What TOME R&D does

TOME R&D (株式会社とめ研究所) is a privately held Japanese software research and development services firm founded in Kyoto in April 2003 by Goro Fukudome. The company specializes in intelligent information processing technology, encompassing image processing, pattern recognition, computer vision, natural language processing, deep learning, optimization, data mining, and finite element methods. Its stated core competency is the deployment of highly credentialed engineers (50% PhDs, 80% doctoral-program graduates) to solve advanced algorithm and prototype-development challenges that in-house teams at client organizations cannot easily staff.

The company operates two main revenue lines: contracted software R&D outsourcing and technical engineer dispatch, both sold via a direct, sales-led motion to universities, public research institutes, corporate R&D laboratories, and venture clients across Japan. Named clients include Tokyo University, Kyoto University, AIST, RIKEN, JAXA, NTT, and Omron. As of April 2026, the firm reported 152 engineers (119 in doctoral programs, 74 holding PhDs) out of approximately 190 total employees, and operates eight labs nationwide (Kyoto HQ, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Keihanna, Nagoya, Tsukuba, Yokohama, Tokyo). The firm also developed consumer software goods in the 2000s (the "Healing" series built on its proprietary CIE3 cognitive model) and operates HuuHoo, a vertical SNS for AI/robotics enthusiasts.

TOME R&D is a profitable, bootstrapped, founder-controlled firm under "river-flow" and "right-sized" management philosophies, with no external institutional investors identified. FY2026 (ending March 2026) revenue was ¥2.025 billion, which the company describes as a record high since founding. The firm invests in brand-building through academic society sponsorships (IPSJ, JSAI, JSIAM, IEICE), an annual Young Researcher Award essay competition, and a cutting-edge AI technology lecture series.

Name

TOME R&D

Legal name

株式会社とめ研究所

Website

https://tome.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

TOME R&D is a Kyoto-based private software R&D services firm that dispatches PhD-level engineers and runs contracted intelligent information processing research for Japanese universities, public research institutes, and corporate labs across an eight-lab nationwide network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kyoto

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 先端ソフトウェア受託研究開発: Contracted R&D services for advanced software development, including algorithms for image processing, machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, numerical analysis, and optimization. Clients include universities, public research institutes, and corporate R&D laboratories.
2. 先端ソフトウェア技術者派遣: Dispatch of advanced software engineers with PhD-level expertise to client sites. Engineers specialize in intelligent information processing technologies and are matched to projects based on skills and location preferences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

TOME R&D provides contracted advanced software research and development services and dispatches highly qualified (PhD-level) software engineers to client sites. Core competency is intelligent information processing technology spanning image processing, pattern recognition, machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and optimization algorithms. Primary clients are Japanese universities, public research institutes, and corporate R&D laboratories collaborating through national project applications, joint research, contracted R&D, and engineer dispatch.

Product overview

TOME R&D operates as a software research and development services company offering two core services: Advanced Software R&D Outsourcing and Technical Engineer Dispatching. The company specializes in intelligent information processing technology and AI research, serving universities, research institutions, and corporate R&D laboratories across Japan. TOME R&D also developed consumer software products including the HuuHoo AI social networking platform and the 'Healing' series of comfort-providing software goods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HuuHoo: Japan's first social networking service (SNS) specialized in intelligent information processing technology, connecting general users interested in AI, robotics, and intelligent machines with researchers and engineers. Launched December 2006.
• 癒しシリーズ (Healing Series)

Products and services

• Advanced Software R&D Outsourcing (先端ソフトウェア受託研究開発)

Quantifiable outcome

• 第23期売上20.25億円（創業来右肩上がり）
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

AI capability14 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 電子情報通信学会coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Corporate sponsor since 2019. Supports electronics and communications engineering research community.
• 日本応用数理学会 (JSIAM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Corporate sponsor since 2017. Supports applied mathematics research community through annual conferences and academic publications.
• 人工知能学会 (JSAI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Corporate sponsor since 2013. Supports AI research community through sponsorship of national conventions, joint research initiatives, and academic activities.
• 京都高度技術研究所 (ASTEM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Located within ASTEM building as tenant since founding. Co-hosts けいはんなビジネスメッセ and supports regional technology industry development.
• 京都商工会議所minorOthers · 1 January 2006Member of Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry for regional business networking and economic development.
• 情報処理学会 (IPSJ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Corporate sponsor and supporter of IPSJ activities since 2005. Supports academic conferences and research community through sponsorship of national conventions and academic journals.
• 京都サンガF.C.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2004Team sponsor since 2004 (originally Kyoto Purple Sanga). advertising sign at Sankam Stadium by KYOCERA since 2023. Regional sports sponsorship for community contribution.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Sakana AI: Tokyo-based AI research startup founded by former Google researchers with a PhD-heavy team. Comparable as a Japan-based AI research-focused organization, though more product/startup-oriented vs. TOME R&D's services model.
• LeapMind Inc. Japanese AI company specializing in edge AI and deep learning. Comparable in providing advanced AI engineering talent and applied research services to Japanese enterprises, particularly in embedded/vision domains.

Broad incumbents

• NTT Data: Japan's largest IT services conglomerate, a confirmed TOME R&D client counterpart. Overlaps in providing AI/system integration services to Japanese enterprises and public-sector clients, though at vastly greater scale and breadth.
• Preferred Networks: Japan's most prominent deep-learning research company, much larger and more capital-intensive, focusing on fundamental AI research and industrial applications. Overlaps with TOME R&D's intelligent information processing core technology at much greater scale.

Direct peers

• PKSHA Technology: Tokyo-based AI company focused on natural language processing and machine learning products and services. Overlaps with TOME R&D in NLP/ML capabilities and Japanese enterprise customers, though more productized.
• ALBERT Inc. Japanese data analytics and AI solutions company providing consulting, algorithm development, and advanced analytics talent to enterprises. Directly comparable professional-services model with similar Japanese client base.
• HEROZ Inc. Japanese AI company providing AI-driven solutions and professional services. Comparable in serving Japanese enterprises with AI engineering talent and applied machine learning capabilities.
• BrainPad Inc. Japanese data science and AI consulting firm offering advanced analytics and professional services to enterprises. Comparable to TOME R&D in serving Japanese enterprises with high-end AI/data talent on a professional-services basis.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 TOME R&D