Chatbox

What Chatbox does

Chatbox is a Japanese single-person communication booth service operated by Waim Sharing Co., Ltd. (ワイムシェアリング株式会社), headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Launched in September 2021, the service deploys compact 910mm × 910mm work booths (CBX model, 162kg) equipped with photocatalytic aiSave antimicrobial CCFL lighting, SIAA-certified antibacterial panels, high-capacity ventilation (95m³/hr), web-conference-optimized LED lighting, integrated sprinkler systems, and smart-lock access controlled via iOS/Android smartphone apps. Users access booths on a pay-per-minute basis (¥12/minute, 5-minute minimum) for web meetings, phone calls, and focused work, with a ¥500/month Premium subscription providing 720 points and priority reservations. Following the April 2025 acquisition of the RemoteWorkBOX business from 2Links Inc. (Piaz Group subsidiary), the combined network comprises 136+ locations and 295+ units across Kanto and Kansai regions.

The company operates a multi-channel business model combining consumer pay-per-use, an owner/operator revenue-share program for property owners, enterprise corporate memberships, monthly rental (approximately ¥38,000/month on 12-month contracts), a 3-month trial plan, and direct unit sales. Distribution leverages the proprietary CHATBOX app alongside third-party booking platforms including JR East Building's STATION WORK (since April 2025), SPACEE, Instabase, Space Marketplace, and droppin. Named enterprise customers include Okaya, Taisei Corporation, Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance, and Resona Bank. Waim Sharing is a privately held Japanese corporation tracing its corporate lineage to 1953, with CHATBOX being one of several business lines alongside share houses, rental meeting rooms, executive driver services, share offices, indoor golf studios (GOOD GOLFERS, GOLF NEXT 24), and the PRIME MADE® modular unit house brand. A leadership transition takes effect April 1, 2026, with Ishikura Atsushi assuming the Representative Director CEO role from Sato Naoshi, who becomes Chairman.

Revenue mechanics combine usage-based micro-transactions, subscription tiers, B2B2C operator revenue shares, and longer-cycle corporate rental/sales contracts. The full addressable market is Japan's urban working population requiring private on-demand workspace in transit hubs, office lobbies, convention centers, and commercial facilities. The Waim Group operates regional offices in Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka (established June 2025), reflecting continued national geographic expansion.

Name

Chatbox

Legal name

ワイムシェアリング株式会社

Website

https://waim-group.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Chatbox (operated by Waim Sharing Co., Ltd., Japan) manufactures and operates a network of 295+ single-person private work booths across 136+ locations, serving individual remote workers via pay-per-minute access and enterprise customers through rentals, memberships, and direct unit sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Modular Work Booths

NAICS

Office Administrative Services (5611)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Conference Room & Meeting Services Support (BPABAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Occupant Experience & Smart Workplace Apps (Room/Desk Booking, Comfort Feedback) (BPABAGAO), Workplace Technology & Smart Office Support (Room Booking Systems, IT/AV Liaison) (IMAIALAK)

Keywords

• Private work booths
• Tele-communication booths
• Focus workspace pods
• Modular work pods
• Workspace rental service

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pay-per-use (Public Booths): Users pay 1分12円 (tax included) per minute of booth usage. Minimum 5 minutes (60円). Premium plan offers 500円/month for 720 points (60 min equivalent) plus ability to make 3 reservations (vs 1 for standard).
2. Owner/Operator Model: Property owners install CHATBOX booths and receive usage-based incentive payments. Waim handles reservation system, billing, operations, and maintenance. Owners receive revenue share based on booth utilization.
3. Rental Plan (Corporate): Monthly rental of approximately 3.8万円 for 12-month minimum contract. After contract ends, options to purchase, continue renting, or return.
4. Direct Unit Purchase: Sale of CHATBOX CBX units to corporate customers for private office use. Price not publicly disclosed — quote-based.
5. Corporate Membership Plans: Enterprise accounts where companies pay for employee usage across the CHATBOX network, consolidating billing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Chatbox designs, manufactures, and operates single-occupancy tele-communication work booths (the CBX model) that provide private, soundproofed spaces for web conferences, phone calls, and focused work. The service is accessed via a smartphone app on a pay-per-minute basis (¥12/minute), with additional options including monthly rental plans for corporate offices, direct unit purchases, a revenue-sharing owner/operator model for property owners, and integration with third-party booking platforms. The booths feature integrated air purification, antimicrobial surfaces, web-conference-optimized lighting, and safety sprinkler systems, deployed across 136+ locations in Japan's Kanto and Kansai regions.

Product overview

CHATBOX is a single-product platform (with supporting service modules) offering 1-person private work booths for public use, rental, and direct purchase. The core CHATBOX booth product enables pay-per-minute access for remote work and web meetings. Supporting modules include an owner system for property operators, rental and trial plans for enterprise customers, and a premium subscription tier. The April 2025 acquisition of RemoteWorkBOX expanded the service portfolio to a combined network of 136 locations across Tokyo and Kansai regions. All services are managed through a unified smartphone application.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CHATBOX（チャットボックス）: 个人型テレコミュニケーションブース（1人用ワークブース）。1分単位の従量課金式で、Web会議・電話・作業などに利用可能な完全個室型ブース。
• ワイムビジネスプラザ
• ワイム貸会議室
• シェアリザイド
• GOOD GOLFERS
• GOLF NEXT 24
• PRIME MADE®

Products and services

• CHATBOX Pay-per-Use Service A pay-per-minute 1-person private work booth service enabling remote work, web conferences, phone calls, and focused tasks. Users access booths via smartphone app with 1-minute billing increments (¥12/minute including tax, ¥60 minimum for 5 minutes).
• CHATBOX Owner System A revenue-sharing model for property owners who install CHATBOX booths. Waim handles reservation systems, operations, maintenance, and marketing while providing incentive payments based on booth usage.
• CHATBOX CBX Booth Unit (Direct Purchase) Direct purchase option for CHATBOX booth units (model CBX-WH/BR). The 162kg booth measures 910mm x 910mm x 2172mm and features ventilation, LED lighting, USB/power outlets, antimicrobial panels, and integrated sprinkler system. Quote-based pricing.
• CHATBOX Rental Plan Monthly rental service for CHATBOX booths at approximately ¥38,000 per month with a 12-month minimum contract. Post-contract options include purchase, continued rental, or return.
• CHATBOX 3-Month Trial Plan A short-term trial program allowing companies to test CHATBOX booths at a special rate for 3 months before deciding on purchase, rental continuation, or return.
• CHATBOX Premium Plan Premium membership option offering 720 points (60 minutes equivalent) per month for ¥500, plus ability to make up to 3 reservations simultaneously (vs 1 for standard members).
• RemoteWorkBOX Acquired 1-person work booth service from 2Links Inc. (Piaz Group subsidiary). Combined with CHATBOX service to create expanded network of 136 locations with 295 units across Tokyo and Kansai areas.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95m³/hr ventilation capacity — 3x Ministry of Health guideline for 1 person per hour
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• STATION WORK (by JR East Building)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 April 2025CHATBOX integrated into JR East Building's STATION WORK platform, enabling STATION WORK members to search, check availability, and make advance reservations for CHATBOX booths through the STATION WORK website. Supports 15-minute unit bookings with last-minute availability.
• 2Links Inc. (Piers Group subsidiary)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Waim Sharing acquired the RemoteWorkBOX business (87 locations, 180 units) from 2Links Inc., a subsidiary of Piers Group (Tokyo, President: Kuwano Takashi). Combined network provides 136+ locations and 295+ units across Kanto and Kansai. Apps to be integrated for cross-network access.
• GTN Mobile / GTN Life Support (Global Trust Networks)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Global Trust Networks for foreign worker support services. GTN provides multilingual SIM cards and 24/7 life support services for foreign workers using Waim's housing support services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Framery: Finland-based global leader in office pods and acoustic booths. Directly comparable to CHATBOX as a manufacturer and operator of single-occupancy soundproof booths for offices and public spaces, with overlapping enterprise and individual customer segments worldwide.
• Orb (Akari Holdings): Japanese work booth brand operated by Akari Holdings, deploying single-person booths in stations and offices across Japan. Directly competes with CHATBOX in the same urban pay-per-use and corporate rental segments within the Japanese market.
• Focusound (NTT East): NTT East's tele-work booth service offering soundproof single-occupancy booths primarily in NTT-owned real estate across eastern Japan. Backed by a major telecom incumbent with deep distribution, directly competing with CHATBOX for office and station locations.
• Cocoon (Kokuyo): Office booth line from major Japanese office furniture maker Kokuyo. Targets the same enterprise customers seeking private workspace solutions, leveraging Kokuyo's extensive office-furniture distribution channels as a competitive advantage.
• Silen (Room): Estonia-origin office pod manufacturer (rebranded as Room). Global direct competitor in the manufacturing and sale of soundproof single-occupancy booths, with overlapping enterprise office and individual-usage value propositions.

Emerging players

• Zenbooth: US-based smaller work booth manufacturer focused on direct-to-customer sales of single-occupancy pods. Comparable to CHATBOX on product but lacks the dense public-pay-per-use network model that defines CHATBOX's unit economics.

Broad incumbents

• WeWork: Global coworking and flexible workspace operator. Competes indirectly with CHATBOX for the same hybrid-work and private-workspace demand, but delivers shared rooms rather than single-occupancy booths — overlapping customer base, divergent product format.
• Regus / IWG: Largest global operator of flexible and serviced office space. Adjacent competitor in providing on-demand private workspaces, with established corporate relationships that CHATBOX also targets through its enterprise channel.

Others

• SPACEE: Japanese workspace and meeting room marketplace. Functions as a distribution partner listing CHATBOX booths for advance reservation; not a booth operator itself but competes for the same end-user's attention within Japan's space-rental ecosystem.
• STATION WORK (JR East Building): JR East Building's station-based shared office platform. Functions primarily as a distribution partner for CHATBOX following the April 2025 integration, but also operates competing private workspace solutions within JR East stations, creating a hybrid partner-and-adjacent-competitor relationship.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CHATBOX_waim

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries6 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 Chatbox