For $12.8 Million: Yahoo Japan Acquires Decopic Creator Community Factory

Acquisitions are relatively rare in Japan’s tech startup scene, but today Yahoo Japan caused a splash when the country’s biggest web company announced it acquired Tokyo-based Community Factory (which launched in 2006). TechCrunch Japan is reporting that the price stands at around 1 billion yen, which currently translates to US$12.8 million. Community Factory runs a… Continue reading For $12.8 Million: Yahoo Japan Acquires Decopic Creator Community Factory

D2 Communications Acquires 0.9% Stake In Tokyo-Based Ubiqituous Entertainment

Japan’s largest mobile marketing and advertising firm, D2 Communications (D2C), has acquired a 0.9% stake in Tokyo-based Ubiqituous Entertainment (UEI). D2C acquired a total of 400 UEI shares – other financial details of the deal, which was officially announced [JP] today, weren’t disclosed. In April last year, the two companies started a program called 9leap… Continue reading D2 Communications Acquires 0.9% Stake In Tokyo-Based Ubiqituous Entertainment

No. Of Japanese Startup Funds Exceeds Last Year In 9 Months

Japan Venture Research Report said [J] that the venture capital funds for start-ups are established 17 from January to September 2011, which is already more than 2010’s 15. The funds investing IT are 8 in 2011(by September), whilst 4 in 2010. The report tells that in 2011, there have been more small sized funds observed,… Continue reading No. Of Japanese Startup Funds Exceeds Last Year In 9 Months

Gree Starts Investment On East/South East Asian Start-ups

Japan’s social game networking service giant Gree announced today November 2 that it had established a new invest subsidiary Gree Ventures. Gree Ventures is going to form GV-I Investment Partnership, which is planned to invest (tantative) 2 billion yen (US$25.6 million) in total. GREE to Begin Investing in Southeast and East Asia – Plans to… Continue reading Gree Starts Investment On East/South East Asian Start-ups

CyberAgent Ventures Invests In Startup Company “Qrunch”

CyberAgent’s [J] consolidated subsidiary for developing investment and venture capital operations, CyberAgent Ventures, [J] on the date of October 7th, 2011 made an investment into Qrunch Co., [J] developers of “Qrunch,” [J] a social Q&A service which allows you to lightheartedly ask questions to friends.  This company became the chosen enterprise for the business plan… Continue reading CyberAgent Ventures Invests In Startup Company “Qrunch”