What IDEE does

IDEE INC. (株式会社イディー) is a Kobe-headquartered Japanese creative services firm founded in 1980 and incorporated in 1989, employing approximately 32 people across offices in Kobe (HQ) and Hiroshima. The company delivers an integrated suite of services combining PR consulting, strategic communications, and cross-media creative production — spanning print publications, corporate websites, SNS management, and short-form video content — with generative AI integrated into both client-facing workflows and internal production processes. Its core value proposition is functioning as an 'in-house creative team' for clients, engaging from strategy formulation through execution, with particular depth in local-government PR reform, healthcare communications (e.g., Kuma Hospital), and regional corporate branding (Hanshin group, Kobe Steel, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines).

The company's go-to-market is primarily sales-led, driven by direct consultation via phone and website inquiry forms, targeting local governments, healthcare institutions, and regional enterprises. IDEE monetizes through project-based and retainer professional services engagements (quote-based, not publicly disclosed), supplemented by two newly launched tiered subscription products in February 2026: an SNS short-video management service (¥300K–¥638K/month) and DIGICOTO, a zero-initial-cost website service (¥9,680/month) operated through affiliated company After You Co., Ltd. Distribution is reinforced by dedicated service microsites (sns.idee-kobe.com, digicoto.com), thought-leadership content via blog and note.com, and an inbound recruitment pipeline through the HERP applicant tracking system.

The firm has accumulated significant reputational capital in Japanese public-sector communications, evidenced by a 2018 Good Design Award (first maritime industry winner in nine years), dominance at the 73rd Hyogo Prefecture PR Competition in 2026 (three of four top finishers were IDEE clients), a 2026 National PR Competition selection, and the 2024 Hospital PR Award Grand Prize for Kuma Hospital. Operating privately without disclosed external funding, IDEE appears to be a founder- and management-controlled firm pursuing organic, region-anchored growth rather than venture-scale expansion.

Name

IDEE

Legal name

株式会社イディー

Website

https://idee-kobe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Short description

IDEE is a Kobe-based Japanese creative services firm (32 employees, est. 1980) providing PR consulting, generative AI-enhanced creative production, web design, and SNS management — primarily serving local governments, healthcare institutions, and regional enterprises across the Kansai and Chugoku regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ashiya

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Creative production services (consulting, PR strategy, design, editorial, web, SNS): Project-based and retainer-based professional services spanning PR consulting, creative production, and ongoing operational support for clients. Core revenue stream delivered by a team of creative specialists.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IDEE is a Kobe-based creative services firm (founded 1980) providing PR consulting, graphic design, web design, advertising, and creative production to local governments, healthcare institutions, and small-to-medium enterprises. The firm operates a fully in-house cross-disciplinary team and increasingly integrates generative AI and DX consulting into its creative services, with group companies (SNS Inc., DIGICOTO) extending offerings into short-video SNS management and small-business homepage creation.

Product overview

IDEE operates as a comprehensive creative services firm offering five core service lines: (1) Generative AI × Creative Services for training and tool development, (2) PR Consulting for strategic communications, (3) Creative Production spanning print, web, and social media, (4) SNS Short Video Management Service for short-form video content across major platforms, and (5) DIGICOTO, a low-cost homepage creation service. The firm specializes in bridging business strategy, technology, and design to address regional and client communication challenges.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• デジコト: A low-cost homepage production service offering ¥0 initial production cost with monthly maintenance fees starting at ¥9,680, operated by After You Co., Ltd. (アフターユー株式会社), a group company of IDEE.

Products and services

• PR Consulting (PRコンサルティング)
• Creative Production (Graphic Design & Advertising) (企画制作)
• Web Design & Production (WEBデザイン・制作)
• Generative AI × Creative Service (生成AI×クリエイティブ)
• SNS Short Video Management Service (株式会社SNS)
• DIGICOTO Homepage Creation Service (DIGICOTO)

Quantifiable outcome

• Won 73rd Hyogo Prefecture PR Competition: 2nd place (Amagasaki City) and 4th place (Kakogawa City), plus consulting support for Ono City (特選/top prize)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• After You Co., Ltd. (アフターユー株式会社)minorOthersAfter You Co., Ltd. is identified as a group company (系列会社) of IDEE. It is the company behind the 'Digikoto' (デジコト) low-cost website production service, which is marketed on IDEE's blog. IDEE refers clients to this service as part of its product portfolio while noting it is operated by the group company.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ADK Holdings: Major Japanese advertising agency group offering creative, media, PR, and content services. Comparable as a full-service communications provider but operates at national scale with broader service offerings than IDEE's regional creative focus.
• Dentsu Inc. Japan's largest advertising agency group offering full-service creative, PR, digital, and consulting. Comparable to IDEE at the broadest level as both deliver advertising/creative services, but Dentsu operates nationally and globally with vastly greater scale and broader service portfolio.
• Hakuhodo Inc. Second-largest Japanese advertising agency with strong creative, PR, and digital capabilities. Comparable as a full-service creative/communications provider serving Japanese enterprises and government, though at much larger scale and broader geographic reach than IDEE.

Direct peers

• Drill Inc. Tokyo-based creative agency combining PR, branding, and editorial production. Comparable to IDEE in offering integrated creative + PR services with editorial depth and strong storytelling capabilities, though operating at larger scale in the Tokyo market.
• ENJIN Inc. Japan-based creative/branding agency combining strategy, branding, and content production for corporate and government clients. Comparable to IDEE in delivering integrated creative services with strong design and editorial capabilities, with similar target market emphasis on Japanese enterprise communications.
• TACT Inc. Japanese creative/communications agency combining PR, advertising, and creative production. Most closely comparable to IDEE in scope (integrated communications + creative production) and regional Japanese market focus, though TACT serves a different geographic base and client mix.

Regional players

• Tokyu Agency Inc. Tokyo-headquartered advertising and creative agency serving Japanese enterprise and government clients. Comparable in delivering integrated creative/PR services to Japanese organizations, though based in and primarily serving the Tokyo metropolitan area rather than Kansai region.

Emerging players

• PARTY (Creative agency): Tokyo-based creative agency known for innovative branding, advertising, and content production. Comparable as a Japanese creative agency offering integrated strategy and execution, though focused on consumer brand work rather than municipal/government PR.
• Button Inc. Japanese digital creative agency specializing in web design, branding, and digital communications. Comparable to IDEE's web design and digital PR service lines, though focused on consumer/digital brands rather than municipal clients.
• Whatever Inc. Tokyo-based creative agency specializing in digital-first campaigns, social media, and creative production. Comparable to IDEE in delivering modern creative/PR services, though more focused on digital/social channels and Tokyo clients rather than regional municipal PR.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IDEE_INC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 IDEE