Inspiring

What Inspiring does

Inspiring Inc. (株式会社インスパイアリング) is a privately held Japanese SMB IT services and cloud-integration firm headquartered in Yokohama, founded in January 2007 by Masuda Hiromichi. The company specializes in system development, consulting, web development, and database business, operating as an authorized reseller and implementation partner for Raku Co.'s Rakuaku series of cloud platforms—principally 楽楽販売 (cloud sales management, where it claims a #1 implementation track record), along with 楽楽精算 (expense), 楽楽明細 (electronic invoicing), and 楽楽勤怠 (attendance). It also resells LINE WORKS (as a second-tier agent under Otsuka商会), RakuTel (CTI×CRM), V-ONE Cloud (accounts receivable matching), and CloudSign (electronic contracts), and operates a Visual Communication business unit for website production, branding, and design.

The company's core technology approach is cloud-database customization without traditional software development: it configures, extends with bespoke add-ons, and provides API integration between platforms to create unified client workflows. Proprietary service offerings include custom business, web, and open-system application development, IT department outsourcing and helpdesk services, and BPO such as on-site data entry. Revenue is generated through a mix of project-based development fees, subscription/recurring revenue from cloud-platform reselling and operational support, and professional services for IT consulting and strategy. Customers are predominantly Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises lacking internal IT resources, served across multiple industries (manufacturing, real estate, construction, IT, transportation).

Go-to-market combines direct consultative enterprise sales, monthly co-hosted webinars with Raku Co. as demand generation, and second-tier channel partner relationships. The firm holds JIPDEC Privacy Mark certification and METI IT Adoption Subsidy support organization designation, enabling it to assist SMB clients in accessing government subsidies. Operations span a Yokohama head office (relocated to Landmark Plaza in March 2021) and an Okinawa office (established June 2019, phone numbers unified via cloud PBX in 2020). Registered capital is ¥10 million, headcount is 1–10 employees, and the firm follows a stated philosophy of deliberate, controlled growth over rapid scaling.

Name

Inspiring

Legal name

株式会社インスパイアリング

Website

https://inspiring.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Inspiring Inc. is a Japanese SMB-focused cloud integrator and IT services firm in Yokohama that resells and customizes Raku Co.'s Rakuaku cloud suite, delivers custom system development and IT consulting, and serves small and medium-sized enterprises lacking in-house IT resources across multiple industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT Consulting and Cloud Integration Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Low-Code/No-Code Integration Builders (BPAMAOAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Collaboration & Unified Communications Management (UCaaS/VoIP) (BPAEABAK)

Keywords

• Cloud integration services
• System development consulting
• Web database implementation
• IT outsourcing services
• Visual communication design

Headquarters

HQ city

Yokohama

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. System Development and Operation Services: Custom business system design, development, and ongoing operational support using cloud databases, primarily 楽楽販売. Revenue is generated through project-based development fees and ongoing maintenance contracts.
2. Cloud Database Sales, Setup, and Configuration: Resale, setup, configuration, and operational support for cloud database services (楽楽販売 and other Raku Raku series products). This includes consulting on optimal cloud service selection and building customized extensions.
3. Website Design and Production: Corporate website development, advertising, and SP (sales promotion) tool design and production. Part of the Visual Communication business unit established in 2016.
4. IT Consulting and Strategy Services: IT consulting including system conceptualization aligned with management strategy, IT department outsourcing, IT help desk services, and business process outsourcing where Inspiring staff perform data entry and other tasks at client sites.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Inspiring is a Japanese IT solutions and visual communication firm that acts as a cloud integrator and implementation partner for Raku Co.'s RakuRaku series (cloud-based sales, expense, invoicing, and attendance management) and other third-party SaaS products such as LINE WORKS, CloudSign, V-ONE Cloud, and RakuTel. The company delivers custom cloud database configuration, addon development, system integration, IT consulting/outsourcing, and creative services including website production, branding, and design for Japanese SMBs.

Product overview

Inspiring operates as a cloud integrator and creative services firm offering both a portfolio of third-party SaaS products and proprietary IT/creative services. The core product portfolio centers on the Rakuaku series (楽楽販売 for sales management, 楽楽精算 for expense reimbursement, 楽楽明細 for electronic invoicing, 楽楽勤怠 for attendance management), supplemented by 楽テル (call center CTI×CRM), V-ONE Cloud (debt management), CloudSign (electronic contracts), and LINE WORKS (business communication). Inspiring resells, configures, customizes, and provides ongoing operational support for these cloud platforms. Complementing the SaaS portfolio, Inspiring offers custom systems development, IT consulting, and visual communication services (website production, graphic design, corporate branding, photo/video). The company positions itself as a 'true partner' that goes beyond system delivery to encompass business strategy alignment, operation planning, and ongoing support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RakuRaku Hanbai (楽楽販売) Cloud-based web database and sales management system by Raku Co. Inspiring configures, customizes, and provides operational support. Enables non-programming customization for sales, CRM, estimates, contracts, order management, inventory, and delivery management across diverse industries.
• RakuRaku Seisan (楽楽精算) Cloud-based expense reimbursement and settlement system by Raku Co. Automates travel, transport, and procurement expense workflows with paperless processing, supporting electronic invoice storage law and invoice compliance for Japanese businesses.
• RakuRaku Meisai (楽楽明細) Cloud-based electronic invoice and statement issuance service by Raku Co. Enables web-based distribution of invoices and business documents, replacing postal mailing for faster delivery and cost reduction.
• RakuRaku Kintai (楽楽勤怠) Cloud-based attendance and time-tracking system by Raku Co. Manages employee working hours, leave balances, overtime, and integrates with payroll processes to address 2024 workstyle reform requirements.
• RakuTel (楽テル) CTI×CRM cloud service by Raku tailored for call center operations. Integrates ACD call routing, IVR auto-attendant, call queuing, and recording features with CRM for real-time status management and workflow automation.
• V-ONE Cloud Cloud-based debt management and accounts receivable matching system by R&AC. Automates manual payment reconciliation processes, reduces operational overhead, and enables faster monthly close. Integrates with the Rakuaku series via API for end-to-end financial workflow.
• CloudSign (クラウドサイン) Electronic contract execution and storage service by Bengo4.com. Enables cloud-based contract signing with legal timestamps and audit logs, eliminating stamp duties and postal costs. Inspiring offers consultation on its use, with plans for Rakuaku sales integration.
• LINE WORKS Business communication and chat tool by Works Mobile Japan. The only LINE-connected business chat platform, combining LINE-style messaging with enterprise features including corporate bulletin boards, address book, email, calendar, file sharing, and audit log capabilities.
• Telework Introduction Full Support Project (テレワーク導入 全力応援プロジェクト) Three-company joint project (Inspiring, Work Prime Contract, and Wealth Labor Management Office) providing comprehensive SME remote work adoption support covering IT infrastructure setup, HR/labor management advisory, and workstyle reform consulting.
• System Development and Application Development (システム開発・アプリケーション開発) Custom system development services spanning analysis, requirements definition, development, and ongoing operations. Covers business, web, and open-system application development, including custom addon development for existing systems that proprietary packages cannot address.
• Visual Communication Business (ビジュアルコミュニケーション事業) Integrated creative services spanning website production, print and SP tool design, corporate branding, and still/video photography and production. Focused on strategic content creation centered on communication strategy rather than visual decoration alone.
• IT Support and Consulting (ITサポート・コンサルティング) IT department outsourcing services including helpdesk, infrastructure setup, and strategic system planning aligned with business objectives. Covers cloud service configuration, construction, and operational support as a cloud integrator.

Quantifiable outcome

• Raku Co.'s accounting department achieved a 20x improvement in productivity through cloud service adoption, a case referenced by Inspiring in webinar content

Segments2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 株式会社ワークプライムコントラクト (Work Prime Contract Co., Ltd.)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 August 2020A co-founding partner of the 'テレワーク導入 全力応援プロジェクト' (Telework Introduction Full Support Project). WPC provides expertise in IT environment setup and infrastructure for companies adopting remote work arrangements.
• ウェルス労務管理事務所 (Wealth SR Labor Management Office)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 August 2020A co-founding partner of the 'テレワーク導入 全力応援プロジェクト'. Wealth SR provides support in labor management and workplace design from a work-life balance and employee welfare perspective, complementing Inspiring's IT-driven approach.
• ワークスモバイルジャパン株式会社 (Works Mobile Japan Co., Ltd.)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 17 August 2017Inspiring acts as a second-tier agent under 大塚商会 for ワークスモバイルジャパン's LINE WORKS — a business chat tool that connects with consumer LINE. LINE WORKS provides enterprise features including bulletin boards, address books, email, calendar, file sharing, and audit logging.
• 大塚商会 (Otsuka商会)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 17 August 2017Primary (tier-1) distributor for LINE WORKS, under which Inspiring operates as a second-tier agent for the Japanese market.
• 株式会社ラクス (Raku Co., Ltd.)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 13 July 2017Inspiring is an authorized reseller and implementation partner for Raku Co.'s cloud service lineup, including 楽楽販売 (cloud sales management), 楽楽精算 (expense management), 楽楽明細 (electronic invoicing), and 楽楽勤怠 (attendance management). The partnership is central to Inspiring's cloud integration business, with both companies regularly co-hosting webinars to drive adoption. Inspiring claims the #1 implementation track record for 楽楽販売.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Yayoi Co., Ltd. (弥生株式会社): Japan's leading SMB accounting and business software provider (弥生会計, 弥生給与). Comparable SMB customer focus and adjacent product footprint in expense/invoicing/payroll where Inspiring's Rakuaku stack also competes.
• JUSTSYSTEMS Corporation (ジャストシステム株式会社): Japanese long-standing SMB and mid-market business software vendor (database, ERP, security). Comparable SMB customer profile and adjacent product overlap in cloud-database and business management software.
• Cybozu, Inc. (サイボウズ株式会社): Established Japanese cloud collaboration (Kintone, Garoon) and business application vendor targeting SMBs and mid-market. Comparable SMB customer base and cloud-native delivery model; broader product suite and larger scale than Inspiring.
• Otsuka Shokai Co., Ltd. (大塚商会): One of Japan's largest SMB IT solutions providers, offering comprehensive IT consulting, system integration, cloud services, and IT outsourcing across Japan. Comparable customer segment and overlapping service lines, but at vastly greater scale.
• Raku Co., Ltd. (ラクス): Primary cloud SaaS partner and Japan's leading SMB-focused cloud business application provider (maker of the Rakuaku series). Inspiring operates as a downstream implementation partner; Raku is a much larger listed incumbent in the same SMB cloud category.

Direct peers

• System Integrator Corp. (システムインテグレータ株式会社): Listed Japanese SIer focused on packaged business software for SMBs, including original ERP and web-database products. Closest comparable business model — package-led SMB system integrator with similar delivery and customer profile.

Others

• Bengo4.com, Inc. (弁護士ドットコム株式会社): Legal-tech vendor (CloudSign electronic contracts) and Inspiring partner. Adjacent ecosystem participant; not a competitor but a complementary tool Inspiring has adopted and offers consultation on.
• Works Mobile Japan Co., Ltd. (ワークスモバイルジャパン): LINE WORKS business chat platform vendor and Inspiring's distribution partner. Not a direct competitor — adjacent ecosystem participant supplying a product Inspiring resells under Otsuka Shokai.

Emerging players

• Money Forward, Inc. (マネーフォワード): Listed Japanese cloud finance, accounting, HR, and SaaS management platform for SMBs and individuals. Similar SMB focus and cloud-first delivery model, with overlapping presence in expense reimbursement, invoicing, and attendance.
• freee K.K. (freee株式会社): Listed Japanese cloud accounting, HR, and payroll SaaS provider focused on SMBs and sole proprietors. Comparable target customer and complementary product overlap with Inspiring's Rakuaku expense/invoice/attendance stack.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/inspiring.co.jp
• Xx.com/inspaoki

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Inspiring