What Kick Za Issue does

KICK ZA ISSUE Co., Ltd. (株式会社KICK ZA ISSUE) is a Japan-based AI-driven technology and consulting firm founded in March 2022. Following SmartHR's acquisition of a majority stake in January 2026, it operates as the only DX (Digital Transformation) and AIX (AI Transformation) consulting entity within the SmartHR Group. The firm is headquartered in Roppongi, Tokyo, with additional offices in Yokohama and a Silicon Valley R&D subsidiary, KICK X, INC., and employs approximately 80 staff including contractors (average age 36).

The company serves Japanese enterprises and SMEs through three integrated lines: (1) AI consulting and AI-driven software development, delivered via a closed-environment LLM architecture spanning GPT, Claude, Gemini, and open-source models and reported to reduce cost and delivery time by roughly 50% versus traditional SI methods; (2) KICK SEARCH, a SaaS talent-matching platform backed by a database of more than 5,000 consultants and 5,000+ engineers, monetized at ¥100,000/month plus a ¥1,000,000 setup fee; and (3) subscription managed services KICK OPS (¥50,000–¥100,000/month) and KICK HR (¥100,000–¥200,000/month) targeting SMEs with IT operations, HR, and payroll support. The firm holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification and reports a 95%+ client retention rate and 100%+ YoY revenue growth since founding.

The business model blends project-based consulting and systems integration revenue with recurring SaaS subscriptions. GTM leverages direct enterprise sales, the KICK SEARCH talent database for delivery staffing, and post-acquisition distribution through the SmartHR platform to expand reach into Japanese HR-tech customers seeking DX and AIX execution support.

Name

Kick Za Issue

Legal name

KICK ZA ISSUE株式会社

Website

https://kick-za-issue.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KICK ZA ISSUE is a Japan-based AI-driven DX/AIX consulting and SaaS firm, serving Japanese enterprises and SMEs with AI consulting, AI-driven software development, the KICK SEARCH talent-matching platform, and subscription IT and HR services, now operating as part of the SmartHR Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT Consulting Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Other Computer Related Services (541519)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Responsible AI, Security & Privacy Platforms (Safety, Guardrails, PII) (HDAEANAG)

Keywords

• AI consulting services
• DX transformation consulting
• IT system integration
• LLM knowledge search
• IT operations outsourcing

Headquarters

HQ city

Yokohama

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. AI/IT Consulting Services: Professional consulting services for DX strategy, AI implementation, IT consulting, and project management. Revenue generated through project-based engagements with enterprise clients.
2. AI/System Integration: System development and integration services using AI-driven development methodology, from planning through operational maintenance.
3. CONSULTANT DATA BANK (CDB): Platform connecting companies with freelance and contract consultants. 5,000+ registered consultants. Companies can post jobs and directly offer opportunities without intermediary fees.
4. ENGINEER DATA BANK (EDB): Engineer-focused recruitment matching platform with 5,000+ registered engineers across Japan. Free for companies to use with unlimited job postings.
5. KICK SEARCH: LLM-based enterprise knowledge search SaaS. Initial setup fee starting at 1,000,000 JPY plus monthly fee starting at 100,000 JPY based on document count and search volume.
6. KICK OPS (IT Operations Outsourcing): Monthly subscription service covering all IT operations functions (95+ service items). Light plan at 50,000 JPY/month, Standard plan at 100,000 JPY/month.
7. KICK HR (Recruitment RPO): Recruitment process outsourcing service specialized in consulting and IT industry. Light plan at 100,000 JPY/month, Standard plan at 200,000 JPY/month.
8. DX/AI Education Services: Corporate training programs for DX and AI skills development, including current IT consultant-led instruction and customized curriculum design.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KICK ZA ISSUE provides AI-driven DX/AIX consulting services to Japanese enterprises, combining strategy, implementation, and post-implementation support with companion-style client engagement focused on building internal capability. The company sells its own AI products (KICK SEARCH LLM-powered knowledge search), operates self-service talent matching platforms (Consultant Data Bank and Engineer Data Bank), and delivers subscription-based IT operations outsourcing (KICK OPS) and recruitment process outsourcing (KICK HR) for consulting and IT firms.

Product overview

KICK ZA ISSUE operates as a DX/AIX consulting firm under the SmartHR Group, offering a portfolio of AI-powered products and professional services. The core offering combines AI consulting with companion-style DX promotion, supported by proprietary AI products including KICK SEARCH (LLM-powered knowledge search) and talent matching platforms (Consultant Data Bank and Engineer Data Bank with 5,000+ registered professionals each). Services include AI/System Integration, IT Operations Outsourcing (KICK OPS with 95 operational tasks), DX/AI Education, and specialized recruitment/RPO services (KICK HR). The company differentiates through AI-driven development that reduces project costs and timelines by half, supported by a Silicon Valley R&D center (KICK X, INC.).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KICK SEARCH: LLMを活用した自社データ・ナレッジ検索サービス。自社環境構築型で、Teams/Slack等の既存チャットツールに組み込み、社内の文書・ナレッジを対話形式で検索できる。
• KICK OPS
• KICK HR
• コンサルデータバンク（Consultant Data Bank）
• エンジニアデータバンク（Engineer Data Bank）
• CDBエージェント（CDB Agent）
• EDBエージェント（EDB Agent）

Products and services

• AI/IT Consulting AI introduction support and IT/DX consulting services for enterprises. The goal is enabling clients to operate independently without external support. Covers DX strategy, PMO, vendor management, and insourcing support. Reportedly achieves 95%+ client retention.
• AI/System Integration (AI-Driven Development Services) End-to-end system integration services from planning through requirements, design, development, and operational maintenance, using AI-driven development methodology. Claims to reduce development cost and time by 50% compared to traditional methods. Covers PoC, contracted development, and team education.
• KICK SEARCH LLM-powered internal knowledge search SaaS that connects large language models (GPT, Claude, Gemini, open-source LLMs) to company data. Enables conversational search across internal documents, file servers, and databases via existing chat tools (Teams, Slack, LINE WORKS) without data leaving the company environment. Setup fee from 1,000,000 JPY and monthly usage-based fee from 100,000 JPY.
• Consultant Data Bank (CDB) Large-scale matching platform connecting companies with freelance and part-time consultants. 5,000+ registered top-tier consultants across IT, marketing, and strategy. Companies can post jobs and directly offer opportunities without intermediary fees.
• Engineer Data Bank (EDB) Engineer-focused matching platform with 5,000+ registered engineers across Japan. Free for companies to use with unlimited job postings. Engineers can receive direct offers for contract work and full-time positions.
• KICK OPS Cloud-based IT operations outsourcing service covering all information systems department functions. 95+ operational tasks across infrastructure management, security, system operations, asset management, user support, and system implementation. Tiered plans starting at 50,000 JPY/month (Light) and 100,000 JPY/month (Standard).
• KICK HR Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) service specialized in consulting and IT industry. Covers the full recruitment cycle from strategy design to media selection, scout delegation, interview delegation, and employer branding. Tiered plans start at 100,000 JPY/month (Light, 1-2 hires/month) and 200,000 JPY/month (Standard, 3-4 hires/month).
• DX/AI Education DX and AI skills training services delivered by current IT consultants. Includes customized corporate training programs, generative AI utilization training, and individual learning support with practical exercises and feedback cycles.
• CDB Agent Consultant-specialized recruitment support service operated by Consultant Data Bank. Supports both consultant career transitions and corporate hiring for consulting talent.
• EDB Agent IT engineer-specialized recruitment support service operated by Engineer Data Bank. Supports both engineer career transitions and corporate hiring for engineering talent.

Quantifiable outcome

• Development cost and time reduced to 1/2 compared to traditional methods
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

AI capability7 records

Feature3 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• BizReach: Operates HiJob and BizReach, leading Japanese talent marketplaces that connect companies with experienced professionals. Directly comparable to Consultant Data Bank and Engineer Data Bank on the marketplace/talent-matching business model.
• NorthSand: Japanese DX/management consulting firm serving mid-market through enterprise clients across multiple industries. Highly comparable to KICK ZA ISSUE on consulting scope and target segment, also a disclosed client.
• Dirbato: Japanese IT/DX consulting firm providing technology consulting and system development to mid-market and enterprise clients. Directly competes with KICK ZA ISSUE on DX strategy and SI engagements and appears as a client in the disclosed reference list.
• METATEAM: Japanese IT consulting and system development firm focused on DX support for mid-market enterprises. Comparable to KICK ZA ISSUE on consulting/SI offerings and serves similar client profile; also a disclosed client.
• WorkX: Japanese DX consulting firm (DX Acceleration Office) providing digital transformation strategy and execution support to mid-market companies. Closely mirrors KICK ZA ISSUE's DX consulting + implementation model and is a disclosed client.
• Wantedly: Japanese talent platform focused on engineering, creative and consulting hiring with a self-serve employer-branding model. Closely comparable to CDB/EDB on the self-serve recruitment marketplace side, though operating more horizontally.
• Relic: Japanese DX/AI consulting firm offering strategy, system development and new business creation support. Directly comparable to KICK ZA ISSUE's consulting + SI + AI product bundle and overlaps on enterprise DX client base.

Broad incumbents

• Accenture Japan: Global consulting giant with a large Japan DX/AI practice. Overlaps with KICK ZA ISSUE on AI consulting and system integration, but operates at vastly greater scale and serves enterprise-wide transformation mandates rather than boutique DX.
• ABeam Consulting: Major Japanese-origin management and technology consulting firm with deep DX/system integration capabilities. Comparable to KICK ZA ISSUE on consulting and SI work, but with much larger headcount and longer enterprise track record.
• Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting: Big-4 advisory firm in Japan with established DX, AI and technology consulting practices. Competes for the same enterprise DX budgets as KICK ZA ISSUE but with broader service portfolio and global delivery network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kick-za-issue

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 Kick Za Issue