SkimaTalk

What SkimaTalk does

SkimaTalk, operated by Tokyo-based ST Tech Inc., is an online English-learning marketplace founded in 2012 that connects Japanese learners with native English-speaking teachers worldwide via one-on-one sessions conducted through Microsoft Teams. The platform operates a coin-based virtual currency system: students purchase coins through monthly subscription plans (Trial ¥12,500, Basic ¥24,800, Standard ¥36,800, Premium ¥48,800 JPY) or Pay As You Go (¥16,000 JPY), then redeem coins for 25-minute sessions at an average rate of ~9 coins per lesson. Coins expire after 60 days for subscription purchases and 180 days for Pay As You Go. Teachers individually set their own session prices and are evaluated through a community-driven rating system covering teaching skill, feedback quality, enthusiasm, punctuality, and audio/video clarity.

The platform's core technology includes a CEFR-aligned 8-level skill assessment framework (mapping to A1-C2) where teachers evaluate students across speaking, listening, pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar after each session, with the most recent five sessions determining current skill level. Structured course offerings include Business English at five levels (Role Plays and Case Studies), IELTS Speaking and IELTS Writing preparation, and English News courses at three proficiency tiers. Public teacher rankings by weekly, monthly, and all-time session counts drive marketplace visibility, with top teachers having completed 20,000+ sessions.

SkimaTalk runs a dual go-to-market motion: a product-led direct-to-consumer funnel targeting individual learners via organic search, content marketing, and Japanese media PR (Nikkei Business, Kodansha, Wall Street Journal), and a separate sales-led B2B motion offering corporate employee English training through a dedicated portal with group admin tools. Named enterprise customers include Google, Recruit, Nikko, Appirio, ANZCO Foods, ITW, Brooks Instrument, IPX, and Cabot. The company was founded by Koji Shimizu (CEO), holds an MBA from UC Berkeley, raised a single disclosed seed round of $100,000 from Recruit Strategic Partners in 2012, and has operated without subsequent external funding rounds.

Name

SkimaTalk

Legal name

ST Tech Inc.

Website

https://skimatalk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SkimaTalk is an online marketplace connecting Japanese English learners with native English-speaking teachers worldwide via one-on-one Microsoft Teams sessions, monetizing through coin-based subscriptions and Pay As You Go pricing denominated in JPY.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Coin Subscription Plans: Monthly auto-renewing subscription plans (Trial ¥12,500, Basic ¥24,800, Standard ¥36,800, Premium ¥48,800 JPY) that deposit discounted coins into student accounts each month. Coins valid for 60 days. Also includes 'Everyday Lesson Plans' at ¥42,800/month for daily sessions.
2. Pay As You Go Coin Purchases: Non-subscription coin purchases allowing students to buy coins and book sessions on a per-session basis without monthly commitment. Coins valid 180 days. Average price ~9 coins per 25-minute session.
3. Corporate / B2B Training: Enterprise English training services for corporate clients, sold through a dedicated B2B sales motion with corporate portal and group admin tools.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SkimaTalk operates an online marketplace that connects English learners—primarily in Japan and Asia-Pacific—with native English-speaking teachers worldwide for one-on-one 25-minute coaching sessions. The platform uses a proprietary coin-based virtual currency (purchased via monthly subscriptions or pay-as-you-go) to book sessions conducted through Microsoft Teams, and offers structured course content in Business English, IELTS, and English News alongside free conversation. A separate B2B channel delivers employee English training to Japanese enterprises such as Google, Recruit, and Appirio.

Product overview

SkimaTalk is a one-on-one online English learning platform that connects students with native English-speaking teachers worldwide. The core offering consists of subscription plans (Trial, Basic, Standard, Premium) and Pay As You Go options using a coin-based booking system for 25-minute sessions. The platform also includes an Everyday Lesson Plan for daily learners. Students can choose from structured courses including Business English (Levels 1-5), IELTS Speaking/Writing preparation, and English News courses at various proficiency levels. Additional platform features include teacher rankings, progress tracking, skill assessment based on CEFR standards, and an internal messaging system for teacher-student communication. Sessions are conducted via Microsoft Teams integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coin Subscription Plans (Trial, Basic, Standard, Premium) Monthly auto-renewing subscription plans priced from ¥12,500 to ¥48,800 JPY that deposit discounted coins into student accounts each month; coins are valid for 60 days and can be used to book 25-minute one-on-one sessions with native English teachers. Includes 2-Month Advance Booking feature across all tiers.
• Pay As You Go Non-subscription coin purchase option (~¥16,000 JPY) allowing students to set their own schedule and book 25-minute sessions on demand without monthly commitment; coins valid 180 days.
• Everyday Lesson Plan High-frequency daily lesson subscription at ¥42,800/month, offering either one 25-minute or two 25-minute lessons per day at discounted per-session rates, with pre-purchased lesson credits valid for 60 days.
• Business English Courses (Levels 1–5) Structured role-play and case-study based Business English courses across five proficiency levels covering interview skills, presentations, and professional discussions.
• IELTS Speaking Course Mock IELTS speaking test practice course with multiple topic sets designed to build the key skills required for the IELTS Speaking test.
• IELTS Writing Course IELTS Academic Writing Exam preparation covering Task 1 and Task 2 with practice opportunities across different question styles.
• English News Courses (Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced) News-based English learning courses using articles from BBC, CNN, and other media sources, with reading comprehension and discussion activities at three proficiency levels.
• Corporate English Training (B2B) Enterprise English training program sold through a dedicated corporate sales motion with a 法人向けサービス (corporate services) portal, group admin dashboard, and corporate inquiry form; targets Japanese companies (e.g., Google, Recruit, Appirio) for employee English upskilling.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of customers rate SkimaTalk higher than other English learning services
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Leading TEFL Certification SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2014SkimaTalk announced a partnership with a leading TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification school in October 2014. The partnership was designed to support teacher qualification screening and professional development for teachers on the platform. PRWeb press release dated October 29, 2014.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• italki: Global online marketplace connecting language learners with community and professional tutors, including large volumes of English-for-Japanese learners. Closest direct comparable to SkimaTalk's marketplace model, with broader geographic coverage and stronger funding.
• Cambly: On-demand 1:1 English conversation platform pairing learners with native speakers, with no booking required. Comparable in target user (non-native English learners seeking speaking practice) and consumer/enterprise mix.
• Preply: Global language tutoring marketplace with explicit pricing tiers, teacher ratings, and a dedicated B2B corporate training arm. Closely mirrors SkimaTalk's three-pillar revenue model and Japan-targeted English demand.
• Cafetalk: Japan-headquartered online tutoring marketplace covering multiple languages and subjects including English. Closest geographically anchored peer with a similar consumer-led marketplace and per-session pricing model.
• Engoo: Japan-focused online English conversation service offering unlimited daily lessons via subscription. Competes directly for Japanese consumer English learners with a similar low-friction subscription model.
• Bizmates: Japan-focused business English platform connecting professionals with Filipino teachers via video lessons. Directly targets the same Japanese business-professional ICP as SkimaTalk.
• RareJob: Philippines-based online English tutoring service with strong penetration in Japan. Comparable in its Japan-targeted, native-speaker marketplace model and consumer subscription pricing.
• Verbling: Online language tutoring marketplace with vetted teachers, structured lessons, and corporate training offerings. Closely aligned marketplace + content + B2B structure to SkimaTalk.

Broad incumbents

• Duolingo: Mass-market language learning platform with growing AI-powered conversation features. Not a direct marketplace, but a major substitute in the consumer English-learning category, including for Japanese users.

Emerging players

• Speak: AI-driven English-speaking tutor app focused on Asian learners (Korea, Japan). Represents the AI-native threat to human-tutor marketplaces like SkimaTalk in the APAC conversation-practice segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SkimaTalk
• Facebookfacebook.com/SkimaTalk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skimatalk-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 SkimaTalk