01For General Enterprises
Over the past 30 years, the relationship between Japanese companies and consulting firms has changed dramatically. There is no doubt that consulting itself has value. The problem lies in how that value is used, and in knowing when to step back.
While the domestic consulting market continues to grow at a double-digit annual rate, the IT insourcing rate of Japanese companies remains at 24.8%, far below the 53.1% of US companies. As the "outsourcing of knowledge" has advanced, companies' internal muscle has atrophied.
The more consultants expand their scope into requirements definition, project management, and system development, the more the client is left with only "the ability to understand and approve materials prepared by consultants" and "the ability to execute budgets." Companies lose the opportunity to make their own decisions and fall into a hollowed-out state in which both technology and strategy are outsourced. This phenomenon, which might be called a "reverse transfer of capabilities," has already reached a serious stage.
What is needed is to return the role of consulting from "doing the work for you" to "getting it started." True consulting creates a state in which the client ultimately no longer needs consultants. It brings in the fire of transformation and builds a rhythm that keeps it burning inside the organization.
Drawing on world-class consulting experience and deep industry knowledge, Rubicon9 provides consulting as it should be: "ignite, then build the flow." What we aim for is our clients' independence and the sustainable growth of Japanese companies.
What We Offer
- Business Strategy Development (Long-term strategy, Growth strategy, Global expansion)
- Technology Strategy & DX Support (Business digitalization, IT implementation planning, Data utilization strategy)
- Business Process Improvement (BPR, Operational efficiency, Indirect department productivity enhancement)
- Organizational Change & Talent Development (HR system design, Talent management, Organizational assessment)
- Sustainability/ESG Compliance (Information disclosure support, Materiality assessment)
Case studies for general enterprises →
02For Technology & IT Companies
Japan once led the world in semiconductors. In 1988 it held more than 50% of the global market, but as of 2025 that share has fallen below 10%. This is not merely a shift in industrial structure; it is the result of a gap in the ability to turn technology into business.
The challenge facing Japan's IT and technology companies is not a lack of technical capability. While they boast world-class technology, they lack the methods to convert it into a structure that wins. Validating product-market fit, building a scalable sales model, bridging the disconnect between management and the front line: these layered barriers, which technology alone cannot overcome, have become bottlenecks to growth.
Rubicon9 supports clients across the full journey: redefining market strategy around a product's core value, building an organization where sales, development, and management act as one, and accelerating growth through fundraising and M&A.
We are not a consulting firm that only talks strategy in meeting rooms. We go into the field, turn technology into business, and bring out the full strength of the organization.
What We Offer
- Market Expansion & Product Strategy (Positioning strategy, Sales strategy, Pricing strategy, PMF validation)
- Sales Organization BPR (Sales process design & implementation, Account management support, Sales enablement)
- Engineering Organization Management (Engineer evaluation systems, Development productivity enhancement)
- Investor Relations & Fundraising (Financial strategy advisory, Investor pitch deck creation)
- M&A & Partnership Support (Target identification, Contract negotiation support)
Case studies for technology & IT companies →
03For PE Funds & Investors
Japan's IT industry has long carried structural disparities created by a multi-tiered subcontracting structure with large SIers at the top. It has become the norm that the fruits of value creation are not properly returned to the lower tiers.
At the same time, investment by PE funds and VCs in IT and technology companies rose 40% year on year in 2024, presenting a major opportunity to transform this distorted market structure. Consolidation among mid-sized and small SIers to strengthen their competitiveness has the potential to break through the traditional hierarchy.
However, only about 12% of professionals in the investment industry are said to have expertise in IT and technology. Investors are forced to choose between two high-risk options: the missed opportunity of "not investing because they don't understand it," or the risk of "investing without understanding it."
Rubicon9 acts not as a mere advisor but as a hands-on partner, sharpening the accuracy of investment decisions and supporting value creation after the investment.
What We Offer
- Portfolio Value-Up Support (Growth strategy development, Profitability improvement)
- Due Diligence Execution Support (Commercial flow analysis, Competitive environment assessment)
- Post Merger Integration (PMI) Support (Integration strategy development, Business restructuring support)
- Exit Strategy Support (IR enhancement, IPO preparation, Buyer identification)
- Management Team Relationship Building (CxO development, Compensation design, KPI framework)
Case studies for PE funds & investors →