Build+ (formerly Wahl+Case)
Tokyo-based bilingual tech recruitment firm founded 2010 by Casey Wahl; rebranded from Wahl+Case to Build+ in 2024 with focus on consumer tech, enterprise IT, engineering, and sales/marketing for tech.
Corporate transition notice
CONFIRMEDIn 2023, the Wahl+Case business was acquired by SHIFT Inc. (TSE: 3697) — a Japan-listed software-testing and DX-services group — and carved out of founder Casey Wahl's holding company, EQIQ K.K. SHIFT executed a definitive agreement on 10 March 2023 (reported at approximately ¥1 billion), with the business succeeded to SHIFT on 1 May 2023 and subsequently placed under SHIFT Growth Capital Inc., the group's M&A and PMI subsidiary, through a newly established company. The recruiting business was later rebranded from Wahl+Case to Build+. The wahlandcase.com domain remains live and continues to host the Build+ site as of April 2026.
Verticals & desks
CONFIRMEDBuild+ covers tech recruitment across consumer technology, enterprise IT, engineering, sales and marketing for tech, and creative/UX/UI. Sub-divisions include the Engineering & Design team led by Thomas Simmons (Senior Manager) and the Sales & Marketing Division (which also handles executive search) led by Milos Cavic (Director). The firm's clients have historically included global tech companies operating in Japan and Japanese tech startups.
Business model
CONFIRMEDPrimarily contingency-based bilingual tech recruitment, with a retained executive search arm under the Sales & Marketing Division. The firm has historically positioned itself against traditional Tokyo recruitment culture, marketing itself as a Silicon Valley-style operation embedded in Tokyo.
Compensation & bonus
ANONYMOUSGlassdoor-derived sentiment indicates competitive base salaries with substantial commission upside for top performers. Reviews cite the firm's profit-sharing and team-based incentives but note that disciplined performance management is part of the culture.
| Level | Base range (JPY) |
|---|---|
| Associate Consultant | ¥4–5.5m |
| Consultant | ¥5.5–7m |
| Senior Consultant | ¥7–9m |
| Manager | ¥9–12m |
| Director / Senior Manager | ¥11m+ |
Leadership
REPORTEDRecent news
CONFIRMED- 2024
Rebrand from Wahl+Case to Build+ as part of repositioning toward enterprise tech and engineering hiring.
CONFIRMED Build+ corporate site (wahlandcase.com) - 2023
Acquired by SHIFT Inc. (TSE: 3697): the Wahl+Case business was carved out of EQIQ K.K. via company split — definitive agreement 10 March 2023, succeeded to SHIFT 1 May 2023 — and placed under SHIFT Growth Capital Inc.
CONFIRMED SHIFT Inc. corporate disclosures (shiftinc.jp)
Public reception
REPORTEDReviews are filed under the firm's prior name (Wahl & Case) on Glassdoor and show 4.3/5 across 24 reviews, with 87% of reviewers recommending the firm to a friend and a 3.6/5 compensation-and-benefits rating. The Tokyo-specific sample size is small but meaningful for a boutique. Reviewer themes are consistent across years: a non-traditional, sales-driven culture; hands-on founder access; strong client portfolio in Japan tech; and explicit performance expectations.
Recurring positive themes
- · 4.6/5 culture-and-values rating across 24 reviews — publicly reported as among the highest of any Tokyo recruiting firm
- · 87% of anonymous reviewers recommend the firm to a friend
- · Profit-sharing and commission rewards top performers
- · Strong client portfolio in Japan tech (per public reviewer references)
- · Founder-led decision-making with substantial autonomy
Recurring concerns
- · Compensation rating (3.6/5) is, per the firm's published Glassdoor sub-scores, the lowest of the firm's Glassdoor sub-scores
- · Sales-floor intensity is significant; not a fit for all backgrounds
- · Performance expectations are explicit and measured weekly/monthly
- · Some legacy 'old-school recruiter' tactics referenced in earlier-year reviews
Themes are paraphrased from anonymous reviewer submissions. Quotes are not reproduced. The platform does not verify reviewer identity. Treat as sentiment, not fact.
Employee tenure pattern
REPORTEDThe firm includes founding-team members with 12+ years of tenure (the Managing Director Bryan and several Directors have been at the firm since the early years). Lateral consultant turnover within the early 1–3 years (per anonymous reviewers) is industry-typical.
Brand & training
REPORTEDCasey Wahl has authored two books on Japan startup founders and the recruitment industry. Build+ historically positioned itself alongside HR-tech ventures (Justa, Attuned.ai) emphasizing intrinsic motivation and a tech-first approach to hiring.