SoldOut

What SoldOut does

SoldOut, Inc. (ソウルドアウト株式会社) is a publicly listed (TSE, ticker 6553) Japanese digital marketing and technology group founded in February 2010 and headquartered in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo. The company is structured into four operating divisions — Marketing Company (campaign management, SEO, content marketing, analytics), Software Company (proprietary tools including the ATOM ad-operations platform, SO Data feed management tool, and the brick heatmap/funnel analytics tool), DX Company (digital transformation consulting via subsidiary And Digital), and Media Company (content brands such as loconomiQ, LISKUL, Wellulu, JAPAN SELECT) — supported by wholly owned subsidiaries And Digital, SO Technologies, Media Engine, dynabright, and loconomiQ.

The company sells to a hybrid customer base spanning SMBs, venture/startup companies, regional/local enterprises, and major corporations across Japan, with SMBs and regional companies explicitly identified as the primary segment. It maintains 11 offices nationwide (Tokyo HQ plus Osaka, Niigata, Shizuoka, Kobe, Fukui, Sapporo, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Matsuyama, Shimanto/Kochi Digital Operation Center) and operates a direct sales-led go-to-market, supplemented by platform partner channel relationships (Google Premier Partner, Meta certified in Media / Marketing Science / Creative Strategy, Criteo Certified Partner Platinum with 4 consecutive Partner of the Year SMB awards, LINE Yahoo Partner Premier, Amazon Partner Agency, SmartNews Ads partner). Revenue is generated through professional services (digital marketing agency engagements) and subscription/recurring software (marketing automation, data feed management, analytics tools); pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quote-based.

Recent strategic direction is anchored in the 'Local & AI First' strategy formalized in April 2026 under new President & CEO Kitagawa Tomofumi, who also serves as Executive Director at Hakuhodo DY Holdings. The strategy combines company-wide deployment of ChatGPT Teams Plan and a 100+ custom GPT GPTs Collection (95% employee AI utilization rate), regional-local government engagements (Nara City 立地協定 April 2026, prior Kamaishi City agreement), direct capital deployment (January 2026 investment in SHONAI's ¥9.9 billion funding round), and a June 2026 group restructuring that consolidated area business operations into a dedicated subsidiary.

Name

SoldOut

Legal name

ソウルドアウト株式会社

Website

https://sold-out.co.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

SoldOut is a Japanese digital marketing and technology group serving SMBs, regional companies, and major brands across Japan through agency services, proprietary software tools, and AI-driven digital transformation, operating from 11 offices nationwide and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Marketing Services

NAICS

Media Buying Agencies (541830)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Lead Generation & Performance Media (B2B/B2C) (MPAAACAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Paid Social Media Buying (BPAFABAD)

Keywords

• Digital marketing services
• Advertising agency
• Marketing automation tools
• Regional enterprise support
• AI marketing platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Digital Marketing Services: Provides digital marketing agency services including advertising campaign management, SEO, content marketing, and analytics for中小企业・ベンチャー企業
2. Platform and Tools: Provides marketing automation tools, data feed management tools, and other software platforms to businesses

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SoldOut operates as a digital marketing agency providing advertising campaign management, SEO, content marketing, and analytics services primarily to small and medium businesses (中小企業・ベンチャー企業) and regional/local enterprises across Japan. The company also develops and sells marketing automation tools, data feed management software (SO Data, ATOM, brick), and operates proprietary regional media platforms (loconomiQ, LISKUL, Wellulu, JAPAN SELECT) through its four-division structure: Marketing Company, Software Company, DX Company, and Media Company.

Product overview

SoldOut is a digital marketing and technology company structured as a platform with four distinct divisions: Marketing Company (marketing services), Software Company (technology development), DX Company (digital transformation), and Media Company (media operations). The portfolio includes multiple product brands: '365' for digital marketing services, 'loconomiQ' for regional media content, 'SO Data' for data feed tools, 'brick' for web analytics, 'ATOM' for ad management, and 'LISKUL' for marketing knowledge content. The company also operates 'JAPAN SELECT' for regional enterprise support. A key recent initiative is the AI Company initiative featuring GPTs Collection with 100+ custom AI assistants deployed company-wide, supporting their Local & AI First strategy for regional digital transformation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• loconomiQ: Regional revitalization media platform featuring stories of regional companies and entrepreneurs across Japan
• LISKUL
• Wellulu
• JAPAN SELECT
• SOUL of SoldOut

Products and services

• loconomiQ Regional media platform featuring interviews and case studies of regional companies, supporting local enterprise growth through storytelling and knowledge sharing across Japan.
• 365 Digital marketing service brand offering comprehensive online advertising and marketing solutions for SMBs and regional enterprises across Japan.
• SO Data Data feed marketing support tool that enables product data management and distribution across multiple advertising platforms.
• brick Web marketing tool offering heatmap, funnel analysis, and site review functionalities for website optimization.
• ATOM Integrated management platform for performance advertising, supporting multiple ad network operations from a single interface.
• LISKUL Web marketing know-how media providing industry insights and marketing strategy content for business readers.
• Wellulu Regional media platform focused on local lifestyle and community content for Japanese regional audiences.
• JAPAN SELECT Regional enterprise support platform providing consulting and support services for local businesses across Japan.
• ジッセン! Biz Digital marketing e-learning service for talent development and skill training, supporting digital marketing workforce education in Japan.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% AI utilization rate achieved through company-wide AI adoption program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Integration11 records

AI capability9 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and secondary.

• SHONAIminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2026SoldOut participated as an investor in SHONAI's ¥9.9 billion funding round led by United. SHONAI is a regional revitalization company based in Yamagata Prefecture developing local community projects in the Shonai region. The investment is part of collaborative efforts to support growing regional companies.
• LINE YahoocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLINE Partner Program certified partner providing LINE advertising services. Holds Premier certification status and Sales Partner designation with Ads Policy Badge for LINE advertising search campaigns.
• Meta (Facebook)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMeta certified partner program with certifications in Media, Marketing Science, and Creative Strategy. Operates as certified agency for Meta and Instagram advertising services.
• GooglecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGoogle Premier Partner with multiple award recognitions including Shopping Ads and Growing Businesses Online awards. Provides Google Ads and YouTube advertising services.
• CriteocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCriteo certified partner awarded Partner of the Year SMB for 4 consecutive years and Platinum Certified Partner status. Provides retargeting and display advertising services.
• SmartNews AdssecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSmartNews Ads partner program member with partner rank certification. Provides advertising services on SmartNews platform.
• Amazon AdssecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmazon Partner Agency Program member providing Amazon advertising and e-commerce marketing services.
• Media EnginecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup company specializing in local marketing and regional promotion services. Contributes to loconomiQ content platform and regional business storytelling initiatives.
• And DigitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary company focused on SMB digital transformation and AI solutions. Provides consulting services for digital adoption and AI utilization for small and medium businesses.
• SO TechnologiessecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup company providing marketing technology tools and platform development for local business digitalization.
• 博報堂DY HoldingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor advertising agency group with strategic relationship. SoldOut President Kitagawa serves as Executive Officer at Hakuhodo DY Holdings while leading SoldOut.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Adways: Tokyo-based digital marketing and advertising technology company. Operates affiliate, mobile, and integrated digital ad businesses, overlapping with SoldOut's performance media and SMB support positioning.
• Septeni Holdings: Public Japanese digital advertising holding company providing performance marketing, creative, and data platform services. Direct competitor in paid-social and digital media buying for Japanese advertisers.
• Digital Holdings: Major Japanese digital marketing group operating multiple agency brands across performance, creative, and data services. Closest direct competitor by scale and product breadth, with similar SMB-to-enterprise client mix and platform-partner strategy.
• Geniee: Japanese ad-tech firm providing DSP, SSP, and digital marketing solutions. Comparable as a mid-sized public competitor in programmatic and performance advertising.
• SO Technologies: Wholly-owned subsidiary of SoldOut that operates as an independent martech provider for local businesses. Listed here as a peer because it competes with other Japan martech platforms in the SMB segment, though the relationship is internal.
• FreakOut Holdings: Listed Japanese DSP and digital marketing firm offering programmatic advertising and integrated marketing services. Comparable in platform-partner approach and mid-cap agency positioning.

Emerging players

• Macromill: Japan-listed digital marketing and research firm offering market research, data analytics, and digital advertising. Comparable in mid-cap Japanese public-marketing exposure and overlap on data-driven campaign services.
• Allganize Japan: Japanese AI automation provider focused on enterprise generative AI solutions. Relevant as an emerging player intersecting with SoldOut's AI-first strategy and SMB digital-transformation offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Dentsu: Japan's largest advertising agency group, offering full-service creative, media, and digital capabilities globally. Competes with SoldOut for major advertisers but at significantly larger scale and broader service portfolio.
• Hakuhodo: Japan's second-largest ad agency group and SoldOut's strategic partner through Hakuhodo DY Holdings. Operates across creative, digital, media, and content with global reach, dwarfing SoldOut's scale but overlapping on digital and regional clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/soldout_jp
• Facebookfacebook.com/SOLDOUTjp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/soldout-official

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments2 records

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

Frequently asked questions about SoldOut