What First bit does

First bit (株式会社ファーストビット) is a Tokyo-headquartered, privately-held digital services agency founded in September 2003 by current CEO Yoshiyuki Yasuda. The company delivers a one-stop service spanning web system development (custom CMS, WordPress, e-commerce, membership/point systems, recruitment systems, payment integration, infrastructure), website production (corporate sites, landing pages, responsive design, SEO), smartphone app development (iOS/Android native and WebView), graphic design (LINE stamps, advertising banners, IP content), and ongoing site operations and consulting. Pricing is project-based for builds (¥150K to ¥3M depending on scope) and subscription-based for media operations (¥100K–¥300K/month), with standardized packaged products for member sites and welfare Type B employment offices.

The company serves Japanese enterprise clients across a broad vertical mix — entertainment (Warner Music Japan, Tsuburaya Production, Sony Digital Entertainment), food service (Matsuya Foods), agriculture and industrial (Kakuichi), gaming (Wargaming Japan), beauty/medical (Aim Place), employment (GrowUp), tax/accounting (UAP Tax), events/matching (Linkbal), and IP/franchise holders (Kotobukiya). GTM is sales-light: there is no dedicated sales department and over 70% of revenue derives from repeat customers and referrals, with the company website and free consultation serving as primary acquisition channels. In November 2024 the company made its first disclosed inorganic move, acquiring the Teru-chan agricultural IoT sensor service from KDDI Web Communications, marking a diversification from pure service delivery into a productized, recurring-revenue IoT business.

Name

First bit

Legal name

株式会社ファーストビット

Website

https://1stbit.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Short description

First bit is a Tokyo-based digital services agency (founded 2003) offering web system development, website production, iOS/Android app development, graphic design, and site operations for Japanese enterprise clients, with over 70% of revenue from repeat and referred customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Development and Design Services: Project-based custom development and design services. Over 70% of revenue comes from repeat customers and referrals, with no dedicated sales department.
2. Site Operation and Maintenance: Ongoing site operation, maintenance, and consulting services with monthly retainer plans for media site operations.
3. Media Site Operation Plans: Monthly subscription plans for owned media operations: Silver (¥100,000/month), Gold (¥200,000/month), Platinum (¥300,000/month).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

First bit (株式会社ファーストビット) is a Tokyo-based digital services firm founded on 2003-09-19 that delivers custom web system development, website production, smartphone (iOS/Android) app development, graphic design (including LINE stamps and character design), and ongoing site operation/maintenance services to corporate clients in Japan. The company also operates the Teru-chan IoT agricultural sensor product, providing end-to-end digital solutions from planning and design through long-term operation.

Product overview

First bit is a Tokyo-based web development company founded in 2003 offering comprehensive digital services. The core portfolio consists of five main service lines: Web System Development (custom CMS, WordPress, e-commerce, membership/point systems, recruitment systems, payment integration, infrastructure), Website Production (corporate sites, landing pages, responsive design, SEO), Smartphone App Development (iOS/Android native and WebView), Graphic Design (LINE stamps, banners, print materials, IP content), and Site Operation (media management, content operations, consulting). The company recently expanded into IoT through acquisition of the Teru-chan agricultural monitoring service. Additional specialized offerings include WordPress member sites, welfare facility websites, website update support, and smartphone optimization services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• てるちゃん: 農業IoTサービス。センサーで圃場の温度・湿度・照度の異常を検知し、生産者へ電話・メール・SMSで通知する農業IoTサービス。株式会社KDDIウェブコミュニケーションズより事業譲受。

Products and services

• Web System Development (websysdev) Custom-built web systems and applications developed for Japanese corporate clients using PHP, JavaScript, HTML5, and a proprietary custom CMS. The service targets businesses needing tailored web infrastructure without ongoing licensing fees.
• Website Production End-to-end website design and production service for corporate clients, including corporate sites, marketing sites, and specialized vertical sites (e.g., welfare Type B offices, women-targeted sites).
• Smartphone App Development Native iOS and Android smartphone application development for corporate clients, delivered as a custom development project.
• Graphic Design Production Graphic design services including corporate visual identity, marketing collateral, character design, and LINE stamp/emoji production for clients in entertainment and IP sectors.
• Site Operation Service Ongoing website operation, content update, and maintenance service for clients whose sites First bit has previously developed, generally delivered as a recurring subscription.
• Teru-chan (てるちゃん) IoT Agricultural Sensor An IoT-based agricultural sensor product acquired/operated by First bit, supporting farm and agricultural monitoring applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Contact increase average of 150% for welfare B-type employment office clients

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• KDDI Web Communications (株式会社KDDIウェブコミュニケーションズ)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 September 2024First Bit acquired the agricultural IoT service 'Teru-chan' from KDDI Web Communications in November 2024. This represents a strategic expansion into the IoT/agricultural tech space, acquiring a sensor-based monitoring service for farm temperature, humidity, and light detection that notifies farmers via phone, SMS, or email.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/1stbit

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 First bit