Minto

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

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

• Content marketing services
• Character IP licensing
• Webtoon production
• Short drama production
• NFT metaverse content

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Camp NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2025Blockchain-based IP co-production campaign using Camp Network's Layer-1 blockchain for intellectual property management.
• KindredminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2025Global project to revolutionize character dialogue experiences using Kindred's technology platform.
• FANY (Yoshimoto Kogyo Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2024Three-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 CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 October 2024Partnership for Roblox development and production support. V-RANGERS Inc. as development partner. Enhancing Roblox development capabilities.
• FuturizecoreOthers · 7 February 2023Product development studio became Minto Group company in February 2023. Specializes in entertainment tech development and AI content creation.
• Kakao PiccomacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 May 2022Capital and business partnership for webtoon business collaboration. Access to Piccoma platform for webtoon distribution and content development.
• BeyondConceptminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 February 2022Business partnership for Metaani avatar project in metaverse. Avatar project for virtual character experiences.
• Minto Studio (Internal)coreOthers · 27 December 2021Webtoon production studio established December 2021. Proprietary webtoon production system leveraging 10 years of production know-how and creator network.
• The SandboxcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2021Metaverse 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/minto_inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Minto