Azuki
Azuki is a private Web3 IP company that produces original manga (by Arnold Tsang), a trading card game (Azuki TCG), anime, branded merchandise, and Web3 gaming experiences, serving manga/anime fans, TCG collectors and competitive players, and its legacy NFT community.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- Headquarters—
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Azuki firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Azuki
- Legal name
- Azuki Labs, Inc.
- Website
- https://azuki.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Azuki is a private Web3 IP company that produces original manga (by Arnold Tsang), a trading card game (Azuki TCG), anime, branded merchandise, and Web3 gaming experiences, serving manga/anime fans, TCG collectors and competitive players, and its legacy NFT community.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Azuki industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trading Card Games
- NAICS
- Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912), Toy and Hobby Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423920)
- SIC
- Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Trading Card Games (TCGs) Retail (CRALALAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Manga Publishing (Japanese & Global) (MPAJAGAA), Physical Game Distribution & Retail (Boxed Games, Wholesale, Merchandising) (MPAFABAC), Games & Puzzles Distribution (CRAOAMAB)
Keywords
Azuki business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Azuki TCG Product Sales: Azuki TCG generates revenue through direct-to-player sales of trading card products including booster packs, elite collector bundles, and starter decks sold through its own storefront at tcg.azuki.com. Physical availability through hobby distribution partners launches summer 2026. The Gates Awakened (AZK-01) debut set crossed $1 million in direct presale revenue.
- Merchandise / Physical Product Sales: Azuki sells branded merchandise including apparel (hoodies at $70, t-shirts at $45) and vinyl collectibles ($200) through its own e-commerce storefront at azuki.com/shop.
- NFT Licensing (Legacy): Azuki NFT holders receive a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use Azuki NFT Art for personal non-commercial use, and a sub-licensable commercial use license. NFT IP licensing allows commercial derivative works without using Azuki Trademarks. Chiru Labs owns the intellectual property including brand features, characters, and game mechanics.
- Manga (Free with IP Expansion): The AZUKI manga launches free globally on Azuki.com with new chapters released monthly. While free to readers, the manga serves as the narrative foundation driving TCG sales and broader IP licensing opportunities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Enter The Garden Capsule apparel and collectibles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Azuki TCG Gates Awakened product lineup |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free manga with global digital access |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels10 records
Azuki product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Azuki is a Web3 IP franchise that creates and distributes original manga content and trading card games built around a shared fictional universe ("the Garden"). The company sells physical TCG products (Gates Awakened set including booster packs, starter decks, and elite collector bundles), apparel and vinyl collectibles through its own e-commerce storefronts, and distributes free manga globally via azuki.com. Core products are the AZUKI manga series written by Arnold Tsang and the Azuki TCG, supported by an organized competitive tournament ecosystem with season rewards and a dedicated mobile app.
Product overview
Azuki is a Web3 IP franchise encompassing multiple products: the AZUKI original manga (written by Arnold Tsang, former Overwatch Character Art Director) available free on azuki.com with monthly chapters; the Azuki TCG trading card game (Set 1: Gates Awakened) featuring gameplay, tournaments, and competitive play via an app; the Enter The Garden anime project with merchandise; and the Azuki Alley Escape Telegram game partnership. The portfolio integrates collectibles, storytelling, and technology, with the manga serving as the creative foundation for interconnected franchise storytelling across TCG, anime, and gaming products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Azuki TCG: Trading Card Game product line featuring the Gates Awakened set with booster packs, elite collector bundles, and starter decks, including an app-based tournament system and organized competitive play.
- Enter The Garden
- Azuki.com
Products and services
- AZUKI Manga Original manga series following Shao, a smuggler from the Alley, who searches for her transformed sister Rei in the Garden. Written and illustrated by Arnold Tsang, the story serves as the creative foundation for the Azuki TCG and broader IP franchise. Released free globally on Azuki.com with monthly chapters.
- Azuki TCG - Gates Awakened (Set 1) Trading card game set in the Azuki universe featuring two-player 20-minute matches, elemental domain mechanics (water, fire, lightning, earth), and an app-based tournament system with seasonal leaderboards and rewards. Includes booster packs, elite collector bundles, and starter decks. Physical availability through hobby distribution partners and local card shops.
- Azuki Alley Escape Interactive skateboard runner game on Telegram that introduces players to Azuki's characters and lore, offering rewards and customization options. Launched as a partnership product with GAMEE to extend Azuki IP into Web3 gaming audiences.
- Through The Gate Crop Hoodie Black hoodie from the Enter The Garden Capsule collection featuring a hand-drawn collage pattern reflecting Shao's first steps beyond the gate into the Garden. Designed under vision of director Yukio Takatsu and creative producer Goro Taniguchi (One Piece Film Red, Code Geass). Priced at $70 with a Dodger Blue Anime Expo event-exclusive colorway.
- Ep2 Fractured Reflections Crop Tee White crop tee from the Enter The Garden Capsule collection featuring design from the Fractured Reflections anime project. Priced at $45.
- Mind of Gus Vinyl Collectible Vinyl collectible merchandise featuring the character Gus from the Azuki universe. Part of the Enter The Garden Capsule collection. Priced at $200.
Quantifiable outcome
- Azuki TCG Gates Awakened crossed $1 million in direct-to-player presale revenue ahead of retail launch
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Azuki
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Azuki technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature5 records
Azuki partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- GAMEEcoreGAMEE, a Web3 gaming platform owned by Animoca Brands, partnered with Azuki to launch 'Azuki Alley Escape' on Telegram on December 23, 2025. The interactive skateboard runner game introduces players to Azuki's characters and lore, offering rewards and customization options as a gateway into the Azuki universe.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Azuki competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Wizards of the Coast (Magic: The Gathering): Owner of Magic: The Gathering, the dominant tabletop TCG with deep competitive infrastructure, organized play, and a multi-decade IP. Directly comparable to Azuki TCG as a competitive trading card game targeting the same hobbyist and tournament player base.
- The Pokémon Company (Pokémon TCG): Operates the Pokémon TCG, the highest-volume trading card game globally with massive retail penetration and a cross-generational IP. Directly comparable to Azuki TCG in game category, retail distribution model, and target collector/player demographic.
- Konami (Yu-Gi-Oh!): Publisher of Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG, an anime/manga-derived trading card game with global competitive infrastructure. Comparable to Azuki as a manga/anime IP-driven TCG incumbent, illustrating both the opportunity and competitive threat Azuki faces.
Direct peers
- Bandai Namco (One Piece TCG): Publisher of the One Piece TCG, a manga/anime-IP-driven trading card game that has rapidly gained share since launch. Highly comparable to Azuki TCG as a recent entrant that leverages an existing manga/anime IP to drive TCG sales and competitive play.
- Ravensburger (Disney Lorcana): Publisher of Disney Lorcana, a TCG launched in 2023 that quickly became a top-five global TCG. Directly comparable as a recent TCG entrant that successfully built organized play, retail distribution, and a collector base against incumbents.
- Legend Story Studios (Flesh and Blood): Independent publisher of Flesh and Blood, a TCG focused on gameplay-first design and organized competitive play. Directly comparable to Azuki TCG as an independent challenger brand targeting competitive TCG players with premium tournament support.
- VIZ Media: Largest manga publisher in North America, distributing serialized manga titles including Shonen Jump. Directly comparable to Azuki's manga publishing operation in content format, mobile/digital distribution, and target audience of English-speaking manga readers.
- Webtoon Entertainment: Digital-first serialized storytelling platform with a global mobile reading experience and IP expansion into merchandise, animation, and games. Comparable to Azuki's free mobile-first manga distribution model and cross-media IP strategy.
- Yuga Labs: Web3-native IP company behind Bored Ape Yacht Club and Otherside, pivoting from pure NFT origin toward broader entertainment and gaming IP. Directly comparable to Azuki as a Web3-origin IP brand attempting to translate NFT community traction into mainstream entertainment products.
- Pudgy Penguins: Web3 IP brand that has expanded into mainstream merchandise (toy retail at Walmart), media, and licensing. Comparable to Azuki as a peer Web3-origin brand pursuing mainstream consumer IP expansion through physical products and entertainment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Azuki social profiles
Digital presenceAzuki financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Azuki leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Azuki funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Azuki M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Azuki
What does Azuki do?
Azuki is a Web3 IP franchise that creates and distributes original manga content and trading card games built around a shared fictional universe ("the Garden"). The company sells physical TCG products (Gates Awakened set including booster packs, starter decks, and elite collector bundles), apparel and vinyl collectibles through its own e-commerce storefronts, and distributes free manga globally via azuki.com. Core products are the AZUKI manga series written by Arnold Tsang and the Azuki TCG, supported by an organized competitive tournament ecosystem with season rewards and a dedicated mobile app.
Is Azuki a public or private company?
Azuki is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Azuki founded?
Azuki was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
How does Azuki make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Azuki TCG Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are merchandise / Physical Product Sales, NFT Licensing (Legacy) and manga (Free with IP Expansion).
Who are Azuki's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Wizards of the Coast (Magic: The Gathering), The Pokémon Company (Pokémon TCG) and Konami (Yu-Gi-Oh!). Direct peers are Bandai Namco (One Piece TCG), Ravensburger (Disney Lorcana), Legend Story Studios (Flesh and Blood), VIZ Media, Webtoon Entertainment, Yuga Labs and Pudgy Penguins.
Does Azuki have an API?
No public API is recorded for Azuki.
What industry is Azuki in?
Azuki's product category is Trading Card Games. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALALAF, Trading Card Games (TCGs) Retail, with a secondary code of MPAJAGAA, Manga Publishing (Japanese & Global). Its NAICS code is 45912 and its SIC code is 5945.