What CLINKS does

CLINKS Co., Ltd. (CLINKS株式会社) is a privately held Japanese IT services company founded in December 2002 and headquartered in Tokyo (Chuo-ku), with additional offices in Osaka and Yokohama. The company operates a horizontal portfolio spanning AI consulting and custom generative AI development, IT engineer dispatch and outsourcing, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) engineering, smartphone and web application development, and proprietary SaaS products. Its core proprietary offering is Knowleful Chat (ナレフルチャット), an enterprise generative AI chat platform featuring a patent-registered prompt auto-generation function, multi-model orchestration across GPT, Gemini, and Claude, and a closed-environment security architecture designed to mitigate enterprise data leakage concerns. Complementing products include Kin Kura Cloud (cloud-based attendance management), ZaiTark (telework support), and Training One (corporate IT certification training, having produced 4,000+ job-ready engineers with a 90%+ pass rate).

The company's go-to-market is a hybrid of sales-led enterprise engagement and product-led growth for Knowleful Chat. AI development is delivered through phase-based project pricing (Phase 1 PoC: 300,000–1,000,000 JPY; Phase 2 API integration: 1.5M–7M JPY; Phase 3 full-scale: 3M–10M+ JPY plus 100,000–1,000,000 JPY/month operations), while IT engineer dispatch operates on a per-engineer, per-month staffing model. Knowleful Chat is sold as an enterprise unlimited-user subscription, reportedly serving 1,000+ corporate customers. The customer base spans finance, telecommunications, retail, food and beverage, real estate, education, and senior care, with several decade-long engagements (e.g., telecom carrier since 2007, securities firm since 2013, major bank since 2012). CLINKS holds ISO 27001 (IS 622096) and Privacy Mark certifications, is a Silver Supporting Member of the Japan Deep Learning Association (JDLA) since February 2022, and operates a wholly-owned subsidiary Flypenguin Corporation for blockchain game development. The company has pursued inorganic growth via the acquisitions of LainZ (2014) and J's Avenue (2018).

Name

CLINKS

Legal name

CLINKS株式会社

Website

https://clinks.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

CLINKS is a Tokyo-based Japanese IT services company founded in 2002 offering generative AI consulting and custom development, IT engineer dispatch, Oracle Cloud engineering, and proprietary SaaS products including the enterprise AI chat tool Knowleful Chat, serving Japanese enterprises across finance, telecom, retail, and other verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT Services and AI Development

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

B2B SaaS & Enterprise Personalization (CRM, Sales, Support) (HDAAAGAJ)

Keywords

• AI development services
• IT outsourcing
• Generative AI chat
• Cloud infrastructure services
• Enterprise software development

Headquarters

HQ city

Chuo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. AI Development / Custom System Development: Project-based custom AI development and system development services ranging from requirements definition and small-scale PoC to large-scale development. Revenue is generated through one-time project fees. The company targets enterprises needing custom AI solutions, charging per project with typical ranges of 300,000–100,000 JPY for Phase 1 proof-of-concept, 1,500,000–7,000,000 JPY for Phase 2 PoC/API integration, and 3,000,000+ JPY for Phase 3 full-scale development.
2. IT Engineering Dispatch / Outsourcing: Dispatch of IT engineers to client sites and AI/data-related outsourcing services. CLINKS provides engineering services, work-from-home IT engineering services, information systems engineering outsourcing (SmoothSys), and operational/maintenance services. Revenue is generated through staffing fees, typically billed on a per-engineer, per-month basis.
3. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) Services: Cloud construction and operations services using Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. Includes system migration, new environment setup, infrastructure build-out, and ongoing operations/maintenance. Revenue is project-based for build-out and potentially recurring for managed services.
4. Knowleful Chat SaaS Subscription: Corporate generative AI chat SaaS with enterprise unit pricing (unlimited users per company). The company reports over 1,000 corporate clients using the service. Additional revenue may come from premium feature add-ons and professional implementation services.
5. Training One (法人向けIT研修): Corporate IT training services. The company claims to have trained over 4,000 industry-inexperienced individuals into job-ready engineers. Training is offered on a per-day billing basis. The service provides flexibility for sudden business needs without wasted training costs.
6. Kin Kura Cloud (キンクラ) - Cloud Attendance Management SaaS: Cloud-based time and attendance management system with tiered plans. The system supports multiple work arrangements and provides real-time attendance visibility. Offers free trial from registration month through the end of the following month, and permanent free access for organizations with 20 or fewer users.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CLINKS is a Japanese IT services and AI development company that provides custom generative AI system development, IT engineer dispatch, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure engineering, smartphone/web app development, and proprietary SaaS products including Knowleful Chat (enterprise generative AI chat), Kin Kura Cloud (attendance management), and ZaiTark (telework support). The company bundles consulting, development, operational support, and corporate IT training for Japanese enterprises seeking AI/DX adoption, with subscriptions for SaaS products and project-based fees for custom development.

Product overview

CLINKS is an AI DRIVEN COMPANY offering a portfolio of AI-powered products and IT services. The core product is ナレフルチャット (Knowleful Chat), a generative AI chat platform for enterprise use in closed, secure environments, complemented by proprietary tools including キンクラ (KinCloud) for attendance management, ZaiTark for remote work support, and SMOOTHSYS for information systems outsourcing. The company also provides a broad suite of IT services including AI development/custom systems (serving 600+ clients), Oracle Cloud Infrastructure engineering, IT engineer dispatch (Teleasta, Engineering Services), smartphone app development, and Training One IT certification training. These products and services are unified by CLINKS's own AI engineering capabilities (RAG, generative AI, autonomous agents) and are delivered through its hybrid approach combining consulting, development, and outsourcing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ナレフルチャット (Knowleful): Enterprise generative AI chat service providing secure closed-environment AI interactions with multi-model support and prompt automation features.
• キンクラ (Kintaicloud)
• ZaiTark
• Training One
• テレスタ (Telesta)

Products and services

• Knowleful Chat (ナレフルチャット) Enterprise-focused generative AI chat SaaS providing a closed, secure environment for businesses to use generative AI. Features patented prompt auto-generation, unlimited users under enterprise flat-rate pricing, multi-model support (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude), webhook integration with Microsoft Teams and Slack, and slide generation from text instructions. Used by 1,000+ corporate clients.
• Kin Kura Cloud (キンクラ) Cloud-based attendance management system for Japanese enterprises supporting diverse work styles including flextime. Features real-time attendance tracking, multi-location employee management, agent-based application functionality on Enterprise plans, and transportation expense settlement on Business plans. Free trial from registration month through end of following month; permanent free tier for organizations with ≤20 users.
• ZaiTark Remote work support system providing virtual office visibility. Screen capture or camera images update every 30 seconds shared among team members for real-time work status awareness. Includes one-click calling, screen sharing, meeting support, labor management functionality, and AI meeting minutes generation.
• AI Development Service Full-cycle generative AI development service from requirements definition through small-scale PoC to large-scale development. Includes consulting, RAG system construction, AI chatbot development, enterprise AI integration, and operational design. Serves 600+ client companies across 600+ AI development cases with phase-based pricing from 300,000 JPY minimal prototype to 10,000,000+ JPY full-scale development.
• Engineering Service (IT Engineer Dispatch) IT engineer dispatching and engineering services including on-site and remote work arrangements covering server/infrastructure development, network design, construction, and maintenance across financial, telecommunications, and enterprise sectors. Long-running engagements include a major Japanese bank since October 2012, a telecommunications carrier since July 2007 with ~20 ongoing engineers, and a financial securities company since June 2013 with 14 ongoing engineers.
• Teleasta (在宅ITエンジニアリングサービス) At-home IT engineer dispatch service providing experienced engineers with full ICT environment setup for remote work. Targets resolution of talent shortages, robust information security, and cost reduction for Japanese enterprises seeking remote engineering resources.
• Training One (法人向けIT研修) Corporate IT training service with 4,000+ IT industry newcomers trained into job-ready engineers. Offers Linux, Python, and IT certification training (IT Passport, LinuC) with 90%+ qualification pass rate. Per-day billing allows flexible scaling in response to sudden business needs. IT Passport training provided free to Access Saikatsu student members.
• OCI Engineering (Oracle Cloud Infrastructure) Oracle Cloud Infrastructure engineering services including new environment construction, system migration (lift-and-shift), and infrastructure operations/maintenance. Utilizes Commvault for backup and integrated monitoring tools. Targets enterprises seeking OCI cost advantages over other hyperscalers.
• Systems Development (システム開発) Web system development from planning through operations and maintenance across 600+ client companies. Covers responsive web, PWA, and enterprise systems with PHP/Laravel, Python, Java, C#, Next.js, React, TypeScript, Vue.js, AWS, and Docker. Examples include legal inspection management system handling ~8,000 companies × 300 inspection items annually and public WiFi management.
• Smartphone App Development Smartphone application development and operations/maintenance with 500+ contracted projects. Supports iOS, Android, React Native, and native app development. Named clients include Studio Alice (costume catalog app), Silver Life (frozen meal delivery official app), and Tao Co., Ltd. (TenjinX learning web app with voice auto-read and animation lectures).
• DX Promotion / AI Engineering Services Digital transformation consulting and AI engineering services through digital data engineering and AI engineering to solve client business challenges across Japanese enterprises.
• SMOOTHSYS (スムシス) Information systems engineering outsourcing service utilizing the latest technology and AI (including Knowleful Chat generative AI). Covers IT infrastructure operations management, conversational generative AI chat utilization, and help desk operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,000+ industry-inexperienced individuals trained into job-ready engineers with average 90%+ certification pass rate
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability11 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 内閣府 地方創生テレワーク推進運動 (Cabinet Office Regional Revitalization Telework Promotion Campaign)minorOthers · 1 September 2022CLINKS expressed support for the Cabinet Office's Regional Revitalization Telework Promotion Campaign 'Action Declaration' in September 2022. The declaration covers recruitment competitiveness and employee retention, local talent recruitment and training, regional project participation, and workcation promotion. CLINKS promotes remote work to enable employees in local areas (including those who returned to hometowns, and former engineers/s homemakers in local areas) to work without relocating to Tokyo.
• 一般社団法人 日本ディープラーニング協会 (Japan Deep Learning Association / JDLA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2022CLINKS joined JDLA as a Silver Supporting Member in February 2022. JDLA, established in June 2017 with Professor Matsuo (Tokyo University) as Chairman, is the primary industry body for deep learning in Japan. As a member, CLINKS participates in promoting deep learning utilization across Japan and advancing DX for AI-driven work style reform. CLINKS also leverages JDLA's generative AI passport certification program for internal employee training.
• 株式会社アクセスネクステージ (Access Nextage Co., Ltd.)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2022Partnership with Access Nextage, a subsidiary of Access Group Holdings (Tokyo Stock Exchange JASDAQ, code 7042), to provide free IT Passport certification training to 'Access Saikatsu' student members. This IT human resources development project aims to improve IT skills of students aspiring to enter the IT industry and support optimal matching between IT companies and students.
• 株式会社フライペンギン (Flypenguin Co., Ltd.)coreOthersFlypenguin is a group company of CLINKS, developing and operating smartphone app games. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Tokyo, Flypenguin operates PlayMining blockchain games in partnership with Digital Entertainment Asset Pte. Ltd. CLINKS has supported Flypenguin's game development, including blockchain game 'Menya Dragon Ramen' and other titles. Flypenguin's activities including TGS2022 exhibition contribute to CLINKS Group's diversified business portfolio.
• デジタルリテラシー協議会 (Digital Literacy Council / Di-Lite)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLINKS expressed support for the Di-Lite (Digital Literacy) initiative defined by the Digital Literacy Council, jointly established in April 2021 by the Data Scientist Society, JDLA, and IPA (Information-technology Promotion Agency). CLINKS promotes digital human resources development aligned with Di-Lite standards through its IT outsourcing services and training offerings.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Money Forward: Japanese cloud SaaS company providing personal finance, accounting, HR, and enterprise financial software. Comparable to CLINKS as a Japan-based cloud SaaS provider targeting enterprises with proprietary products.
• freee K.K. Japanese cloud SaaS company providing HR, accounting, and payroll software for SMBs and enterprises. Comparable to CLINKS as a Japanese cloud SaaS company with enterprise subscription revenue model.
• ALBERT: Japanese data analytics and AI solutions company providing data consulting and AI implementation services. Comparable to CLINKS in delivering AI/data engineering services to Japanese enterprise clients.
• PKSHA Technology: Japanese AI company providing enterprise AI SaaS products and AI platform licensing (BEDORE, PKSHATechnology) for customer engagement and automation. Comparable to CLINKS as another Japanese-headquartered AI vendor selling into enterprise customers with proprietary AI IP.
• ABEJA: Japanese AI company offering ABEJA Platform for AI/ML operations and AI consulting services to enterprise customers. Comparable to CLINKS in providing AI development services and proprietary AI infrastructure to Japanese enterprises.
• Cybozu: Japanese SaaS company offering collaboration and productivity cloud products (Kintone, Garoon) to enterprises and SMBs. Comparable to CLINKS as a Japan-headquartered SaaS provider selling proprietary enterprise productivity products with subscription pricing.

Regional players

• Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ): Japanese internet and network services provider offering cloud infrastructure, managed services, and system integration to enterprises. Comparable to CLINKS as a Japan-focused IT services and cloud provider with enterprise customers.

Broad incumbents

• BIPROGY: Major Japanese IT services company (formerly Nihon Unisys) with strong Oracle partnership, providing system integration, cloud services, and enterprise software. Comparable to CLINKS as a long-standing Japanese IT services firm with Oracle Cloud capabilities.
• NTT Data: Global IT services company and one of the largest system integrators in Japan, offering consulting, system integration, and cloud services. Comparable to CLINKS as a major Japanese IT services competitor pursuing enterprise AI/DX projects.
• Fujitsu: Global Japanese IT services and hardware company offering system integration, cloud, AI, and consulting to enterprises worldwide. Comparable to CLINKS as a major Japanese-headquartered IT services competitor with AI and DX practices.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clinks_pr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCM0imIksNT7n2Im_-WKQS4g
• Facebookfacebook.com/clinks.saiyo
• TikToktiktok.com/@clinks_pr

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A2 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about CLINKS