Poetics Transfers Ownership of JamRoll to KnowledgeWork, Enhancing AI Sales Solutions

Poetics and KnowledgeWork's Strategic M&A

Poetics, located in Shibuya, Tokyo, has officially announced the transfer of all its shares of the sales analysis AI, JamRoll, to KnowledgeWork, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. As of May 1, 2025, JamRoll will operate within the KnowledgeWork group. This acquisition aims to foster synergies in product development, enhancing the sales capabilities of both companies.

Reasons for the Share Transfer

1. Product Synergy: Supporting All Aspects of Sales Processes

KnowledgeWork specializes in providing sales enablement AI called “KnowledgeWork,” aimed at large enterprises. The company has created products that assist in the discovery and sharing of sales materials, as well as in drafting negotiation scenarios and preparing materials for sales representatives. Thus, they support the pre-negotiation processes of sales teams.

In contrast, Poetics has focused on supporting post-negotiation processes through JamRoll, which features tools for transcribing discussions and summarizing them, along with automatic entry into CRM/SFA systems. By integrating JamRoll with KnowledgeWork, the combined offerings will cover all stages of the sales process. This allows for functionalities, such as recommending sales materials for upcoming negotiations based on the summaries and transcripts provided by JamRoll.

2. Technical and Human Resource Synergy: Accelerating Development of Sales AI Agents

KnowledgeWork stands out as a leading company in sales enablement within Japan. Known for its superb UI/UX, this organization has delivered practical and reproducible sales support solutions to numerous large enterprises. On the other hand, Poetics has made significant strides in AI R&D, especially in voice and language processing technologies. Its advancements have gained recognition both domestically and internationally through accolades such as being selected for the AWS Generative AI Accelerator and the Google Launchpad Accelerator, as well as receiving the J-Startup certification from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Leadership Changes

As part of this strategic move, Poetics CEO Hazumu Yamazaki will transition to KnowledgeWork as the Chief AI Officer (CAIO). This collaboration between the two companies is expected to fast-track the development of AI sales agents tailored for sales representatives.

Poetics CEO's Statement

In a statement, Yamazaki mentioned his excitement and pride in joining forces with KnowledgeWork, a pioneer in sales enablement for Japan's major enterprises. He expressed confidence in the potential of their combined strengths to create top-tier startup solutions in the country.

About the Leaders

Yamazaki, who holds a humanities background, has achieved notable success in various international pitch contests, claiming first place at the Pitch Your Startup 2018 in Luxembourg, a notable achievement for an Asian company. Additionally, he was recognized as the winner at the B Dash Camp 2023 Sapporo.

KnowledgeWork's CEO, Koji Asano, echoed similar sentiments about the merger being driven by the excellent synergy across products, technologies, and personnel. He noted that their aligned vision for developing sales AI agents solidified the decision to partner with Poetics, aiming to elevate KnowledgeWork into one of the top-tier companies providing sales enablement solutions globally.

Overview of KnowledgeWork

Founded on March 18, 2020, and operational since April 1, 2020, KnowledgeWork delivers innovative solutions to enable working professionals, boasting collaborations with major corporations like NTT Communications and Mizuho Bank. The company’s mission—bringing joy through achievement—underlines its commitment to fostering a superior work experience for employees via its sales AI solutions.

Overview of Poetics

Established with a mission to blend science and humanities, Poetics develops audio and language processing AI technologies. Its product JamRoll has been pivotal in facilitating sales analysis in organizations, further complemented by its real-time Japanese speech recognition API. Poetics is recognized for its technical prowess through various awards and certifications, including selections for pivotal AI grants and venture accolades.

As the sales enablement landscape evolves, the union of Poetics' and KnowledgeWork’s innovative approaches promises to redefine the industry, making strides in AI sales support.