Minto
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
Minto firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Minto
- Legal name
- 株式会社Minto
- Website
- https://minto-inc.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Minto industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Entertainment Content Production & IP Licensing
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Advertising Material Distribution Services (54187)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Creator Licensing & Rights Monetization (UGC Licensing, Music/Video Rights) (MPACAFAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Distribution Feeds & Syndication (Partner Delivery, APIs, Feeds) (MPAHALAJ), Billing, Payments & Subscription Management (MPAHAJAC)
Keywords
Where Minto is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices4 records
Markets served
Minto business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Content Solution Services: Corporate marketing planning and support using IP and SNS creators. Services include planning, direction, and effect analysis. Network of 250+ creators available for campaigns. Pricing is project-based/customized per client needs.
- IP Licensing and Merchandise: Global licensing of original characters (Usagyuuun, Betakkuma) and partner IPs. Stamp downloads exceeding 6.5 billion globally. Revenue from merchandise, collaboration products, and license fees. Over 700 international licensees.
- Web3/NFT Revenue: NFT sales through blockchain games (CryptoCrystal), metaverse land sales (The Sandbox), and character NFT offerings. LINE Blockchain NFT experiments. Revenue from digital collectibles and virtual land.
- Short Drama App Revenue: FANY:D app launched December 2024 with NTT Docomo and Yoshimoto Kogyo. Per-episode payment model (pay-per-view) for vertical short dramas. Initial focus on revenge, betrayal, and romance genres.
- Webtoon Production: Production and distribution of vertical scroll webtoons through platforms like Piccoma, LINE Manga, and DMM TV. Original IP development and co-production with major entertainment companies.
- SNS Advertising: SNS x manga advertising packages sold to corporations. Joint packages with publishers like Shogakukan and Kodansha. Revenue from social media marketing campaigns.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing for content solution services |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Pay-per-episode for short drama content on FANY:D app |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | IP licensing fees based on character, territory, and usage rights |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Minto product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Minto is an entertainment production company operating three business pillars: (1) Content Solution Services — end-to-end B2B marketing campaign planning, direction, and effect analysis using Japan's largest network of 250+ SNS creators and IPs; (2) IP Production — original character IP development (Usagyuuun, Betakkuma), webtoon production via Minto Studio, short drama production, and global IP licensing through 700+ international licensees; (3) Web3 — blockchain-based NFT content, metaverse experiences (The Sandbox), and digital collectibles leveraging proprietary CryptoCrystal technology.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FANY :D: A short drama app launched in December 2024 in partnership with NTT Docomo Group and Yoshimoto Kogyo Group, offering vertical short dramas for a pay-per-episode model.
- Minto Studio
- FANDOM AGENT
- Minto Sawasdee Vacation
Products and services
- Content Solution Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 6.5 billion+ cumulative character stamp downloads worldwide
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Minto
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Minto technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Minto partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Camp NetworkminorBlockchain-based IP co-production campaign using Camp Network's Layer-1 blockchain for intellectual property management.
- KindredminorGlobal project to revolutionize character dialogue experiences using Kindred's technology platform.
- FANY (Yoshimoto Kogyo Group)coreThree-way partnership with NTT Docomo and Yoshimoto Kogyo to launch short drama app FANY:D. Minto handles content production, development, and operations. Yoshimoto provides talent and content.
- Sumitomo CorporationminorPartnership for Roblox development and production support. V-RANGERS Inc. as development partner. Enhancing Roblox development capabilities.
- FuturizecoreProduct development studio became Minto Group company in February 2023. Specializes in entertainment tech development and AI content creation.
- Kakao PiccomacoreCapital and business partnership for webtoon business collaboration. Access to Piccoma platform for webtoon distribution and content development.
- BeyondConceptminorBusiness partnership for Metaani avatar project in metaverse. Avatar project for virtual character experiences.
- Minto Studio (Internal)coreWebtoon production studio established December 2021. Proprietary webtoon production system leveraging 10 years of production know-how and creator network.
- The SandboxcoreMetaverse partnership for Minto Land. Land sale achieved sold out in 4 minutes with over 250 million yen. Multiple IP collaborations including Captain Tsubasa, Attack on Titan, Hokuto no Ken, and JR Kyushu Kyushu Railway Land.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Minto competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- San-X: San-X creates and licenses character IPs including Rilakkuma, Sumikko Gurashi, and Tare Panda, with merchandise distribution across Japan, Asia, and globally. Directly comparable to Minto's character IP licensing and merchandise business model, with similar global licensee network structure.
- Sanrio: Sanrio operates one of the world's largest character IP licensing businesses with Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, and 450+ characters. Comparable to Minto through its character IP creation, merchandise licensing, and global distribution through hundreds of licensees—a model Minto's Usagyuuun business explicitly mirrors.
- Kakao Piccoma: Kakao Piccoma is Japan's leading webtoon platform and a Minto investor (capital and business partnership, May 2022). Directly comparable through webtoon distribution, IP co-production, and integration with manga/anime content ecosystems—Piccoma is both partner and competitor for Minto's webtoon distribution.
- Toei Animation: Toei Animation produces major anime IPs (Dragon Ball, One Piece, Sailor Moon, Precure) and licenses them globally through character merchandise, games, and content distribution. Comparable to Minto through anime production, character IP licensing, and global IP expansion via regional offices and licensee networks.
- OLM (Oriental Light and Magic): OLM produces the Pokémon anime series and other animated content. OLM Ventures is also a Minto investor (2022 round), indicating direct operational overlap. Comparable through anime production expertise and IP-related business development.
Emerging players
- ANYCOLOR Inc. ANYCOLOR operates the Nijisanji VTuber business, monetizing creator IP through live streaming, merchandise, and licensing. Comparable to Minto through creator-network IP model and merchandise/character licensing, though focused on VTuber talent rather than manga/anime creators.
- Cover Corporation: Cover operates Hololive VTuber agency, creating and monetizing virtual creator IP through streaming, merchandise, and licensing. Comparable to Minto's creator-network model, IP production, and merchandise business, though Cover focuses specifically on virtual talent rather than manga creators.
Broad incumbents
- Bandai Namco Holdings: Bandai Namco is a major Japanese entertainment conglomerate spanning anime (Sunrise), games (Bandai Namco Entertainment), and character merchandise (Bandai). Comparable to Minto's character IP and anime licensing business but at vastly larger scale with broader content portfolio.
- Kadokawa Corporation: Kadokawa is a major Japanese publisher of manga, light novels, and anime production, with global IP distribution and webtoon business expansion. Comparable to Minto's manga/anime IP production and webtoon distribution, but with established publishing scale and broader content portfolio.
Others
- Septeni Holdings: Septeni Holdings operates digital advertising and marketing agencies in Japan and Asia. Septeni Holdings is also a Minto investor (2022 round). Comparable through digital advertising services infrastructure and SNS-based marketing expertise, though Septeni operates more broadly across digital channels.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Minto social profiles
Digital presenceMinto financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Minto leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Minto subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Minto funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Minto M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Minto
What does Minto do?
Minto is an entertainment production company operating three business pillars: (1) Content Solution Services — end-to-end B2B marketing campaign planning, direction, and effect analysis using Japan's largest network of 250+ SNS creators and IPs; (2) IP Production — original character IP development (Usagyuuun, Betakkuma), webtoon production via Minto Studio, short drama production, and global IP licensing through 700+ international licensees; (3) Web3 — blockchain-based NFT content, metaverse experiences (The Sandbox), and digital collectibles leveraging proprietary CryptoCrystal technology.
Is Minto a public or private company?
Minto is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Minto founded?
Minto was founded in 2011. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Minto based?
Minto is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Minto make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Content Solution Services are the primary driver. The others are IP Licensing and Merchandise, web3/NFT Revenue, short Drama App Revenue, webtoon Production and SNS Advertising.
Who are Minto's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are San-X, Sanrio, Kakao Piccoma, Toei Animation and OLM (Oriental Light and Magic). Emerging players are ANYCOLOR Inc. and Cover Corporation. Broad incumbents are Bandai Namco Holdings and Kadokawa Corporation. Septeni Holdings is listed as an others.
Does Minto have an API?
No public API is recorded for Minto.
What industry is Minto in?
Minto's product category is Entertainment Content Production & IP Licensing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACAFAK, Creator Licensing & Rights Monetization (UGC Licensing, Music/Video Rights), with a secondary code of MPAHALAJ, Distribution Feeds & Syndication (Partner Delivery, APIs, Feeds). Its NAICS code is 516210 and its SIC code is 7822.