CrowdWorks

What CrowdWorks does

CrowdWorks Inc. (株式会社クラウドワークス, TSE Growth: 3900) operates Japan's largest online crowdsourcing and talent matching platform, connecting 7.438 million registered workers with 1.072 million client companies as of September 2025. Founded in November 2011 and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange since December 2014, the company runs a two-sided marketplace where companies post projects and freelancers bid on them, charging commission on completed transactions. The core platform is supplemented by specialized talent matching modules: CrowdWorks Agent (sales-staff-driven enterprise matching with a 6.3M+ database), Tech Direct (IT professional direct matching, 35,000+ IT freelancers), CrowdLinks (high-class side job matching), and CrowdWorks Consulting (DX consulting).

The company operates a hybrid revenue model combining marketplace commissions, professional services/agent fees, and recurring SaaS subscriptions. CrowdLog (productivity/work-time visualization SaaS) has reached 900+ cumulative client companies, with roughly 30% being large enterprises of 300+ employees. Human & Human provides HR analytics SaaS. The group also includes 18 acquired subsidiaries covering IT staffing (CODEAL, INGATE, CLOCK·IT), DX consulting (Sonicmoov, skyny, CrowdWorks Consulting Inc.), generative AI tools (AI Tech - 110K users, 190M yen ARR), RPA (Peaceful Morning), side-job matching (Shuuumatu Worker), and creator staffing (YU-CRE). FY2025 net sales reached 22.65 billion yen (vs. 17.113 billion in FY2024, ~32% YoY growth), with gross profit of 9.566 billion yen.

Distribution leverages a multi-channel GTM: self-serve platform for SMBs/individuals, dedicated field sales for enterprise Agent/Consulting engagements, government relationships across 12 ministries and 80+ local municipalities, and an M&A program organized around the YOSHIDA300 plan targeting 300 billion yen in revenue. The company has executed 18 cumulative M&A deals and runs an active M&A Conference (MAP 2026) connecting startups, corporates, VCs, and advisors. Recent strategic emphasis has shifted toward AI services (AI CloudWorks launching July 2026, AI-BPO from March 2026, AI Implementation Support Plan) and DX consulting democratization for SMEs.

Name

CrowdWorks

Legal name

株式会社クラウドワークス

Website

https://crowdworks.co.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

CrowdWorks operates Japan's largest online crowdsourcing and freelance talent matching platform, connecting 7.4 million registered workers with 1.07 million client companies. It supplements marketplace commissions with SaaS (CrowdLog), agent-based IT matching, DX consulting, and a new AI services line.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Marketplace Commission (クラウドワークス): Commission fees charged on transactions between clients and freelancers on the CrowdWorks crowdsourcing platform. Revenue generated as a percentage of total transaction volume (総契約額) multiplied by take rate.
2. Agent Services (クラウドワークス エージェント, テックダイレクト): IT talent staffing and direct matching services where CrowdWorks' sales staff propose freelancers to companies. Revenue from placement and agency fees for matching highly skilled IT personnel for 3-5 days/week engagements.
3. SaaS Subscriptions (クラウドログ, Human & Human): Monthly/annual subscription fees for cloud-based productivity improvement SaaS products. CrowdLog visualizes employee work hours; Human & Human provides HR analytics and engagement surveys. 900+ companies have adopted CrowdLog.
4. AI Services (AIクラウドワークス, AI-BPO, AI研修): AI specialist job matching service with concierge support (free for workers, commissions from enterprises), AI-BPO services for process automation, and AI utilization training programs (46,000-176,000 JPY per person with government subsidies).
5. Consulting Services (CROWDWORKSコンサルティング): DX consulting engagements where productivity improvement consultants identify core management issues, select solutions, and provide PM/PMO support for projects using CrowdWorks' 7 million freelancer database.
6. Other Services (PARK, メンバーペイ, etc.): Skill EC service PARK, monthly subscription payment service MemberPay, and other ancillary services generating additional transaction and subscription revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CrowdWorks operates Japan's largest online crowdsourcing marketplace connecting over 7.43 million registered freelancers and side workers with 1.07 million client companies, enabling direct online work commissioning and fulfillment. Beyond the core marketplace, the company provides specialized talent matching (Agent, Tech Direct, CrowdLinks, AI CloudWorks), DX consulting, SaaS productivity tools (CrowdLog, Human & Human), AI-BPO services, and corporate AI training.

Product overview

CrowdWorks operates a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on Japan’s No.1 online crowdsourcing platform (CrowdWorks) connecting 7.43 million freelancers with 1.072 million companies. The core platform is supplemented by specialized talent matching modules: CrowdWorks Agent (comprehensive HR solutions with 6.3M+ database), Tech Direct (IT talent direct matching), CrowdLinks (high-class side job matching), and CROWDWORKS Consulting (productivity improvement consultants). A parallel SaaS business includes CrowdLog (work time visualization, 900+ clients), Human & Human (human capital analytics), and AI CloudWorks (AI professional matching, launched May 2026). Acquired brands include AI Tech (generative AI tools), Peaceful Morning (RPA), and skyny (DX consulting). Supporting infrastructure includes PARK (skill e-commerce), MemberPay (payment service), and CrowdWorks Academy (reskilling). Group subsidiaries include Shuuumatu Worker, Yu-CRE, Sonicmoov, and CrowdWorks Consulting Inc.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• クラウドワークス: Japan's No.1 online crowdsourcing platform connecting companies with freelancers
• クラウドワークス エージェント (CrowdWorks Agent)
• テックダイレクト (Tech Direct)
• CROWDWORKS コンサルティング
• クラウドリンクス (CrowdLinks)
• クラウドログ (CrowdLog)
• AIクラウドワークス
• PARK
• メンバーペイ (Member Pay)
• みんなのカレッジ (Minna no College)

Products and services

• CrowdWorks (クラウドワークス) Crowdsourcing Platform Japan's No.1 online crowdsourcing platform connecting 7.43+ million registered freelancers and side workers with 1.07+ million client companies for direct work procurement and fulfillment across categories including IT, design, writing, marketing, and consulting.
• CrowdWorks Agent (クラウドワークス エージェント)

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced payroll reconciliation from 2 days to 30 minutes for a small clinic using AI training
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability13 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and regional.

• 株式会社Sonicmoov (Group subsidiary)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Sonicmoov provides UX-design-led web and app development for CrowdWorks group clients. Engaged in local government DX initiatives (Kumamoto Uto City, Fukuoka Hirokawa Town, Oguni City) under the 地域活性化起業人制度. FY2024 to FY2025 sales outside Tokyo/Kanagawa/Saitama/Chiba grew approximately 5x.
• Yoom株式会社coreTechnology or Integration · 12 June 2026API integration between CrowdLog (CrowdWorks' productivity SaaS) and Yoom's workflow automation platform. Enables automatic data sync with 750+ apps (Slack, Salesforce, Chatwork, etc.) via natural language AI-driven workflow setup. Users can trigger time tracking from existing business apps. Reduces manual data entry and enables automatic work-hour reporting.
• 株式会社PeopleXsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 June 2026Co-host of 13-week AI utilization webinar series for executives. PeopleX contributes AI hiring/adoption expertise and market knowledge to the educational webinar content. Webinar targets business leaders considering AI implementation.
• 株式会社SilverXsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 June 2026Primary co-host of 13-week AI utilization webinar series (10 of 13 sessions). SilverX contributes AI native talent hiring/consulting expertise. Delivers demos of AI tools across sales, content, and administrative use cases.
• 株式会社AlgomaticsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 June 2026Co-host of DX-focused session (Session 4) in the 13-week webinar series. Algomatic contributes LLM/generative AI technology expertise and practical DX implementation knowledge to the webinar curriculum.
• Peaceful Morning株式会社 (Group subsidiary)supportingTechnology or Integration · 16 March 2026Peaceful Morning's Microsoft-certified DX freelancers provide RPA/low-code implementation support. Peaceful Morning became a Microsoft Certified Partner and offers products/services leveraging CrowdWorks' 1,200+ DX-skilled freelancer database for enterprise clients.
• SmartHRsupportingTechnology or Integration · 30 October 2025CrowdLog integrates with SmartHR's ID management function, enabling security risk reduction and IT department workload savings for joint clients. Linked via API to enable seamless data exchange between HR systems and time management.
• skyny株式会社 (Group subsidiary)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2025System integration company specializing in PM/consulting talent for DX, security, and IoT. skyny provides DX execution consulting and project management personnel to CrowdWorks' consulting service. Supports 'DXコンサル民主化' (democratization of DX consulting) for SMEs.
• 北海道上川市 (Hokkaido Kamikawa Town)regionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 August 2025Regional collaboration partnership for DX promotion in local government. CrowdWorks Consulting supports municipal DX initiatives under a 未来共創パートナーシップ協定 (future co-creation partnership agreement) to solve regional social and corporate challenges through digital transformation.
• ネオファースト生命保険株式会社supportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 June 2025Neofirst Life Insurance provides content cooperation for CrowdWorks' 'じぶん安心ナビ' (Personal Safety Navigator) web media, targeting freelancers with insurance, health, and lifestyle protection information.
• アディッシュ株式会社supportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 April 2025Business partnership where CrowdWorks provides 6.8 million worker database for customer success talent proposals by Adish. Enables cross-referral of talent between the two platforms in the customer success/BPO domain.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Wantedly: Japan-listed recruitment and company-information platform. Overlaps with CrowdWorks in online talent discovery and employer branding, though its core focus is full-time hiring rather than freelance matching.
• BizReach: Japan-listed mid-career job platform with a focus on professional and managerial roles. Comparable as a Japanese online talent matching platform but primarily serves full-time hiring rather than freelance/gig work.
• Recruit Holdings: Japan's largest HR services conglomerate operating Indeed, Rikunabi, and staffing businesses globally. A broad incumbent with significant overlap in talent matching and staffing, though CrowdWorks' freelance focus is a distinct niche within Recruit's broader HR portfolio.

Direct peers

• Upwork: The largest global online freelance marketplace connecting businesses with independent professionals for knowledge work. Directly comparable to CrowdWorks' core marketplace business, though operating at much larger international scale and with a similar take-rate model.
• Fiverr: Global freelance services marketplace with a transaction-based model similar to CrowdWorks. Comparable in core marketplace mechanics, pricing philosophy, and target use cases (project-based knowledge work), though Fiverr's international footprint is significantly larger.
• Lancers: Japan-listed freelance and crowdsourcing marketplace (TSE Growth). The most direct domestic competitor to CrowdWorks' core platform business, with similar target customers and a comparable online matching model in the Japanese market.
• Timee: Japan-based side-job/gig platform focused on hourly shift work. Competes with CrowdWorks in the Japanese gig marketplace space, particularly overlapping with Shuuumatu Worker (a CrowdWorks subsidiary) in the side-job matching segment.

Emerging players

• Freelance Start (Hajimari): Emerging Japanese freelance platform targeting IT engineers and offering agent-style support. Operates in the same Japanese freelance marketplace category as CrowdWorks Agent and TechDirect, with a narrower focus on IT talent.
• Toptal: Global freelance platform focused on the top 3% of software engineering, design, and finance talent. Comparable to CrowdWorks' TechDirect and CrowdLinks premium services, with a similarly vetted, high-skill talent focus but at much larger international scale.
• PeopleX: Japan-based AI-focused HR/advisory firm that co-hosts CrowdWorks' AI webinar series. Operates in the adjacent AI talent and adoption space, with potential overlap as both companies target AI-skilled worker placement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CrowdWorksjp
• Facebookfacebook.com/CrowdWorks

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds9 records

Investors7 records

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

M&A7 records

Investments9 records

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

Frequently asked questions about CrowdWorks