Founder International

What Founder International does

Founder International, operating under its Japanese legal name HOUSEI株式会社, is a Tokyo-based IT services and product company founded in 2002 that operates four business segments: a Media Business serving major Japanese newspaper publishers and publishing houses with IT system solutions; a Professional Services arm providing system development and engineer dispatch; a Product Business built around proprietary AI-enabled offerings; and an Overseas IT Business focused on China and Hong Kong. The company has evolved from a traditional systems integrator into a product-led firm with a portfolio spanning AI facial recognition (WelcomID for unmanned retail), generative AI integration (the imprai platform and imprai ezBI chat-BI tool), an AI chatbot for customer support (imprai ezKotae), a domain-specific AI agent for journalists (記者アシスタントAI / Reporter Assistant AI), and logistics automation products (OmniXuttle 4-directional shuttle and LOGIFLUX WMS, co-developed with FLUX).

Technically, the AI stack is heterogeneous: computer vision is deployed for face-authenticated store entry; generative AI powers chat-based data analytics and no-code AI application development; and agentic AI is packaged for vertical workflows (press/media). The OmniXuttle hardware targets up to 2.5x warehouse volume efficiency, and LOGIFLUX WMS leverages FLUX's installed base of over 2,000 global WMS deployments.

The company monetizes through a hybrid of enterprise system integration contracts, subscription/recurring product revenue (WelcomID, imprai ezBI, imprai), engineer dispatch services, and overseas IT service contracts. GTM is primarily direct enterprise sales supplemented by product-led promotion via the company website, case studies, and PR. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and customer wins are anchored by named deployments such as Sanyodo Shoten (36-store unmanned rollout as of June 2026), Star GolfClub (22-hour unmanned operations), and Jiji Press Photo (image database renewal).

Name

Founder International

Legal name

HOUSEI株式会社

Website

https://founder.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Founder International (HOUSEI株式会社) is a Tokyo-based Japanese IT company founded in 2002 that delivers AI-enabled software, unmanned retail systems, and warehouse/logistics automation products to media publishers, retailers, and enterprise clients in Japan, China, and Hong Kong.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

AI-Powered Enterprise IT Solutions

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

AI Application Enablement Platforms (Copilot/Agent Frameworks, SDKs) (HDAEANAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Enterprise Foundation Model Integration & APIs (Connectors, Governance, Deployment) (HDAAACAO), End-to-End Enterprise AI Platforms (MLOps & Model Lifecycle Management) (HDAEANAA), AI/ML Engineering & Model Development Services (BPAEAHAF), Industrial & Warehouse Robotics (HDAAAIAA)

Keywords

• AI transformation services
• Unmanned store solutions
• Facial recognition systems
• Warehouse management software
• Generative AI platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Media Business IT Systems: Provides IT system solutions to major Japanese newspaper publishers and publishing companies. Delivers flexible support using IT systems, providing 'peace of mind and trust' to media enterprises that continuously disseminate information.
2. Professional Services: System development and engineer dispatch services, providing solutions to 'challenges' across a wide range of industries using various methods and tools.
3. Product Business: IT and AI-powered products including WelcomID unmanned store solutions, imprai generative AI platform, imprai ezBI chat BI tool. Creates new business styles and generates various solutions.
4. Overseas IT Business: IT service business operated overseas, primarily in China and Hong Kong, expanding the company's geographic footprint.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Founder International (HOUSEI株式会社) is a Japanese IT partner that delivers AI transformation (AX) solutions, selling proprietary software products including AI facial recognition unmanned store systems (WelcomID), a generative AI application development platform (imprai), a chat-based BI tool (imprai ezBI), a warehouse management system (LOGIFLUX WMS), a 4-directional shuttle logistics automation system (OmniXuttle), and an AI chatbot (imprai ezKotae), alongside professional services such as custom system development and engineer dispatch for media, retail, logistics, and other enterprises in Japan, China, and Hong Kong.

Product overview

Founder International (HOUSEI株式会社) operates as an IT partner offering AX (AI Transformation) solutions through a portfolio of products and professional services. The product portfolio includes imprai ezBI (chat-based BI tool with generative AI), imprai (AI application development platform), WelcomID (AI facial recognition for unmanned stores), OmniXuttle (logistics automation shuttle), and LOGIFLUX WMS (warehouse management system). Professional services include system development, engineer dispatch, and solution proposals across multiple industries including media, logistics, real estate, education, and publishing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WelcomID: AI and IT-powered unmanned store solution featuring facial recognition technology.
• imprai ezBI
• imprai
• imprai ezKotae
• LOGIFLUX WMS
• OmniXuttle

Products and services

• WelcomID Unmanned Store (WelcomID無人店舗) AI and IT-based unmanned store solution featuring facial recognition technology for secure customer authentication and 24/7 automated retail operations without on-site staff. Designed for bookstore chains, convenience stores, golf studios, and used clothing retailers.
• imprai ezBI Chat-based BI tool that enables data analysis through conversational interface powered by generative AI, achieving democratization of data analytics for enterprise users without technical data skills.
• imprai Generative AI application development platform that allows users to easily build AI-connected applications without advanced programming skills, enabling rapid, low-cost business deployment of generative AI solutions.
• LOGIFLUX WMS Warehouse management system jointly developed with FLUX (global SCE leader with 2,000+ global installations), customized for the Japanese market to support warehouse and logistics operations.
• OmniXuttle Next-generation 4-directional shuttle system that improves warehouse volume efficiency by up to 2.5 times and enables logistics digital transformation (DX).
• imprai ezKotae AI chatbot solution for customer support, featured in AIsmiley's customer-support AI特集 industry publication.
• Reporter Assistant AI (記者アシスタントAI) Business-specific AI agent tailored for the press and journalism industry, providing specialized AI assistance for reporters.
• Professional Services (System Development and Engineer Dispatch) System development, engineer dispatch, and solution proposal services that resolve customer challenges across a wide range of industries using various methods and tools.
• Media Business IT Systems IT system solutions for major Japanese newspaper publishers and publishing companies, delivering flexible support and 24/7 reliability for media enterprises that continuously disseminate information.
• Overseas IT Business (China and Hong Kong) IT service operations in China and Hong Kong, expanding the company's geographic footprint for international enterprise IT service delivery.

Quantifiable outcome

• Warehouse volume efficiency improved by up to 2.5x with OmniXuttle
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• FLUX (Supply Chain Execution Solutions)coreTechnology or IntegrationHOUSEI and FLUX, the global leader in Supply Chain Execution solutions, jointly provide LOGIFLUX WMS customized for the Japanese market. FLUX's WMS has over 2,000 global implementations. HOUSEI adapted this globally-proven warehouse management system for the Japanese market.
• Sanyodo Shoten (三洋堂書店)flagshipOthersMajor deployment partner for HOUSEI's WelcomID unmanned store solution. Sanyodo Shoten implemented smart unmanned operations across 36 bookstore locations (as of June 2026), with solutions including facial recognition entry systems and 24/7 store operations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• NEC Corporation: Global incumbent with NeoFace facial recognition platform — overlapping with WelcomID's identity verification capability — and a large Japanese SI/outsourcing business that competes with HOUSEI's media and enterprise AI services.
• Nomura Research Institute (NRI): Top-tier Japanese IT consulting and SI with strong financial-services and media/asset-management exposure; competes with HOUSEI for enterprise AI transformation projects in Japan.
• BIPROGY (formerly UNISYS Japan): Mid-sized Japanese IT services firm with comparable vertical breadth across media, finance, retail, and public sector — similar size and customer profile to HOUSEI's diversified SI business.
• NS Solutions Corporation: Nippon Steel–affiliated Japanese SI serving manufacturing, media, and publishing with enterprise IT and AI services — a close analogue for HOUSEI's media-IT and professional services pillars.

Direct peers

• FLUX: Global WMS/SCE vendor that is both HOUSEI's technology partner for LOGIFLUX and a potential competitor if it expands direct Japan presence; provides the underlying software for HOUSEI's warehouse offering.
• TOUCH TO GO: Japanese unmanned store solutions provider (Toshiba group) competing directly with HOUSEI's WelcomID in facial-recognition and RFID-based cashierless retail deployments across Japanese convenience, bookstore, and specialty retail chains.
• WingArc1S: Japanese BI/analytics software vendor behind MotionBoard — the most established competitor to HOUSEI's imprai ezBI chat-BI tool in the Japanese enterprise analytics market.
• Otsuka Corporation: Mid-cap Japanese IT services and packaged-software distributor with comparable size (~250 employees to thousands) and overlap in document/content management, publishing workflows, and SMB AI deployments — competing for the same Japanese publishing accounts.

Emerging players

• SAKURA internet: Japanese AI/cloud platform provider offering GenAI infrastructure and applied AI services for enterprise; competes with HOUSEI's imprai platform for Japanese customers building AI-native applications.
• SoftBank Robotics Group: Japanese operator of unmanned store formats (e.g., with FamilyMart and other partners) and robotics — overlapping with HOUSEI's WelcomID unmanned retail vision and competing for the same retail-chain RFPs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/founder_pr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCX13JFckRw1mJgqKOOmFm-Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/housei.co.jp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/founder-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Founder International