What folium does

folium k.k. (株式会社フォリウム) is a private Japanese business-process outsourcing and internet research services company formed in May 2021 via the merger of legacy Tru-Zio Co., Ltd. and Northern Rights Co., Ltd. The company operates two main divisions. The Business Augmentation Solution (BAS) division comprises MPA (marketing research outsourcing — survey design, panel recruitment, online interviews, reporting), BPA (business process outsourcing — AI utilization support, customer service, EC and media operations, ad operations, back-office support), and DPA (data analytics — data engineering, BI tooling using Tableau, AI data preparation, and program development). The SDS division offers low-code application development using the OutSystems platform under BlueMeme's AGILE-DX methodology, along with SES and PoC/AI verification work.

At the core of MPA sits Smart Answer, a proprietary smartphone survey application with approximately 400,000 panelists skewed toward younger demographics, which gives folium an in-house panel for brand and concept testing. Operations are delivered through large centers in Hachinohe (Aomori Prefecture) and Yamaguchi, supported by roughly 400 group employees and a Tokyo headquarters, with an additional Hirosaki location referenced in recruitment content. The company reports an industry-leading stable employment ratio of over 87% and has practiced remote work for more than ten years, enabling region-flexible service delivery.

Folium serves marketing research firms, enterprises and mid-market companies, and local-government/public-sector DX clients through direct sales and inbound inquiry. Revenue is generated primarily through fee-based professional services and managed services contracts rather than subscription or transactional pricing; no public pricing exists. Privacy Mark certification (JIS Q 15001) has been held since 2012/2013. The leadership team is led by Representative Director & CEO Miyoshi Hirokazu and Representative Director & COO Tanaka Kenji, both previously involved with the predecessor entities.

Name

folium

Legal name

株式会社フォリウム

Website

https://folium.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

folium k.k. is a Japanese BPO and internet research outsourcing firm offering marketing research, business process outsourcing, data analytics, and low-code system development services to enterprises, mid-market firms, marketing research agencies, and local government clients via large operations centers in Hachinohe and Yamaguchi.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marketing Research and BPO Services

NAICS

Business Support Services (5614), Business Service Centers (56143), Telephone Call Centers (56142), Telemarketing Bureaus and Other Contact Centers (561422)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Business Process-Aligned IT Outsourcing (ITO + BPO Integrated) (BPAEAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Customer Service (Order/Account/Inquiries) (BPAAABAA), Tax Operations Support (Indirect Tax, Withholding, Compliance Admin) (BPAAAGAI)

Keywords

• Business process outsourcing
• Marketing research services
• Low-code development
• Data analytics services
• Smartphone survey platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Marketing Research Outsourcing (MPA): Fees for survey design, panel recruitment, online interview services, and reporting for internet-based marketing research projects. Pricing based on sample size and number of questions.
2. Business Process Outsourcing (BPA): AI implementation and utilization support, customer service, EC/media operations, data collection and utilization, ad service operations, and back-office support provided on a service fee basis.
3. Data Analytics (DPA): Data engineering, BI tool configuration and operations, AI data preparation, and program/tool development services.
4. Low-code System Development (SDS): Low-code application development, system engineering (SES), PoC/AI verification, and data & survey analysis support using agile development methods.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Folium (株式会社フォリウム) provides integrated business process outsourcing (BPO), marketing research, low-code system development, and data analytics services to enterprises and government agencies in Japan. The company delivers four named service lines—Marketing Process Analysis (MPA), Business Process Analysis (BPA), Data Process Analysis (DPA), and System Development Services (SDS)—and is supported by two proprietary technology platforms: Smart Answer, a smartphone survey application with approximately 400,000 panelists, and Sprout Box, a low-code development platform.

Product overview

Folium operates two main business divisions: (1) Business Augmentation Solution (BAS) — encompassing MPA marketing research, BPA business process outsourcing, and DPA data analytics services, built around the company's proprietary Smart Answer smartphone survey platform with ~400,000 monitors; and (2) SDS (System Development Service) — a low-code development business using agile methodology to support client system in-house development. The company also conducts generative AI research and development. The BAS division operates large-scale centers in Hachinohe and Yamaguchi.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MPA（マーケティングリサーチ）: Marketing Process Augmentation - リサーチプランニングサービス、リサーチディレクションサービス、サーベイサービス、レポートサービス、リクルーティングサービス、オンラインインタビューサービスを実施するマーケティングリサーチ事業
• BPA（ビジネスアウトソーシング）
• DPA（データアナリ시스）
• SDS（ローコード開発事業）
• スマートアンサー（SmartAnswer）

Products and services

• Smart Answer Proprietary smartphone survey application with approximately 400,000 registered panelists, used by enterprises and marketing research firms to conduct mobile-first consumer research and quantitative data collection in Japan.
• Sprout Box Proprietary low-code development platform used by Folium and offered to clients to accelerate application development and digital transformation initiatives.
• Marketing Research Services (MPA) Marketing process analysis and research services leveraging the Smart Answer panel and analytics capabilities for enterprise clients in Japan.
• Business Process Outsourcing (BPA) Outsourced business process services including operations support, customer service, and back-office functions delivered from Folium's regional operations centers.
• Data Analytics Services (DPA) Data analysis and business intelligence services for enterprise clients, including data processing, visualization, and reporting.
• Low-Code System Development Services (SDS) Custom system development services using low-code methodologies and the Sprout Box platform to accelerate client digital initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• REVISIO achieved approximately 450 hours/month workload reduction through outsourcing
• +1 more outcomes

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 capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Renova Yamaguchi FC (株式会社レノファ山口)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2024Official partner (オフィシパルパートナー) supporting J2 League soccer club Renova Yamaguchi FC. Includes employee welfare game-viewing events, marketing collaboration, and community activation. Partnership renewed annually from 2022 through 2024. Yamaguchi-based soccer team with home stadium at I-Shu Myan Stadium.
• Vanraure Hachinohe FC (株式会社ヴァンラーレ八戸)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2024Official partner (オフィシパルパートナー) supporting J3 League soccer club Vanraure Hachinohe FC. Includes employee welfare game-viewing events, community engagement, and regional promotion. Partnership renewed annually from 2022 through 2024. Aomori-based soccer team with home stadium at Pride Stadium.
• MIRAI Camera (株式会社ミライカメラ)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2023Partnered to publish 3D virtual tour of Yamaguchi office on Miranavi portal (Yamaguchi Prefecture's official recruitment platform). MIRAI Camera is a Matterport-certified capture technology provider with 500+ projects. Also operates cafe and laundromat at Yamaguchi office location.
• BlueMeme (株式会社BlueMeme)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023Strategic DX training partnership formed March 2023. BlueMeme (a listed company on TSE Growth, securities code 4069) is Japan's first OutSystems low-code implementation company, leveraging its proprietary AGILE-DX methodology. The partnership enables regional DX human resource development, including training Hachinohe city government employees. BlueMeme has prior DX training experience with Okinawa Urasoe City.
• OpenModels (株式会社OpenModels)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023Subsidiary of BlueMeme (100% owned), specialized in agile and low-code based system development and platform business. Partnered with folium through the regional DX human resource development initiative.
• CAMPFIREminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2022Official partner of CAMPFIRE, Japan's largest crowdfunding platform. Supports regional projects and startups with crowdfunding strategy consultation. Supported PelletConro365 project achieving 1M yen goal within 4 days.
• YIC Group (学校法人YIC学院)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Ongoing partnership for workplace tours and company information sessions targeting job-seeking women and students in Yamaguchi. YIC Group runs the ' Oshigoto Kenshuukai' (job experience program) commissioned by Yamaguchi Prefecture, with folium hosting visits since 2019.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• trans-cosmos: One of Japan's largest BPO and contact center operators with comprehensive marketing, customer service, and data analytics services. Directly comparable to folium's BPA/MPA/DPA suite and the primary Japanese benchmark for outsourced marketing research and customer support operations.
• Cross Marketing: Japanese marketing research and data analytics firm offering quantitative and qualitative research, panel management, and digital marketing services. Directly overlaps with folium's MPA and DPA service lines.
• GMO Research: Operates Asia Cloud Panel, one of the largest internet research panels in Asia, providing online survey and digital marketing research services. Highly comparable to folium's MPA marketing research and Smart Answer panel business.
• Macromill: Japan-headquartered online marketing research and digital analytics firm operating both proprietary research panels and B2B research services. Closest direct competitor to folium's MPA marketing research operations and Smart Answer panel offering.
• Rakuten Insight: Operates one of the largest proprietary consumer panels in Asia offering online survey panels and research services. Closely comparable to folium's Smart Answer panel and MPA survey service line.
• Ateam: Japanese internet services and BPO company with significant contact center, e-commerce support, and back-office outsourcing operations. Comparable to folium's BPA customer service and EC/media operations offerings.

Broad incumbents

• INTAGE: Japan's largest marketing research and consumer intelligence firm with established consumer panel and analytics infrastructure. Comparable to folium's MPA and DPA service lines at significantly greater scale.
• BIPROGY: Major Japanese IT services and BPO provider offering systems integration, outsourcing, and managed services to enterprise and public sector. Overlaps with folium's SDS and BPA divisions at greater scale and broader portfolio scope.

Regional players

• WILLGROUP: Japanese staffing and outsourcing services provider with regional recruitment focus similar to folium's Hachinohe/Yamaguchi/U/I/J-turn recruitment model. Comparable in talent sourcing and BPO delivery for regional Japan.

Emerging players

• BlueMeme: TSE Growth-listed OutSystems low-code implementation partner and co-development partner with folium. Comparable to folium's SDS division and a key collaborator in folium's regional DX training program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/folium_official
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTlXaIY8IL671Nf7lgJEANg
• Facebookfacebook.com/folium21
• Instagraminstagram.com/folium_pr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foliumjapan

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about folium