What Thinkr does

THINKR Inc. (株式会社THINKR) is a Tokyo-based creative and entertainment firm founded in 2007 as ANSWR and rebranded to THINKR in 2016. The company operates across three interconnected business lines: (1) a B2B creative agency providing advertising, video production, and design services to enterprise clients including Sony Music, Universal Music, Warner Bros. Japan, ASICS, Estée Lauder, Samantha Thavasa, SABON Japan, and Victor Entertainment; (2) a virtual artist management and record label business running KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO, ALLT STUDIO, and THINKR IDOL LINE, which manages digital performers such as KAF, RIM, and V.W.P with cumulative YouTube plays exceeding 200 million; and (3) a consumer/IP business encompassing D2C merchandise via FINDME STORE, XR live entertainment, IP licensing, and the forthcoming PNDR music distribution platform scheduled for 2025.

The technology stack centers on proprietary AI music synthesis, anchored by the Musical Isotope Project (an AI singing synthesis system), the teresaAI voice synthesis product, and MURAKUMO — a dedicated R&D unit for AI x creative applications. Physical infrastructure includes the KYOZON creative hub and the LABORATORIES BY THINKR motion capture / virtual production facility at the Aobadai headquarters, supporting XR concerts and virtual performer capture, plus the new XR CLASSICS format extending XR live entertainment to classical repertoire. Approximately 107 employees supported the business at the end of November 2023, with the company led by founder and Representative Director Kenjiro Harigai.

THINKR's business model blends project-based B2B creative services revenue with transactional and recurring revenue from artist management, music distribution (PNDR), D2C merchandise, and live events. The company executed its first major institutional capital raise in August 2024, securing approximately ¥5 billion from a syndicate including Global Brain, JAFCO, KDDI Open Innovation Fund, Makers Fund, Money Forward Venture Partners, Cygames capital, Hankyu Hanshin, Chishima Real Estate, ThirdwaveSolutions, and YoStar. Recent strategic priorities include international expansion (KAF's May 2025 debut at Anime Central Chicago), new verticals in music distribution and AI x Creative R&D, and consolidation moves such as the formation of THINKR CREATIVE UNION with .MP Inc.

Name

Thinkr

Legal name

THINKR Inc.

Website

https://thinkr.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

THINKR Inc. is a Tokyo-based creative and entertainment firm combining B2B design and video production services for enterprise brands with virtual artist management, proprietary AI music synthesis, D2C merchandise, XR live entertainment, and the forthcoming PNDR music distribution platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative and Digital Entertainment Services

NAICS

Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151), Graphic Design Services (541430), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Service Artist Management (MPAIAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Creator Management & Talent Representation (BPAFAHAB), Creator Content Production & Co-Creation Studios (BPAFAHAD), Creator Events & Experiences (Trips, Houses, Retreats) (MPAAAHAN), XR/AR/VR/MR Development Frameworks & Toolchains (MPAFAFAF), Music Producers & Production Teams (MPAIAHAB), Content & Creative Studio for Creators (Concepting/Production) (MPAAAHAD)

Keywords

• Creative production services
• Virtual artist management
• XR live entertainment
• Advertising video production
• Original IP development

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Creative Solutions / Client Work: Artwork production, advertising, and video production services for corporate clients. THINKR receives direct requests and forms specialized teams to deliver effective creative production.
2. Artist Management & Label Operations: 360-degree business managing and producing artists and creators including virtual artists, singer-songwriters, composers. Integrated management and label functions for music content production.
3. IP Licensing & Rights Management: Rights management for original IP, including character licensing for merchandise, event appearances, and media appearances. Royalty-based licensing business through formal application processes.
4. D2C Merchandise Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of artist merchandise, music CDs, and original products through FINDME STORE. Maximizes profit margins by bypassing existing distribution channels.
5. Music Distribution (PNDR): Music distribution service 'PNDR' launching in 2025, targeting next-generation internet culture artists with promotional support and fan community formation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

THINKR is a Tokyo-based dramatic design firm that provides creative production services (advertising, video production, design, branding) to enterprise clients and operates end-to-end entertainment businesses including virtual artist management, original IP development, XR live entertainment, AI-powered singing synthesis, and D2C merchandise sales. The company is structured as a collective of four specialized studios (KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO, ALLT STUDIO, PHASE STUDIO, QA STUDIO) that collaborate across projects to deliver integrated creative, artist, IP, and XR solutions.

Product overview

THINKR is a collective of multiple creative studios operating as a 'dramatic design firm' with a multi-sub-brand portfolio. The company comprises four main studios: KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO (virtual artists and IP), ALLT STUDIO (alternative artists), PHASE STUDIO (character/illustration IP), and QA STUDIO (design/advertising). Key products include virtual artist group V.W.P, AI-powered Musical Isotope singing synthesis, KAMITSUBAKI PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, and the new PNDR music distribution service launching 2025. The company also operates XR live experiences, R&D through MURAKUMO AI team, and D2C merchandise through FINDME STORE. Recent expansion includes music distribution (PNDR), AI creative research (MURAKUMO), and classical concert business (XR CLASSICS).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO: Creative label at the forefront of internet culture, producing cutting-edge works with next generation artists and creators, and engaging in new-age artist management.
• ALLT STUDIO
• PHASE STUDIO
• QA STUDIO
• MURAKUMO
• PNDR
• PNDR RECORD
• KYOZON / WORKPLACE BY THINKR
• KYOZON / LABORATORIES BY THINKR
• KAMITSUBAKI PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
• THINKR XR CLASSICS
• THINKR CREATIVE UNION
• THINKR NEXT ARTISTS DEVELOPMENT

Quantifiable outcome

• KAF achieved 200M+ YouTube total plays with passionate fan community domestically and internationally
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• .MP Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024Creative production company joining THINKR group to form 'THINKR CREATIVE UNION'. .MP is a creative team formed to enjoy and enrich anime, manga, music, fashion, cosplay, and VTuber cultures. With design at its core, they work in web production, video production, event and promotion planning. This capital and business alliance strengthens THINKR's creative foundation and implements .MP's art direction and IP creativity.
• FUKAIKA (深化)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStory prototyping company specializing in Web3-era IP development. Partnership aims for comprehensive IP development including metaverses and games, combining FUKAIKA's story expertise with THINKR's virtual entertainment capabilities.
• Loop Whole Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner office handling music licensing consultations and applications for videos, commercials, covers, publishing, etc. Manages music tracks copyright through JASRAC and NexTone organizations based on field of use.
• KAMITSUBAKI PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrchestra project formed in 2024 for virtual artist live performances and virtual stage play 'Otogibanashi', combining grand and delicate orchestral sounds with unique expression. Pursues fusion of internet culture music and classical music.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves19 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cover Corp: Operator of hololive production, Japan's largest VTuber/virtual entertainer agency with concert, merchandising, and licensing businesses. Directly competes with KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO for virtual artist IP, fan community attention, and arena-scale live events.
• Anycolor Inc. Operator of Nijisanji, one of Japan's leading virtual entertainer networks with VTuber management, live streaming, merchandise, and events. Comparable business model across artist management, IP, and D2C merchandise.
• Brave Group: Japanese virtual entertainment group operating .LIVE, VSPO!, and other virtual talent projects with a focus on esports-adjacent virtual entertainers. Comparable scale and directly overlaps with THINKR's virtual entertainer management and live event business.
• Re:AcT: Japanese virtual entertainment agency managing a roster of virtual singers and entertainers with active YouTube and live concert operations. Closely comparable to KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO at a smaller scale.

Broad incumbents

• avex Inc. Major Japanese music entertainment conglomerate with artist management, label, live events, and D2C businesses. Broader incumbent offering that overlaps with ALLT STUDIO, KAMITSUBAKI label operations, and creative services but at much larger scale and across physical and digital music.
• Sony Music Entertainment Japan: Major Japanese music label and artist management business; also a customer of THINKR's creative solutions. Comparable in label and management function but with a vastly broader catalog, established physical distribution, and global reach.
• UUUM Inc. Japan's leading creator talent agency managing YouTubers, musicians, and internet-culture talent with management, merchandising, and brand-deal businesses. Comparable to THINKR's talent management and D2C merchandise functions but focused on creator rather than virtual entertainer categories.
• KADOKAWA Corporation: Japanese media conglomerate with publishing, anime, games, and IP development businesses. Comparable on the IP cross-media expansion thesis (books to anime to games to merchandise) that PHASE STUDIO and THINKR's IP development strategy target.

Emerging players

• Polygon Pictures: Japanese 3D CG animation and XR production studio with capabilities across VFX, virtual production, and digital humans. Comparable on the XR/virtual production technology stack underlying THINKR's XRA team and KYOZON laboratories.

Regional players

• WACTOR Inc. Latin American and Spanish-language virtual entertainment agency. Comparable business model (virtual artist management, YouTube-first distribution, live events) but geographically focused on Spanish-speaking markets rather than Japan.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@kamitsubaki_studio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thinkr-inc
• Xx.com/thinkr_jp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors11 records

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Thinkr