Updated:
Ridge-i
Ridge-i was established in July 2016 by CEO Takashi Yanagihara as an artificial intelligence consultancy and development house. The firm differentiates through...
Ridge-i
Ridge-i was established in July 2016 by CEO Takashi Yanagihara as an artificial intelligence consultancy and development house. The firm differentiates through an operating-company model rather than a fund structure — it builds and deploys AI solutions directly for enterprise and government clients, then lists the parent entity publicly. Major strategic shareholders include SBI Holdings, ORIX Corporation, Ricoh, and Ebara Corporation, each of which holds a capital and business alliance. Engagements span machine learning, generative AI, satellite data analysis, and digital transformation. The firm runs four service lines: AI consulting and custom development, satellite-data AI analysis, data analytics, and generative AI implementation. Named clients include Toyota, Nissan, Subaru, NTT Docomo, Seven-Eleven Japan, NHK, Japan's Digital Agency, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Its satellite work with JAXA — notably change detection and object identification from multi-source imagery — earned the Cabinet Office's Space Development and Utilization Grand Prize three consecutive times. As of July 2025, Ridge-i employed 74 people on a consolidated basis, including subsidiary Soken Joho Co., Ltd. In May 2026, the firm acquired SK Collaboration Co., Ltd., making Soken Joho its indirect subsidiary — a move that broadens its enterprise IT integration capabilities. The Tokyo office anchors all operations, and the firm has served more than 150 cumulative clients since launch. What makes the architecture distinctive is Ridge-i's status as a publicly traded corporate AI factory with cross-shareholding alliances. Unlike a typical venture-backed startup or a cautious internal IT division, it lists on the TSE Growth Market while its largest shareholders — SBI Holdings at roughly 23.3% and ORIX — are themselves financial and industrial conglomerates that co-develop AI projects with the firm. That blend of public-market discipline and captive collaborative pipeline is uncommon among Japan's independent AI pure-plays.
General information
Firm type
Corporate Investor
Year founded
2016
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Asia
Country
Japan
City
Tokyo
Corporate office
1-6-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
Principals
Takashi Yanagihara
Representative Director and CEO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Is Ridge-i a venture capital firm or an operating company?
Ridge-i operates as a publicly traded AI services company, not a VC or fund manager. It generates revenue by providing AI consulting, custom development, and satellite-data analytics to enterprise and government clients. The firm holds equity alliances with strategic investors like SBI Holdings and ORIX, and it can co-develop businesses, but it does not invest in startups through a fund structure.
How does Ridge-i collaborate with its strategic shareholders?
SBI Holdings, ORIX Corporation, Ricoh, and Ebara Corporation each maintain a capital and business alliance with Ridge-i. These partnerships pair the shareholders' industry reach and domain expertise with Ridge-i's AI capabilities to build solutions in areas such as financial services, industrial equipment, and office automation. For instance, Ebara and Ridge-i jointly develop AI for environmental plants.
What is Ridge-i's posture in the space sector?
Ridge-i has built a dedicated satellite-data AI analysis practice that works with JAXA, Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Its AI performs change detection and object recognition on satellite and drone imagery — work recognized with three consecutive Cabinet Office Space Development and Utilization Grand Prizes.
Who runs investment and capital allocation decisions?
As a publicly listed company with founder-led management, CEO Takashi Yanagihara drives strategy and capital deployment. Ridge-i does not disclose an investment committee, and its capital allocation manifests as direct M&A — such as the 2026 acquisition of SK Collaboration — and reinvestment into service lines rather than external fund commitments.
Does Ridge-i work with global clients, or is it purely domestic?
The firm's disclosed client list is heavily concentrated in Japan, spanning automotive, electronics, retail, broadcasting, and government. While it participates in international exhibitions like SPEXA, the space business expo, no explicit overseas client engagements are public. Its Tokyo headquarters remains the sole office.
How does Ridge-i separate its philanthropic and commercial work?
Ridge-i references sustainability and social-issue initiatives focused on disaster prevention, security, and SDGs — but it does not maintain a separate philanthropic foundation. These projects run as part of the commercial AI development pipeline, applying the same satellite analytics and deep learning tools to public-good challenges like disaster monitoring.
What is Ridge-i's structure on the Tokyo Stock Exchange?
Ridge-i listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market under security code 5572. The Growth Market targets emerging, high-growth companies and requires lower market-capitalization and shareholder thresholds than the Prime Market, which suits Ridge-i's profile as an independent AI pure-play still scaling its enterprise revenue base.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on registered investment advisers?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: