What FLAG does

FLAG Inc. (株式会社FLAG) is a privately held Japanese digital services company founded in May 2011 in Fukuoka, originally as Savage Co., Ltd., and rebranded in May 2019. The company operates two business lines: (1) the FLAG platform, a no-code e-commerce service that enables creators, artists, and small businesses to monetize content through a proprietary 'Free Payment' (フリーペイメント) transaction model where buyers determine purchase price, alongside multiple commerce formats including online shops, subscriptions, crowdfunding, and auctions; the 2022-launched Keibuy feature adds a bid-based mechanism where buyers within inventory range can purchase at their offered price. (2) Professional services including IT Solutions (DX consulting, SaaS implementation, workflow automation), Creative Services (brand strategy, UI/UX), Product Development Services (end-to-end product builds), and a Reskilling program offering generative AI and DX training courses priced at 200,000-400,000 JPY per program.

The platform architecture supports multiple transaction models without requiring programming knowledge, targeting Japan's creator economy including artists, musicians, and small businesses. The company distributes through a self-service channel (flag.gg) for individual creators and direct enterprise sales for larger DX/creative engagements, with named clients spanning NHK, SoftBank, Sony Music, Toshiba, mercari, Avex, Mitsubishi Food, and others across broadcasting, telecom, e-commerce, entertainment, and consumer goods. The company is led by Representative Director and CEO Kenichi Sadamitsu (貞光賢一), holds no disclosed external funding, maintains offices in Fukuoka (HQ, relocated May 2024) and Tokyo, and received the 2021 Good Design Award for its freepayment commerce concept. Revenue model combines platform transaction fees (FLAG platform) with project-based professional services fees (IT/creative/product/training engagements), serving creators/SMBs and Japanese enterprises respectively.

Name

FLAG

Legal name

株式会社FLAG

Website

https://flaginc.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Short description

FLAG Inc. operates a no-code Japanese e-commerce platform with a proprietary buyer-determined pricing model, alongside IT, creative, product development, and AI/DX training services for creators, SMBs, and enterprises.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

E-commerce Platform

akta.pro primary industry

Processor-Agnostic / White-Label Acquiring Platforms (Acquiring-as-a-Service) (FSAMABAI)

Keywords

• Freepayment ecommerce platform
• Creator monetization services
• Digital transformation consulting
• Custom web development
• Crowdfunding platform solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Fukuoka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. FLAG Platform Services: EC platform services enabling creators and businesses to monetize content through multiple transaction models including buyer-determined pricing, subscriptions, crowdfunding, and online stores. Platform likely charges transaction fees or subscription fees from platform users.
2. IT Solution Services: DX consulting, SaaS implementation, business automation, and information asset management for enterprise clients. Custom project-based or retainer engagement model.
3. Creative Services: Brand strategy, creative direction, content planning, and UI/UX improvement services for clients seeking to enhance brand value and customer communication.
4. Product Development Services: End-to-end product development from planning through UI/UX, development, and operational improvement, supporting new business launches and operational support tools.
5. Reskilling/DX Training Programs: AI-powered DX training programs including e-learning courses and online seminars for business professionals, covering generative AI fundamentals, applied skills, and practical implementation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

FLAG Inc. operates the FLAG freepayment e-commerce platform (flag.gg), a no-code service that enables creators and small businesses to run online shops, subscriptions, crowdfunding, auctions, and Keibuy bid-based sales under a buyer-determined pricing model. Beyond the platform, the company sells IT Solution, Creative, Product Development, and Reskilling services to Japanese enterprises, covering DX consulting, SaaS implementation, branding, UI/UX design, and AI-powered DX training.

Product overview

FLAG Inc. operates a unified freepayment commerce platform called FLAG (フラッグ) that enables businesses and creators to monetize content through a unique 'pay what you want' transaction model where buyers determine their own purchase prices. The platform offers multiple transaction methods including Online Shops, Support/Crowdfunding, Subscriptions, Auctions, and the proprietary Keibuy bidding mechanism. Beyond the core FLAG platform product, the company provides professional services including IT Solutions (DX design, SaaS implementation, workflow automation), Creative Services (brand strategy, UI/UX, content planning), and Reskilling programs (AI-powered DX training).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Keibuy (ケイバイ): A transaction feature under the FLAG platform that allows buyers to set their desired purchase price, distinct from traditional auctions.
• FLAG (フラッグ)

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved high transaction values for artist Tegoshi Yuya's art works using Keibuy mechanism, generating significant social media buzz
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, supporting and core.

• RKB Daily Broadcasting (RKB毎日放送株式会社)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2022FLAG's Free Payment platform powers RKB's Levechi Art Museum initiative, selling art works where buyers determine prices. RKB organizes the art exhibition featuring both famous and emerging artists, while FLAG provides the commerce infrastructure.
• Japan Foundation 'Sea and Japan PROJECT' (海と日本プロジェクト)supportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 October 2020FLAG partnered with the national Sea and Japan PROJECT for ocean conservation. FLAG's platform enabled e-sports events and T-shirt art exhibitions to raise funds for marine preservation organizations.
• Kumamoto Asahi Broadcasting (熊本朝日放送株式会社)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2020Organized 'Sea and Japan PROJECT in Kumamoto e-sports' event, using FLAG's platform for fund-raising to support ocean conservation and disaster relief for Kumamoto flood victims.
• Live House Queblink (LIVE HOUSE Queblick)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2020FLAG partnered with live music venues including Queblink in Fukuoka for the Make With Music project, supporting struggling live houses during COVID-19. Artists create content as rewards for fan support, which is then directed to venues facing financial hardship.
• Early Believers (live music venue)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2020Fukuoka-based live music venue partnered in Make With Music project. Participating artists provide content as support rewards to help venues during COVID-19 restrictions and beyond.
• LIVE HOUSE MARCUS (北九州)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2020Kitakyushu-based live music venue partnered in Make With Music project to receive fan support through FLAG's platform during COVID-19 closure period.
• Live House Kogura Fuse (Live House 小倉Fuse)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2020Kitakyushu live music venue partnered for Make With Music initiative. Project continues post-pandemic with venues providing discounted rates to participating artists as reciprocal support.
• Scholar Learning (スカラーラーニング)supportingTechnology or IntegrationScholar Learning provides AI-powered learning content for FLAG's Reskilling programs, enabling business professionals to learn generative AI fundamentals, applied skills, and practical implementation through e-learning and online seminars.
• SendGrid (Twilio Inc.)supportingTechnology or IntegrationSendGrid email service (operated by Twilio Inc.) is used for email transmission within FLAG's services. Personal information including email addresses may be processed through this third-party service provider.
• Google Analytics (Google LLC)supportingTechnology or IntegrationFLAG uses Google Analytics to improve service quality, fix bugs, and deliver targeted advertisements. Cookie information is automatically collected and managed under Google's privacy policy.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Patreon: Global creator-monetization platform built around fan subscriptions and tiered support. Closest international analogue to FLAG's subscription and crowdfunding primitives for creator monetization.
• Creema: Japanese handmade and creator marketplace with auction-style listings and direct artist-to-buyer transactions. Comparable marketplace dynamics to FLAG's auction and Keibuy features.
• MakeShop by GMO: Established Japanese EC platform by GMO providing customizable online stores for SMBs and mid-market merchants. Competes for the same Japanese SMB merchant wallet as FLAG.
• STORES: Japanese no-code EC and reservation platform targeting SMBs and creators with storefronts, online payments, and POS tools. Comparable in target segment and no-code positioning.
• BASE (Pay ID Inc.): Japanese no-code EC platform serving individual creators and SMBs, offering online stores, simple checkout, and creator-friendly monetization. Most direct head-to-head competitor to FLAG's self-service platform in Japan.
• Bandcamp: Music-first marketplace that pioneered artist-friendly pricing and direct-to-fan commerce, including pay-what-you-want downloads. Conceptually adjacent to FLAG's Free Payment ethos for creators.
• minne (GMO): Japanese handmade/creator marketplace by GMO focused on individual artists selling crafts and original goods. Direct competitor in the creator-D2C commerce segment.

Broad incumbents

• Shopify: Global e-commerce platform with significant Japanese operations. Sets the feature baseline for online stores, subscriptions, and checkout that FLAG's platform must compete with.
• Rakuten Ichiba: Japan's largest marketplace and broader commerce/e-commerce conglomerate. Dominant incumbent whose merchant ecosystem limits how much share niche platforms like FLAG can capture.
• Squarespace: Global no-code website builder with integrated commerce, subscriptions, and creator-friendly tooling. Comparable platform DNA to FLAG, though globally rather than Japan-focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 FLAG