What AdInnovation does

AdInnovation Inc. (アドイノベーション株式会社) is a Tokyo-based, privately held digital advertising agency founded on March 15, 2010, with a 13+ year operating focus on smartphone app marketing in Japan. The company serves three primary customer segments: app developers and publishers seeking user acquisition and performance advertising; media publishers seeking ad-revenue monetization consulting; and digital advertising agencies seeking app-specialization support or AI-driven efficiency. Core deliverables span promotion strategy, cross-platform ad operations across Google Ads / Meta Ads / Apple Search Ads, media consulting, banner and video creative production (via the Banamovi brand), and M&A advisory for ad/marketing companies.

The product portfolio is anchored by an in-house AI stack developed under the AD × AI Lab initiative (launched November 2023). Flagship Rakuad AI is a conversational AI agent that enables Slack-based, natural-language ad operations — including performance analysis, improvement proposals, and cross-platform budget allocation — with general availability reached in June 2026 at 5% of monthly ad spend. Supporting modules include the Rakurepo AI report-automation system (Excel/Google Sheets compatible, claiming ~80% work-hour reduction), a government-subsidized generative-AI training program for agencies, and an APaaS (App Promotion as a Service) offering for agencies lacking in-house app expertise. Creative production runs through Banamovi (banners from JPY 4,000; videos from JPY 29,800); AI-powered ASO capability is added through a reseller partnership with aix Inc.

Revenue is generated through a mix of professional services, agency commissions on managed media budgets, usage-based AI fees (Rakuad AI = 5% of spend), subscriptions for report-automation and training modules, unit-pricing for creative production, and an M&A advisory capped at two clients per year. The company operates as a sales-led B2B firm with direct engagement and dedicated product subdomains (rakuad, apaas, banamovi), supplemented by self-serve onboarding for AI tools. Following a management buyout from Nasdaq-listed Tremor International in April 2023, the company is independently capitalized under a leadership team led by Chairman Ishimori Hiromitsu (founder) and President/CEO Koyama Shunji, with a post-independence angel round completed in July 2024.

Name

AdInnovation

Legal name

アドイノベーション株式会社

Website

https://adinnovation.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AdInnovation is a Tokyo-based digital advertising agency specializing in smartphone app marketing, providing user acquisition, media-monetization consulting, AI-powered ad operations (Rakuad AI, Rakurepo AI), and creative production to Japanese app developers, publishers, and ad agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile App Advertising Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Advertising Agencies (54181)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Attribution, Measurement, Analytics & Incrementality (BPAMALAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

AI/ML Engineering & Model Development Services (BPAEAHAF)

Keywords

• Mobile app advertising
• Digital marketing services
• Media monetization consulting
• AI ad operations
• Creative production services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. App Marketing / Advertising Agency Services: Core business providing smartphone app-focused marketing, promotion planning, and ad operations services. Revenue is generated through agency fees, media commissions, and service fees from managing client advertising budgets across major ad networks.
2. Media Consulting Services: Monetization consulting services for media publishers and app developers. Supports network advertising operations and full-service ad revenue optimization. Revenue from consulting fees and a share of increased advertising revenue from client media properties.
3. Rakuad AI Agent Subscription: AI-powered ad operations agent service. Fee structure is 5% of monthly advertising spend (billed monthly, no initial fee). Free for first 2 months. No minimum contract period.
4. Rakurepo AI Report Automation System: AI-powered report automation tool offered at 100万 JPY+ per implementation. Sold with an initial half-price campaign (50万 JPY).
5. Generative AI Training Program for Agencies: Industry-specific AI training program for advertising agencies at 40万 JPY per person (subsidized to 10万 JPY effective cost). Campaign price: 20万 JPY per person.
6. Banamovi Creative Production: Banner and video creative production service for digital advertising. Static banners priced from 4,000 JPY per piece; video from 29,800 JPY per piece. Discount plans available for bundled orders.
7. APaaS (App Promotion as a Service): Subscription or project-based pricing for app promotion support services. Measurement/Reporting design priced at 5%+ of delivery spend; Full package at 15%+ of delivery spend; Creative production on a per-piece basis.
8. M&A Advisory Services: M&A advisory services for digital advertising and marketing companies. Priced on a success-fee basis tied to the transaction value. Limited to 2 client companies per year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AdInnovation is a smartphone app-focused digital marketing company that plans, executes, and operates advertising campaigns for app developers, publishers, and advertising agencies across major ad networks (Google, Meta, Apple Search Ads, TikTok). It supplements these agency services with AI-powered automation tools (Rakuad AI conversational agent, Rakurepo AI report automation), banner and video creative production (Banamovi), media monetization consulting, and training programs for advertising agencies.

Product overview

AdInnovation operates a portfolio of AI-augmented advertising products and services built around a core competency in smartphone app marketing. The flagship product is ラクアドAI, a conversational AI agent for autonomous cross-platform ad operations delivered via Slack. Supporting the core agent are modular add-ons including ラクレポAI (AI report automation), a 広告代理店特化型・生成AI研修プログラム (generative AI training), and APaaS (full-cycle app promotion managed services for agencies). The creative production layer is served by バナムビ (banner and video production), while the ASO Index (resold from partner aix) addresses app store discovery. All internal AI development is funneled through the AD × AI Lab internal innovation initiative before productization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ラクアドAI (Rakuad AI): AI-powered advertising operations agent that enables conversational ad management via Slack, supporting Google, Meta, Apple Search Ads, TikTok and other major platforms.
• APaaS (App Promotion as a Service)
• バナムビ (Banamovi)
• MetaVeRse world
• AD x AI Lab

Products and services

• App Marketing / Advertising Agency Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Media consulting clients achieved up to 2.3x increase in advertising revenue post adoption
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Integration8 records

AI capability12 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and strategic.

• aix Inc. (株式会社aix)coreTechnology or Integration · 24 January 2024Strategic business partnership for selling aix's ASO Index (App Store Optimization analysis tool) to Japanese app developers. ASO Index uses AI to create optimal keyword plans by analyzing app store big data. AdInnovation serves as the sales channel in Japan while aix provides AI technology and consulting expertise. The partnership enables Japanese startup app developers to access AI-powered ASO at appropriate price points, combining human consulting with AI execution.
• faag Inc. (faag株式会社)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 January 2024Business partnership for joint operation of 'MetaVeRse world' Web3 and metaverse-focused media. faag handles site production and news article updates; AdInnovation handles advertising monetization including programmatic, article ads, and tie-up advertising. The media aims to provide readers with insights on metaverse evolution, blockchain gaming, NFT market trends, and cryptocurrency news.
• Taptica Japan合同会社 (Tremor International subsidiary)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 January 2022Absorbed merger of Taptica Japan G.K. (Tremor International's Japanese subsidiary) into AdInnovation. Historical partnership since 2017 when AdInnovation entered capital and business alliance with Israeli DSP Taptica (now Tremor International). Tremor International was parent company until MBO in April 2023.
• J:COM (株式会社ジュピターテレコム)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 August 2020Sales partner for J:COM's PMP (Private Market Place) data-driven TV advertising platform. AdInnovation sells CS broadcast TVCM ad inventory to app developers and publishers. J:COM covers 52% of Japan's paid TV market and ~24% of TV receiving infrastructure. The partnership enables audience targeting for TV advertising similar to digital advertising, with free brand lift survey for first-time advertiser.
• Raksul Co., Ltd. (ラクスル株式会社)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 July 2020Sales partnership for Raksul's 'Novasell' (運用型テレビCM) service, enabling AdInnovation to sell and introduce TVCM advertising to app developers and publishers. Novasell's TV analytics tool (Novasell Analytics) enables measurement of TVCM effectiveness similar to web advertising. Joint webinar hosted on the theme of accelerating app business growth through TVCM and mobile app advertising.
• Google AdscoreTechnology or IntegrationAPI integration partner for the Rakuad AI agent. Google Ads data is analyzed cross-platform alongside Meta and Apple Search Ads to enable conversational ad operations and budget optimization.
• Meta AdscoreTechnology or IntegrationAPI integration partner for the Rakuad AI agent. Meta Ads data is analyzed cross-platform alongside Google and Apple Search Ads to enable conversational ad operations and budget optimization.
• Apple Search AdscoreTechnology or IntegrationAPI integration partner for the Rakuad AI agent. Supports automated keyword management, bid adjustments, and report creation for Apple Search Ads operations.
• TikTok AdsstrategicTechnology or IntegrationPlanned future integration for the Rakuad AI agent. TikTok Ads is among the planned expansion channels for cross-platform AI-powered ad operations alongside X (Twitter), LINE, AppLovin, Adjoe, Moloco, Liftoff, and others.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Smartly.io: AI-powered cross-platform ad-operations and creative platform for social advertising; directly comparable to Rakuad AI's value proposition of automating multi-channel ad management and creative production.
• Adways: Tokyo-headquartered digital advertising and mobile marketing company with a strong focus on app user acquisition and affiliate advertising in Japan, directly overlapping with AdInnovation's smartphone app marketing focus.
• Septeni Holdings: Tokyo-based digital advertising group with significant mobile/app advertising operations and proprietary ad tech, making it a direct Japan-market competitor to AdInnovation's services.
• Geniee: Japanese ad-tech company providing DSP, SSP, and digital marketing solutions with mobile app advertising expertise, directly comparable to AdInnovation's monetization and ad-operations offerings.
• FreakOut Holdings: Japanese digital advertising technology company operating a DSP and mobile ad platform; comparable to AdInnovation in the Japan app-advertising and programmatic space.

Broad incumbents

• Dentsu: Global Japanese-headquartered advertising and marketing services giant with substantial digital and mobile advertising capabilities; a broad incumbent competitor across the Japan app marketing ecosystem.
• Digital Garage: Established Japanese internet and marketing group with a sizable digital advertising business and fintech/payments verticals; competes with AdInnovation in Japan digital ad services at a much larger scale.
• Hakuhodo DY Holdings: Largest Japanese advertising agency group; AdInnovation historically partnered with its DAC subsidiary, making it a major incumbent competing for the same app-developer and agency spend.
• CyberAgent: Major Japanese internet conglomerate with one of the country's largest digital advertising businesses (including Dynamic Logic / AI ad products); competes broadly with AdInnovation across Japan app and digital advertising.

Emerging players

• Marin Software: Cross-channel advertising management and optimization SaaS platform with deep search and social ad automation; comparable to AdInnovation's AI-driven cross-platform budget allocation and reporting capabilities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/adinnovation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adinnovation-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors4 records

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 AdInnovation