Raised 120 million yen from AI VTuber's Pictoria, web3 overseas VCs, etc.

It was revealed on May 31 that Pictoria, which develops the VTuber business, has raised 120 million yen from overseas VCs of the web3 system. It seems that the funds raised will be used for recruitment and project promotion.

Pictoria has been developing the VTuber business since 2017. We run the project "AI VTuber" that develops and distributes VTuber completely unmanned by utilizing our own AI technology, and started the NFT business from this year. The NFT project "NEN" of "AI VTuber" "Tsumuginen" is scheduled to be sold in June.

In the future, it plans to create other original IPs using NFT / tokens.

The investors who participated in this procurement are Hash Global, Mask Network, former fencing player and IOC member Yuki Ota, Skyland Ventures, XTech Ventures, and 90s. By the way, it is said that foreign investors used the US dollar-backed stablecoin "USDC" to raise funds.

SK, the founder of Hash Global, commented:

"We are very pleased to be able to participate in Victoria's funding with Skyland Ventures and Mask Network. We are a web3 VC, a team that makes full use of web3 technology and excels in creativity. We've spent a lot of time looking for Japanese manga and animation fans, and we've always been looking for great Japanese entrepreneurs in the NFT / web3 field. "

Interview with Mr. Hayato Akiwatari, CEO of Pictoria

The editorial department of "New Economy" interviewed Mr. Hayato Akiwatari, CEO of Pictoria.

--Why did you move your business domain to web3 or crypto?

From an early age, he was a so-called "anime / game otaku". Partly because of that original experience, I have always wanted to create unique value in the entertainment field. This is the biggest reason why I started the VTuber business in the early days of VTuber in 2018.

However, I've always thought that I don't want to fit in a small planner anyway, and I don't want to be a mere imitator without originality.

Meanwhile, the trend of NFT, which has the potential to spread all over the world at once, has emerged, even for IPs with almost zero global recognition.

I started researching with the idea that I could set a new standard for content creation by exporting Japanese IP to the world while taking advantage of the unique strengths that Pictoria has built up to now.

To be honest, it is also true that there are still some criticisms of NFT and Web3 in the VTuber / creator industry. However, I think this is similar to the early days when Live2D was ridiculed in the VTuber industry.

This means that only those who look ahead in the early days can define industry standards. While the pros and cons are still mixed, I am very much looking forward to being the first to release content in this area.

--What kind of future do you want to create by multiplying VTuber and NFT?

First, let's define VTuber as an activist. (It is a generic name for VTuber and AI VTuber.) And I think that the reason why activists should work on NFT is "co-creation".

First of all, you need money to work. And we need topics and content that we will continue to work on. We believe that NFT holders will provide activists with money and a few ideas to realize a sustainable content supply system centered on activists.

Activists and creators have emotions, so if you ignore them and talk about everything with the logic of money, you can't do anything interesting. On the other hand, you cannot work without thinking about money at all.

I think that NFT is an excellent system that can collect money as support for contents in that individuals who agree with the idea pay money. It also gives you a position where you are always serious about your global success.

If this system becomes widespread, I think that Japanese activists and original IPs will be able to work widely and globally with a margin. We would like to create a mechanism for IP originating in Japan to provide sustainable content globally and empower many creators and activists.