develops and operates an enterprise Learning Management System (LMS) bundled with original learning content production support for corporate training programs. It also offers consumer-facing mobile certification exam preparation apps (specialized for Real Estate Administrator and IT Passport) and the Workschool online career experience platform that delivers virtual internships and government-partnered workforce development programs.

Product overview

TRUNK operates a unified product portfolio centered on workforce learning and development, consisting of a core enterprise LMS, a consumer/sub-brand online training service called Workschool, and multiple Workschool sub-products including certification exam preparation apps and internship support services. The LMS serves as the foundational enterprise platform with custom content production support, while Workschool aggregates the consumer-facing training offerings — including specialized qualification exam apps for 宅建士 and ITパスポート, and internship support / learning content production services for companies and educational institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Workschool: Online vocational training service offering e-Learning courses, internship support, and learning content production for enterprises

Products and services

• LMS (e-Learning System) Enterprise-grade Learning Management System with support for original learning content creation, enabling practical online training implementations tailored to individual corporate needs. Sold to Japanese corporations for employee skill development, compliance training, and onboarding programs.
• Workschool (Online Training Service) Online training service brand operated by TRUNK, providing enterprise e-learning courses, certification exam preparation apps, internship support, and learning content production for enterprises.
• Qualification Exam App (資格合格アプリ) Smartphone-based qualification exam preparation app optimized for gap-time learning. Includes specialized versions for 宅建士 (Real Estate Administrator) and ITパスポート (IT Passport) certifications. Available to working professionals individually and via enterprise licensing.
• Internship Support and Learning Content Production Service Learning content production service covering e-Learning content, training materials, new-graduate internship slides, and worksheets in formats including articles, images, videos, and slides. Supports enterprises and educational institutions building training programs.
• COBOL Introductory Course (COBOL入門コース) Introductory COBOL programming course released on the Workschool online training service, expanding the Workschool catalog to cover legacy systems programming for learners and corporate trainees.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• 横浜市coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 August 2025Yokohama City partnered with TRUNK's Workschool platform to deliver the '横浜市Webマーケティングキャリアスクール' program. TRUNK provides the online career experience platform and offers to match graduates with hiring companies at no cost, while Yokohama City recruits participants for the program.
• 求人企業supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCompanies seeking to hire graduates from the Yokohama City Web Marketing Career School program can register through TRUNK's Workschool platform. TRUNK acts as an intermediary, connecting trained graduates with employment opportunities at partner companies.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Schoo: Schoo operates an online learning platform serving Japanese working professionals and corporate training programs via live and on-demand video, with both consumer and B2B offerings - directly analogous to TRUNK's Workschool brand and enterprise LMS dual model.
• Cloud Campus (KDDI): Cloud Campus is a Japanese enterprise LMS offered by KDDI targeting corporate training and HR/L&D teams with course catalogs and learning analytics, competing head-to-head with TRUNK's enterprise e-Learning system in the same Japanese corporate procurement market.
• AirCourse: AirCourse is a Japanese LMS targeting SMB and enterprise customers with a course marketplace and authoring tools, directly comparable to TRUNK's enterprise LMS position with original content production support.

Broad incumbents

• Udemy Business: Udemy Business is the global enterprise learning arm of Udemy, offering subscription access to a vast course catalog for corporate L&D buyers; in Japan it competes for the same enterprise LMS budget as TRUNK but with a larger catalog, global brand, and deeper sales coverage.
• Coursera for Business: Coursera for Enterprise provides curated university and industry content to corporate learners globally and in Japan, representing a broader incumbent alternative to TRUNK's enterprise LMS + custom content production offering.
• KIYO Learning: KIYO Learning operates multiple Japanese EdTech brands including manabo and DMM Boost (with DMM) targeting lifelong learning and certification prep; its multi-brand consumer approach parallels TRUNK's Workschool + certification app structure.
• Study Sapuri (Quipper): Study Sapuri / Quipper provides subscription learning content for Japanese students and professional exam candidates, overlapping with TRUNK's mobile certification prep apps and Workschool consumer offerings.

Emerging players

• Lightworks: Lightworks is a Japanese e-learning content production studio specializing in corporate training videos and learning materials, overlapping with TRUNK's content-production and internship-support service lines for enterprise clients.
• SmartBraining: SmartBraining is a Japanese cloud LMS provider focused on SMB and enterprise e-learning deployment, comparable in scale and product scope to TRUNK's core LMS offering.
• AVEX Business (タップル / Learning): Avex Business provides corporate video-based learning and training content in Japan, comparable to TRUNK's content production + online training blend for enterprise clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/trunkfm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

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 TRUNK