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Japanese app ‘YourGolf Online’ acquired by TV network

YourGolf Online

Masaru Ikeda 2014.04.01

YourGolf Online is a Tokyo-based startup that provides a GPS-enabled golf logging app. Jupiter Golf Network, Japan’s only golf-focused TV network, announced today that it has taken a full stake that company, with neither party disclosed the specific figures around the acquisition. Since its launched back in 2011, the app (available on both iOS and Android ) has seen more than 1.6 million downloads from over 390,000 users in Japan and around the world. Based on an accumulation of course data from over 2,500 domestic courses and 30,000 courses beyond Japan, the app lets you record at which courses you’ve played, how you made approach shots, and what scores you earned. By acquiring YourGolf Online, Jupiter Golf Network plans to explore possible synergies around their business by attracting amateur golfers to their network, perhaps providing golf-related video programs via mobile or tablet apps. via Nikkei IT Pro

YourGolf Online is a Tokyo-based startup that provides a GPS-enabled golf logging app. Jupiter Golf Network, Japan’s only golf-focused TV network, announced today that it has taken a full stake that company, with neither party disclosed the specific figures around the acquisition.

Since its launched back in 2011, the app (available on both iOS and Android ) has seen more than 1.6 million downloads from over 390,000 users in Japan and around the world. Based on an accumulation of course data from over 2,500 domestic courses and 30,000 courses beyond Japan, the app lets you record at which courses you’ve played, how you made approach shots, and what scores you earned.

By acquiring YourGolf Online, Jupiter Golf Network plans to explore possible synergies around their business by attracting amateur golfers to their network, perhaps providing golf-related video programs via mobile or tablet apps.

via Nikkei IT Pro

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Japan’s EventRegist raises $1.6 million from Nikkei

Shintaro Eguchi 2014.04.01

See the original story in Japanese.Tokyo-based EventRegist provides a mobile app for event organizers. It lets you announce events, handle ticketing, and collect admission fees from guests. The startup announced today that it has raised 165 million yen (about $1.6 million) from Japanese newspaper company Nikkei. Since its launch back in November of 2011, EventRegist has been available to five markets, offering service in Japanese, English, Indonesian, Thai, and traditional Chinese. They will use these new funds to intensify product development and marketing efforts. Their platform has been adopted by notable events here in Japan, such as the New Economy Summit, Ceatec Japan, and Ad:tech Tokyo. It appears they will focus on adding more functions for event-organizing companies rather than just individual meet-up organizers. Update: Nikkei unveiled they are planning to integrate their digital edition’s subscribers with EventRegist, promoting events by helping them easier register to attend.

See the original story in Japanese.Tokyo-based EventRegist provides a mobile app for event organizers. It lets you announce events, handle ticketing, and collect admission fees from guests. The startup announced today that it has raised 165 million yen (about $1.6 million) from Japanese newspaper company Nikkei.

Since its launch back in November of 2011, EventRegist has been available to five markets, offering service in Japanese, English, Indonesian, Thai, and traditional Chinese. They will use these new funds to intensify product development and marketing efforts.

Their platform has been adopted by notable events here in Japan, such as the New Economy Summit, Ceatec Japan, and Ad:tech Tokyo. It appears they will focus on adding more functions for event-organizing companies rather than just individual meet-up organizers.

Update: Nikkei unveiled they are planning to integrate their digital edition’s subscribers with EventRegist, promoting events by helping them easier register to attend.

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Sega Networks invests in and partners with Japanese mobile app developer MyNet

Masaru Ikeda 2014.04.01

Tokyo-based mobile game developer MyNet recently announced it has raised an undisclosed sum of investment from Japanese gaming giant Sega Networks. The two companies say they will join forces to develop more gaming apps. Since its launch back in July of 2006, MyNet had been providing customer relationship management solutions to restaurants and retailers. However, they sold their CRM solutions to Yahoo Japan and changed their focus to social games development early last year. Their recent mobile game Emblem of Falkyrie has been performing well these days, especially in the Asia region. Coinciding with this announcement, MyNet has introduced an iOS version of this game. Sega Networks is a subsidiary of Sega Sammy Group, known for having developed the popular mobile puzzle RPG Puyo Puyo Quest.

Tokyo-based mobile game developer MyNet recently announced it has raised an undisclosed sum of investment from Japanese gaming giant Sega Networks. The two companies say they will join forces to develop more gaming apps.

Since its launch back in July of 2006, MyNet had been providing customer relationship management solutions to restaurants and retailers. However, they sold their CRM solutions to Yahoo Japan and changed their focus to social games development early last year. Their recent mobile game Emblem of Falkyrie has been performing well these days, especially in the Asia region. Coinciding with this announcement, MyNet has introduced an iOS version of this game.

Sega Networks is a subsidiary of Sega Sammy Group, known for having developed the popular mobile puzzle RPG Puyo Puyo Quest.

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Japan’s Goodpatch launches rapid prototyping tool in closed beta

Junya Mori 2014.04.01

See the original story in Japanese. Our readers may recall Tokyo-based web design firm Goodpatch raised funds from Digital Garage this past December. More recently the company announced a new prototyping tool in closed beta. It’s called Prott. The tool is focused on helping developers create mobile apps based on rapid prototyping methods. We’ve already seen similar tools like Invision or Flinto, but there are very few players in this space in Japan. Coinciding with this beta version, the company has unveiled a new design for its homepage, including a promo video of the prototyping tool (see below). The company also plans to launch an iOS app for the tool this month. For their closed beta period, members of their Facebook beta testers group are preferentially invited.

See the original story in Japanese.

Our readers may recall Tokyo-based web design firm Goodpatch raised funds from Digital Garage this past December. More recently the company announced a new prototyping tool in closed beta. It’s called Prott.

The tool is focused on helping developers create mobile apps based on rapid prototyping methods. We’ve already seen similar tools like Invision or Flinto, but there are very few players in this space in Japan.

Coinciding with this beta version, the company has unveiled a new design for its homepage, including a promo video of the prototyping tool (see below).

The company also plans to launch an iOS app for the tool this month. For their closed beta period, members of their Facebook beta testers group are preferentially invited.

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Japanese entertainment company partners with Line to promote its artists

Rick Martin 2014.04.01

Avex Entertainment Inc. [1], a music and video production company based in Tokyo, has announced a partnership with Line Corporation based around mobile content related to Avex’s artists, which include music superstar Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex has already provided Line stamps for Hamasaki (see below) and other artists, and they also create rooms in Line Play where fans can interact. The new partnership will see Avex continue to use Line and its many services as a platform, ostensibly in a more formalized manner moving forward. It will be interesting to see how many more entertainment companies follow suit. Avex Group via Venture Now A subsidiary of Avex Group. ↩

Avex Entertainment Inc. [1], a music and video production company based in Tokyo, has announced a partnership with Line Corporation based around mobile content related to Avex’s artists, which include music superstar Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex has already provided Line stamps for Hamasaki (see below) and other artists, and they also create rooms in Line Play where fans can interact.

The new partnership will see Avex continue to use Line and its many services as a platform, ostensibly in a more formalized manner moving forward. It will be interesting to see how many more entertainment companies follow suit.

Avex Group via Venture Now

A subsidiary of Avex Group. ↩

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