wwwaap, SNS character's No. 1 overseas producer Quon and management integration

To become a creator economy company from Japan

warp

Wwwaap Co., Ltd. (Warp, Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Motota Nakagawa, Nobuyuki Takahashi, hereinafter our company) is Cuong Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director:), which develops character business originating from the Internet. We are pleased to announce that we will integrate our business with Kazuhiro Mizuno (hereinafter referred to as “Kuong”) in December 2021. The new company name after the business integration will be Minto Co., Ltd. By integrating our company, which has the No. 1 track record in SNS marketing utilizing anime and manga, and Kuon, who has the No. 1 track record in character stamp download world and is expanding IP licenses in the Asian market, Japan. We will increase the opportunities for anime and manga creators to play an active role, and carry out a business that transcends national borders and delivers their talents to the world. With the rise of platforms such as YouTube, the influence of individual creators is increasing, and the "creator economy" (* 1) is drawing attention in the United States. The market size in 2021 is said to be 104.2 billion dollars, and the procurement amount of related entrepreneurs is increasing year by year in this market (* 2), but Japan is still in its infancy and is expected to grow in the future. (* 1) Businesses developed by creators, companies and tools that support them, and the economic zone formed by these (* 2) Source: CB INSIGHTS Also, compared to the development of the creator economy in the United States, Japan In the creator economy, it is expected that creators who create content such as manga, anime, and characters will improve their monetization and transmission capabilities. Under the above environment, our company, which has strengths in character creation and overseas production, and wwwaap, which owns a network of anime and manga creators, will demonstrate synergies and work together to create opportunities for creators unique to Japan to play an active role. From the desire to continue, this business integration has been realized. Below, we will develop a business that expands the talents of creators on the three axes. (1) Utilization of technology to expand the activity area of creators We will provide products for creators and promote the content business in the "blockchain" and "NFT" areas. (2) Global expansion to deliver content (IP) to the world We will develop content such as Webtoon by co-creating with creators in cooperation with platformers around the world. In addition, we will expand the IP goods and license business in China and Asia. (3) The biggest challenge in continuing creative activities = monetization support We will promote the business of creating brand advertising content on SNS. We support the monetization of creators and contribute to the foundation of creative activities. The details of the business integration process and future prospects are summarized below. [Management integration] I want to create a creator economy from Japan and expand the content to the world https://note.com/quan_official/n/nffd69f391e6d ◆ Representative Director Kazuhiro Mizuno (Representative Director of Cuong Co., Ltd.) To Terashima Information Planning Co., Ltd. Launched a mobile content business and produced various sites. Among them, the Decome site became the number one paid member in Japan for a monthly fee, leading the emoji and Decome boom. After that, he launched the smartphone app business and established Technode Co., Ltd. As CEO and producer of the company, he produces many hit apps. Established the ceremony company Quon in 2011. Develops a character business originating from the Internet and records the number of stamp downloads in the world. Started business in the blockchain / NFT area from 2018 and in the Webtoon area from 2021.・ Comment I'm really excited to think that we can create a new future by integrating the management with wwwaap, which was a colleague who works hard in the same creative content area. I would like to create a path for creators in Japan and Asia to fly around the world. ◆ Director Motota Nakagawa (Representative Director of wwwaap Co., Ltd.) Joined Septeni Co., Ltd. as a new graduate in 2010. After working as the manager of the Sapporo sales office, he transferred to the operating company of the manga app "GANMA!" From 2013. He started a manga editorial team and an app marketing team as founding members. Established wwwaap Co., Ltd. (formerly Xavier Co., Ltd.) in 2016. Currently in charge of new projects such as IP production, including the joint project "Yomuoto" with Sony Music.・ Comment Because Kuon, the most globally expanding content venture in Japan, has been respected and researched for a long time, I am convinced that if wwwaap and Quon work together, creators will be able to create a more exciting future. .. We look forward to your continued support of Minto for many years to come. ◆ Director Nobuyuki Takahashi (Representative Director of wwwaap Co., Ltd.) In charge of sales manager who develops major clients at Septeni Co., Ltd. He made many achievements in the early days of SNS advertising and contributed to creating a competitive advantage for the company. After that, he was the sales manager of the media business at DENA Co., Ltd. and the leader of the business strategy team at Yokohama DeNA BayStars Co., Ltd. Joined wwwaap Co., Ltd. as COO in 2018. He is responsible for business growth by making management policy decisions, business development, personnel (recruitment / organization), and sales team management.・ Comment wwwaap has been seriously facing the issues faced by creators and customers over the past few years, but has given up on many opportunities because it feels difficult to create a business on its own. I have experience. We are confident that this integration with Quon will create new businesses and create great synergies and momentum as an organization. I would like to realize "Creating the future of the people I want to create" with Team Minto! ◆ Director (part-time) Atsushi Ogawa (former director of Kuon Co., Ltd.) After joining Net Age Co., Ltd., as an advertising agency specializing in mobile advertising, established ngi mobile CEO, Fractalist Co., Ltd. (listed on Centrex) Served as the representative director of the company).・ Comment I have seen the difficulty of his global breakthrough since the founding of Quon up close. This business integration with wwwaap will create significant business synergies and will strive to make Minto a world-leading company. ◆ Rehito Hatoyama, Representative Director, Hatoyama Research Institute Joined Mitsubishi Corporation. He is engaged in media and content business at Avex and Lawson. After earning an MBA from Harvard Business School, he was in charge of new businesses such as business strategy, overseas business, movies, media, and IT at Sanrio, and after contributing to the globalization of Hello Kitty, he became independent. Currently engaged in VC investment and consulting in Silicon Valley. He has served as an outside director for Z Holdings, LINE, DeNA, etc.・ Comment The time has come when Japanese content IP will be more open to the world due to the digital shift of technology. With the boundaries between characters, anime, and manga disappearing, in addition to digital strategy and social marketing, how to create a creator community makes a big difference in how content spreads. We hope that the newly created Minto will bring together the know-how of the two companies and bridge the world of Japanese creators. Kuon is a company that connects people with characters and makes the world happy. Has the world's No. 1 track record of character stamp DL, and is expanding IP licenses in the Asian market (branch offices in China, Thailand, and Vietnam). Most recently, the NFT project that we have been working on since 2018 became a hit, and we have also entered the Webtoon business. Company name: Cuong Co., Ltd. Company location: 4-21-19 Shimoochiai, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Representative name: Kazuhiro Mizuno Contact: info@quan-inc.jp HP: https://quan-inc.jp / An agent of "SNS Creator" centered on popular manga artists and illustrators on SNS with the mission of "creating the future of people who want to create." We are engaged in a marketing business that utilizes the transmission power and creativity of SNS creators, and a licensing business that develops and operates IP such as characters originating from SNS. Company name: wwwaap Co., Ltd. Company location: 1-26-30 Higashi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0011 Treasure Building 7F Representative names: Motota Nakagawa, Nobuyuki Takahashi Tel: 03-6427-9850 Inquiries: ml @ wwwaap.co.jp HP: http://wwwaap.co.jp * The following is special information only for media personnel. Please refrain from disclosing information on personal SNS etc.

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