ALiNK Internet

Basic Information

Stock Code
7077
Industry
Services
Category Detail
Internet Site Operations
Prefecture
Tokyo
Establishment Year
March 2013
Listing Year
December 2019
Official Website
https://www.alink.ne.jp/
TSE Information
TSE Information
Yahoo! Finance
Yahoo! Finance
Other Companies
Synspective, Dynamic Map Platform, Amazia, Weathernews, QPS Institute, TDSE, Flas

Overview

ALiNK Internet is a digital information company established in 2013, specializing in weather information site operations and leading tenki.jp in collaboration with the Japan Weather Association.

Current Situation

ALiNK Internet recorded net sales of approximately 6.1 billion yen and net profit of approximately 1 billion yen in the fiscal year ended February 2024, achieving high profitability despite a small team. Its flagship weather site tenki.jp boasts 5.6 billion annual page views and around 2.8 million followers on X. Jointly operated with the Japan Weather Association, tenki.jp focuses on disaster prevention and has the technology to handle high-load disaster-time access on a per-second basis. Since 2018, it has diversified into umbrella sharing services, rental space business, and cross-media initiatives. Most recently in 2024, it strengthened its business foundation through a new head office relocation and subsidiary acquisitions. In the medium to long term, it is advancing weather data-linked advertising and new digital services, aiming for sustainable social contributions and growth in the digital space. Moving forward, it will enhance market competitiveness through technological innovation and content diversification to pursue ongoing profit growth.

Trivia

Interesting Facts

  • tenki.jp has over 20 years of history through joint operation with the Japan Weather Association
  • Technological capabilities for handling access surges during disasters are industry-leading
  • Operates services on a scale comparable to major media with a small team
  • Capital participation in umbrella sharing service company to advance new businesses
  • Operates cross-media IP 'Onsen Musume' and collaborates with the entertainment industry
  • Mountaineering weather app operates as a paid service compliant with the Meteorology Act
  • Listed on the stock exchange with just 9 employees, an exceptionally small team
  • Established a unique advertising model specialized in Japanese weather information
  • Frequently implements collaboration projects with latest dramas and anime
  • Representative Yoto Ikeda transitioned from pro baseball aspirations to weather forecaster

Hidden Connections

  • Representative Ikeda has Yahoo! experience and was involved in Yahoo! Weather overhaul
  • Ensures high information reliability through joint ventures with the Japan Weather Association
  • Capital ties with Nature Innovation Group, parent of umbrella sharing 'Aikasa'
  • Achieved media fusion with Onsen Musume through Enbound subsidiary acquisition
  • TSE Growth listing with small team drew attention as an unusual case
  • tenki.jp weather data is increasingly utilized in disaster prevention administration
  • X (formerly Twitter) account with approx. 2.8 million followers, one of Japan's top weather info accounts
  • Challenging dynamic pricing through entry into new rental space market

Future Outlook

Growth Drivers

  • Increasing disaster prevention demand and strengthened public-private partnerships
  • Expansion of weather-linked advertising market
  • User growth through digital media diversification
  • Growth in new business areas (rental spaces, sharing, etc.)
  • Advances in multi-purpose weather data utilization technologies
  • Data provision to new markets like smart cities
  • Improved forecast accuracy via AI/big data
  • Expansion of cross-media content business
  • Revenue growth from paid specialized services
  • Agile responses leveraging efficiency of small-team management

Strategic Goals

  • Achieve 7 billion annual PV on tenki.jp and 4 million SNS followers
  • Secure 30% revenue mix from new businesses
  • Establish top domestic share in disaster prevention info provision
  • Expand cross-media IP business to domestic and international markets
  • Strengthen environmental load reduction and regional contribution activities
  • Enhance forecast accuracy and service differentiation via AI technologies
  • Expand customer base through diverse channels
  • Secure leading position in weather-linked advertising market
  • Improve productivity through work style reforms
  • Maintain trust through thorough digital privacy measures

Business Segments

Weather Information Provision Services

Overview
Provides precise weather information and related services to diverse industries, supporting disaster prevention and marketing.
Competitiveness
Integration of high-precision forecasts and disaster prevention specialized content
Customers
  • Media companies
  • Advertising agencies
  • Local government disaster prevention departments
  • Corporate PR departments
  • Event management companies
  • Travel agencies
  • Construction and infrastructure companies
  • Agriculture-related companies
  • Logistics companies
  • Sports-related organizations
Products
  • Real-time weather data provision
  • Disaster prevention information delivery system
  • Weather-linked advertising platform
  • Weather information supply via API integration
  • Customized forecasts for clients
  • Proprietary analysis tools
  • Weather risk assessment services
  • Event risk management support

Media and Content Production

Overview
Provides weather-related content production and promotion to diverse media companies.
Competitiveness
Unique planning capabilities fusing weather data and entertainment
Customers
  • TV stations
  • Newspapers
  • Internet media
  • Anime production companies
  • Advertising agencies
  • Cross-media operators
  • Video streaming services
Products
  • Weather-specialized video and digital content
  • Cross-media IP development (Onsen Musume)
  • Tie-up advertising planning
  • Digital promotion support

Promotion and Marketing Support

Overview
Supports design and execution of weather-linked promotions in the marketing domain.
Competitiveness
Advertising linkage leveraging daily behavior predictions
Customers
  • Consumer goods manufacturers
  • Online advertising companies
  • Sports event organizers
  • Restaurant chains
  • Retailers
Products
  • Weather-linked ad delivery
  • SNS campaign support
  • Digital promotion planning
  • Consumer behavior analysis support

New Business Development and Consulting

Overview
Consults on new business creation utilizing weather information and promotes collaborations across industries.
Competitiveness
Market creation capabilities leveraging the weather domain
Customers
  • Startups
  • Large corporations
  • Local governments
  • Sharing services
  • Rental space operators
Products
  • Market research and analysis
  • New service planning
  • Dynamic pricing implementation support
  • Sharing service collaborations

Competitive Advantage

Strengths

  • Strong partnership with the Japan Weather Association
  • High brand recognition of tenki.jp
  • Disaster prevention specialized weather information provision capabilities
  • Stable system operation technology during high access
  • Efficient management with a small team
  • Operation of diverse digital media content
  • Proprietary know-how in weather-linked advertising
  • Business diversification responsive to market needs
  • Strong user base on apps and web
  • Active expansion through subsidiaries and partnerships

Competitive Advantages

  • Provides accurate and reliable forecasts through collaboration with the Japan Weather Association
  • Possesses advanced IT infrastructure resilient to concentrated access during disasters
  • Achieves rapid and efficient customer acquisition through in-house growth hacking and SEO
  • Differentiated technology maximizing marketing effectiveness via weather-linked ads
  • Diversified revenue base through expansion into new areas like rental spaces and sharing services
  • Swift decision-making and execution with a lean elite team
  • Successful new customer creation through cross-media ventures like Onsen Musume
  • Maintains high user reach via X and SNS
  • Flexible business model improving profitability through paid specialized weather info
  • Provision of diverse custom weather services tailored to customer needs

Threats

  • Intense competition from major rivals like Weathernews
  • Risks from changes in regulations like the Meteorology Act
  • Uncertainty in customer demand due to weather variability
  • Technical challenges in developing new digital services
  • Risk of server overload during disasters
  • Impact from economic fluctuations in the advertising market
  • Strengthened data privacy regulations
  • Revenue pressure from trends toward free weather information
  • Challenges in talent acquisition and development
  • Intensifying competition in the rental space market

Innovations

2022: "Yuru Camp△" Theatrical Anime Tie-up

Overview
Launched a special campsite weather page through collaboration with the popular anime.
Impact
Contributed to new user acquisition and brand awareness expansion.

2024: Entry into New Market via Rental Space Business Acquisition

Overview
Acquired rental space business to advance into dynamic pricing operations.
Impact
Created new revenue sources and strengthened market analysis.

2024: Subsidiary Acquisition of Onsen Musume Operator Enbound

Overview
Acquired as subsidiary to strengthen and diversify cross-media content business.
Impact
Opened new customer segments and created business synergies.

2024: System Enhancements for High-Load Access

Overview
Advanced optimization of IT infrastructure to withstand 1000x access surges during disasters.
Impact
Achieved improved reliability and stable disaster information delivery.

2020: Launch of Paid Weather Service for Mountaineers

Overview
Launched paid app providing specialized mountaineering weather info compliant with the Meteorology Act.
Impact
Expanding steadily as a new revenue pillar.

Sustainability

  • Social safety contributions through disaster prevention information delivery
  • Energy reduction via efficient server management
  • Support for regional revitalization through localized information provision
  • Regional cultural promotion activities via subsidiary businesses
  • Consideration and promotion activities to address the digital divide