GMO TECH Holdings, Inc.

GMO TECH Holdings, Inc. (GMO TECHホールディングス株式会社) is a Japanese corporate group that serves as the holding company for the GMO Internet Group's marketing-technology and SaaS operations. It was established in October 2025 through a joint share transfer between GMO TECH, Inc. and DesignOne Japan, Inc. (renamed GMO DesignOne), and simultaneously listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market. The group is headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, and operates under the vision of becoming the number-one corporate group creating the future with AI. The group's core businesses span search engine optimization (SEO), map engine optimization (MEO), affiliate advertising, internet media, and real-estate technology (proptech). Its flagship products include MEO Dashboard byGMO, a comprehensive MEO management tool; GMO SmaAD, an affiliate advertising platform; Ekiten, one of Japan's largest review and ranking sites for local businesses; and GMO Chintai DX, a suite of SaaS products for rental property management companies. The group also provides AI-driven tools such as GMO Store AI Agent and Local GEO Dash! byGMO, reflecting its strategic shift toward AI-powered SaaS. GMO TECH Holdings operates through several subsidiaries, including GMO TECH, GMO DesignOne, GMO ReTech, GMO E-Networks, GMO TryHatch, GMO-Z.com TECH VN NTA COMPANY LIMITED (Vietnam), and GMO-Z.com TECH KR, Inc. (South Korea). The group has offices in various locations across Japan, including Tokyo, Fukuoka, Miyazaki, Kanazawa, Osaka, and Sapporo. It is part of the broader GMO Internet Group, a major Japanese internet conglomerate. The company's history traces back to 2006 with the founding of Innovax, Inc., which later became GMO SEO Technology and then GMO TECH. DesignOne Japan was founded in 2005 and launched Ekiten in 2007. Both companies grew through IPOs on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers Market (now Growth Market) and expanded their service offerings. In 2025, they integrated under a joint holding company to accelerate decision-making and management efficiency, particularly in store customer attraction support. The group continues to invest in AI technologies, aiming to drive sustainable growth for client companies.

The history of GMO TECH Holdings is rooted in two predecessor companies: Innovax, Inc. (founded in December 2006 in Shibuya, Tokyo) and DesignOne Japan, Inc. (founded in September 2005 in Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo). Innovax began as an internet marketing company and launched its SEO service 'SEO AIRLINES' in March 2008. In April 2009, it formed a capital alliance with GMO Internet, Inc., and in May 2009 changed its name to GMO SEO Technology, Inc., relocating its headquarters to Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya. In December 2011, it was renamed GMO TECH, Inc. The company expanded its service lineup to include MEO (Map Engine Optimization) in April 2011 and the affiliate ad distribution system 'SmaAD Ad Network' in June 2011. It went public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers Market in December 2014. Meanwhile, DesignOne Japan launched the review and ranking site 'Ekiten' in June 2007. It listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers Market in April 2015 and moved to the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in August 2016. The company expanded through acquisitions, including NITROTECH ASIA INC (Vietnam) in July 2019 and E-Networks in October 2021. GMO TECH continued to develop new services, such as 'GMO AppCapsule' (O2O app creation) in September 2014, 'GMO Audience Optimizer' in February 2016, and 'GMO SmaAD Video' in March 2016. It opened branch offices in Miyazaki (May 2016) and Fukuoka (April 2018). In July 2020, it established GMO ReTech, Inc. to focus on real-estate technology, and launched 'GMO Chintai DX Owner App' in December 2020 and 'GMO Chintai DX Tenant App' in January 2021. In January 2021, it also launched 'MEO Dashboard byGMO', which became a flagship product. The company integrated generative AI into its services, starting with a review AI reply assistant in May 2023. In June 2025, GMO TECH and DesignOne Japan announced a joint share transfer to establish a joint holding company, GMO TECH Holdings, Inc., by October 2025. On September 2025, GMO TECH was delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market. In October 2025, GMO TECH Holdings was established and simultaneously listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market. DesignOne Japan changed its name to GMO DesignOne. In February 2026, GMO TECH made TryHatch, a company providing MEO services, a consolidated subsidiary. In May 2026, the group announced a shift to AI-powered SaaS business. In September 2026, it resolved to merge GMO TECH and GMO DesignOne to integrate store customer attraction support operations.

• DesignOne Japan, Inc. founded in Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo.

• Innovax, Inc. (current GMO TECH) founded in Shibuya, Tokyo.

• DesignOne Japan launches review and ranking site 'Ekiten'.

• Innovax launches SEO service 'SEO AIRLINES'.

• Innovax forms capital alliance with GMO Internet, Inc.

• Innovax changes name to GMO SEO Technology, Inc. and moves HQ to Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya.

• GMO SEO Technology starts MEO (Map Engine Optimization) initiatives for Google Maps.

• Launches affiliate ad distribution system 'SmaAD Ad Network'.

• Company renamed GMO TECH, Inc.

• GMO TECH listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers Market.

• DesignOne Japan listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers Market.

• DesignOne Japan moves to First Section of Tokyo Stock Exchange.

• GMO ReTech, Inc. established for real-estate tech business.

• Launches 'GMO Chintai DX Tenant App' and 'MEO Dashboard byGMO'.

• GMO TECH moves to Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market; DesignOne Japan moves to Standard Market.

• GMO TECH and DesignOne Japan sign agreement to establish joint holding company GMO TECH Holdings.

• GMO TECH delisted from Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market.

• GMO TECH Holdings established and listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market; DesignOne Japan renamed GMO DesignOne.

• GMO TECH makes TryHatch, an MEO service company, a consolidated subsidiary.

• Announces shift to AI-powered SaaS business.

• Resolves merger of GMO TECH and GMO DesignOne to integrate store customer attraction support.

AI and SaaS to make corporate growth sustainable; aiming to be the No.1 corporate group creating the future with AI.

• MEO Dashboard byGMO

  Comprehensive MEO management tool for store operations, integrating Google Business Profile management, review replies, and analytics.

• GMO SmaAD

  Affiliate advertising platform for smartphones, including reward-based and app-install ads.

• Ekiten

  One of Japan's largest review and ranking sites for local businesses, operated by GMO DesignOne.

• GMO Chintai DX

  SaaS suite for rental property management companies, including owner app, tenant app, and owner CRM.

• SEO Dash! byGMO

  SEO support service for improving search engine rankings.

• MEO Dash! byGMO

  MEO support service for local store visibility on Google Maps.

• Lumar (formerly DeepCrawl)

  World-class technical SEO analysis tool, exclusively distributed in Japan by GMO TECH.

• GMO AppCapsule

  O2O app creation platform (now GMO Shukyaku Up Capsule).

• GMO Store AI Agent

  AI agent that supports store operations through conversation, starting with MEO tasks.

• Local GEO Dash! byGMO

  AI search consulting service for stores and regional businesses.

1. 1GMO TECHホールディングス株式会社｜東証グロース上場hd.gmotech.jp
2. 2沿革 | GMO TECHホールディングス株式会社hd.gmotech.jp
3. 3企業情報 | GMO TECHホールディングス株式会社hd.gmotech.jp
4. 4AIで未来を創る | GMO TECHホールディングス株式会社hd.gmotech.jp
5. 5GMO TECH - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
6. 6GMO TECH Holdings - Wikidatawikidata.org