ファーストヴィレッジ（株）

What ファーストヴィレッジ（株） does

First Village Co., Ltd. (ファーストヴィレッジ株式会社) is a Tokyo-based business support services firm founded in April 2007 by Hiromichi Ichimura, a former Nomura Securities executive and former President of KOBE Securities. The company serves small-to-medium enterprises and venture-stage companies in Japan, with its core offering being the Owners Club (経営者倶楽部) — a monthly business matching event held continuously since July 2007 at premium Tokyo venues (Tokyo Prince Hotel, Happo-en, Togu Palace), attracting 200+ owner-manager attendees per session. The company monetizes primarily through annual membership subscriptions (¥700,000/year), supplemented by intensive 2-night/3-day management training retreats (Special Owner Camp, with 4,000+ cumulative participants), seminar customer-attraction services leveraging a 42,000+ company database, business consulting, executive search, M&A advisory, anniversary event planning, and a B2B flower gifting service.

The company operates a sales-led, event-driven go-to-market model with dedicated account managers assigned to each member company and pre-event needs consultations. Its proprietary asset is a database of 42,000+ companies whose representatives have been personally met by the founder, supporting 10,000+ documented successful business matches since inception. Two wholly-owned subsidiaries — M&A Directions Co., Ltd. (founded 2020) and First Village Human Resources Search Co., Ltd. (founded 2021) — extend the service portfolio into M&A advisory and scout-type executive search for C-level placements. The company is privately held with no external institutional investors disclosed, ¥87 million in registered capital, and a lean headcount of 15 employees as of the most recent reporting. Marketing channels center on the founder's eight published books, the Ameba Blog, media appearances, and word-of-mouth referrals from client testimonials.

Name

ファーストヴィレッジ（株）

Legal name

ファーストヴィレッジ株式会社

Website

https://firstvillage.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

First Village Co., Ltd. operates a subscription-based business matching and networking platform for Japanese SME and venture owner-managers, anchored by monthly events (200+ attendees) and a 42,000-company proprietary database.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Networking & Consulting Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHAMAH

Training, Enablement & Talent Development Summits

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Corporate Meetings & Summits

Keywords

• Business matchmaking services
• Management consulting services
• Executive search services
• Business networking events
• M&A advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. 経営者倶楽部 Membership: Annual membership fee for access to monthly business matching events (200+ attendees), assigned account manager, and ongoing business matching proposals. Fee-based per-company membership.
2. 特設経営者合宿 (Intensive Owner Camp): 2-night, 3-day intensive management training program led by founder Ichimura. Participants pay fees to attend the retreat-format program at Kita-Karuizawa training center. Over 4,000 cumulative participants historically.
3. Flower Service (Products): Sale of orchid plants, gift flowers, and arrangements to corporate clients for commemorative events, office celebrations, and gifts. Unit-based pricing for individual products (e.g., phalaenopsis, arrangements).
4. Seminar Customer Attraction Service: Lead generation and seminar recruitment service for corporate clients, targeting specific owner-managers from a 42,000+ company database. Clients pay for targeted attendee recruitment to their own seminars/events.
5. 人材紹介・M&A (Executive Search / M&A): Retained search for executive-level talent (CEO, COO, CFO, etc.) and M&A deal facilitation for growing companies. High-value, bespoke engagements with success-based or retainer fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

First Village Co., Ltd. operates a business support platform centered on the monthly 経営者倶楽部 (Owners Club) business matching events, which leverage a proprietary 42,000+ company database to connect SME and venture owner-managers and facilitate introductions and contracts. Complementary paid offerings include the 2-night 3-day 特設経営者合宿 intensive management camp, seminar customer attraction (lead generation), management consulting, executive search and M&A advisory, anniversary event planning, corporate flower/gift services, and founder-led training and lectures.

Product overview

ファーストヴィレッジ株式会社は、中小・ベンチャー企業経営者を対象とした бизнес支援プラットフォームを運営。主力サービスである「経営者倶楽部」（月例ビジネスマッチングイベント）と「特設経営者合宿」（2泊3日の経営指導合宿）を中心に、セミナー集客支援、経営コンサルティング、研修・講演、人材紹介・M&A支援、アニバーサリーイベント企画、フラワーサービスなど、多角的な経営支援サービスを提供している。

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 経営者倶楽部 (Owners Club) Membership Monthly business matching membership with 200+ attendees per event at premium Tokyo venues (Tokyo Prince Hotel, Happo-en, Togu Palace). Members receive an assigned account manager, access to the 42,000+ company owner-manager network, and ongoing business matching proposals. Annual fee ¥700,000 (excluding tax); single-event pass ¥50,000 (excluding tax) for non-members.
• 特設経営者合宿 (Special Owner Camp) 2-night, 3-day intensive management training program held at the Kita-Karuizawa First Village Training Center, personally led by founder Ichimura Hiromichi. Over 4,000 cumulative participants historically; aimed at transforming owner-managers' mindset and business practices.
• セミナー集客 (Seminar Customer Attraction Service) Bespoke lead generation service that recruits target owner-managers to attend client seminars and events, leveraging First Village's 42,000+ company database and outbound telemarketing capabilities. Targets specific owner-managers for client seminar recruitment.
• 経営コンサルティング (Management Consulting) Strategic management consulting covering business planning, business succession, capital policy, and IPO preparation support for Japanese corporate clients.
• 研修・講演 (Training & Lectures) Leadership development and motivational programs delivered for companies, targeting employees from department-manager level upward. Programs are conducted by founder Ichimura as dedicated corporate engagements.
• 人材紹介・M&A (Executive Search & M&A Advisory) Scout-type executive search for C-suite talent (CEO, COO, CFO) and M&A deal facilitation for growing companies. Off-market executive candidates and M&A deal flow sourced through First Village's proprietary 42,000+ company network.
• アニバーサリーイベント (Anniversary Event Planning) Event planning and production service for corporate commemorative events including founding anniversaries, IPO milestones, and PR events.
• フラワーサービス (Flower Service) Sale of orchid plants (phalaenopsis), gift flowers, and standing arrangements to corporate clients for commemorative events, office celebrations, and gifts. Pricing ranges from ¥10,000 (3-stalk midi orchid) to ¥48,000 (5-stalk large orchid), with standing arrangements at ¥15,000 per segment.
• 市村語録 日めくりカレンダー (Ichimura Quotations Daily Calendar) 365-day desk calendar featuring founder Ichimura's management and life quotations. Branded thought-leadership merchandise sold as a recurring product line.

Quantifiable outcome

• 42,000社以上の経営者ネットワーク (42,000+ company owner network)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ファーストヴィレッジ人材サーチ株式会社 (First Village Human Search Co., Ltd.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Founded by Ichimura in 2021, specialized in 'scout-type executive search.' An affiliated company providing off-market executive talent placement services within First Village's ecosystem.
• 株式会社M&Aディレクションズ (M&A Directions Co., Ltd.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Founded by Ichimura in 2020 to provide advanced support for business succession and exit strategies. An affiliated company extending First Village's service ecosystem into M&A advisory.
• 東京プリンスホテル (Tokyo Prince Hotel)minorOthers · 1 July 2007Venue partner for 経営者俱楽部 monthly events. Regular hosting of 200+ person business networking events at the hotel's banquet halls (garden islands, magnolia rooms).
• 八芳園 (Happo-en)minorOthers · 1 July 2007Premium Tokyo venue partner for 経営者俱楽部 events, hosting high-end business networking sessions in traditional Japanese garden settings.
• 椿山荘 (Togu Palace)minorOthers · 1 July 2007Luxury event venue for 経営者俱楽部 gatherings, offering premium banquet facilities for the owner-manager networking community.
• 三菱UFJ銀行 (MUFG Bank)minorOthersListed as principal banking partner for the company.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Broad incumbents

• Link and Motivation (リンクアンドモチベーション): Large Japanese management consulting firm specializing in organizational motivation, HR consulting, and executive training. Comparable to First Village's management training and consulting services though at multiple orders of magnitude larger revenue scale.
• Funai Soken (船井総合研究所): Large Japanese management consulting firm focused on SME/owner-manager advisory including sales, marketing, and management training. Directly comparable to First Village's consulting and training offerings, though at significantly larger scale and broader service portfolio.
• GLOBIS (グロービス): Major Japanese business education provider offering MBA programs, executive education, and corporate training. Comparable to First Village's training and Owners Camp offerings, but delivered through a more scalable, technology-enabled platform model.
• Tanabe Management Consulting (タナベ経営): Long-established Japanese consulting firm serving owner-managers with strategy, M&A, and management training programs. Comparable to First Village's consulting and Owners Camp offerings, with a larger established base and more corporate-format delivery.
• Japan M&A Center (日本M&Aセンター): Largest Japanese SME-focused M&A advisory broker serving succession-driven transactions. Comparable to First Village's M&A Directions subsidiary, though operating at vastly larger scale with a multi-broker franchise model.

Emerging players

• Sales X (セレブリックス): Japanese sales-focused consulting and training firm working with B2B companies and SMEs on sales capability building. Comparable to First Village's training, consulting, and sales-focused management development offerings for owner-managers.
• Keieisha (経営者JP): Japanese media and platform company targeting founder/CEO/CXO audience with executive recruitment, online communities, and content. Comparable to First Village's executive search subsidiary and content-driven owner-manager community approach.

Direct peers

• EO Japan (Entrepreneurs' Organization Japan): Global peer network for entrepreneurs serving founders of fast-growth companies through forums, conferences, and learning events. Directly comparable to First Village's Owners Club business matching and learning events for owner-managers.
• YPO Japan (Young Presidents' Organization Japan Chapter): Premier global peer network of young presidents and CEOs offering forums, learning events, and peer-to-peer business connections. Directly comparable to First Village's Owners Club premium membership model and executive networking events for owner-managers.

Others

• Peatix Japan: Event management/discovery platform widely used in Japan for ticketing and event registration. Comparable to First Village's event-driven GTM motion leveraging monthly in-person gatherings of 200+ attendees, though Peatix is a software platform rather than operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88%E3%83%B4%E3%82%A3%E3%83%AC%E3%83%83%E3%82%B8%EF%BC%88%E6%A0%AA%EF%BC%89

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 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 ファーストヴィレッジ（株）