株式会社ピカブル
3 known investors
Japanese startup behind the Picable call-plus-screen-sharing app, now building AI prompt marketplace and voice-content translation services.
Also known as Picable · Picable inc. · ピカブル
Investors · 3
Also in the syndicate · 1
Company profile
researched Aug 2026株式会社ピカブル (Picable inc.) is a Tokyo-based unlisted company founded in August 2019 and led by representative director and CEO Takayuki Kojima (小島貴之). Its original product was Picable, a "next-generation calling app" that lets users talk while jointly watching videos or browsing websites, targeted particularly at younger users and remote pairs such as couples and close friends. The company developed technology to synchronise web browsers and video services in real time between participants; an iOS version was released in October 2019.
As described in a company profile updated in November 2023, the business subsequently spanned several lines: Prompt Space, a prompt marketplace for AI users; "ファンボイス翻訳" (Fan Voice Translation), a multilingual translation/dubbing service for voice content recorded and sold by voice actors and VTubers that keeps the original voice; research and development in speech synthesis and voice conversion; and the production and sale of voice content. Related activity also includes a short-form anime title, "ここギャル ～こころの中にギャルを飼う！", distributed on YouTube and TikTok from December 2024. Registered corporate number is 6010401147367. The company has been listed in the business-services sector with venture capital on its shareholder register, including Skyland Ventures and Fuji Startup Ventures.
Founding story
CEO Takayuki Kojima developed the call-and-screen-sharing app Picable while enrolled in the graduate school of Media and Governance at Keio University (later withdrawing), with support from SB Innoventure, a SoftBank Group company. He built technology to synchronise web browsers and video services in real time. In August 2019 he bought the business out from SoftBank and established 株式会社ピカブル, becoming representative director, and raised money from the Fujita Fund and several angel investors. The iOS app launched in October 2019. Kojima has described the motivation as updating remote communication so that people apart can enjoy the same content simultaneously, contrasting the efficiency of chat with the unhurried long phone calls people historically shared with close friends and partners. Co-founding COO Shuya Inada was recruited after the two met as fourth-cohort members of the MAKERS UNIVERSITY program.
Business model
Consumer-facing digital products and services: a mobile communication app, a marketplace connecting AI prompt sellers and buyers, a translation/dubbing service for voice content produced by voice actors and VTubers, and production and sale of voice content. Partnerships with media and talent organisations (Fuji Television content, VTuber agency ななはぴ) support distribution and content supply.
Sources indicate marketplace-based sales of vetted prompts through Prompt Space and the production and sale of voice content, alongside the paid translation service for voice content; specific pricing terms are not stated.
Traction
Product milestones include the October 2019 iOS launch of Picable, the April 2023 release of Prompt Space, a December 2023 collaboration with VTuber agency ななはぴ for overseas expansion, and a December 2024 short-anime distribution on YouTube and TikTok. Financial and user metrics are not disclosed in the sources.
Latest developments
A fundraise of undisclosed amount was reported on 2 November 2023. In December 2023 the Fan Voice Translation service began a collaboration with VTuber agency ななはぴ on overseas expansion for VTubers, and in December 2024 the short anime "ここギャル ～こころの中にギャルを飼う！" began distribution on YouTube and TikTok.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
An early-stage, venture-backed unlisted Japanese company; recorded as at seed stage as of January 2022 with an estimated post-money valuation of JPY 315 million including potential shares, and backed by Skyland Ventures and Fuji Startup Ventures.
Combines calling with synchronised shared viewing of the same content rather than only video-based face-to-face communication, and applies voice conversion so that translated dubs of voice content retain the original voice of the performer.
Technology
Real-time synchronisation of web browsers and video services across call participants, enabling shared viewing during a voice call. The company also conducts research and development in speech synthesis and voice conversion, applied to multilingual dubbing that preserves the original performer's voice.
Go-to-market
Direct consumer app distribution (iOS from October 2019), corporate-venture partnerships providing content and promotion (Fuji Media Holdings group, with FOD dramas and variety programming planned for the app), collaboration with a VTuber agency for overseas expansion of voice content, and distribution of original short-form anime via YouTube and TikTok. The company also gained exposure through startup programs and events including MAKERS UNIVERSITY and Morning Pitch.
Consumers, initially younger users of the calling and screen-sharing app and remote pairs wanting to watch content together; subsequently AI users seeking vetted prompts, and voice actors, VTubers and their agencies seeking to reach overseas audiences.
Geography
Headquartered in Tokyo — recorded at 3-4-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku in 2020 filings and at 1-33-6 Ebisu-nishi, Shibuya-ku in a later company profile. Services target Japanese creators with an explicit aim of overseas expansion for VTuber and voice-actor content through multilingual dubbing.
History
Established 5 August 2019 in Tokyo after the founder acquired the Picable business from SoftBank; iOS release in October 2019. In April 2020 Fuji Startup Ventures, part of Fuji Media Holdings, subscribed to a third-party allotment of shares, the first investment from its second fund, with plans for Fuji Television content distributed on FOD to become viewable inside the Picable app. The company presented at Morning Pitch on 30 April 2020. A seed round position is recorded as of January 2022. In April 2023 it launched the Prompt Space AI prompt marketplace, in November 2023 it disclosed a further fundraise of undisclosed size, and in December 2023 it began collaborating with VTuber agency ななはぴ on overseas expansion using its Fan Voice Translation service. In December 2024 the short anime "ここギャル" began distribution on YouTube and TikTok.
Compiled by commissioned research from 6 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.
Timeline · 10
launches, deals, and filingsDistribution started on YouTube and TikTok on 24 December 2024.
The multilingual dubbing service ファンボイス翻訳, which preserves the original voice, began collaborating with VTuber agency ななはぴ on overseas expansion for its VTubers.
Released a marketplace offering reviewed, high-quality prompts intended to lower the barrier to using AI.
CEO Takayuki Kojima presented Picable at Morning Pitch, under the themes of lifestyle and telecommunications.
Fuji Startup Ventures, a subsidiary of Fuji Media Holdings, subscribed to a third-party allotment of Picable shares; the deal was the first investment from FSV's second fund (Fuji Startup Fund 2 Limited Partnership), established in December 2019. Amount undisclosed.
Fuji Television, part of Fuji Media Holdings, stated it would advance development so that dramas and variety programming distributed on FOD could be watched within the Picable app, linking television and the app.
CEO Takayuki Kojima bought the Picable call-and-screen-sharing business, originally built with support from SB Innoventure (SoftBank Group), from SoftBank and established 株式会社ピカブル in August 2019, becoming representative director.
The company raised money from the Fujita Fund (藤田ファンド) and several angel investors following its establishment.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 6
primary sources listed
- 株式会社ピカブル｜スピーダ スタートアップ情報リサーチinitial.inc · web
6 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does 株式会社ピカブル do?
- Japanese startup behind the Picable call-plus-screen-sharing app, now building AI prompt marketplace and voice-content translation services.
- Who are 株式会社ピカブル's investors?
- 株式会社ピカブル's investors include NOW Japan, Z Venture Capital.