Akaruku

Name

Akaruku

Legal name

株式会社アカルク

Website

https://akaruku.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

HR & DEI Consulting Services

NAICS

Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)

Keywords

• DEI consulting services
• LGBTQ+ workplace training
• HR advisory services
• Diversity e-learning
• Workplace inclusion training

Headquarters

HQ city

Osaka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. HR Consulting and Advisory Services: Provides HR consulting engagements to enterprises for diversity and inclusion strategy, including policy design and internal guideline creation.
2. Training and Seminar Services: Delivers LGBTQ+ training sessions, DEI seminars, and lectures to corporate HR and DEI teams. Revenue generated per training engagement.
3. External Consultation Window Services: Provides specialized external consultation hotline for workplace LGBTQ+ and SOGI harassment. Operates in partnership with client HR systems. Set up in as little as 2 weeks.
4. e-Learning Platform: Provides DEI-focused LGBTQ+ e-learning content and materials for ongoing employee education.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Akaruku is an HR consulting firm that provides LGBTQ+ and DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) workplace support services to enterprise clients. Core offerings include LGBTQ+ training and seminars, a proprietary DEI e-learning platform, a specialized external consultation hotline for workplace LGBTQ+/SOGI harassment, and a DIY guideline kit for gender-conscious workplace policy design. Services are delivered through direct consulting engagements and subscription-based digital products to corporate HR and DEI departments in Japan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LGBTQ+ Training & DEI Seminars Training and lecture services on LGBTQ+ and DEI topics including SOGI harassment fundamentals, delivered to corporate HR and DEI teams. Designed for enterprise HR departments seeking to build LGBTQ+ awareness and knowledge among employees and managers.
• LGBTQ+ E-Learning Platform Subscription-based e-learning platform providing LGBTQ+ and DEI foundational knowledge and case studies for continuous employee education. Designed for corporate HR and DEI departments seeking ongoing learning reinforcement beyond one-time training.
• External LGBTQ+ / SOGI Harassment Consultation Window Subscription-based external consultation hotline specializing in workplace LGBTQ+ and SOGI harassment issues, with capability to handle approximately 220,000 employees and integration with client internal HR systems. Designed for enterprise HR departments needing a confidential external reporting and consultation mechanism.
• Gender-Conscious Workplace Guidelines Kit DIY toolkit that enables companies to create original internal guidelines on gender diversity, including basic policies, regulations, systems, operational methods, and application procedures. Designed for HR and labor managers seeking to build structural policies for gender inclusion.
• HR DEI Consulting & Advisory Services HR consulting engagements covering diversity and inclusion strategy, policy design, internal guideline creation, and cultural transformation support for enterprise clients. Designed for enterprise HR and DEI departments seeking bespoke advisory support.

Quantifiable outcome

• External consultation window handles approximately 220,000 employees across client organizations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Asmarq Co., Ltd. (株式会社アスマーク)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Akaruku and Asmarq jointly conducted a survey of 10,000 working people on LGBTQ+ issues in the workplace. The survey results were published as a free downloadable report covering LGBTQ+ knowledge, SOGI harassment awareness, and workplace support measures.
• Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. (大和ハウス工業株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresentative Ayumu Horikawa has served as an LGBTQ+ active promotion advisor and D&I advisor to Daiwa House Industry since June 2020. Ongoing advisory relationship for diversity and inclusion strategy.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Aon: Global professional services firm with HR solutions and DE&I advisory capabilities. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for enterprise HR and inclusion consulting spend.
• Willis Towers Watson (WTW): Global professional services firm with significant HR consulting practice and dedicated DE&I advisory offerings. Comparable as a broad incumbent that competes for the same enterprise HR/DE&I budgets but with a much wider service portfolio.
• Deloitte Human Capital: Big Four professional services firm operating a Human Capital practice with DE&I and inclusion consulting offerings. Comparable through overlap in HR transformation and DE&I advisory mandates, though delivered as part of an enterprise-wide consulting portfolio.
• Mercer: Global HR consulting and advisory firm (Marsh McLennan) offering DE&I strategy and inclusion advisory as part of a much broader HR, benefits, and talent portfolio. Comparable as an incumbent HR consulting counterpart with overlapping DE&I capabilities.

Others

• Out & Equal Workplace Advocates: Global LGBTQ+ workplace equity nonprofit offering resources, training, and programs for employers. Thematically comparable as an organization advancing LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion, though operating as a nonprofit in a different geography.
• work with Pride: Japanese NPO that administers the PRIDE Index awards (which Akaruku has won four consecutive years). Ecosystem player and standards-setter rather than direct competitor, but influential in shaping the Japanese LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion market.

Regional players

• Stonewall: U.K.-based LGBTQ+ rights organization operating workplace inclusion programs (e.g., Diversity Champions) for employers. Comparable focus on advancing LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion in a different (more mature) geographic market.

Direct peers

• Nijiiro Diversity: Japanese LGBTQ+ diversity and inclusion consulting firm offering workplace training, consulting, and policy support. Closest direct head-to-head competitor in Japan's LGBTQ+ workplace consulting niche with overlapping service offerings.
• Pasona Inc. Major Japanese HR services company offering diversity and inclusion consulting, training, and workforce solutions to Japanese enterprises. Closest Japanese incumbent peer with overlapping D&I service lines and shared enterprise customer base.

Emerging players

• Included: U.S.-based LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion platform providing training, metrics, and consulting to enterprises. Comparable business model (DE&I training and consulting as a specialty) in a different geographic market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/akarukuinc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCrTtV4vLgT86FrgVcFEI-oQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/AkarukuInc
• Instagraminstagram.com/akaruku_press?igsh=MWFqcWhjYXZiaThiNQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Akaruku