Upa

What Upa does

Upa (株式会社Upa) is a Tokyo-based private corporation founded in August 2017 by CEO Tomoya Shirai (白井 智也). The company operates three business lines: a DX (digital transformation) and talent development support practice for corporate clients, the Upacity consumer-to-consumer learning platform for individual learners, and an educational materials development and sales arm that has produced published books on DX methodology. Across these lines Upa serves both enterprise customers (IT firms, training operators, manufacturers) and individual learners in Japan, with a total team of roughly eight people including contractors.

The Upacity platform is the core technology asset. It is a CtoC marketplace that connects instructors with individual learners and uses generative AI for two-sided workflows: AI-assisted curriculum and content generation on the instructor side, and AI-personalized learning pathways on the learner side, spanning text and code modalities. Content is developed through a proprietary PDCA-based cycle that Upa has codified across its corporate training and book businesses. The company holds the Paid Employment Introduction Business Permit (13-ユ-315696), which permits it to monetize job-matching between trained learners and corporate clients. The AI stack is not disclosed and appears to rely on third-party foundation models given the small team size.

Upa's revenue model is multi-line and disclosed only at the unit level. On the Upacity side, instructor rates are ¥55,000 for a main session and ¥32,000 for a sub session. Corporate revenue is generated through DX consulting, training engagements, and custom content development, supplemented by book sales. No ARR, revenue figures, or named enterprise logos are disclosed; the company remains founder-owned with no external funding rounds reported.

Name

Upa

Legal name

株式会社Upa

Website

https://corp.upacity.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

AI-Powered Learning Platform & Corporate Training

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Computer Training (611420), Educational Support Services (611710), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAGAKAC

Corporate Learning & Training Content Development

Education/Educational Publishing & Learning Content/Instructional Design & Content Development Services

SECONDARYBPAEANAD

Digital Learning Content Development (eLearning, Labs, Simulations)

Business & Public Services/IT & Digital Services (Managed Services, Systems Integration)/IT Training & Technical Enablement Services

SECONDARYEDAFAIAH

Corporate Training Course Marketplaces (B2B Content Libraries)

Education/Education Technology (EdTech) & Digital Learning/Education Marketplaces & Course Platforms (MOOCs, Cohort-Based, Creator Platforms)

SECONDARYEDAFAIAJ

Certification & Exam Prep Course Marketplaces

Education/Education Technology (EdTech) & Digital Learning/Education Marketplaces & Course Platforms (MOOCs, Cohort-Based, Creator Platforms)

SECONDARYMPACALAH

Corporate/L&D Course Licensing from Creators (B2B Upskilling)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Digital Media & Content Platforms (Online Video, Podcasts, Creators)/Online Learning Content Platforms (Creator-Led Courses)

Keywords

• Corporate training services
• AI learning platform
• Digital transformation consulting
• E-learning marketplace
• Educational content publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. DX・Training Services: Provides corporations with DX consulting, technical training, and talent development solutions including curriculum design, content creation, and instructor services
2. Upacity Platform Subscription: CtoC learning marketplace where instructors publish courses and earn from student enrollments; monthly subscription model for learners
3. Educational Content Sales: Sale of self-published programming and professional development books covering React, Vue.js, object-oriented design, UML, and agile methodologies
4. Custom Content Development: Bespoke training material creation services for enterprise clients, customizing existing content or developing new materials from scratch for onboarding and internal training

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Upa operates three integrated business lines: (1) DX and human resource development support services providing enterprises with business system development assistance, technical training, PMO recruitment support, and curriculum design on contract; (2) the Upacity AI-powered C2C learning platform that enables individual learners to acquire skills via AI-generated curricula at low monthly subscription and earn recognized certifications, while allowing instructors to create and sell courses with AI assistance; and (3) educational materials development and sales, producing programming and professional development books developed through a proprietary field-tested PDCA cycle.

Product overview

Upa operates as a human resources development company focused on in-house development, offering a portfolio centered on the Upacity/Upacity LPX AI-powered C2C learning platform alongside enterprise DX and talent development services and educational content development. The Upacity platform enables instructors to create and sell AI-assisted courses while students learn through AI-generated curricula and earn certifications. Enterprise services include recruitment support, training contracting, curriculum design, and custom materials development. The teaching materials business develops and sells books on programming and project management developed through a rigorous field-tested PDCA cycle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Upacity: AI-powered CtoC learning platform that supports both learners and instructors. Learners can acquire skills at low cost with AI-generated curricula and earn certifications. Instructors can create and sell courses with AI support for curriculum and materials development.

Products and services

• Upacity (Upacity LPX) AI-powered C2C learning marketplace platform that connects individual learners with instructors. Students access AI-generated personalized curricula at a low monthly subscription, complete designated course units, and earn recognized skill certifications that unlock an integrated job board for employment matching. Instructors use AI tooling to rapidly create and publish courses, then earn ongoing revenue tied to student enrollments. Designed for working professionals, career changers, and domain experts seeking to monetize knowledge.
• DX & Human Resource Development Support Services (DX・人材開発支援事業) Enterprise consulting and technical training services for corporate clients, including business system development support, PMO recruitment assistance, OJT-based development support, training instructor contracting, and curriculum design from one week to six months. Covers software, hardware, design, implementation, and testing. Delivered to IT enterprises, training operations companies, and large manufacturers seeking to internalize DX capabilities and reduce training preparation costs.
• Educational Materials Development & Sales Business (教材開発・販売事業) Self-publishing and sale of programming and professional development educational materials developed through a proprietary PDCA cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act) using real-world educational field feedback. Catalog includes titles such as "Learn React by Solving Problems" (with a Vue.js edition), "Object-Oriented Design and UML with the SVC Approach," and "Product Backlog Refinement: Accelerating Value Creation with Notion & Miro." Also offers custom content development for enterprise onboarding and internal training, including customization of existing materials or zero-based new development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Significant cost reduction through AI utilization in training operations

Named customers3 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 capability3 records

Feature3 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

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 Upa