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a23s Rebrands to "MOLTON" and Executes Roll-Up M&A — Integrating select operations of Quantz Consulting to offer a new service combining Generative AI and professional expertise starting in January —
a23s Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yasufumi Sakichi), provider of the corporate legal outsourcing service "Cloud Legal," announced on January 7 that it has changed its company name to MOLTON Inc. and executed a roll-up M&A (integration of specialized teams).
As the first phase of this initiative, the company has integrated the consulting teams specializing in the IP, Legal, Risk, and Governance domains from Quantz Consulting Inc. Consequently, a new "Legal & Intellectual Property Consulting Service" (tentative name), which fuses the capabilities of generative AI with expert insights, will be launched in January 2026.
■ Expanding the Role of Legal & IP: From "Defense" to "Value Creation"
The backdrop for this M&A and the launch of the new service lies in the shifting role within the legal and intellectual property sectors.
In corporate management, legal and IP functions are shifting from merely being a "defense" for risk avoidance to becoming a core driver of "value creation" essential for growth strategy and corporate value enhancement. However, traditional strategic legal consulting tends to be high-cost and slow, creating high barriers to entry for medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
MOLTON advocates for the "democratization of corporate law." By combining the speed of generative AI for practical tasks with the hands-on support of human experts, the company aims to provide high-level support at a reasonable cost, regardless of company size.
■ New Service: "Legal & IP Consulting Service"
In the new service scheduled for release in January 2026, generative AI will be utilized to accelerate research, analysis, and document creation, while specialists such as lawyers and patent attorneys will support design and implementation deeply rooted in management and business operations.
Moving forward, the company plans to expand its scope beyond the legal and IP domains to include risk governance and management consulting, providing "implementation-based consulting" that contributes to enhancing corporate value.
■ ICT Startup League
This support program was launched in FY2023, initiated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' "Start-up Creation-type Embryonic Research and Development Support Project."
The ICT Startup League supports startups through four pillars:
1. R&D Funds / Accompaniment Support
Up to 20 million yen is provided as a grant for research and development. In terms of accompaniment support, selection committee members involved in choosing league members stay close after selection to promote growth. For companies that committee members evaluated as ones they "absolutely want to adopt," an advocacy-style support system is established. In this system, the evaluators themselves provide continuous support, such as advice on business plans and offering growth opportunities.
2. Discovery & Development
We provide opportunities for learning and networking to promote the business growth of league members.
We also work to discover individuals aiming to start businesses in the future, aiming to expand the base of the startup ecosystem.
3. Competition & Co-creation
The league serves as a venue for positive competition, much like a sports league. While startups learn together and improve through friendly rivalry, the system allows them to compete for the necessary funds (up to 20 million yen). It also offers a place for co-creation where league members can collaborate to expand their businesses through various opportunities, such as sessions with selection committee members.
4. Dissemination
We disseminate the initiatives of league members in collaboration with the media! By letting more people know about these businesses, we aim to expand opportunities for new matching and chances.
■ Related Websites
ICT Startup League
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MOLTON Inc. (Official Site)
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a23s Inc. (Currently: MOLTON Inc.) (LEAGUE MEMBER)
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Original Press Release (Japanese)
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For more details on STARTUP LEAGUE's startup support, please see here.