Ridge-i Appears at Press Conference on "Strategic Vision for the SBI Neo-Media Ecosystem"

Ridge-i Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Naofumi Yanagihara, hereinafter "Ridge-i"), a company that consults and develops AI and deep learning technologies, appeared on March 31, 2026, at the "Strategic Vision for the SBI Neo-Media Ecosystem" press conference hosted by SBI Neo-Media Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yutaka Fukasawa) and SBI Holdings, Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Chairman and President: Yoshitaka Kitao, hereinafter "SBI Holdings," collectively referred to as "SBI Group"). Ridge-i announced its role centered on its AI technology and future initiatives.

This press conference, themed "The Fusion of Media, IT, and Finance," presented the overall picture of a new industrial concept promoted by the SBI Group. Among many participating related companies, Ridge-i participated as a core AI partner.

■ Ridge-i's Role in the SBI Neo-Media Ecosystem

Ridge-i has leveraged its strength in providing end-to-end services from strategy formulation to development and operation for AI adoption, supporting digital transformation across various industries. In this concept, we will achieve a dramatic improvement in customer experience by highly utilizing data generated from customer touchpoints that serve as the origin of finance and economic behavior, such as media, content, and entertainment, with AI, and by providing reliable information and services optimized for each user.

Furthermore, by offering new services through generative AI and AI agents, we will connect the media, finance, and marketing domains across the board, strengthen synergies connecting partners participating in this concept, and promote the creation of new value.

■ Collaboration with SBI Group and Advancement of AI Projects

Against the backdrop of a capital and business alliance with the SBI Group, we have been promoting new value creation by combining the financial and non-financial data and corporate networks held by the group with Ridge-i's AI technology and implementation know-how.

As part of these efforts, we have already received orders for major projects such as 1. formulating and promoting the AX strategy for the entire SBI Group, and 2. developing a generative AI agent for customer inquiry handling at SBI Securities. (Disclosed on March 12, 2026).

This time, as the third phase of our collaboration, we will participate in realizing the Neo-Media concept through AI. We aim to build a new service foundation that fuses media and finance through various initiatives, including AI-based fact-checking, generation of personalized content, development of AI agents integrated with services provided by SBI Group companies, and the AX-ification of digital marketing.

■ Towards Optimization of Business Portfolio and Further Synergy Enhancement

Furthermore, towards the realization of this concept, we have concluded a basic agreement to transfer the shares of our consolidated subsidiary, Star Music Entertainment Inc. (hereinafter "Star Music"), to SBI Holdings. (Disclosed on March 30, 2026).
This matter is due to the alignment of objectives, providing the following benefits to the three related companies:
・ SBI Group: Can further accelerate the creation and business development of the "SBI Neo-Media Ecosystem."
・ Star Music: Can leverage the extensive network and customer base held by the SBI Group.
・ Ridge-i: Can concentrate resources on its strengths, "AI technology development and advanced utilization."

We are confident that this decision will enable each company to perform at its maximum in its respective domain, thereby creating stronger synergies in the fusion of media, IT, and finance that this concept aims for.

■ About Ridge-i

Ridge-i Inc. (Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth, Securities Code: 5572) is a tech innovation firm that tackles management and social issues through solutions utilizing AI and deep learning technologies. In particular, it excels in "multimodal AI," which combines generative AI with AI for various data such as image analysis, sensor-based anomaly detection AI, and optimization AI. From strategy formulation and requirements definition phases, through on-site consultation to development, operation, and maintenance, we provide end-to-end support until customers experience the return on investment, achieving many successes. We also actively address social issues, having won the Cabinet Office Minister's Award for Space Development and Utilization three consecutive times for solutions that discover environmental changes and conflict issues from satellite imagery. We will continue to pursue excellence in technology and business, providing top-tier solutions that society and customers can sustainably feel the effects of.

Company Name: Ridge-i Inc.

Established: July 2016

Location: Otemachi Building 438, 1-6-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Representative: Naofumi Yanagihara, President and CEO

Capital: ¥11,609,900

Business Activities:

1. Consulting and development of AI and deep learning technologies

2. Provision of products through joint ventures, licensing, maintenance models, in-house development, etc.

3. Provision of AI analysis services for satellite data

URL: https://ridge-i.com