Progos

What Progos does

Progos (株式会社プロゴス), headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard-listed RareJob Inc. (ticker 6096) that provides corporate global-talent development services to Japanese enterprises and universities. Incorporated on March 1, 2021 via a spin-off of RareJob's corporate business division, the company targets large Japanese companies pursuing international expansion that need to measure and improve employee English speaking proficiency — a market gap the company quantifies as only 7% of Japanese businesspeople reaching CEFR B2 versus 25%+ internationally, with hotels at just 2% B2. The flagship product is PROGOS, an AI-powered CEFR/CEFR-J-compliant business English speaking test that uses speech recognition and proprietary machine-learning scoring to deliver results in approximately 2 minutes at 550 yen per auto-scored test (2,750 yen with human-plus-AI proctoring), a price point and speed order-of-magnitude below traditional human-rated assessments. As of August 2025, PROGOS has been taken by 1 million+ examinees across 106 countries and deployed at 1,000+ Japanese organizations, with logos spanning manufacturers (Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Olympus, JFE, Nippon Steel, Murata), retailers (Nitori), tech firms (Mercari, Sansan, Money Forward), hospitality (Tokyu Hotels), HR services (Adecco), and education (Chuo University's 25,000 students).

The business operates a "Measure & Develop" stack: assessment (PROGOS, including a mobile app with a free daily test) feeds into training products including the RareJob Business English 1-on-1 conversation course (12,980–16,870 yen/month subscription with ~6,000 Filipino instructors), the CAPE-Impact 4-month intensive program, the POWER 20-session global skills 1-on-1 program (99,000 yen), and Global Mindset workshops. Go-to-market combines a direct enterprise field-sales team, inside-sales consultation, a corporate self-service trial for up to 5 users, and partner channels (EnglishCentral globally; En World Japan and Daijob.com for HR/talent; Manpower Thailand for international expansion; vKirirom for Cambodia). Revenue is a mix of usage-based test fees, recurring subscriptions, and program license fees, supported by content marketing (PROGOS Global Talent Academy launched Sep 2024), webinar programs, and SEO/case-study assets. Mid-term corporate-sales revenue target is 100 million yen, and the company has ISO 27001-aligned security posture.

Name

Progos

Legal name

株式会社プロゴス

Website

https://progos.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Progos is a Tokyo-based B2B subsidiary of listed RareJob that provides Japanese enterprises and universities with AI-scored CEFR-compliant English speaking assessments (PROGOS) and global-talent training programs. The company has served 1,000+ organizations and 1 million+ examinees across 106 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. PROGOS English Speaking Test (Corporate): AI-scored business English speaking test sold to enterprises and universities. Pricing at 550 yen per test for auto-scoring version, 2,750 yen for online proctored version. Bulk corporate contracts available with volume pricing.
2. RareJob Business English Course: Online 1-on-1 English lessons with Filipino instructors. Corporate plans starting at 12,980 yen/month for daily 25-minute lessons. Enterprise deployment with monitoring dashboard and progress tracking.
3. Global Skill Power Training (POWER): Intensive 20-session 1-on-1 training program for global business communication skills. Covers Networking, Meeting, Facilitation, and Presentation. Price at 99,000 yen for corporate program.
4. CAPE-Impact Intensive English Program: 4-month intensive business English training combining online lessons (64 sessions), self-study materials, consulting sessions, and 3 PROGOS tests. Target: CEFR B1 to B2 level advancement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Progos provides corporate global talent development services centered on the PROGOS AI-powered CEFR-compliant business English speaking assessment, combined with online 1-on-1 English lessons and intensive communication skills training programs. The portfolio spans AI-scored English speaking testing, online monitored proctoring, 1-on-1 business English lessons with Filipino instructors, intensive 4-month CAPE-Impact training, POWER global skill coaching, and mindset workshops. Solutions are sold primarily to Japanese enterprises and universities for English skill visualization, training effectiveness measurement, and global leader development.

Product overview

Progos provides a portfolio of global talent development services centered on its AI-powered PROGOS speaking test as the core assessment tool. The main products include PROGOS (CEFR-compliant business English speaking test with AI automatic scoring), the RareJob Eikaiwa Business English Course (online conversation lessons with 6,000 instructors), CAPE-Impact (4-month intensive training program), and POWER Global Skill Training (1-on-1 communication skills coaching). Supporting services include Global Mindset workshops, PROGOS Online Exam Monitoring, and PROGOS-MENTER e-learning platform. The ecosystem connects assessment (PROGOS) with training (RareJob Eikaiwa, CAPE-Impact, POWER) to deliver a Measure & Develop approach for corporate global talent development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PROGOS®: AI-powered CEFR-compliant business English speaking test with auto-scoring, offered as browser and mobile app versions.
• CAPE-Impact®
• グローバルスキルPowerトレーニング「POWER」
• グローバルマインドセット

Products and services

• PROGOS English Speaking Test AI-powered business English speaking test compliant with international CEFR standards. Auto-scored results delivered in approximately 2 minutes across 5 test parts (interview, reading aloud, presentation, graph presentation, role-play) and 6 CEFR-aligned evaluation criteria. Sold per test to enterprises and universities for skill visualization, hiring, and training effectiveness measurement.
• PROGOS Online Exam Monitoring Hybrid AI plus human-review proctoring service for the PROGOS speaking test, providing image and voice monitoring with results returned within approximately 2 weeks. Sold as an add-on per test at 2,750 yen (tax-inclusive) to corporate customers requiring verified score integrity.
• RareJob Business English Course Online 1-on-1 business English conversation lesson course with approximately 6,000 Filipino instructors and 5,000+ lesson types across 7 categories. Delivered via browser-based 25-minute sessions, with monitoring dashboards for corporate administrators. Sold as monthly subscriptions (for example, 12,980 yen/month daily plan) to corporate clients for workforce English upskilling.
• CAPE-Impact Intensive Business English Program 4-month intensive business English training program combining 64 online lessons, self-study materials, consulting sessions, and 3 PROGOS tests. Targets CEFR B1 learners aiming for B2 with role-play practice focused on real job tasks. Sold as a subscription bundle to corporate clients.
• POWER Global Skill Training Intensive 1-on-1 training program covering global business communication skills (Networking, Meeting, Facilitation, Presentation) across 20 sessions of 50 minutes each, with pre/post assessment tests. Sold as a one-time program at 99,000 yen to corporate learners recommended at CEFR B1+.
• Global Mindset Workshop Group workshop program addressing global business mindset through 7 key points covering HR development, organizational capability, cultural understanding, and vision mapping. Conducted in Japanese with no English level prerequisite, sold to corporate clients seeking mindset change alongside language training.
• PROGOS Mobile App iOS and Android mobile application delivering the PROGOS AI-scored English speaking test, with 1 free daily test, 20-minute exam duration, test history tracking, and personalized feedback. Targets individual consumers and prospective B2B leads via freemium.
• PROGOS-MENTER E-Learning Platform Cloud-based online learning platform for corporate training administration, including progress tracking and learner management features. Sold to enterprises as a learning infrastructure for managing CEFR-aligned English training programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7% of Japanese businesspeople achieve B2 (business-competent) English speaking level vs 25%+ for international test-takers; 660,000 examinee data shows significant speaking skill gap
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers28 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, tactical and strategic.

• EnglishCentral, Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 6 March 2025Integration partnership with EnglishCentral's global English learning platform. PROGOS speaking assessment test integrated into EnglishCentral platform to strengthen speaking evaluation solutions for educational institutions. EnglishCentral provides global reach while PROGOS supplies CEFR-compliant assessment technology.
• Natural Works (株式会社ナチュラルワークス/COI留学エジェンシー)tacticalGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 December 2023Partnership for Japan Tourism Agency-supported overseas dispatch program. PROGOS used for participant English skill assessment in hospitality industry training program sending Japanese workers to luxury Dubai hotels.
• Human Global Talent (Daijob.com)tacticalGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 July 2022Co-hosted webinar on bilingual talent acquisition with Daijob.com. Focused on PROGOS utilization in hiring and skill visualization for career mobility. Joint marketing to HR professionals seeking English assessment solutions.
• vKirirom Pte. Ltd.strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 April 2022Partnership with Singapore-based education group for PROGOS deployment at Kirirom Institute of Technology in Cambodia. Provides 1-year free access to 300 students and 1,000 prospective students; aimed at cultivating global leaders for ASEAN region.
• Personnel Consultant Manpower Thailand (パーソネルコンサルタントマンパワータイランド)strategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 30 August 2021First international PROGOS deployment with major Thai staffing firm. Provides PROGOS to 100,000+ Thai job seekers registered with firm; 10,000 test takers targeted by March 2022. Partnership includes EnglishCentral platform integration.
• En World Japan (エンワールド・ジャパン)strategicGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 July 2021Partnership connecting PROGOS assessment with bilingual talent recruitment. PROGOS provided free to En World registrants; enables objective English skill measurement for job placement matching with global companies.
• Babel Methods Inc. (バベルメソッド)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2021Joint venture with JELLYFISH for Japanese speaking skill learning program development. Professor Noriko Yokoyama (Showa Women's University) serves as advisor. New company develops JF Japanese Education Standard-based programs for foreign workers in Japan.
• Tokyo University of Foreign StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2021Joint development partnership for Japanese speaking assessment program. Leverages TUFS's 150 years of language education expertise and CEFR-J research leadership. Professor Yukio Tono serves as project advisor; aims to solve social issues in Japanese language education for foreign workers.
• Tokyo University of Foreign Studies - Professor Yukio TonocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2021Test design consultation with CEFR-J project leader Professor Yukio Tono. Expert oversight ensures international CEFR standards are properly adapted for Japanese English learners. Professor serves as official advisor for PROGOS development.
• Tokyo University of Foreign Studies - Professor Masafumi NegishicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2021Final evaluation and test reliability assessment by English testing theory expert Professor Negishi. Validates PROGOS scoring system accuracy and test design robustness; ensures alignment with CEFR measurement standards.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Babbel for Business: Babbel offers a B2B language learning platform widely used by enterprises, with self-paced app-based learning plus live sessions. Comparable as a tech-enabled incumbent in corporate language learning with a similar Japan and international focus.
• Berlitz Corporation: Berlitz is a global language training and cultural education provider with corporate training programs. Comparable as a long-standing broad incumbent in corporate language training with mature curriculum and global instructor network.
• EF Education First (Corporate Solutions): EF Corporate Solutions offers large-scale language training programs to multinational companies, with broader global brand and instructor pool than Progos. Comparable as an established broad incumbent in corporate English training serving similar enterprise buyer needs.
• Cambridge English (Cambridge Assessment): Cambridge English develops CEFR-aligned English tests and certifications used by educational institutions and employers globally. Comparable as a CEFR-authoritative body whose framework PROGOS aligns with; potential partner and adjacent competitor for institutional assessment.

Direct peers

• Speak: Speak is an AI-powered English speaking tutor that combines voice-recognition learning with structured curriculum. Comparable as a venture-scale AI-speaking product targeting Korean-speaking learners, with similar technology stack and product positioning to PROGOS's mobile app.
• Bizmates: Bizmates is a Japanese online business English platform providing 1-on-1 lessons with Filipino instructors to corporate and individual learners. Closely comparable direct competitor in the Japanese corporate business English training segment.
• Pearson (PTE Academic): Pearson's PTE Academic is an AI-scored English proficiency test accepted globally and increasingly used in hiring and admissions. Comparable as an AI-driven alternative to human-rated speaking tests targeting institutional customers.
• ETS (TOEFL): ETS operates the TOEFL family of English proficiency tests, the global gold standard for academic and corporate English benchmarking. Directly competes with PROGOS in standardized speaking assessment, particularly for Japanese universities and multinational employers.
• IELTS: IELTS is one of the world's leading English proficiency tests for higher education and migration, jointly owned by British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Comparable as a major established speaking assessment product competing for institutional and corporate customers, particularly in Japan.
• Duolingo (English Test): Duolingo's English Test is an AI-scored English proficiency test accepted by universities and employers globally. Directly comparable as an AI-driven, low-cost, fast-turnaround English speaking/assessment product competing for the same institutional customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/progos_app

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Progos