GEECHS JOB Launches FDE Development Program ~Delivering Practical 'Consulting × PM' Skills to Thrive in the AI Era~

GEEKS Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Toshihito Sogenbara; hereinafter 'GEEKS'), operator of Japan's largest IT freelancer agency 'GEECHS JOB', announces the launch of the FDE Development Program on July 15, 2026, co-hosted with Goofy Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Hikaru Yagi; hereinafter 'Goofy'), targeting registered IT freelancers.

Background of the Program Launch

As the first step of the 'Evolution Declaration to the AX Support Platform' announced in June 2026, this program offers registered IT freelancers a structured curriculum to systematically acquire practical consulting and PM skills, aiming for project engagement as an FDE (※1).

A corporate survey conducted by 'GEECHS JOB' (※2) reveals that while 96% of companies have started using generative AI, only 12% have achieved company-wide standardization. The root cause of this gap lies in the shortage of talent capable of implementing AI on-site and transforming it into business impact.

As AI-driven automation and efficiency in coding rapidly advance, simple implementation tasks are gradually shifting to AI's domain. Consequently, the skills required of engineers are rapidly shifting from 'How (how to implement)' to 'What / Why (what to build and why)'—specifically, upstream capabilities such as problem identification, requirements definition, and stakeholder management.

Moreover, according to estimates by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) (※3), there will be a projected shortage of 3.39 million specialists capable of leveraging advanced technologies like AI by 2040. Data from 'GEECHS JOB' also shows rapidly growing demand for FDEs, AX consultants, and PMs capable of handling upstream processes.

In response to these market changes, 'GEECHS JOB', which has supported IT freelancers' careers for over 20 years, has decided to go beyond mere project matching and directly support engineers' skill transformation. We introduce 'Update Guild'—a platform for upskilling and reskilling where engineers continuously update themselves and grow alongside like-minded peers. The FDE Development Program is the first initiative under this initiative. Having witnessed the 'present' and 'future' of IT freelancers from the front lines, this program embodies our commitment to the agent role extending into talent development.

※1 Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE): A role that deeply embeds into or is stationed at the client's frontline to immediately solve challenges.

※2 'GEECHS JOB' Survey: Interview survey targeting 180 client and prospective companies (conducted March 1–16, 2026)

※3 METI 'Employment Structure Projections for 2040 (Revised Edition)', March 2026

About 'Update Guild'

'Update Guild' is a platform for upskilling and reskilling, aiming for engineers to continuously update themselves and grow through mutual inspiration with peers sharing the same vision. As its first initiative, we launch the 'FDE Development Program' to cultivate FDE talent through the acquisition of PM and consulting skills. By combining 'GEECHS JOB’s' engineering talent pool and project connectivity with Goofy’s practical knowledge in IT/DX consulting, we aim to create an environment and community where learning leads directly to practice and real projects—'not just learning, but practical application and project opportunities after learning.'

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Program Name: FDE Development Program (First Initiative of 'Update Guild')

Sessions: Kickoff + 6 sessions

Duration: Approximately 3 hours per session

Capacity: Around 40 participants (selective admission)

Target: IT freelancers registered with 'GEECHS JOB'

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*Seminar content is subject to change without prior notice

Program Content

Following the kickoff on July 15, the FDE Development Program will begin on July 22, structured into three phases. Designed based on Goofy’s practical expertise in consulting and PM gained from the field, the program enables step-by-step skill acquisition through biweekly lectures and inter-lecture assignments.

[Phase 1] Business Transformation & Strategy Design (Sessions 1–2): Learn the most upstream business processes: 'identifying challenges' and 'building strategies.' Acquire a data-driven perspective on business, including problem framing, hypothesis thinking, KPI design, and ROI considerations.

[Phase 2] Project Execution & Management (Sessions 3–4): Develop the 'communication' and 'execution' skills needed to turn strategies into reality. Learn logical thinking, document creation, PM skills, and an overview of DX.

[Phase 3] Comprehensive Workshop (Sessions 5–6): Apply core skills to practice solving real-world business challenges. Through feedback, demonstrate practical capabilities as an FDE.

Program Features

[1. Becoming an FDE by Combining 'Technical Skills' with 'Business Transformation Skills']

FDEs are professionals equipped with three pillars: business understanding, technology, and project execution. This program aims to significantly enhance market value by enabling engineers to combine their existing technical skills with consulting and PM capabilities.

[2. Curriculum Born from Practical IT/DX Consulting Knowledge]

Goofy, responsible for the curriculum, is an IT/DX-specialized consulting and engineering group within the Rib Consulting Group. The curriculum incorporates insights gained from the front lines of IT consulting, where the constant demand is to 'deliver results by fully building solutions.'

[3. 'Three Project Opportunities' After Learning]

Upon completion, participants will be offered introductions and business opportunities from projects held by GEECHS JOB, Goofy, and Rib Consulting. We will also support ongoing connections, learning, and career development through a community centered on participants.

Company Overview

Company Name: Goofy Inc. (Co-host) Headquarters: Tokyo Nihonbashi Tower 29F, 2-7-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

CEO: Hikaru Yagi

Business Activities: Selection to operational stabilization support for SFA/CRM/MA tools, strategic planning to execution and management of marketing initiatives, DevOps-style DX support

Website: https://goofy-inc.com/

GEEKS' 'IT Talent Business'

With the mission of 'creating a new norm for workstyles,' we operate as an industry pioneer connecting IT freelancers and companies. Currently networking over 24,000 IT freelancers, we support an environment where they can challenge with confidence, while evolving our business model from 'connecting talent' to 'solving corporate challenges.' Leveraging our rich data and a team structure combining 'human and AI co-creation,' we deliver AX solutions that go beyond simple talent matching to accelerate AI implementation for Japanese enterprises.

<Services> IT freelancer-focused agency service 'GEECHS JOB' Talent search-type matching platform 'GEECHS DIRECT'