What CI Partners does

CI Partners Co., Ltd. (株式会社シーアイ・パートナーズ) is a Japanese disability welfare services operator founded in November 2015 in Osaka. The company delivers child development support (児童発達支援), after-school day services (放課後等デイサービス), and employment support services (Type A/B continuation, independent training, and employment transition support) for children and adults with disabilities, with a stated mission to "eliminate the word 'disability' from this country." Services are delivered through 35+ physical facilities operating under Japan's public welfare fee system, accessed via government welfare referrals. The company operates a multi-brand architecture (STARLIT, STARLIT SERVICE, STARLIT WORK, TECTEC) and a Group Join (HGJ) M&A platform that has absorbed 10+ smaller disability service operators since 2023, expanding from Osaka to Kanto, Kyushu, Tohoku and Chugoku regions.

The underlying service methodology is built around Positive Behavior Support (PBS) and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), implemented across facilities using antecedent-behavior-consequence frameworks and supported by a formal Human Resources Management Division established April 2026 to standardize PBS coach training. Technology components include an in-pilot AI × smart-glasses employment support system (Quixotiks QX Engine integrated with Lenovo Legion Glasses), GPS-based independence support verification experiments with Kokuyo, and Japan's first Auditory-Verbal Therapy (AVT) rehabilitation facility combining medical ENT services with welfare/educational support (launched in Nagasaki, May 2026).

Revenue mechanics are subscription/recurring in nature, anchored on government-determined welfare service fees that cover monthly service usage by beneficiaries (children with disabilities, families, and adults in employment support programs), supplemented by employment transition placements at corporate partners (e.g., 日本電商, 一心社). Distribution is direct via owned and group-company-operated facilities rather than wholesale or franchise channels. The company raised a JPY 400 million Series B in December 2025 led by HIRAC FUND, and has added finance leadership (Group CFO from Goldman Sachs) plus an outside director from HIRAC, suggesting preparation for further capital raises and potential IPO.

Name

CI Partners

Legal name

株式会社シーアイ・パートナーズ

Website

https://ci-partners.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CI Partners is a Japanese disability welfare operator providing child development support, after-school day services, and employment support through 35+ facilities nationwide. The company pursues a roll-up M&A strategy under its Happy Group Join program and operates Japan's first AVT rehabilitation facility in Nagasaki.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Welfare Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

Keywords

• Disability welfare services
• Child development support
• After-school day services
• Employment support services
• Behavior support therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Osaka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Welfare Subsidies for Child Development Support: Revenue from government-subsidized child development support services (児童発達支援) and after-school day services (放課後等デイサービス) for children with disabilities. Operates under Japan's welfare service system with public funding.
2. Employment Support Services (Type A/B): Revenue from employment continuation support Type A/B (就労継続支援A型・B型) and vocational training/school services. Provides work training and employment support for people with disabilities to achieve social independence.
3. Independent Training Services: Revenue from independent training (自立訓練) and employment transition support services (就労移行支援) helping people with disabilities prepare for and maintain employment.
4. Group Company Contributions: Multiple group companies contribute to revenue through various disability welfare services including child development support, after-school services, and employment support across different regions of Japan.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CI Partners operates a multi-brand network of disability welfare facilities in Japan, providing child development support, after-school day services, employment continuation support (Type A and B), and independent training/employment transition support to children and adults with disabilities. Services are delivered under government-certified welfare categories and are organized around standardized Positive Behavior Support (PBS)/Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) methodology, supplemented by proprietary AI tools and smart-glass-based remote support, with revenue primarily drawn from welfare service fees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STARLIT: Child development support and after-school day service brand
• STARLIT SERVICE
• STARLIT WORK
• TECTEC
• PBS (Positive Behavior Support)
• 声援隊 (Seientai)

Products and services

• STARLIT (スターリット) - Child Development Support Child development support service for children with disabilities, delivered at STARLIT welfare facilities under the company's PBS/ABA-led methodology. For children with developmental disabilities (including autism spectrum disorder) and their families accessing Japan's welfare service system.
• STARLIT (スターリット) - After-School Day Services (放課後等デイサービス) After-school day service for school-age children with disabilities, providing continued development support, behavior therapy, and daily-life skills training. Targets children with disabilities enrolled in mainstream or special education schools.
• STARLIT SERVICE (スターリットサービス) - Employment Continuation Support Type B (就労継続支援B型) Type B employment continuation support service providing sheltered employment opportunities, on-the-job training, and wages to adults with disabilities who have difficulty working in standard workplaces.
• STARLIT WORK (スターリットワーク) - Employment Continuation Support Type A/B Type A and Type B employment continuation support service offering structured training, production activities, and remuneration to adults with disabilities, typically for those capable of advancing toward competitive employment.
• TECTEC (テクテック) - Independent Training & Employment Transition Support (自立訓練 / 就労移行支援) Independent training and employment transition support service for adults with disabilities, including a corporate-embedded model that places welfare staff and facilities inside employer sites to enable direct on-the-job training and transition into mainstream competitive employment.
• Auditory-Verbal Therapy (AVT) Rehabilitation Facility - "Kikoeto Kotoba Medi-step Seientai Nagasaki Bell" (きこえとことば メディステップ声援隊 長﨑ベル) Auditory-Verbal Therapy (AVT) rehabilitation facility offering specialized listening, speech, and language training for children with hearing impairment. Targets young children with hearing loss and their families seeking mainstream-integration outcomes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successful employment support leading to job placement at partner companies

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• 株式会社一心社coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partnership for TECTEC business combining welfare employment support with creative/design industry training. Located in Osaka, this collaboration creates employment pathways within the partner company's facilities.
• 株式会社日本電商coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'すたぁりっとワーク千里電商' where the company provides workspace at 日本電商's facilities to train and employ people with disabilities, solving both employment support and corporate labor shortage challenges.
• 大阪歯科大学 特別支援歯科keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical-welfare research collaboration starting 2026 focusing on oral care and mental health visualization for people with developmental disabilities. Dr. Tanaka from the university serves as a key partner.
• 近畿大学総合社会学部keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with Prof. Otsui (formerly Associate Professor, now Human Resources Management Division head) for PBS research, training programs, and evidence-based welfare service development.
• コクヨ株式会社keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development of 'Hello! Family' GPS products for child monitoring. CIP staff participated in product development advisory, and conducted verification experiments using Kokoyo's monitoring tools for independence support.
• 株式会社 QuixotikskeyTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing AI 'QX Engine' for cognitive support and coaching tailored to disability characteristics, integrated with smart glasses for hands-free immersive assistance.
• レノボ・ジャパン合同会社keyTechnology or IntegrationProvider of 'Legion Glasses' smart glasses for the AI-assisted employment support system pilot at TECTEC facilities. The glasses enable hands-free information display and cognitive support.
• 、一般社団法人日本ポジティブ行動支援ネットワーク (APBS-J)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for PBS (Positive Behavior Support) promotion. Joint consortium for dormant deposit utilization projects, PBS training programs, and international conference participation.
• 、一般納人Bridge HeartkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-management of '声援隊' community for families of children with hearing impairments. CEO Iezumi and Bridge Heart CEO Ikeda serve as co-representatives.
• 合同会社CLOTHOVERminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent collaboration partner for therapy experience events and parenting programs. Joint activities include '療育体験会' and parent training workshops.
• 、一般社団法人地域共創会議minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for regional collaboration forums. CEO Iezumi participated as panelist in discussions on diversity and educational support.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• LITALICO: Largest publicly listed disability welfare platform in Japan, operating child development support, after-school day services, and employment support across the country. Direct comparable to CI Partners in service mix and target population, but far larger and listed.
• Solasto: Japan-focused human services provider running childcare, welfare, and care staffing services. Comparable in operating government-subsidized service lines and pursuing consolidation across welfare and care verticals.
• Tsukui Holdings (WEL-Net): Major Japanese welfare services roll-up operating hundreds of facilities nationwide including disability support and elderly care. Closest large-scale analog to CI Partners' M&A roll-up strategy in the welfare space.
• Kaikoukai Healthcare Group: Mid-to-large Japanese welfare and medical group running disability, elderly, and child support programs. Comparable in offering multi-modality welfare services across facilities and pursuing geographic expansion.
• SOMPO Care (SOMPO Holdings): Subsidiary of SOMPO Holdings operating assisted living and disability services in Japan. Broad incumbent with welfare overlap; competes for the same government-funded beneficiaries via facility-based delivery.
• Sevita (US): One of the largest US providers of home and community-based disability services, including day programs and supported employment. International analog demonstrating the scale opportunity when disability service operators consolidate via roll-up.

Direct peers

• Ambitious (アンビシャス): Welfare services operator in Japan providing child development support, after-school day services, and employment support programs. Overlaps directly with CI Partners' core service portfolio and target beneficiaries.
• EDGE (エッジ): Japanese operator of welfare facilities including child development support and after-school services for children with disabilities. Direct competitor in the same STARLIT-equivalent service category with similar operating model.
• Kaeru Corporation: Japan-focused operator of after-school day services (放課後等デイサービス) and child development support facilities for children with disabilities. Highly similar service mix and beneficiary base to CI Partners' STARLIT brand, though smaller scale.

Emerging players

• Sagawa Advance / Mereg (Welfare Staffing): Welfare services and staffing operator in Japan serving disability and elderly care verticals. Overlap with CI Partners around labor-intensive welfare delivery, comparable on staffing/recruitment challenges in the Japanese welfare labor market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors9 records

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 CI Partners