myGengo, a web-based multilingual human translation service start-up in Japan, announced convertible note fundraising of approximately 50 million yen from ten angel investors including: Felix Miller, Last.fm co-founder Brian Nelson, Japan’s affiliate provider Value Commerce CEO Dave McClure, 500 Startups Christoph Janz, Deal Pilot and Page Flakes founder Benjamin Joffe, Plus 8 Star founder Joshua… Continue reading Web-based Translation Start-up myGengo Fundraises USD585,000 From Ten Angel Investors
Category: Company
Daily Deal Service For Movie Watching To Be Launched Next Monday
Bluem[J], the Tokyo-based tech start-up which have been founded by the person who worked formerly with Japan’s second largest ad agency, expects to launch a Groupon-like daily deal service for cinemas next Monday, which is called Drepass[J]. First of all, a cinema puts a special programming notice on their website and broadcasts it on Twitter. … Continue reading Daily Deal Service For Movie Watching To Be Launched Next Monday
KDDI To Acquire Stake In AR Start-up Tonchidot
The Nikkei, or Japan’s economic journal, reported today that Japan’s second largest telecom giant KDDI announced it would invest in Tonchidot, the Tokyo-based tech start-up who is well known for augmented-reality(AR) smartphone app Sekai Camera. Tonchidot plans to allocate new shares to KDDI to raise approximately USD530,000 in order to develop social games using Sekai… Continue reading KDDI To Acquire Stake In AR Start-up Tonchidot
Softbank To Launch JV With Zynga To Spread Social Games In Japan
On Thursday, Softbank had a briefing on the first quarter financial result of FY2010, and unveiled they would invest in Zynga Game Network and launch a joint venture called Zynga Japan. Softbank and Zynga will make capital contributions on a 50-50 basis. Softbank’s CEO Masayoshi Son says, it is expected to launch a social game… Continue reading Softbank To Launch JV With Zynga To Spread Social Games In Japan
Japan’s First Daily Deal Service Piku Raises USD7.3M VC Round
Japan’s first start-up operating deal-of-the-day website Piku Media[J] announced today that they completed the allocation of new shares worth USD7.3M to Germany-based VC fund Rebate Networks GmbH (co-founded by the owners of Germany’s largest social network service studi.vz[G]), Global Venture Capital, DIT Partners and an undisclosed investor. This fundraising was arranged by Tokyo-based tech start-up… Continue reading Japan’s First Daily Deal Service Piku Raises USD7.3M VC Round
“Tweets Begging” Is A Key To Accelerate E-Commerce Industry By Using Social Media
Tokyo-based zakka and hardware store chain Tokyu Hands[J] is now running a campaign which gives you additional reward points by tweeting begging for something you want. The store chain is known for working very much on developing social marketing services including “Korekamo-Net[J]” that allows you to search their inventory of the item you wish to… Continue reading “Tweets Begging” Is A Key To Accelerate E-Commerce Industry By Using Social Media
Japan’s First Banana Vending Machine Debuts In Shibuya
The Japanese local subsidiary of international leading banana distributor Dole put the country’s first banana vending machine at an underground shopping mall in Shibuya last week, which draws people’s attention. The vending machine has a fridge and maintains stored bananas at 13 degrees Celsius (=55.4 degrees Fahrenheit) which is the best temperature to keep them… Continue reading Japan’s First Banana Vending Machine Debuts In Shibuya
Pankaku Welcomes i-mode’s Father As New Adviser
Tokyo-based smartphone app developer Pankaku[J] announced Mr. Takeshi Natsuno became the company’s adviser today. He started his career in this industry as the vice president for Japan’s first ad-based free ISP HyperNet, then joined NTT DoCoMo and invented the country’s first cellphone web-browsing platform i-mode. He is currently serving managing director for cellphone ringtone distributor… Continue reading Pankaku Welcomes i-mode’s Father As New Adviser
Apple And Softbank Mobile Start iPad Sales In Japan On Friday
Apple and Softbank Mobile finally started the sales of the iPad in Japan on Friday. At Apple Store Ginza or one of Apple Japan’s two flagship stores in Tokyo, about 1,200 people were queuing for having the new device. The earliest bird who has been waiting at the store since Wednesday’s 4pm was 19-year-old part-timer… Continue reading Apple And Softbank Mobile Start iPad Sales In Japan On Friday
Breaking News: Rakuten To Launch E-Commerce Business With Media Giant In Indonesia
Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten just announced today it would launch a joint venture with Indonesian media conglomerate Global Mediacom to run a e-commerce platform service in the country. Rakuten takes 51% stake in the joint venture which is capitalized at USD4.3M. The joint venture will start the service in the latter half of this year… Continue reading Breaking News: Rakuten To Launch E-Commerce Business With Media Giant In Indonesia