Head High

Game Developer Relations Serviceshead-high.com

Head-High is a Tokyo-based developer relations firm that helps game development tool providers reach indie developers in Japan through community engagement, trade shows, published books, a government-backed accelerator with METI, and an annual indie developers conference.

Company typePrivate
Founded2014
HeadquartersShibuya, Japan
Headcount1–10
GTM typeB2B
OfferingServices

What Head High does

Head-High is a Tokyo-based developer relations and community services firm dedicated to Japan's indie game development ecosystem. The company helps game development tool providers — both Japanese and international — reach indie developers through community-led engagement, including trade shows, hands-on sessions, published books distributed through bookstores, technical blog posts, and pamphlets. Its service offering centers on a core Project Support and Community Building line, supplemented by the Indie Developers Conference (an annual event the company established), a published Survival Handbook for Developers, an accelerator program operated in partnership with Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and incubator programs established with other business partners.

The company operates with a small team of 1-10 employees from Shibuya, Japan, and has been active for over a decade. Its go-to-market is intentionally analog-first relative to typical digital PR, with the company stating that channels such as YouTube tutorials and gamejam spotlights often fail in Japan, while physical books, pamphlets, and direct trade show engagement succeed. Visible client logos on the company website include IGI, Sofu, IGJD, IDC, Bufff, CRI Middleware (CRIWARE), and MACC, indicating a client base of game development tool providers. The firm describes its mission as supporting audience growth in Japanese gaming and cultivating a new generation of home-grown indie creatives.

Head-High is privately held, with no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no publicly listed management team. Pricing models, contract terms, and revenue figures are not disclosed. The company operates exclusively within Japan with no global footprint claim, and its website is active as of 2025.

Head High firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Head High
Legal name: 株式会社ヘッドハイ (Kabushiki Kaisha Head-High)
Website: https://head-high.com
Company type: Private
Founded year: 2014
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 1–10 employees
Short description: Head-High is a Tokyo-based developer relations firm that helps game development tool providers reach indie developers in Japan through community engagement, trade shows, published books, a government-backed accelerator with METI, and an annual indie developers conference.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Head High industry classification

Industry

Product category: Game Developer Relations Services
NAICS: Business Support Services (5614)
akta.pro primary industry: Lead Generation & List Building Services (Prospecting, Data Sourcing) (BPAFAKAE)

Keywords

Game developer relations
Indie game community
Developer outreach services
Game tools marketing
Developer conference events

Where Head High is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Shibuya
HQ country: Japan
HQ region: Asia

Markets served

Head High business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Head High product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Head High provides developer relations and community-building services that help game development tool makers reach indie game developers in Japan. The company leverages deep roots in the Japanese game development community through analog-first outreach, including trade shows, hands-on sessions, books, pamphlets, and technical content, supplemented by an annual Indie Developers Conference, a published survival handbook, and accelerator and incubator programs.

Product overview

Head-High is a community-focused organization that offers a platform of support services for Japan's indie game developers rather than a traditional software product. The core offering centers on Project Support and Community Building, supplemented by the Indie Developers Conference (an annual industry event), the Survival Handbook for Developers (a published guidebook), and structured startup programs including an Accelerator Program (operated with METI) and Incubator Programs (partnered with other businesses). These services are designed to address the gap in support programs for up-and-coming game creatives in Japan and help international tools reach Japanese developers through analog and community-driven channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Project Support and Community Building Core service for game development tool companies seeking to reach indie game developers in Japan, delivered through trade shows, hands-on sessions, books, pamphlets, and technical blog content.
Indie Developers Conference An annual conference for indie game developers in Japan, providing networking, education, and community-building opportunities.
Survival Handbook for Developers A published guidebook written to help developers navigate the indie game development landscape in Japan, distributed through Japanese bookstores.
Accelerator Program An accelerator program for indie game developers established in partnership with Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
Incubator Programs Incubator programs for indie game developers established through partnerships with other businesses, complementing the METI accelerator program.

Companies that use Head High

Customer profile

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Head High technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Head High partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHead-High collaborated with METI to establish an accelerator program for indie game developers in Japan, addressing the lack of support programs for up-and-coming creatives in the Japanese game industry.
Indie Developers ConferencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHead-High established the Indie Developers Conference to support peers in Japan's indie game scene, providing a platform for networking, education, and community building among indie developers.
Various Business Partners (Incubator Programs)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHead-High partnered with other businesses to set up incubator programs specifically targeting indie developers, complementing the METI accelerator program with additional support structures.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Head High competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Emerging players

International Game Developers Association (IGDA): Global nonprofit membership organization for game developers with a Japan chapter. Comparable as a community-builder, networking platform, and educational resource for game developers; differs in that IGDA operates at a broader global scale whereas Head-High focuses tightly on Japan's indie segment.

Direct peers

PLAYISM: Japan-based indie game publisher that helps international indie titles reach the Japanese market. Like Head-High, PLAYISM functions as a Japan-market gateway with overlap in serving international creators/tools seeking Japanese audience access and indie community building.
Phoenixx: Japanese indie game publisher that supports indie developers in Japan and globally. Comparable to Head-High through its indie-developer-focused community engagement, marketing support, and Japan-centric publishing role, though more product-facing.
BitSummit: Japan-based indie game festival and community showcase held annually in Kyoto. Most directly comparable to Head-High's Indie Developers Conference — both are recurring owned events serving Japan's indie game community with networking, exposure, and education functions.
Active Gaming Media: Japan-headquartered game localization, marketing, and publishing services firm. Plays a similar Japan-market-access role for international game companies, comparable to Head-High's function of helping Western game tools reach Japanese developers.

Broad incumbents

Devolver Digital: Larger, established indie game publisher with global footprint and strong brand presence among indie developers. Comparable through its indie-developer focus and community marketing DNA; differs in scale (publicly listed) and that it publishes products directly rather than providing DevRel services to tool vendors.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Head High financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Head High leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Head High funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Head High M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Head High

What does Head High do?

Is Head High a public or private company?

Head High is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.

When was Head High founded?

Head High was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.

Where is Head High based?

Head High is headquartered in Shibuya, Japan, in the Asia region.

Who are Head High's main competitors?

International Game Developers Association (IGDA) is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are PLAYISM, Phoenixx, BitSummit and Active Gaming Media. Devolver Digital is listed as a broad incumbent.

Does Head High have an API?

No public API is recorded for Head High.

What industry is Head High in?

Head High's product category is Game Developer Relations Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAKAE, Lead Generation & List Building Services (Prospecting, Data Sourcing). Its NAICS code is 5614.