Arches
Asia-focused expert network founded by former Accenture Strategy and YCP Solidiance consultants. Deep coverage across Japan, Southeast Asia, China, and India with 250+ employees across 8 offices and a Bloomberg Terminal-integrated Expert Transcript Library.
Services
Best For
When Not Ideal
Key Strengths
- ✓ Deep Asia-Pacific expertise with genuine local recruiting capability across Japan, SEA, China, and India
- ✓ ~20% more cost-efficient than global networks through local sourcing and operations
- ✓ Bloomberg Terminal integration provides unique distribution channel for expert transcripts
- ✓ 250+ employees across 8 offices ensures local knowledge and language capability
- ✓ 600+ clients and 300+ industries demonstrates broad adoption
- ✓ Founders' strategy consulting backgrounds (Accenture, YCP Solidiance) bring analytical rigor
- ✓ Targeting IPO by 2028 — indicates growth trajectory and institutional ambition
Watch-outs
- ⚠ Less established in Western markets (US, Europe) compared to global networks
- ⚠ Technology platform is less sophisticated than AI-native competitors
- ⚠ Expert matching is primarily human-driven, which may be slower for urgent requests
- ⚠ Relatively small funding (~$4M total) compared to well-capitalized competitors
- ⚠ Bloomberg transcript integration currently focused on Japanese equities only
- ⚠ Younger company (pivoted to expert network in 2019) with shorter track record than established players
Deep Dive
1 Overview
2 History
Arches was co-founded by Hiroki Kato (CEO) and Shota Kambara (COO). Kato is a University of Tokyo economics graduate who worked at Sumitomo Corporation in energy investment and YCP Solidiance in growth strategy; he is also a World Economic Forum Global Shaper. Kambara is a Waseda University economics graduate, former Accenture Strategy consultant and Terradrone strategist with expertise in cross-border M&A. The company began as NeedsArch Inc. in January 2017, initially operating as a consumer research firm in Japan. In May 2019, the founders pivoted to launch Arches as a full-fledged expert network. The company raised $1.6M in December 2021 from Uzabase, Hakuhodo DY Ventures, and angel investors, followed by a $2.6M (410M yen) Series B in June 2024 from KUSABI, VISIONAL, SMBC Venture Capital, and Grove Advisors Ventures.
3 Services in Detail
Expert Calls
One-on-one consultations with hand-picked experts matched to specific project needs. Billed hourly with deep sourcing capability across Japan, Southeast Asia, China, and India where global networks have limited reach.
Expert Transcript Library
Searchable database of transcribed expert interviews. Integrated into Bloomberg Terminal in June 2025 via the {DS <GO>} command, initially focused on Japanese equities. Enables investors to access expert insights without scheduling live calls.
Expert Solution (Consulting Research)
Consulting-driven research delivered by ex-Big 4 strategy consultants, combining local market insights with expert interviews for comprehensive analysis.
Prime Talent Partners
Recruitment and talent matching service for funds, consulting firms, and startups, leveraging the curated expert database for permanent and advisory placements.
Expert Surveys & On-site Consultations
Quantitative survey research and in-person consultation/seminar formats for clients needing structured data collection or group expert engagement.
4 AI & Platform
Arches' technology capabilities are focused on its Expert Transcript Library and Bloomberg Terminal integration rather than AI-driven expert matching. Expert matching is primarily human-driven by the 250+ person team with deep local knowledge across Asian markets. The company has announced plans to add ChatGPT-powered article summaries and trend analysis to the transcript library.
- ◆ Expert Transcript Library with keyword and company search
- ◆ Bloomberg Terminal integration via {DS <GO>} command
- ◆ Planned ChatGPT-powered article summaries and trend analysis
- ◆ Multilingual expert sourcing across 15+ nationalities on staff
- ◆ Human-driven expert matching with deep local market knowledge
5 Compliance
Arches maintains compliance standards appropriate for its Asia-focused expert network operations. Expert screening covers background verification and involvement-level assessment. MNPI controls guide experts to decline projects involving current employer competitors or sensitive business areas. The company's 250+ multilingual staff from 15+ nationalities supports thorough vetting of niche and hard-to-reach experts across diverse Asian regulatory environments.
- ● Expert screening against stated background and involvement level
- ● MNPI controls guiding experts on project conflicts
- ● Controlled access and limited retention policies for call data
- ● No transcripts generated unless explicitly requested and approved by client
- ● 250+ multilingual staff from 15+ nationalities for thorough vetting
- ● Compliance approach matching global standards with local fluency
Arches operates across multiple Asian jurisdictions (Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, South Korea) with varying regulatory requirements. The company's local presence in each market enables jurisdiction-specific compliance adaptation. Clean regulatory record.
6 Client Fit
Arches is ideal for investors and firms needing ground-level intelligence in Asian markets, particularly Japan, Southeast Asia, China, and India. The company's local recruiting capability and deep regional expertise make it a strong choice for Asia-focused due diligence. Clients focused exclusively on Western markets will find limited differentiation.
- → PE firms and hedge funds investing in Asian markets, especially Japan and Southeast Asia
- → Strategy consulting firms needing Asia-Pacific expert access for client engagements
- → US/European investors seeking ground-level intelligence on Japanese equities
- → Companies evaluating market entry or competitive dynamics across Asian markets
- → Fortune 500 corporations conducting competitive intelligence in APAC
7 Notable Facts
- • Co-founder Hiroki Kato is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper and University of Tokyo economics graduate
- • Expert Transcript Library integrated into Bloomberg Terminal in June 2025
- • Originally founded as NeedsArch Inc. (consumer research) in 2017 before pivoting to expert network in 2019
- • 250+ employees from 15+ nationalities across 8 offices (Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul, Bogota, and more)
- • Serves 600+ clients across 300+ industries with 160,000+ experts
- • Claims ~20% cost efficiency advantage over global expert networks
- • Backed by Uzabase, SMBC Venture Capital, VISIONAL, Hakuhodo DY Ventures, and KUSABI
- • Targeting IPO by 2028
- • Strategic alliance with Awake Co. (Japan's first ex-government expert platform)
- • Partnership with Green Growth Corporation for renewable energy expertise
- • Uses recruiting/headhunting firm partnerships to accelerate expert sourcing — an unusual model in the ENS industry
- • Competes regionally with ShareFair, Mimir Uzabase, Resory, Hudson Research, and Nodes Global
8 Source Notes & Methodology
- ℹ Arches official website (arches-global.com) — company overview, services, and leadership
- ℹ Crunchbase — funding rounds ($1.6M in 2021, $2.6M Series B in 2024)
- ℹ Tracxn — company profile, team size, and financial data
- ℹ INEX ONE Expert Network Directory — Arches profile
- ℹ Bloomberg Terminal integration announcement — Expert Transcript Library
- ℹ LinkedIn — leadership profiles (Hiroki Kato, Shota Kambara)
- ℹ Consultancy.asia — Arches raises $2.6M coverage
- ℹ American Business Times — Bloomberg partnership coverage
- ℹ Expert Network Calls directory — Arches profile
- ℹ Arches news page — Bloomberg integration and expansion announcements
9 Data Confidence Ratings
Each data point in this profile is graded for source confidence. Here's what each badge means:
This profile's ratings
10 How We Researched This
This profile was researched and written by the ExpertNetworks.net editorial team using a multi-source methodology:
- Primary sources: Company website, press releases, SEC/regulatory filings, and official announcements
- Third-party verification: Industry reports (Integrity Research, Inex One), news coverage (TechCrunch, Bloomberg, FT), and data aggregators (PitchBook, Tracxn, Crunchbase)
- Cross-referencing: Claims were checked against multiple independent sources where possible; single-source claims are flagged
- Confidence grading: Each data point is rated as Verified, Positioning (company-claimed), or Inference (estimated from indirect evidence)
We do not accept payment from any expert network for inclusion or favorable coverage. If you spot an error, contact us with the correction and source.
Last fact-checked: 2026-03-07