Pictoria announced on April 28 the completion of a 330 million yen (approximately $2 million) fundraising round, the AI character developer said. The round combined equity and debt financing.
The company is a Tokyo-based Japanese startup founded in 2017 by Hayato Akedo, who serves as CEO.
First AI Character Debuted in 2020
In 2019, two years after its founding, Pictoria launched Towa Kiseki, a virtual YouTuber (VTuber) with no AI component. The character made an immediate mark: a crowdfunding campaign launched shortly after debut raised approximately 15 million yen (about $94,000; all conversions at current rates unless otherwise noted).
In 2020, Pictoria followed up with an AI-powered VTuber, Tsumugi Nen. The character learns language from posts on X and analyzes viewer comments on YouTube to change its facial expressions in real time. Tsumugi Nen’s YouTube channel has surpassed 100,000 subscribers.
In 2026, Pictoria released a mobile app called AI Kareshi-kun (“AI Boyfriend”), featuring a male character that engages users in one-on-one conversation.
Pictoria monetizes its AI characters by operating as a kind of talent agency for them. Its clients include Daiwa Securities Group and BANDAI NAMCO Holdings.
Beyond that initial crowdfunding campaign, Pictoria has raised multiple rounds from institutional investors since its founding. In its Series A2 extension round in May 2024, for instance, UNITED, a Tokyo-based venture capital firm, participated.
Canon Marketing Japan Among Investors
Four investors participated in the current round, including Canon Marketing Japan. Three financial institutions, including Mizuho Bank, provided the debt portion.
The company said it will use the proceeds to “accelerate expansion into the enterprise market,” suggesting further development of its character business.
Akedo commented:
“What we are aiming for is a world where AI characters can act freely. Characters that feel personal, yet inspire us to reach greater heights through free-spirited imagination — that is what we want to create and bring to every corner of society. Together with our investors, we will accelerate that vision.”
Also in April 2026, Brave Group, a rival in the same space, closed a fundraising round of 8 billion yen (about $54 million) — a substantial sum by Japanese startup standards.
Interest in AI characters and VTubers shows no signs of fading — and competition in the sector looks set to intensify.
