Osaka-based Nextage, a startup that broadcasts theatrical plays online, launched the English version of a mobile app called TheaterLive4U earlier this month, enabling theatrical performance fans around the world to watch Japanese plays on mobile devices. The app features more than 200 titles performed by over 60 theatrical companies, and selected titles are provided with English subtitles.
The app is available for free on the iTunes AppStore and Google Play, but a flat fee starting at 980 yen ($8) per month will be charged to watch the plays. The revenue will be split 70:30 between a theatrical company and Nextage, which will give theatrical companies an additional revenue stream even after a show closes, helping struggling actors and actresses make a better living in show business.
At the B Dash Camp event in Fukuoka on Thursday, Nextage was chosen as one of 54 nominees from more than 100 applicants in the pitch competition, where CEO Manabu Fukui gave a great pitch to a crowd of investors and entrepreneurs.
Edited by Kurt Hanson
Manabu Fukui delivers a pitch at B Dash Camp 2015 Spring in Fukuoka, Pitch Arena competition.
This guest post was authored by Tokyo-based freelance writer / web designer Kazuyuki Abe. He loves hardware gadgets and an omelet with a filling of ketchup‐seasoned fried rice. See the original story in Japanese. Phenox is a drone development project from Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, University of Tokyo. The team recently developed a new version called Phenox 2 and launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. Phenox is a self-driving drone which can recognize its surroundings. The original edition successfully fundraised $23,000 on Kickstarter, selling 30 models to backers in 2014. The crowdfunding campaign this time is for mass-producing Phenox 2, now upgraded markedly from the original in terms of design and function. Two cameras and a range sensor are equipped with the new model, which allows the drone to self-drive based on detecting the current position from captured images through the cameras. It also has a microphone which enables users to let the drone take off by calling its name. Facial recognition is also available with the onboard cameras. Compared to the previous model, Phenox 2 has more sophisticated designs and is downsized, weighing only 65 grams. A Wi-Fi module onboard enables to broadcast a real-time aerial video to internet. Since Phenox 2 is Linux-powered, developers…
Phenox is a drone development project from Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, University of Tokyo. The team recently developed a new version called Phenox 2 and launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter.
Phenox is a self-driving drone which can recognize its surroundings. The original edition successfully fundraised $23,000 on Kickstarter, selling 30 models to backers in 2014. The crowdfunding campaign this time is for mass-producing Phenox 2, now upgraded markedly from the original in terms of design and function.
Two cameras and a range sensor are equipped with the new model, which allows the drone to self-drive based on detecting the current position from captured images through the cameras. It also has a microphone which enables users to let the drone take off by calling its name. Facial recognition is also available with the onboard cameras.
Compared to the previous model, Phenox 2 has more sophisticated designs and is downsized, weighing only 65 grams. A Wi-Fi module onboard enables to broadcast a real-time aerial video to internet. Since Phenox 2 is Linux-powered, developers can code their program on it so that the drone can also work as an aerial platform for your apps.
An assembled model of Phenox 2 is available by pledging more than $840 on this Kickstarter campaign. If you intend to embed Phenox 2 with your robotics environment, a Phenox 2 mainboard comprising of Wi-Fi module, operating system, camera board, and communication board is available by pledging more than $520. Shipping is expected to start from this October.
From the left: Kensho Miyoshi, Ryo Konomura (Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, University of Tokyo)
Translated by Masaru Ikeda
Edited by “Tex” Pomeroy
See the original story in Japanese. Japanese startup-focused VC firm CyberAgent Ventures announced earlier this week that it has started accepting applications for pitches at Rising Expo 2015 in Japan, the company’s annual startup conference to be held in Tokyo on 7 August. Prior to that, they will hold regional qualifier events in Southeast Asia and South Korea in June. See also: 15 startups pitch at Rising Expo 2014 finals, regional winners from around Asia take part Venue rental marketplace Space Market wins top prize at Rising Expo 2014 The Southeast Asia edition invited 13 startups, 30 VC firms, and 10 business enterprises in Jakarta last year while eight startups and 15 VC firms participated in the South Korea edition in Seoul last year. From Japan, 15 startups, 60 VC firms and 60 enterprises participated in the Tokyo edition last year. According to CyberAgent Ventures, startups having participated in the last year’s event fundraised over 4 billion yen ($33 million), meaning each participating company fundraised over 300 million yen ($2.5 million) on average. Regional events and finals are scheduled to take place on the following dates: Rising Expo in Southeast Asia (Jakarta) … 25 June 2015, Thursday Rising Expo in…
Japanese startup-focused VC firm CyberAgent Ventures announced earlier this week that it has started accepting applications for pitches at Rising Expo 2015 in Japan, the company’s annual startup conference to be held in Tokyo on 7 August. Prior to that, they will hold regional qualifier events in Southeast Asia and South Korea in June.
The Southeast Asia edition invited 13 startups, 30 VC firms, and 10 business enterprises in Jakarta last year while eight startups and 15 VC firms participated in the South Korea edition in Seoul last year. From Japan, 15 startups, 60 VC firms and 60 enterprises participated in the Tokyo edition last year.
According to CyberAgent Ventures, startups having participated in the last year’s event fundraised over 4 billion yen ($33 million), meaning each participating company fundraised over 300 million yen ($2.5 million) on average.
Regional events and finals are scheduled to take place on the following dates:
Rising Expo in Southeast Asia (Jakarta) … 25 June 2015, Thursday
Rising Expo in Korea (Seoul) … In June 2015 but no exact date yet announced
Rising Expo in Japan (Tokyo) … 7 August 2015, Friday
They have started receiving applications for Rising Expo 2015 in Southeast Asia, which will take place in Jakarta on 25 June. Startups exploring funding opportunities or business partnerships should not miss this opportunity.
This is a part of our coverage of B Dash Camp Fukuoka 2015. This is the abridged version from our original article in Japanese. C Channel, a new company led by former Line CEO Akira Morikawa, will launch today an online video-based digital fashion media called C Channel. The company will launch the service in beta version, then launch a mobile app and an English version by the end of 2015. See also: Line Corporation’s CEO Morikawa on fast and furious global expansion Coinciding with the launch, C Channel announced that it will fundraise 500 million yen or ($4 million) from iStyle (TSE:3660, the company behind Japan’s largest cosmetics portal @Cosme), Asobisystem (Tokyo-based talent agency famous for employing J-pop idol Kyary Pamyu Pamyu), Gree, GMO Venture Partners, Nexyz (TSE:4346), B Dash Ventures, MAK Corporation (the company of Makoto Arima, Google’s former country managing director for Japan), and Rakuten (TSE:4755). The funding will be executed in late April. C Channel is an online video-based media targeting women aged 20 to 34, focusing on offering lifestyle-related information ranging from hairstyling, food, to travel tips. Morikawa started his carrier at Tokyo-based private broadcaster Nippon Television Network, followed by Sony and subsequently joining Hangame…
This is the abridged version from our original article in Japanese.
C Channel, a new company led by former Line CEO Akira Morikawa, will launch today an online video-based digital fashion media called C Channel. The company will launch the service in beta version, then launch a mobile app and an English version by the end of 2015.
Coinciding with the launch, C Channel announced that it will fundraise 500 million yen or ($4 million) from iStyle (TSE:3660, the company behind Japan’s largest cosmetics portal @Cosme), Asobisystem (Tokyo-based talent agency famous for employing J-pop idol Kyary Pamyu Pamyu), Gree, GMO Venture Partners, Nexyz (TSE:4346), B Dash Ventures, MAK Corporation (the company of Makoto Arima, Google’s former country managing director for Japan), and Rakuten (TSE:4755). The funding will be executed in late April.
C Channel is an online video-based media targeting women aged 20 to 34, focusing on offering lifestyle-related information ranging from hairstyling, food, to travel tips.
Morikawa started his carrier at Tokyo-based private broadcaster Nippon Television Network, followed by Sony and subsequently joining Hangame Japan (now known as Line) in 2003 where he produced smash-hit messaging app Line which has attracted over 500 million users worldwide. Since April 2014, he had been working as co-CEO with current Line CEO Tsuyoshi Idesawa. But Morikawa announced that he would step down from the position late last year, which had been attracting people’s attention about his next move.
C Channel will set up an office outfitted with a video production studio in Tokyo’s fashion district of Harajuku, which will be launched on 19 April.
— Added on 10 April, Friday
In a fireside chat session at B Dash Camp 2015 Spring in Fukuoka on Friday, Morikawa introduced details about the new service. According to him, C Channel has acquired 100 fashion model girls, called ‘clippers’ in the service, and they will upload a total of about 10 video clips to the service every day.
Morikawa claimed that C Channel will be something similar to MTV in the cable TV era where their content have been not always produced by the broadcaster but more focused on building their brand leveraging other content providers. Based on a partnership with Asobisystem, C Channel will use more than a few models from the former company as clippers.
From the left: C Channel founder Akira Morikawa, Asobisystem CEO Yusuke Nakagawa, twin models acting as ‘clippers’ Amiaya
Translated by Masaru Ikeda
Edited by Kurt Hanson
Proofread by “Tex” Pomeroy
Tokyo-based Origami, a Japanese startup providing mobile commerce platform under the same name, announced today that it has fundraised 1.6 billion yen ($13.3 million) from Japan’s leading mobile telco Softbank Group, major credit card company Credit Saison, and Japanese angel investor Makoto Takano. See also: Stealth m-commerce startup Origami raises $5M from KDDI and DAC Since its launch in April 2013, the mobile platform has attracted more than 800 merchants from various retailing industries because of serving both their online and offline storefronts leveraging social media-powered promoting functions. In partnership with Softbank Group, Origami plans to launch a new function that will allow merchants to distribute vouchers for product samples or discount coupons even offline via Softbank’s voucher issuing machine called CouponGate. In partnership with Credit Saison, Origami will drive traffic of their users to Credit Saison and vice versa, aiming to develop big data solutions and new payments solutions together. Makoto Takano launched Forbes Japan in July 2014 and is also famous as the former president of Pimco Japan, the Japanese subsidiary of US-based Pacific Investment Management Company. Edited by Kurt Hanson
Tokyo-based Origami, a Japanese startup providing mobile commerce platform under the same name, announced today that it has fundraised 1.6 billion yen ($13.3 million) from Japan’s leading mobile telco Softbank Group, major credit card company Credit Saison, and Japanese angel investor Makoto Takano.
Since its launch in April 2013, the mobile platform has attracted more than 800 merchants from various retailing industries because of serving both their online and offline storefronts leveraging social media-powered promoting functions.
In partnership with Softbank Group, Origami plans to launch a new function that will allow merchants to distribute vouchers for product samples or discount coupons even offline via Softbank’s voucher issuing machine called CouponGate. In partnership with Credit Saison, Origami will drive traffic of their users to Credit Saison and vice versa, aiming to develop big data solutions and new payments solutions together.
Makoto Takano launched Forbes Japan in July 2014 and is also famous as the former president of Pimco Japan, the Japanese subsidiary of US-based Pacific Investment Management Company.
See the original story in Japanese. Blisby, a Thailand-based handmade marketplace focused on serving the Southeast Asian region, announced today that it has raised $300,000 in a recent round. This round was led by Japan’s DeNA and East Ventures with participation from 500 Durians and 500 Tuk Tuks, regiocentric funds focused on Southeast Asia and Thailand by 500 Startups. Since its launch back in November 2013, Blisby has acquired 1 million pageviews and 350,000 monthly active users as of March, increasing a user base in a month-over-month growth rate of 20%. The company will use the funds to expand their business beyond Thailand to other neighboring markets in the Southeast Asia region. Blisby’s founder Phuvadol Thongthavorn was born and raised in the U.S.; prior to launching Blisby, he worked at Yahoo and Sony in California. In 2010, he decided to move from California to New York but stopped for a short break in Thailand to ordain as a Buddhist monk, where his experience during the visit prompted him to launch Blisby in Thailand without going back to the U.S. by establishing a business of Thai contemporary arts that Thongthavorn had been looking at for a long time. There are many players fiercely competing in…
Blisby, a Thailand-based handmade marketplace focused on serving the Southeast Asian region, announced today that it has raised $300,000 in a recent round. This round was led by Japan’s DeNA and East Ventures with participation from 500 Durians and 500 Tuk Tuks, regiocentric funds focused on Southeast Asia and Thailand by 500 Startups.
Since its launch back in November 2013, Blisby has acquired 1 million pageviews and 350,000 monthly active users as of March, increasing a user base in a month-over-month growth rate of 20%. The company will use the funds to expand their business beyond Thailand to other neighboring markets in the Southeast Asia region.
Blisby’s founder Phuvadol Thongthavorn was born and raised in the U.S.; prior to launching Blisby, he worked at Yahoo and Sony in California. In 2010, he decided to move from California to New York but stopped for a short break in Thailand to ordain as a Buddhist monk, where his experience during the visit prompted him to launch Blisby in Thailand without going back to the U.S. by establishing a business of Thai contemporary arts that Thongthavorn had been looking at for a long time.
Masaru Ikeda
The Bridge
Junya Mori
Takeshi Hirano
