Number Of New Venture Fund Gets Back But Size Becomes Smaller / Cnet Japan

Japan Venture Research released research report regarding venture fund established in 2011 in Japan. According to the report, a number of venture funds is 22, which has been increasing from the bottom of 8 in 2009 and is similar to 20 in 2008.

A total amount also increased to 45 billion yen but which is about 60% of 2008, 76 billion yen. An average size is 2 billion yen which is a half of that in 2008. ...

Cnet Japan 1/17/2011 [jp]

memo

• It is obvious that increasing seed accelerators contribute to the number and size. It would not be easy to predict if the trend continues in 2012. 

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Giftee Raises Fund From KDDI / Cnet Japan

giftee was launched in March 2010 to allow users who wish to express thanks to send gift. The startup raised 10 million yen from KDDI by an allocation of new shares.

With the capital, it will accelerate development of iPhone/Android app of giftee. ...

giftee currently is available at around 60 shops mainly in Tokyo. It will cover cafe in five large cities in March.

Cnet Japan 1/16/2011 [jp]

memo

• Giftee has participated in two incubation programs by Open Network Lab in 2010 and KDDI Mugen Labo in 2011. Both organizers of the programs invests in the startup.
• http://giftee.co/

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Social Lunch Operator, SyncLunch Raises Capital /Cnet Japan

Social Lunch allows users to interact with each other using lunch time. An operator of the service, SyncLunch announced fundraising from NVCC, KDDI, and Industrial Growth Platform, Inc. The amount is about 32 million yen.

Social Lunch launched on 2011 October and it has about 20,000 members. ...

With this announcement, it also starts accepting a subscription for a new service, Social Lunch for University. The service is a University student only version of Social Lunch which plans to add authentication by email address from University in addition to current Facebook account. ...

Cnet Japan 1/16/2012 [jp]

memo

• Social Lunch is one of teams in the first batch of KDDI Mugen Labo and selected as the award winner of the program.
• http://www.social-lunch.jp/

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[TechCrunch] Mobile Media Platform Cinemacraft Extends Series A Round With Investment From 500 Startups

Tokyo- and Singapore-based mobile media platform Cinemacraft announced it has extended its Series A round by securing an investment from Dave McClure‘s 500 Startups. The fresh money from the US brings the total amount raised by the company so far to US$900,000. Previous investors include Singapore-based Jungle Ventures (background), Jayesh Pareikh (founder of Sony Entertainment TV), Jai Maroo (Shemaroo Entertinament), Takuro Wakayabashi (Xseed Partners), and Devesh Chetty (RGM Media). Cinemecraft founder and CEO Sandeep Casi says the investment will be used to create an interactive video ad network in Japan, US, India, and Indonesia, along with ad-supported consumer video apps. ...

TechCrunch 1/11/2011

memo

• Along with LTE penetration, mobile video market is expected to grow rapidly. However, it would be an challenge for Cinemacraft to differentiate from YouTube or other back-end solutions for video streaming such as Ooyala.
• http://www.cinemacraft.com/

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Realworld Announces GAYAP Allowing To Exchange Points With Android Apps / japan.internet.com

Realworld operates PointExchange which allows users to gather points by online shopping or answering to surveys and to exchange the points with electronic money or goods. The company will utilize the knowledge acquired by operating PointExchange to provide GAYAP with which users can exchange points they earned at various we services partnering with GAYAP with paid Android apps. ...

The company is currently recruiting apps developers and publishers. After gathering a certain number of the partners, it will launch the service for consumers and provide a dedicated app.

japan.internet.com 1/11/2011 [jp]

memo

• Android apps are more difficult to sell compared to iOS apps. Some service are appearring to support monetization of Android apps recently such as reward ads by Metaps. But it may be the first service to link with a loyalty program.
• http://www.gayap.jp/

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Richmedia Raises Fund From Recruit Incubation Partners / @Press

Richmedia conducted allocation of new shares to RIP II R&D Fund managed by Recruit Incubation Partners.

The startup is developing new mobile payment service which allows users to conclude payment using smartphone anywhere. It aims to launch the service from Singapore starting negotiations with local governmental and financial organizations.

@Press 1/5/2012 [jp]

memo

• Richmedia was founded in 2010 June providing various web solutions such as ebook development tool and CMS. The mobile payment service may be Square-like service.
• http://www.rich.co.jp/

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Vettl, Developer Of Picotube Has Seed Round Fundraising / TechCrunch Japan

Picotube won first prize at TechCrunch Tokyo in the last November. Vettl is a developer of the service. The startup concluded fundraising for a seed round of 31 million yen. Investors include Shogo Kawada, an adviser of DeNA who is actively investing as an angel investor, Kenji Kasahara, CEO of mixi, and two other individual investors. Hidetaka Yamashita, the CEO of Vettl, has worked for mixi before.

Picotube has been used by limited number of users for closed beta, and from December 27, users who receive invitation from existing users can use the service.

TechCrunch Japan 12/27/2011 [jp]

memo

• Picotube allows users to view YouTube video together with friends on real time showing their avatars. It also allows to put effect on video.
• http://www.picotube.tv/

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