Assist
Assist is a Tokyo-based private digital marketing agency founded in 2014 that provides proprietary CMS-based website, landing page, MEO, AI-blog, and store-app solutions to Japanese SMBs and local retailers, distributed through direct sales and a nationwide agent network, with FY2025 revenue of ¥13.3 billion.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Assist does
Assist (株式会社アシスト) is a Tokyo-headquartered Japanese digital marketing agency founded on December 26, 2014, that builds, distributes, and operates online presence infrastructure for small and medium-sized businesses and small-scale local stores across Japan. Its core product is a proprietary domestic CMS ("純入国CMS") used to produce homepage and landing-page websites with built-in SEO tooling, supplemented by the InfoBiz MEO service for Google Maps and local-search optimization, an AI Blog Service (launched September 2023) for automated EAT-compliant content generation, an LLMO/AIO/GEO service for AI-driven discovery optimization, and a suite of complementary modules including original branded store apps, a QR-code Mobile Self-Order system, an Instagram marketing tool called hashfollow, video and Web Manga production, and Google Ads management. Underlying technology relies on in-house CMS and behavioral-analysis AI, with generative AI features delivered through third-party language models rather than proprietary models.
The company generates revenue through a mix of one-time production fees (website and app builds) and recurring subscriptions (MEO, AI Blog, CMS access), augmented by a business-credit installment payment product (分割払い) that doubles as a financing revenue stream. Customer acquisition runs through two parallel motions: direct sales from the Chiyoda-ku headquarters and two Nagoya offices, and a nationwide sales-agent (代理店) network with OEM white-label capabilities reaching all 47 prefectures including newly added Kochi, Ehime, and Kagawa partnerships. Cumulative production stands at 80,000+ websites with 5,000+ active MEO accounts, 1,000+ apps produced annually, and 1,000+ landing pages annually.
Most recent reported revenue is ¥13.3 billion for the fiscal year ending September 2025 (up from ¥11.9 billion in FY2024), implying a run-rate in the $85–90 million USD band at current FX, served by approximately 180 employees. Assist is a privately held independent corporation led by founder-CEO Uii Kazuo (宇井和朗), with no parent, subsidiaries, or external funding rounds disclosed, and is certified as a Smart SME Supporter by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (認定番号8200) and as a White Company (ホワイト企業認定 8200) by JWS Japan.
Assist firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Assist
- Legal name
- 株式会社アシスト
- Website
- https://assist-all.co.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Assist is a Tokyo-based private digital marketing agency founded in 2014 that provides proprietary CMS-based website, landing page, MEO, AI-blog, and store-app solutions to Japanese SMBs and local retailers, distributed through direct sales and a nationwide agent network, with FY2025 revenue of ¥13.3 billion.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Assist industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Web Development and Digital Marketing Services
- NAICS
- Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design Services (541512)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Blogging & CMS Content Platforms (BPAMAJAG)
Keywords
Where Assist is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
Assist business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- ホームぺージ制作 (Website Production): One-time website production fees and ongoing subscription fees for CMS usage, SEO tools, and support services. Clients receive a complete website package with latest SEO implementation and long-tail keyword strategy.
- アプリ制作 (App Development): Original store app development fees, including customer management, reservation, messaging, and promotional features. Customized apps branded with client's logo for iOS and Android.
- MEO対策 (MEO Services): Local search optimization services including Google Business Profile management, citation building, review management, and integrated Instagram posting for local discovery.
- LP制作 (Landing Page Production): Landing page production and subscription fees. Initial package includes 10 LP pages plus TOP page and basic pages totaling 32 pages, with SEO keyword generation and analytics tools.
- ビジネスクレジット・分割払い (Business Credit / Installment): Business credit installment payment service for clients to afford website/app production costs in monthly installments, creating a revenue stream from financing arrangements.
- AIブログサービス (AI Blog Subscription): Monthly AI-generated blog content subscription service with topic suggestions, article generation, and EAT-optimized writing for ongoing SEO.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | LP制作システム 月額120,000円〜 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | 定制コンサルティング・制作サービス |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Assist product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Assist designs, builds, and operates digital marketing assets for Japanese small and medium-sized businesses, including full homepage creation, landing page production, local SEO/MEO optimization, AI-generated blog content, custom-branded store applications, and mobile self-ordering systems, all built on a proprietary Japanese-made CMS. The company also distributes these solutions nationwide through a recruited agent and OEM partner network, with business-credit installment payment options to lower purchase friction.
Product overview
Assist is a comprehensive digital marketing and web solutions agency that provides a full suite of online presence tools for small and medium businesses. The core offering centers on homepage creation (ホームページ制作) and landing page (LP制作) services using their proprietary CMS, supplemented by a suite of digital marketing tools including InfoBiz for MEO/local search optimization, the AI Blog Service for automated content generation, Instagram marketing tool (hashfollow), original store app development, and mobile self-ordering systems. These products work together as an integrated marketing platform: websites serve as the digital storefront, MEO/SEO tools drive local discovery, AI content tools maintain fresh publishing, and apps enable customer engagement and direct marketing. The company also offers video production, animation/manga content creation, and business credit/financing options for their tools.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Homepage Creation (ホームページ制作) Full-service website design, build, and hosting using Assist's proprietary Japanese-made CMS, with built-in SEO tooling and long-tail keyword optimization. Clients can modify design, layout, and content without additional fees. Targeted at Japanese SMBs and local stores seeking a turnkey, professionally optimized online presence.
- InfoBiz MEO Optimization (InfoBiz・MEO対策) Map Engine Optimization (MEO) platform that helps local businesses rank prominently in Google Maps and Google Business Profile searches. Includes citation building, review management, and Instagram synchronization. Targeted at local Japanese retailers and service businesses seeking in-area customer discovery.
- AI Blog Service (AIブログサービス) AI-driven blog content subscription that analyzes a client's website, proposes relevant article topics, and generates approximately 3,000-character articles per piece with EAT (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) measures built in. Targeted at SMBs that lack the bandwidth or writing resources to maintain an ongoing content marketing cadence.
- Original Store App (オリジナル店舗アプリ) Custom-branded native smartphone app for iOS and Android with 24-hour reservations, customer management, mass-messaging, point/loyalty systems, and campaign announcements. Targeted at Japanese retail and service businesses seeking a branded channel for direct customer engagement, repeat visits, and loyalty.
- Mobile Self-Order System (モバイルセルフオーダー) QR-code-based mobile ordering system that lets customers order directly from their smartphones without installing an app, with automatic kitchen ticket routing. Targeted at restaurants and F&B operators seeking labor savings and faster table turnover.
- LP Production / LP Editing CMS (LP制作) Landing page design and editing CMS focused on conversion-rate optimization, with long-tail SEO keyword generation and analytics tools; initial packages include 10 LP pages plus TOP and basic pages. Targeted at SMBs running acquisition campaigns that need high-converting, search-optimized landing pages.
- hashfollow (Instagram Marketing Tool) Instagram marketing tool that maximizes account engagement and converts Instagram activity into customer acquisition for client businesses. Targeted at Japanese SMBs using or planning to use Instagram as a customer-acquisition channel.
- Video Production Service (動画制作サービス) Video production service for promotional content including regular videos, interview videos, and drone footage for websites. Targeted at SMBs that need video assets for sites, ads, and YouTube marketing.
- Web Manga Production (WEBマンガ制作) Visual storytelling production using manga and animation to convey business messages to customers. Targeted at SMBs seeking distinctive, accessible marketing content especially suited to Japanese consumer audiences.
- Google Ads Service (Google広告サービス) Paid-search campaign management on Google Ads as a turnkey service. Targeted at SMBs that need immediate lead generation through SEM, available via Assist as a Google Partner.
- LLMO Measures (LLMO対策) Next-generation optimization covering AI Optimization (AIO), Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), LLMO, and MEO — designed to help client content surface in AI-driven search and answer engines. Targeted at forward-looking SMBs that need visibility as search shifts beyond traditional SEO.
Quantifiable outcome
- Google review count: 1,500+ reviews at average 4.8 stars achieved for clients through branding support
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Assist
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Assist technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature5 records
Assist partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Google (Google LLC)coreOfficial Google Partner and Google Cloud Technologies Partner. Assist leverages Google's advertising platforms and cloud infrastructure for client solutions. Listed on Google Cloud Find a Partner directory (cloud.google.com/find-a-partner/partner/infobiz).
- Yahoo! Japan (Yahoo! JAPAN)coreOfficial Yahoo! Japan Partner for advertising services. Assist provides Yahoo! Japan advertising solutions as part of its digital marketing service lineup.
- 経済産業省 (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)coreOfficially designated as Smart SME Supporter by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. This designation enables Assist to provide supported solutions to small and medium enterprises under government-backed programs.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Assist competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- makeshop by GMO: GMO's Japanese SMB e-commerce platform. Overlaps in the SMB web-services space and Japanese market; comparable SMB target customer, though core offering is e-commerce rather than MEO/AI content.
- BASE (by GMO): Japan-focused e-commerce/online store platform serving SMB creators and small retailers. Adjacent SMB customer base and Japanese market focus, but skews toward e-commerce storefronts rather than Assist's website + MEO + AI content bundle.
Direct peers
- STUDIO: Japan-based no-code website design platform popular with SMBs, freelancers, and agencies. Direct competitor on the CMS/website creation front for Japanese SMBs, though it lacks Assist's bundled MEO and AI content services.
- ferret One: Japanese B2B SaaS marketing platform offering CMS, website building, MA, and lead nurturing for SMBs and mid-market. Closest direct competitor to Assist in the Japanese SMB web + marketing automation space, with overlapping CMS, SEO, and customer-acquisition tooling.
- GMO Pepabo: Japanese web services group under GMO Internet providing hosting, website builders, and domain services targeted at SMBs and creators. Comparable SMB-focused web infrastructure and CMS product surface with similar Japanese SMB customer base.
- Jimdo: European-origin DIY website builder with established Japanese presence targeting SMBs and individuals. Competes on the no-code CMS layer that Assist also emphasizes, though without Assist's services-heavy distribution model.
Regional players
- Web Effect / Web Producing agencies (segment peer): Representative Japanese SMB-focused web production and digital marketing agency. Closest peer in services-led agency model, though smaller scale and narrower product portfolio (no proprietary CMS, no AI blog, no nationwide agent network).
Broad incumbents
- Squarespace: Global website builder targeting SMBs and creatives. Comparable SMB positioning and CMS-based offering; broader brand and design-led positioning but does not localize at the depth (MEO, agent network, installment financing) that Assist does for Japan.
- GoDaddy: Global SMB web services incumbent offering domain, hosting, website builder, and marketing tools with operations in Japan. Competes broadly in the same SMB web-services category but with a self-serve, English-rooted model that does not match Assist's high-touch agent network.
- Wix.com: Global website builder with strong Japanese presence. Competes as the incumbent self-serve CMS alternative; materially broader product portfolio but less services-led, less localized for Japanese SMB workflows than Assist.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Assist social profiles
Digital presenceAssist financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Assist leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Assist funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Assist M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Assist
What does Assist do?
Assist designs, builds, and operates digital marketing assets for Japanese small and medium-sized businesses, including full homepage creation, landing page production, local SEO/MEO optimization, AI-generated blog content, custom-branded store applications, and mobile self-ordering systems, all built on a proprietary Japanese-made CMS. The company also distributes these solutions nationwide through a recruited agent and OEM partner network, with business-credit installment payment options to lower purchase friction.
Is Assist a public or private company?
Assist is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Assist founded?
Assist was founded in 2014. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Assist based?
Assist is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Assist make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. ホームぺージ制作 (Website Production) is the primary driver. The others are アプリ制作 (App Development), MEO対策 (MEO Services), LP制作 (Landing Page Production), ビジネスクレジット・分割払い (Business Credit / Installment) and AIブログサービス (AI Blog Subscription).
Who are Assist's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are makeshop by GMO and BASE (by GMO). Direct peers are STUDIO, ferret One, GMO Pepabo and Jimdo. Web Effect / Web Producing agencies (segment peer) is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Squarespace, GoDaddy and Wix.com.
Does Assist have an API?
No public API is recorded for Assist.
What industry is Assist in?
Assist's product category is Web Development and Digital Marketing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAJAG, Blogging & CMS Content Platforms. Its NAICS code is 541511 and its SIC code is 7370.