Activ8
Tokyo, JP · 5 known investors
Find your way into Activ8
Activ8 produces and operates intellectual properties in the metaverse and XR space, including VTuber management, virtual events, and virtual production services. The company offers IP virtualization, hybrid promotion, and XR production services to expand lifestyle options for individuals through virtual spaces and online identities.
Also known as Activ8 Inc. · 株式会社Activ8
Founders & leadership
Investors · 5
Also in the syndicate · 1
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Activ8 Inc. is a Tokyo-based company operating in the virtual entertainment field, combining IP production, XR advertising agency work and virtual production. Its stated business lines are producing, planning and managing intellectual properties for itself and for client companies; acting as an advertising agent in the XR field with media-mix production centered on XR; and producing virtual live performances and 3D models while developing and operating virtual live-streaming systems. The company frames its mission as increasing the choices people have about the world they live in, including 3D worlds, the metaverse and online identities.
The company describes its business structure around strong IPs and a technology base: IP virtualization (virtualization support, VTuber planning and operation, media mix, monetization support), hybrid promotion (sponsorship and tie-ups, casting, virtual and real events) and XR production (virtual live production, 3D avatar production, metaverse/XR development, motion capture). Service offerings include end-to-end support for turning a client-owned IP into 3D characters and staging live events, creating virtual talent from anime, game or real-artist origins, casting virtual talent into marketing campaigns, selling sponsorship and tie-up slots around virtual talent events, producing live shows for real venues or online distribution using its own motion-capture studio, and building high-detail 3D avatars and virtual spaces.
Activ8 is the company behind the Upd8 virtual talent support platform and has been associated with the virtual YouTuber Kizuna AI. Its production credits include Kizuna AI live concerts ("hello, world" 1st Live, "hello, world 2020", A.I. Party! events, the Virtual Fireworks Concert and The Last Live "hello, world 2022"), the 3DCG model and live production for the character Uta from the film ONE PIECE FILM RED, CAPSULE's VRChat live "メトロパルス", YuNi's ONE MAN LIVE "UNLOCK", participation as a production partner on PROJECT IM@S vα-liv, technical cooperation on 絆のアリル, 3DCG character modeling and animation for the music video of RADWIMPS' Yojiro Noda solo single "PAIN KILLER", motion recording for FZMZ 1st LIVE "DEEP:DAWN", performances produced for Sanrio Virtual Festival 2025, virtual reception and AI digital signage video for the KDDI booth at MWC Barcelona 2025, and planning, production and creative production for the "ぴゅあくる刀剣男士 Ghostella 1st Live ～Catch the Star☆～" concert featuring characters from the game Touken Ranbu ONLINE, held at NEW PIER HALL in Tokyo in November 2025.
Founding story
Activ8 Inc. was founded on 5 September 2016 by CEO and founder Takeshi Osaka, and has operated in the virtual domain continuously since that year. The company graduated from the third batch of the Tokyo XR Startups accelerator.
Business model
Activ8 works on a client-services and IP basis: it produces, plans and manages IP for its own account and for third parties, acts as an XR advertising agency, and delivers virtual live production, 3D model creation and metaverse/XR development. It also operates virtual talent projects and platforms and monetizes events through sponsorship, tie-ups and casting.
Revenue sources indicated include production and agency fees for planning, content development and live event production, monetization support and media mix around IP, and sponsorship/tie-up packages sold to companies around virtual talent lives and events.
Traction
The company reported 40 employees and capital of 695 million yen (about $6.3M) as of September 2018, when the Upd8 platform had 25 registered talents and 26 registered YouTube channels. Its credit list spans major IP collaborations from Kizuna AI concerts through ONE PIECE FILM RED, Sanrio Virtual Festival 2025 and a November 2025 Touken Ranbu-related live production.
Latest developments
Recent work listed by the company includes production for Sanrio Virtual Festival 2025, video production for the KDDI booth at MWC Barcelona 2025, motion recording for FZMZ 1st LIVE "DEEP:DAWN", and the planning, production and creative production of the "ぴゅあくる刀剣男士 Ghostella 1st Live ～Catch the Star☆～" concert at NEW PIER HALL in Tokyo in November 2025. In 2024 the company announced the "W KAWAII" joint project with Asobisystem and Pony Canyon and an interview with CEO Osaka was included in the academic book "VTuber学" published by Iwanami Shoten.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
The company positions itself on business production capability centered on the virtual domain, high content quality from its studio facilities and technical capability, and a track record with top-class IPs. Its Upd8 platform was characterized as a derivation of the MCN model pioneered in Japan by UUUM. Kizuna AI, a virtual YouTuber backed by the company, was ranked most popular in User Local's ranking survey by fan count and total views.
Activ8 cites end-to-end coverage from planning and business production to content creation and operation, an in-house high-specification studio and motion-capture pipeline, continuous focus on the virtual domain since 2016, and relationships with leading IP holders.
Technology
Capabilities include motion capture in the company's own studio, high-end 3D avatar and virtual space modeling, virtual live production and staging, metaverse/XR development, and the development and operation of virtual live-streaming systems.
Go-to-market
Activ8 sells integrated services from planning and business production through content development and operation, works with client-owned IP and top-tier entertainment properties, forms joint ventures and projects with partners such as Asobisystem and Pony Canyon, and gains visibility through conference participation (XR Kaigi 2023 sponsorship, BitSummit X-Roads and a Mizuho Bank pitch event where the CEO spoke).
Companies holding entertainment IP (anime, game, music and character brands) seeking virtualization and live events, advertisers and sponsors running marketing campaigns with virtual talent, and artists and creators requiring 3D avatars, motion capture and virtual live production.
Geography
Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with productions staged at Japanese venues such as NEW PIER HALL and Nippon Budokan-linked events, plus overseas work including content for the KDDI booth at MWC Barcelona 2025 in Spain. Investors have included Hong Kong-based Makers Fund.
History
Founded in September 2016, Activ8 built its business around original virtual talents as the virtual YouTuber category expanded, backing Kizuna AI, and released the Upd8 virtual talent support platform at the end of May 2018. It raised outside capital three times through 2018, including from a fund managed by Gumi, and secured a further round in 2020. In September 2022 it established ANNIN, a metaverse-era talent agency, together with Asobisystem. In June 2023 Activ8 and Synamon agreed to a management integration aimed at creating a metaverse entertainment industry. In July 2024 it announced the joint "W KAWAII" project with Asobisystem and Pony Canyon.
Risks & controversies
Operating a platform for anonymous virtual talent raised safety and vetting questions; the company stated it screens applicants, makes direct contact with talent to confirm safety, does not disclose talent identities unless the talent announces them, and acts under a code of conduct when behavioral concerns arise.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Competitors · 2
by search overlapCompanies competing with Activ8 for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
Timeline · 12
launches, deals, and filingsMusic live performance featuring Touken Danshi characters from the game Touken Ranbu ONLINE, held at NEW PIER HALL in Tokyo.
Activ8 produced a performance themed on the world of hide and an artist-creator collaboration performance at the Sanrio-hosted virtual event.
Produced virtual reception and AI digital signage video content at KDDI's booth in Barcelona, Spain.
The companies agreed on a management integration aimed at creating a metaverse entertainment industry.
Activ8 created the 3D-CG model for the film's heroine Uta and handled live productions including Nippon Budokan and FNS Kayosai appearances.
$9.3M source ↗
Third outside fundraising; funds allocated to strengthening human resources to accelerate virtual talent entertainment activities. Payment date and investment ratios undisclosed.
$5.4M source ↗
Activ8 released Upd8, a support platform providing job matching and original goods sales for virtual talent that pass a company-run examination.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- Activ8activ8.co.jp · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Activ8 do?
- Tokyo-based Activ8 produces virtual IP, VTuber projects, virtual live events and 3DCG/XR content for entertainment brands.
- Who founded Activ8?
- Activ8 was founded by TAKESHI OSAKA.
- Who are Activ8's investors?
- Activ8's investors include Global Brain, KDDI Open Innovation Fund, Kiraboshi Capital, Makers Fund.
- Where is Activ8 headquartered?
- Activ8 is headquartered in Tokyo, JP.