engine

What engine does

engine inc. (株式会社engine) is a privately held Japanese interior and space design firm founded in March 2004 by Takahiro Todoroki (轟 貴弘) and headquartered in Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo. The company provides end-to-end interior design and construction management services for restaurants, bars, cafes, nightclubs, retail stores, offices, and commercial spaces, with a signature neon-integrated aesthetic and a stated motto of producing "one-of-a-kind, soulful designs." Over 250 domestic projects have been completed, supplemented by a growing overseas portfolio spanning China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with a project mix of approximately 60% domestic and 40% international. The company also offers overseas expansion consulting that covers partner introductions, market research, documentation, and on-site construction supervision for Japanese brands entering foreign markets.

The business operates three sub-brands alongside its core design practice: FUTURE NEON, an art-neon service combining LED neon with contemporary art (including AI-generated pieces); PERS EXPRESS, a 3D rendering design assist service with dedicated Japanese directors for overseas production; and EG BOX, a proprietary soundproof telework booth achieving up to -35dB sound insulation launched in November 2025. A Material EC (e-commerce) business rounds out the offering. Revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees plus nascent hardware sales (EG BOX) and rendering/art services. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct, with client inquiries originating from the multilingual website (Japanese, English, Chinese since August 2025) and social channels (Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest). The firm has accumulated a substantial international design award portfolio — including MUSE Design Awards (Platinum, USA), A' Design Award (Italy), NY Architectural Design Awards (USA), Outstanding Property Awards London (UK), and Design Excellence Awards (Singapore) between 2022 and 2026.

The company is small (1–10 employees), founder-owned with no disclosed external funding, institutional investment, or parent entity, and operates on a registered capital of ¥3 million. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is determined via custom project-based quotes. International clients include RAMEN BAR JINYA (Vancouver, Canada), 三ツ矢堂製麺北京 (Beijing, China), +81 (Manila, Philippines), BOKU (Mexico), and 帆立家 (Aomori, Japan), among others.

Name

engine

Legal name

株式会社engine

Website

https://engine-inc.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

engine inc. is a Tokyo-based, founder-owned interior design firm founded in 2004 that delivers end-to-end space design and construction management for hospitality, retail, and commercial clients across Japan and eight+ international markets, supplemented by hardware (EG BOX) and design-adjacent services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Setagaya

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Space Design Services: Project-based interior and space design services for restaurants, retail, and commercial establishments. Covers design, construction management, and total store production from concept to completion.
2. Product Sales (EG BOX): Sale of proprietary soundproof office booths under the EG BOX brand, with custom size and color ordering available.
3. Material E-commerce: Material EC business expanding design possibilities through global insights and experience.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

engine inc. provides project-based interior and space design services for restaurants, retail stores, bars, clubs, and commercial establishments, delivering end-to-end support from concept through construction management. The company also sells proprietary products including the EG BOX soundproof office booth and operates related service brands (FUTURE NEON art neon, PERS EXPRESS rendering production) plus a material e-commerce business. Approximately 60% of projects are domestic Japan and 40% overseas, with over 250 completed projects to date.

Product overview

engine inc. is an interior design company offering a portfolio of specialized products and services centered on space design. The core offerings include FUTURE NEON (art neon combining LED with contemporary art including AI-generated works), PERS EXPRESS (3D rendering design assist service), and EG BOX (telework booth with -35dB sound insulation). The company also provides domestic space design services with over 250 completed projects, overseas consulting and design for international expansion, and a material e-commerce business. These products and services work together to provide comprehensive design solutions from concept to execution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FUTURE NEON: Art neon service combining LED neon with contemporary art. Offers one-of-a-kind art pieces through collaborations with emerging artists and AI-generated works.
• PERS EXPRESS
• EG BOX

Quantifiable outcome

• 250+ completed domestic space design projects
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• PERS EXPRESSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDesign assistance service for rendering production. Assigns dedicated Japanese directors to ensure quality in overseas production and deliver stable quality at competitive industry prices.
• FUTURE NEONminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArt neon service combining art and LED neon for one-of-a-kind pieces. Includes collaborations with emerging artists and AI-generated next-generation works.
• EG BOXminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProprietary office concentration booth product. Features 10mm soundproof glass, hollow structural glass wool, and high-density sound-absorbing materials achieving up to -35dB sound insulation. Custom sizes and colors available.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rockwell Group: New York-based architecture and design firm with a large hospitality and restaurant practice — comparable in customer segment, international delivery model, and design-award positioning.
• Klein Dytham architecture: Tokyo-based design studio working across commercial, retail, and hospitality interiors, including international projects — comparable in scale, Japan base, and multi-geography commercial interior work.
• Wonderwall Inc. Tokyo-based interior/space design firm led by Masamichi Katayama, specializing in distinctive retail, restaurant, and hospitality environments with a strong Japan-originated aesthetic — directly comparable to engine's hospitality focus and design-led brand positioning.
• Yabu Pushelberg: Internationally recognized hospitality and retail interior design firm with deep restaurant and hotel work — comparable in customer segment (hospitality, F&B) and award-winning aesthetic positioning, though at significantly larger scale.
• AvroKO: Hospitality design firm known for restaurant, bar, and hotel interiors with a strong brand-identity-led approach — directly comparable to engine's restaurant/bar-focused design portfolio and differentiated aesthetic.
• Neri&Hu Design and Research Office: Asia-rooted interdisciplinary architectural and interior design practice with award-winning hospitality and retail work — comparable in Asia-based international hospitality design profile and award traction.
• Super Potato: Long-established Japanese interior and retail design firm with a similar track record of designing restaurants, retail stores, and commercial spaces globally — comparable customer segment and project-based services model to engine.

Broad incumbents

• Snøhetta: Large global architecture and design firm with a hospitality and interior-design practice that overlaps with engine's commercial-interior work, but operating at much larger scale and broader project types.

Emerging players

• Framery Oy: Leading manufacturer of soundproof office pods and booths — directly comparable to engine's EG BOX product business and a clear incumbent competitor in the telework-booth category.
• Cocoon (by Orangebox): Established office-pod/booth brand targeting the same hybrid-work soundproof-booth category as engine's EG BOX — useful as a competitive benchmark for the EG BOX product line.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/engine.spacedesign
• Instagraminstagram.com/engine_spacedesign
• Pinterestpin.it/1Zr3stw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 engine