What IC Net does

IC Net Limited (アイ・シー・ネット株式会社) is a Japanese development consulting firm founded in 1993 and operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd. The company delivers six core service lines — ODA consulting, private-sector overseas expansion support, Gakken global business, training and human resource development, CSR/CSV advisory, and educational travel — primarily to Japanese government and aid-agency clients (especially JICA, MAFF, METI, Cabinet Office, and Reconstruction Agency) and to Japanese SMEs seeking entry into developing-country markets. Operations span 8 overseas offices (Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Turkey, and the USA) with project experience in 150+ countries and approximately 280 projects executed annually, covering 20+ sector domains including agriculture, fisheries, health, education, gender, governance, climate, ICT/DX, and peacebuilding.

The business is built on a professional-services revenue model: fee-for-service ODA consulting via public tenders (the dominant revenue engine), private-sector consulting engagements typically running 6–12 months, fixed-price training programs (PCM Planning at ¥44,000, Monitoring/Evaluation at ¥55,000), and managed-services revenue from overseas subsidiaries. Two operating subsidiaries extend the model into operating businesses: KiddiHub Education Technology JSC in Vietnam (a kindergarten-platform business with ~10,000 registered schools, 160 STEAM education contracts, GK Bilingual Preschool opened November 2025, and a market-entry support service for Japanese firms) and Gakken Turkey (manufacturing workforce training operating in Turkey, Iraq, and UAE). Pricing for consulting engagements is quote-based and not publicly listed; salary bands disclosed via job postings indicate a wide performance-based Consultant range of ¥4M–¥12M annually.

Technology is not the basis of differentiation — IC Net operates no proprietary software platform or AI/ML models. Disclosed technology usage is limited to ChatGPT for internal proposal preparation, an Information Security Management System (ISMS), and standard digital collaboration tools. The company's competitive moat is service- and relationship-based: 30+ years of cultivated local networks, multilingual 'genba-bito' (on-the-ground) consultants, brand credibility within the Japanese ODA ecosystem, and Gakken Group distribution access to educational content and global brand reach. As a privately held subsidiary, financial details are not publicly disclosed.

Name

IC Net

Legal name

アイ・シー・ネット株式会社

Website

https://icnet.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

IC Net is a Japanese development consulting firm (founded 1993, subsidiary of Gakken Holdings) delivering ODA consulting, private-sector overseas expansion support, training, and educational services to Japanese government agencies and SMEs across 150+ countries, with 8 global offices and Vietnam/Turkey subsidiaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Consulting

NAICS

International Affairs (92812)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Growth, Trade & Private Sector Development Programs (BPADABAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Official Development Assistance (ODA) Program Management (BPADAOAC)

Keywords

• ODA consulting
• Development consulting
• Overseas expansion consulting
• Capacity building training
• International cooperation

Headquarters

HQ city

Saitama-shi

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. ODA Consulting Services: Fee-based consulting services for Official Development Assistance projects, primarily contracted through JICA and other Japanese government agencies (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, METI, Cabinet Office, etc.). Includes technical cooperation projects, evaluation studies, training programs, and advisory services. Compensation tied to project deliverables and consultant billable rates.
2. Private Sector Overseas Expansion Consulting: Consulting services to Japanese companies (primarily SMEs) seeking expansion into developing countries. Services include market research, business strategy formulation, partner matching, and execution support. Engagements often utilize government subsidies (JICA Biz, METI grants). Project durations typically 6 months to 1 year.
3. Training and Capacity Building Programs: Fee-based training programs including PCM (Project Cycle Management) courses, monitoring and evaluation training, and NGO training. PCM Planning course priced at ¥44,000; PCM Monitoring/Evaluation course priced at ¥55,000. Some JICA-commissioned NGO training is provided free of charge.
4. Subsidiary Business Operations: Revenue from overseas subsidiaries including KIDDIHUB Education Technology JSC (Vietnam - kindergarten platform, STEAM education, market entry support services) and Gakken Turkey (manufacturing workforce training, engineering/soft-skills training in Turkey, Iraq, UAE). Revenue includes service fees, product sales, and B2B training contracts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

IC Net is a Japanese development consulting firm that plans, implements, monitors and evaluates Official Development Assistance (ODA) technical-cooperation projects for JICA and other government agencies across 150+ countries. It also supports Japanese private companies (primarily SMEs) seeking expansion into developing-country markets through market research, partner matching, and government-subsidy navigation, and delivers training programs, CSR/CSV advisory, educational travel programs, and international roll-out of Gakken Group educational content via overseas subsidiaries.

Product overview

IC Net Limited (アイ・シー・ネット株式会社) is a development-consulting firm founded in 1993, part of the Gakken Group, with operations across 8 countries and 150+ countries of project track record. Rather than a single unified SaaS product, its offering is a portfolio of six interrelated consulting service lines — ODA Consulting, Private Sector Overseas Expansion Support, Gakken Global Business, Training & Human Resource Development, CSR/CSV Support, and Educational Travel — delivered through three operating departments: the Development Consulting Department (which executes ODA and technical-cooperation projects), the Business Consulting Department (which runs overseas-expansion support for Japanese firms, published at icnet-service.com), and the Global Business Department (which drives new-business launches including the Gakken Turkey entity). Gakken Global Business is closely integrated with the Vietnam-based subsidiary KiddiHub (KIDDIHUB EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY JOINT STOCK COMPANY), which operates the Gakken STEAM Program, kindergarten platform, and GK Bilingual Preschool. Training services are anchored by the PCM (Project Cycle Management) course family and JICA-commissioned training programs such as the NGO-targeted international-cooperation training and country/issue-specific training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KiddiHub: Vietnam-based education technology platform subsidiary connecting kindergartens and parents; provides STEAM education, educational products, and bilingual preschool services (GK Bilingual Preschool).

Products and services

• ODA Consulting Core consulting service covering ODA (Official Development Assistance) projects — planning, implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation of technical-cooperation projects for JICA, MOfA and other development partners across 150+ countries.
• Private Sector Overseas Expansion Support Business consulting that supports Japanese companies (mainly SMEs and mid-market) expanding into developing-country markets — market research, business-strategy formulation, partner matching, and leveraging JICA private-sector partnership schemes such as JICA Biz and 'Tobidase Japan!'. Delivered through the Business Consulting Department.
• Gakken Global Business International roll-out of Gakken Group educational content and services (early-childhood education, science-experiment classrooms, industrial human-resource development, support for Japanese social-business firms), leveraging IC Net's development-consulting expertise and Gakken's educational IP.
• Training & Human Resource Development Training programs for individuals, NGOs and government officials — including the Project Cycle Management (PCM) planning and monitoring/evaluation courses, JICA country-specific and issue-specific training programs, and JICA NGO Partnership Program training.
• CSR/CSV Support Consulting for Japanese corporations on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and creating shared value (CSV) initiatives, including linking corporate sustainability goals with developing-country social-issue solutions and ODA schemes.
• Educational Travel Designs and delivers inquiry-based educational travel programs, including commissioned programs for Japan's national parks (e.g., Ministry of the Environment Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park program) aligned with Japan's exploratory learning curriculum standards.
• PCM Training Courses (Project Cycle Management) Named, publicly priced training courses in Project Cycle Management: PCM Planning course (¥44,000 tax incl., 3-day online + 1-day in-person) and PCM Monitoring & Evaluation course (¥55,000 tax incl., 4-day in-person at Saitama HQ, requires prior completion of PCM Planning). Some JICA-commissioned NGO training is delivered free of charge.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150+ countries of project experience
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd. (株式会社学研ホールディングス)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 December 2025IC Net is a member company of the Gakken Group. Gakken Holdings is the parent company providing IC Net with educational content, STEAM programs, teacher training expertise, and global business support. In December 2025, Gakken HD and IC Net jointly signed an MOU with the Kyrgyz Ministry of Education to launch STEAM/teacher-training pilot programs from January 2026. IC Net's Global Strategy Office operates under Gakken HD's global strategy framework. Gakken Holdings CEO: 宮原博昭 (Tokyo, Shinagawa).
• Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic (キルギス共和国教育科学省)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 December 2025Cooperation MOU signed jointly by Gakken Holdings and IC Net with Kyrgyz Ministry of Education on December 20, 2025, at the 'Central Asia + Japan' Business Forum. MOU covers pilot deployment of Gakken Group STEAM education, textbooks, and IC Net's teacher-training expertise in support of Kyrgyz education reform. Pilot preparation begins January 2026.
• SMC Turkey Otomasyon A.ŞcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Business alliance announced with SMC Turkey (Turkish subsidiary of Japan's SMC Corporation) to deliver manufacturing automation training in Turkey. The collaboration combines Gakken Turkey's training capability with SMC's automation expertise to address skilled-labor shortages in Turkish manufacturing. Announced via Gakken Co., Ltd. news release and Nikkei coverage.
• JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerJICA is IC Net's primary client and most important collaborative partner. IC Net has executed 1,800+ ODA projects over the past 10 years through JICA contracts, spanning technical cooperation, evaluations, training programs, advisory services, and feasibility studies. JICA also co-hosts events with IC Net (e.g., country-specific business seminars) and commissions IC Net to deliver training for NGOs (PCM courses). Gakken Group synergy is being leveraged through JICA's education sector projects.
• KIDDIHUB EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY JOINT STOCK COMPANYcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVietnamese subsidiary (CEO: Vu Van Tung, based in Hanoi) operating kindergarten platform (~10,000 registered schools), STEAM education delivery (160 contracted kindergartens as of August 2024), kindergarten supplies sales, and Japan-company market entry support services. Opened GK Bilingual Preschool in November 2025. Jointly hosts events with Japanese companies (Yamaha Music Vietnam, Shabondama Soap, Vietnam Yakult, F-Vital, NEC) for the Vietnamese education market.
• Gakken Turkey (学研トルコ)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerIC Net's Turkish subsidiary focused on manufacturing workforce training, engineering training, soft-skills programs, and Kaizen consulting. Operates in Turkey, Iraq, and UAE markets. The CEO 畑中 (Hatanaka) leads business development. The subsidiary leverages IC Net's accumulated human-resource development expertise in developing countries combined with Japanese manufacturing know-how.
• Arukikata Co., Ltd. (地球の歩き方)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMonthly serialization partnership with the popular Japanese travel media brand 'Arukikata' (Earth's Way / Globe-Trotter). IC Net staff contribute articles about on-the-ground discoveries in developing countries. Recent features include Madagascar (May 2026), Kenya (organic farmers' market), Cambodia (youth energy), Solomon Islands (ecotourism), Bhutan (education), Colombia (graffiti), Djibouti (logistics), Pakistan (chai), Cameroon (fashion), and Kirghizstan.
• Gakuto Shoten Co., Ltd. (学校図書株式会社)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIC Net supports Gakuto Shoten's educational publishing activities in developing-country markets through ODA projects. Activities featured on JICA's official Facebook page. Combined effort to expand Japanese-style educational materials into emerging markets via JICA-funded programs.
• Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. / Rohto CambodiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIC Net collaborated with Rohto Cambodia on a 6-month nutrition education project (March–August 2024) targeting 120 fifth-grade students in Cambodia. IC Net supported project execution as consulting partner while Rohto Cambodia provided program expertise and funding.
• WATATU Co., Ltd. (協力隊転職ナビ / JOCV Career Navi)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIC Net co-markets with 協力隊転職ナビ (a JOCV alumni career navigation platform run by WATATU) to recruit former Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers. Co-hosted career seminars in September 2025, and JOCV Career Fair participation in August 2024. Brand Communication Office Head Makoto Inoue leads these outreach efforts.
• ECFA (Overseas Consultants Association of Japan / 一般社団法人海外コンサルタンツ協会)minorOthersIC Net participates as a member of ECFA, the Japanese industry association for overseas development consulting firms. Participates in ECFA's consulting-firm career fairs (January 2025, January 2024) for industry-wide recruitment and engagement with prospective consultants and graduate students.
• PRTIMES Co., Ltd.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIC Net uses PRTIMES as its primary press-release distribution platform, with 25+ releases published including announcements for STEAM ARENA 2026, GK Bilingual Preschool opening, business seminars, and MOU signings. PRTIMES URL serves as the canonical press-release reference for the company.
• Yamaha Music Vietnam / Shabondama Soap (シャボン玉石けん) / Vietnam YakultminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJapanese-affiliated consumer brands co-sponsoring the STEAM ARENA 2026 event in Hanoi organized by KIDDIHUB. The event showcases Gakken STEAM Program outcomes across 43 kindergartens with ~400 households attending. The collaboration supports educational market development and brand visibility in Vietnam.
• Marine Forum 21 (一般社団法人マリノフォーラム21)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIC Net executes Japan-funded fisheries co-management projects in Vietnam under contract from Marine Forum 21, a Japanese fisheries industry association. The collaboration channels Japanese private-sector fisheries expertise into ODA-funded development programs in Southeast Asia.
• Agriculture & Livestock Industries Corporation (独立行政法人農畜産業振興機構 / ALIC)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIC Net conducts Thailand-focused agricultural commodity research (cassava/tapioca) on contract for ALIC, supporting Japan's food security intelligence. Contract covers May–June 2025.
• Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition (公益社団法人2025年日本国際博覧会協会)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIC Net contracted to plan and operate the Best Practices commemorative events at Expo 2025 Osaka/Kansai. The work aligns with IC Net's positioning around the SDGs Expo theme and its role in supporting developing-country pavilion content (e.g., leading the Osaka/Kansai Expo developing-country participation project).

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Oriental Consultants Global: Major Japanese ODA infrastructure and development consulting firm. Directly comparable to IC Net on JICA tender pipeline, sector coverage (transport, urban, environment) and global project delivery.
• Chodai Co., Ltd. Japanese engineering and ODA consulting firm with a development-consulting arm. Competes with IC Net for JICA infrastructure, transport and capacity-building contracts across Asia and Africa.
• Nippon Koei (now ITT Inc.): One of Japan's largest ODA engineering and development consulting firms. Highly comparable to IC Net as a Japanese-headquartered peer competing for JICA technical-cooperation and infrastructure projects across Asia and Africa.
• KRI International Corp. Japanese consulting firm with a development policy / ODA practice. Comparable to IC Net on government advisory work, evaluations, and policy studies for JICA and Japanese ministries.
• PADECO Co., Ltd. Japan-based development consulting firm focused on transport, infrastructure, governance and private-sector development. Closely comparable to IC Net in JICA-funded project mix and SME/private-sector linkage work.
• CTI Engineering International: International arm of CTI Engineering, active in JICA ODA consulting for water, environment and infrastructure. Comparable to IC Net in JICA pipeline exposure and overseas subsidiary model.

Broad incumbents

• DAI Global LLC: Global development consulting firm executing donor-funded projects across 80+ countries. Comparable to IC Net in project mix (monitoring & evaluation, capacity building, private-sector development) but operates at much larger scale.
• Palladium (formerly Palladium Group): International development consulting firm with deep donor and emerging-market presence. Comparable to IC Net's Business Consulting and private-sector linkage work, though at much greater global scale.
• Mitsubishi Research Institute (MRI): Larger Japanese consulting and think-tank with an established ODA practice; notably the prior employer of IC Net's Representative Director Momota. Comparable as a JICA pipeline competitor and source of senior talent.

Regional players

• Benesse Corporation: Major Japanese education and edtech company with international school and content businesses in Asia. Comparable to IC Net / Gakken Group on cross-border deployment of Japanese educational IP into emerging markets, though Benesse is a much larger incumbent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/icnetlimited
• Facebookfacebook.com/icnetlimited
• Instagraminstagram.com/icnetlimited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 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 IC Net