Creator Economy Startups

aquwa is a Japanese content production company that creates and operates video content, primarily on YouTube, including the kids/family channel "Sansan Kids TV" and manga videos. It also offers YouTube marketing and consulting services and produces advertising video content.

2 investors

Castee operates a platform for content creators offering influencer collaboration video marketing ("Castee Challenge", priced by video views) and a music monetization service ("Castee Music") where creators earn rewards by posting videos using licensed tracks on TikTok and Instagram. It serves creators and brands in social media entertainment marketing, with an initial overseas commerce operation in Indonesia via TikTok Shop.

2 investors

株式会社indent develops writing tools and platforms for authors of novels, manga, scripts, and game scenarios, including the "Nola" writing tool, the "Nola Novel" submission site, an e-book self-publishing service, and the short-story site "Prologue." It also operates a studio connecting authors with companies, offering original-work production, contest operation, and novel/manga commissioned production, primarily in Japan.

2 investors

INFORICH operates a mobile battery sharing service called CHARGESPOT across multiple countries in Asia, Europe, and Australia, alongside other sharing economy platforms including CheerSPOT for fan engagement and SPOTJOBS for gig workers. The company is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market.

2 investors

Japanese entertainment company operating a VTuber business and studio rental service, aiming to produce content for global audiences in the metaverse era. Based in Japan and founded in 2016.

2 investors

Nagisa is an IT conglomerate company that creates systems and talent to bridge ideas and implementation across various sectors, aiming to generate innovation and improve society. The company operates primarily in the fan technology sector and develops business ecosystems across multiple domains.

2 investors

Siremo builds AI-powered consumer products focused on social connection and character IP, including an autonomous AI VTuber and a role-play social game. The company operates in AI media and gaming for global audiences.

2 investors

Sozi develops platforms and tools that support creative professionals and organizations in their creation and production workflows. The company serves entertainment, publishing, and consumer brands across Japan.

2 investors

YOUPACE is a talent agency for live streamers (called "livers") that provides management, training, and support services to help content creators build sustainable streaming careers. The company serves aspiring and established streamers in Japan who broadcast primarily conversational content on the Pococha platform.

2 investors

Audiostock is a Japanese online marketplace offering royalty-free music, sound effects, voice, and songs (over 1 million tracks) for commercial use in video, YouTube, games, apps, ads, and broadcast. It connects a network of 40,000+ music creators with buyers via single purchases or subscription plans, and offers API, dataset, and licensing options for businesses.

2 investors

Toon Cracker develops and produces digital comics and webtoons, and creates game and digital content. The company serves creators and entertainment industry clients in Japan.

2 investors

divRIOTS builds Figma plugins, browser extensions, web tools, and APIs that convert web pages, images, and various file formats (PDF, PSD, AI, and others) into fully editable Figma designs, and export Figma frames to HTML code. Its tools serve designers and developers working in Figma who need to import existing content or move between design and production code.

1 investor

DICEROS is an Asia-focused creator commerce company that uses a Korean creator network and TikTok operations to help brands, hotels, and commerce partners turn content into sales, handling everything from planning to payment, settlement, and customer service. It operates two business units, TikTok Business and STAY FEED, and is expanding from South Korea into Japan and Indonesia.

1 investor

Sound Republica is a music company offering artists services including distribution, marketing, music and video production, and publishing. It serves as the official Korean partner of Abbey Road Studios in the UK, providing recording, mixing, and mastering services in London to Korean artists.

1 investor

An online learning platform offering subscription-based classes across categories such as drawing, design, development, business, and lifestyle, taught by creators. It serves learners seeking skill-building and hobby courses.

1 investor

b.stage is a fan engagement platform operated by bemyfriends that lets artists and entertainment IPs build community websites with exclusive content, forums, live streaming, fan events, AMAs, and fandom data. It serves music, entertainment, and esports clients, with growth in the U.S. and Japan.

1 investor

VOLI AI is a web-based AI voice generator offering text-to-speech and voice changing, including custom voice cloning from a short sample. It targets content creators, brands, and businesses producing short-form videos, podcasts, audiobooks, ads, dubbing, and educational content.

1 investor

Carpe develops KEVIN, a 100% no-code system for creating interactive story games without any programming, using a spreadsheet-based text input method and automatic linking of uploaded art resources. The tool lets creators build games while viewing the visualized game screen in real time, with AI tools for generating audio, images, and translations.

1 investor

EDEN (Eden World) is a growth platform for virtual creators and VTubers, offering mentoring and a marketplace for assets such as avatars, clothing, hair, accessories, scenes, and 3D props. It supports VTuber debuts and related content for VRChat and Warudo environments.

1 investor

1 Play Global builds PlayMersiv, a no-code platform that lets creators in music, arts, sports, and culture launch white-labelled, video-first apps while retaining ownership of their content, audience data, and monetization. It targets grassroots creators and content owners seeking independence from third-party platforms, and plans a self-serve AI agent platform.

1 investor

100ks is a digital marketplace that publishes limited-edition signed art prints from contemporary artists, making fine art more accessible through affordable reproduction editions.

1 investor

123RF is a stock media library offering royalty-free, high-resolution photos, videos, and creative assets licensed for marketing, advertising, and business use. It combines a large stock content catalog with built-in AI creative tools in a single subscription.

1 investor

Smash Media is a Japanese media company that produces original content including short dramas, web series, music-related shows, talent audition programs, and entertainment content for digital platforms.

1 investor

24karat provides a platform for brands and creators to connect digital experiences with real-world engagement, with a focus on P2P marketplace dynamics and NFT creators. It operates in the blockchain and creator economy space.

1 investor