建材ナビ（株式会社プログランス）

What 建材ナビ（株式会社プログランス） does

建材ナビ (Kenzai-Navi) is a Japan-based B2B search and discovery platform operated by Proglance Inc. (株式会社プログランス), founded in 2005 and headquartered in Tokyo. The platform aggregates product information from over 800 building material manufacturers organized across more than 200 categories, enabling architects, interior designers, space designers, general contractors, and builders to search, compare, and request catalogs and product samples. Underlying technology is a web-based catalog aggregation and search platform structured by material type, application, and purpose, with technical specifications, fire-safety data, and project examples embedded into each product entry. The platform operates as a horizontal two-sided marketplace connecting manufacturers with professional specifiers, and is supported by an ecosystem of ancillary services: a dedicated catalog download tool (かたなび), an outlet marketplace for discounted materials (建材アウトレット市場), a showroom locator (ショールームナビ), a video channel (建材動画チャンネル), a digital journal (建材ナビジャーナル), a lifestyle content platform (すまいりんぐ), a community Q&A (建築何でもQ&A), and supporting vertical sites including 節電ナビ, 匠ナビ, and グッドリビング.

The business model is freemium to end users and subscription/transactional to manufacturers. Architects, designers, and builders search and request catalogs free of charge; manufacturers pay recurring listing and product display fees to be searchable on the platform, and the platform facilitates catalog request transactions that may generate referral or transaction-based revenue. Go-to-market relies on enterprise field sales directed at manufacturers, supplemented by a multi-channel marketing mix including organic social (Facebook, X, Instagram, Pinterest, Note), an email newsletter published continuously from 2018 through 2026, search engine optimization, content marketing through the journal and architect interview series, and regular participation in industry exhibitions including JAPAN SHOP, 建築・建材展, ライティング・フェア, 日経メッセ, and スマートエネルギーWeek. Strategic partnerships with JCD (日本商環境デザイン協会), 東京都建築士事務所協会, SSOJ (日本空間デザイナー支援機構), IDM, 乃村工藝社 (Nomura Kogeisha), and 日建設計 (Nikken Sekkei) embed the platform into the workflow and content distribution channels of influential architect and design organizations, extending reach beyond the digital properties into physical material libraries and co-hosted industry events.

Name

建材ナビ（株式会社プログランス）

Legal name

株式会社プログランス

Website

https://kenzai-navi.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

建材ナビ (Kenzai-Navi) is a Japan-based B2B search platform operated by Proglance Inc. that aggregates building material products from 800+ manufacturers across 200+ categories, serving architects, designers, and builders through freemium catalog search and request tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building Materials Search Platform

akta.pro primary industry

Construction, Home Improvement & Building Materials Marketplaces (CRAFABAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Vertical/Specialty Search (e.g., jobs, real estate, travel, products) (BPAMAAAD)

Keywords

• Building materials search
• Construction product catalog
• Architect material sourcing
• Building product directory
• Manufacturer product listing

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Manufacturer listing and product display fees: 建材ナビ generates revenue by charging manufacturers to list their products and company profiles on the platform. Manufacturers pay to have their catalogs and product information searchable on the site.
2. Catalog request facilitation: The platform facilitates catalog requests from professional users (architects, designers, builders) to manufacturers, potentially generating referral or transaction-based revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

建材ナビ is a centralized online search and catalog platform for the Japanese construction industry, indexing products from 800+ building material manufacturers across 200+ categories. Architects, interior designers, builders, and construction companies use it to search, compare, and request catalogs and product documentation from manufacturers. Manufacturers pay recurring fees to list products, maintain company profiles, and receive catalog requests through the platform.

Product overview

建材ナビ is a comprehensive building materials search platform operated by Proglance Inc. (株式会社プログランス), featuring over 800 manufacturer products across 200+ categories. The platform serves as a centralized discovery hub combining multiple services: the core search/catalog platform (建材ナビ), a dedicated catalog download service (かたなび), lifestyle content platform (すまいりんぐ), digital journal (建材ナビジャーナル), video channel (建材動画チャンネル), showroom locator (ショールームナビ), Q&A community (建築何でもQ&A), and an outlet marketplace (建材アウトレット市場). The platform is designed for architects, designers, contractors, and building professionals to research, compare, and source building materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• かたなび: Catalog download service for building materials
• 建材ナビジャーナル

Products and services

• 建材ナビ（KENZAI-NAVI） Building Materials Search Platform A web-based search platform that catalogs and indexes building products from over 800 manufacturers across more than 200 categories, enabling architects, designers, and construction professionals to search, compare, and request product information and catalogs. Used as the primary discovery and lead-generation channel between building material manufacturers and professional specifiers.
• かたなび Catalog Download Service A catalog download and management service integrated within the platform, allowing professional users to browse, download, and organize manufacturer catalogs and product documentation in a centralized location.
• 建材アウトレット市場 Outlet Marketplace An outlet marketplace offering discounted building materials and seconds from various manufacturers, allowing price-sensitive buyers to source overstocked or non-standard building products.
• Manufacturer Listing and Exhibition Service A paid listing and exhibition service for building material manufacturers, allowing them to publish product catalogs, company profiles, and product information on the platform and receive inbound catalog/sample requests from professional users.
• ショールームナビ Showroom Locator A showroom locator service that helps architects, designers, and consumers find and visit manufacturer showrooms across Japan.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

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.

• JCD（日本商環境デザイン協会）coreStrategic or Co-development Partner建材ナビ partners with JCD for interview content, connecting manufacturers with JCD member designers. The partnership includes designer interview features and platform access for JCD member architects.
• 東京都建築士事務所協会coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for architect networking events and media collaboration. Architects from the association participate in joint events and content creation with 建材ナビ.
• SSOJ日本空間デザイナー支援機構minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration through platform integration and content sharing with space designers belonging to the SSOJ organization.
• IDM（Interior Design Meeting）coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDM×JCD co-hosted events including JAPAN SHOP networking events such as 'the NIGHT'. Active participation in industry event collaboration.
• 乃村工藝社coreStrategic or Co-development Partner建材ナビ journal materials and platform information are installed in Nomura Komusha's material library for designer reference. Collaborative content creation and interviews.
• 日建設計minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on interviews, journal content, and events through the PYNT initiative. Architects from Nikken Sekkei participate in 建材ナビ platform activities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• ArchDaily: Globally recognized architecture media platform that has expanded into curated product catalogs and project material sourcing. Comparable in combining editorial content with building product discovery for an architect audience.
• AEC Daily: North American provider of continuing education and product content for architecture, engineering, and construction professionals. Comparable to Kenzai Navi's journal and content marketing surfaces targeting professional specifiers.

Direct peers

• Architonic: Switzerland-based online platform curating architectural products, materials, and designer profiles. Comparable to Kenzai Navi in serving architects and designers seeking building materials and design inspiration.
• Material Bank: US-based B2B platform for architects and designers to search and order material samples from manufacturers in a single consolidated shipment. Comparable to Kenzai Navi's catalog request and product sample facilitation functionality.
• BIMobject: Sweden-based digital platform hosting BIM objects and product data from building product manufacturers for architects and engineers. Comparable to Kenzai Navi as a manufacturer-to-specifier intermediary serving the same architectural design workflow.
• Archiproducts: Italy-based search platform and online catalog for architectural products and building materials, aggregating products from thousands of manufacturers worldwide. It is the closest international analog to Kenzai Navi's core B2B search-and-specification model.
• Sweets (BNP Media): US-based building product catalog platform for architects, engineers, and contractors to find manufacturer product data. Direct analog to Kenzai Navi's product-search and catalog-request offering.

Broad incumbents

• Houzz: US-headquartered home design and renovation platform serving homeowners and professionals with product marketplace, ideabooks, and professional directories. Comparable in adjacent space as a broader design/construction marketplace where Kenzai Navi competes for specifier mindshare.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KenzaiNavi
• Facebookfacebook.com/kenzainavi
• Instagraminstagram.com/kenzainavi
• Pinterestpinterest.jp/seisaku0138
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/%E6%A0%AA%E5%BC%8F%E4%BC%9A%E7%A4%BE%E3%83%97%E3%83%AD%E3%82%B0%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B9

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 建材ナビ（株式会社プログランス）