One ip

What One ip does

One ip弁理士法人 is a Tokyo-headquartered intellectual property law firm specializing in IP strategy consulting and patent prosecution, with an explicit focus on supporting technology startups from seed stage through exit. Founded in 2017 by representative patent attorney Minoru Nakahata and incorporated in April 2018, the firm offers a one-stop service stack spanning IP経営 (IP management) framework design, IP strategy planning, patent filing and rights化 (rights acquisition) support, partnership/M&A advisory, capital introduction, and long-term advisory retainers. The firm explicitly differentiates from traditional Japanese patent offices by treating IP as a business strategy lever rather than a legal service, with a stated philosophy of 「選択優位性×持続性」 (selection advantage × sustainability). Its client base spans startups, large enterprises, regional companies, and universities/research institutions, with over 600 companies supported since founding.

The firm's service delivery model is sales-led and relationship-driven, with all engagements handled through direct principal-level interaction — there are no self-serve, marketplace, or reseller channels. Since 2020, One ip has operated a self-funded investment program (自己勘定投資) that takes equity stakes in portfolio companies alongside advisory support, effectively making the firm both advisor and investor. The firm has no proprietary software products and does not develop technology platforms; its value creation rests on human capital and intellectual methodology. Post-January 2026, the organization comprises approximately 20 patent attorneys, technical/business professionals, and administrative staff following the integration with Yamazaki Patent Office, with regional subsidiaries including One ip TOHOKU株式会社 (100% owned, established May 2025 in Sendai).

The firm is privately held, self-funded with no external venture capital, and has reported no public revenue figure. Its customer outcomes are unusually strong for the Japanese startup ecosystem: 19 exits (6 M&A, 13 IPO) have been achieved among supported startups, dramatically exceeding the ~0.3% typical startup exit rate. The firm generates revenue primarily through professional services fees (per-application and retainer) plus long-term advisory engagements, with a secondary stream of equity returns from self-funded portfolio investments. Marketing is reputation-driven through thought leadership (notably publications in IP Journal and government committee participation with METI and the Cabinet Office IP Strategy Office), startup ecosystem events, and referral networks.

Name

One ip

Legal name

One ip弁理士法人

Website

https://oneip.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

One ip弁理士法人 is a Tokyo-based IP law firm founded in 2017 that provides patent strategy, prosecution, and business-aligned IP advisory services primarily to Japanese technology startups and growth-stage companies, supported over 600 clients with 19 exits to date.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intellectual Property Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Management (BPAHAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

IP Due Diligence & Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) Analysis (BPAHAMAG), IP Search, Watch & Competitive Intelligence (BPAHAMAI), IP Filing, Annuities & Renewals Administration (BPAHAMAJ), IP Management, Patents & Trademark Software (BPAEAPAN)

Keywords

• Patent prosecution services
• Intellectual property consulting
• IP strategy advisory
• Patent filing services
• IP management consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. IP Strategy Consulting / Advisory Services: Long-term advisory engagements providing ongoing IP strategy, IP management (IP経営), partnership strategy support, and board-level strategic guidance to startups and enterprises.
2. Patent and IP Prosecution Services: Patent filing, prosecution, rights acquisition, and portfolio management services. Billed per application or through retainer/fixed-fee arrangements.
3. Self-Investments (Sidecar / Direct Investment): Since 2020, One ip has been making self-financed investments in portfolio companies it supports, providing capital alongside advisory support — acting as both advisor and investor.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

One ip弁理士法人 is a Japanese patent attorney firm that provides intellectual property strategy consulting and patent prosecution services. The firm supports startups and enterprises with end-to-end IP services, including IP management framework design, IP strategy planning, patent filing and rights acquisition, partnership/alliance strategy, and long-term advisory engagements. Since 2020, the firm also makes self-financed equity investments in the portfolio companies it advises, combining advisory services with co-investment.

Product overview

One ip弁理士法人は、スタートアップ知財戦略から大企業知財戦略までを一気通貫でサポートするPatent Attorney Officeです。「選択優位性×持続性」という理念のもと、IP経営、知財戦略立案、出願/権利化サポート、提携戦略支援、資金提供（投資業務）、顧問サービスを提供。2017年の創業以来600社を超える支援実績を持ち、2018年法人化後はチーム体制で支援。2020年から自己勘定投資を開始し、2025年にはOne ip TOHOKU株式会社を子会社として設立し地域支援にも本格参入。

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• One ip TOHOKU: Regional subsidiary focused on supporting startups, universities, and companies in the Tohoku region with IP strategy services

Products and services

• IP Management (IP経営) IP Management framework building support: helps companies identify the technology domains they should select and establish competitive advantage. The service is targeted at companies seeking to systematize their IP activities in alignment with business strategy.
• IP Strategy Planning (知財戦略立案)
• Patent Filing and Rights Acquisition Support (出願/権利化サポート)
• Partnership Strategy Support (提携戦略支援)
• Self-Financed Investment / Capital Provision (資金提供・投資業務) Self-financed investment service started in 2020: provides capital to supported companies as a sidecar/direct investment, accompanying IP advisory support. Acts as both advisor and equity investor in portfolio companies.
• Advisory Services (顧問サービス)
• One ip TOHOKU Regional IP Support 100% subsidiary service offering regional IP strategy support, university-company collaboration facilitation, and innovation growth support for startups, universities, and companies based primarily in the Tohoku region of Japan.

Quantifiable outcome

• 600+ companies supported since founding
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 山崎特許事務所 (Yamazaki Patent Office)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026On January 1, 2026, One ip completed an integration with Yamazaki Patent Office (led by Director/Patent Attorney Yamazaki Takuya), which had been in a business partnership since 2025. The integration combines Yamazaki's international prosecution expertise and 25+ years of experience with One ip's startup IP strategy and business integration capabilities, creating a ~20-person firm. Yamazaki Takuya and his team joined One ip, strengthening coverage in electrical, electronic, and mechanical fields, as well as dispute resolution capabilities.
• 山形県立酒田東高校 SSH事業minorOthers · 1 January 2025One ip TOHOKU CEO Murakami Shinnosuke serves as SSH (Super Science High School) coordinator at Yamagata Prefectural Sakata Higashi High School since November 2025, supporting regional STEM education and next-generation IP awareness.
• みちのくアカデミア発スタートアップ共創プラットフォーム (MASP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024One ip principals serve as mentors on the Michinoku Academia Startup Co-creation Platform (MASP), contributing to Tohoku region's startup ecosystem development. Nakahata Minoru, Sakamoto Shinichiro, and Oeda Yoichi serve as MASP mentors, and One ip TOHOKU CEO Murakami leads the platform.
• Model-based知財開発合同会社coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Co-founded in 2023 by Nakahata Minoru together with others, Model-based IP Development LLC was established to research, verify, and implement IP development methodologies that help more social-challenge-solving startups survive. This entity represents One ip's self-investment and venture-building initiative.
• DRONE iPLABminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017DRONE iPLAB was established by Nakahata Minoru in 2017 to provide IP support to investees of the Drone Fund. It continues as a related initiative supporting drone/aerospace technology startups.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• TMI Associates: One of Japan's largest full-service law firms with a strong IP/patent prosecution practice serving both startups and large enterprises. Comparable to One ip in IP practice area but vastly larger and broader in scope; positioned as incumbent benchmark.
• Nakamura & Partners: Long-established Japanese patent law firm with strong international prosecution capabilities. Comparable as a Japanese IP services competitor; differentiated from One ip by size and historical enterprise focus rather than startup IP strategy.
• Yuasa and Hara: Established Japanese patent firm with extensive domestic and international patent prosecution expertise. Direct competitor in the Japan IP services market, particularly for clients needing cross-jurisdictional patent work.
• Asamura Patent Office: Mid-to-large Japanese patent firm with broad technical coverage and long client relationships. Comparable as a Japan-based IP services competitor serving both corporate and startup clients.
• Marks & Clerk: Global IP services firm with offices across major patent jurisdictions. Relevant comparable for international patent prosecution capability One ip currently lacks; represents the type of firm Japanese startups turn to for global filings.
• Baker McKenzie (Japan IP practice): Global law firm with substantial Japan-based IP practice serving multinational and large enterprise clients. Adjacent comparable representing the broader IP services landscape One ip competes against at the enterprise end of its segment.

Direct peers

• OHTANI Patent Office: Independent Japanese patent firm of comparable scale, focused on domestic and international patent prosecution. Closely aligned with One ip in business model (boutique patent law firm) and target market mix.

Emerging players

• Seed Planning / IP Strategy Consulting (Japanese IP advisory boutiques): Smaller Japanese IP and technology strategy consultancies serving startup and SME segments. Comparable in the IP strategy consulting layer (vs. pure prosecution), competing for the same advisory budgets One ip targets.
• Rouse: International IP services and strategy firm with strong emerging-markets focus. Comparable in offering IP strategy beyond prosecution, and a potential partner/competitor for One ip as Japanese startups expand internationally.
• IPTechLaw (iPlastina) - Japan IP startup ecosystem players: Specialized IP support entities within the Japanese startup ecosystem (e.g., iPLAB Startups). Directly comparable to One ip's startup-focused IP advisory niche and community-led GTM approach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Oneipjp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about One ip