THE BRIDGE

tag Asahi Media Lab

Japan’s leading newspaper publisher Asahi Shimbun to launch crowdfunding platform

SHARE:

See the original story in Japanese. The Asahi Shimbun, one of Japan’s leading newspapers, announced today that it will launch a crowdfunding platform called A-port in March. Tokyo-based Motion Gallery, a startup that has been operating crowdfunding sites focused on campaigns around movie productions and art projects, will support the publisher to launch and operate the platform. A-port is a business project born out of the publisher’s new business creation competition “Start Up!” in 2013. The award-winning team personnel was transferred to Asahi Media Lab, the news publisher’s incubation department, where their members have been preparing for the launch of the crowdfunding platform. Prior to the launch in March, they are receiving applications for crowdfunding campaigns. Because the platform is operated by leading news media such as Asahi Shimbun, which typically has a high information transmission capacity, crowdfunding project owners can expect to better draw people’s attention to their campaigns. These campaigns are meant to have a promotional aspect as well as providing means of raising money from backers, so the platform is expected to give a huge advantage to campaign owners. Translated by Masaru Ikeda Edited by Kurt Hanson Proofread by “Tex” Pomeroy

asahi-shimbun-a-port_featuredimage

See the original story in Japanese.

The Asahi Shimbun, one of Japan’s leading newspapers, announced today that it will launch a crowdfunding platform called A-port in March. Tokyo-based Motion Gallery, a startup that has been operating crowdfunding sites focused on campaigns around movie productions and art projects, will support the publisher to launch and operate the platform.

A-port is a business project born out of the publisher’s new business creation competition “Start Up!” in 2013. The award-winning team personnel was transferred to Asahi Media Lab, the news publisher’s incubation department, where their members have been preparing for the launch of the crowdfunding platform. Prior to the launch in March, they are receiving applications for crowdfunding campaigns.

Because the platform is operated by leading news media such as Asahi Shimbun, which typically has a high information transmission capacity, crowdfunding project owners can expect to better draw people’s attention to their campaigns. These campaigns are meant to have a promotional aspect as well as providing means of raising money from backers, so the platform is expected to give a huge advantage to campaign owners.

Translated by Masaru Ikeda
Edited by Kurt Hanson
Proofread by “Tex” Pomeroy