[TechCrunch] NTT-IP Invests 1 Million In New Partner EnglishCentral

TechCrunch 11/10/2010

NTT Investment Partners and EnglishCentral have formed an alliance to further online English language training in Japan. The partnership also means a one million dollar investment from NTT Partners into the cloud-based ESL platform.

EnglishCentral users watch and interact with online videos and receive feedback based on their performance. The NTT Group’s primary business is as as broadband video carrier and it plans on taking advantage of its latest partnership to expand its Virtual English service, which is a prepackaged language training program for NTT’s broadband customers. ...

VC expands foreign investment

Venture Capitals expand investment in foreign companies, such as startups in Asia growing rapidly. IPO is so active in Asia that it is easier to get return on investment. Strong yen also accelerates overseas investment.

SBI Holdings agreed on establishing venture fund with Fudan University in China. It plans to set up US$ 80 million of fund within the first half of 2011 and invest in startups such as bio, green tech, and IT launched from Fudan University. The company also plans to set up a fund targeting for potential companies in Brazil or North Africa in the near future.

An amount of foreign investment of SBI in the first half of 2010 (April to September) was 37.1 billion yen increased by 50% on a year-over-year basis.

CyberAgent's subsidiary, CyberAgent Ventures will establish a fund to invest in Asian startups in the next spring. Total amount is expected to be 5 billion yen. Its target will be EC or Internet advertising in Vietnam or Indonesia. The corporate VC set up 1.2 billion yen of fund this month focusing on greater China jointly with Japan Asia Investment.

Jafco expands target segments from IT to green technology. Its foreign investment of the first half of 2010 increased by 61% to 5 billion yen. Especially investment in Asia increased three times. In October, it established a fund with $80 million investing in Asian startups.

Nikkei 11/10/2010

Phyzios raised 450 million yen

Phyzios announced that it raised 450 million yen from five venture capitals, including Globis Capital Partners, Daiwa Corporate Investment, Nissei Capital, Mizuho Capital, and University of Tokyo Edge Capital.

Phyzios is launched from University of Tokyo developing physical simulation technology which treats any materials as particles with different properties.  With the technology, the startup develops PHYZIOS Studio, game or art creation tool, and iPhone/iPad applications on its own or partnering with other companies.

The company won Innovation Winner Award competing among 35 startups from around the world at Plug and Play iEXPO 2010, presentation conference of technology ventures held at Plug and Play Tech Center, incubation center at Silicon Valley.

Phyzios plans to strengthen human resource with this capital. Also it aims to extend partnering activities such as providing upper grade version of Tomica Hyper Rescue Lite co-developing with Takara Tomy Entamedia.

CNET 11/9/2010

Top 10 services share 90% of total prepaid coupon sales

According to the result of research conducted by LUXA, prepaid coupon site operator, total number of Groupon-type services surpassed 100 for this seven months since the first service launched and total sales from April exceeds 1.2 billion yen.

Estimated sales drastically increased from 360 million yen in September to 560 million yen October. However 90% of total revenue is occupied by top 10 companies.

Venture Now 11/9/2010

Yahoo Japan and COMEL launches digital signage ads

Yahoo Japan and Softbank Group company, COMEL, started to provide digital signage advertising service tied-up with Yahoo! Japan contents. The service provides ads packaged with Yahoo contents customized for characteristics of a location where the signage is placed.

At the launch, it distributes Yahoo Uranai (fortune-telling) to AEON Channel which has 1000 displays set in 116 AEON shopping malls and JACLA Vision with 300 digital signage media deployed at driving schools that Japan Car Life Assist operates.

CNET 11/9/2010

CyberAgent and JAIC set up $15 million fund for greater China

CyberAgent Ventures and Japan Asia Investment jointly established a fund, CA-JAIC China Internet Fund II, L.P., investing in promising startups in greater China.

Total amount of the fund is US$15 million invested by CyberAgent, JAIC and others. The targets are Internet related business in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Both had set up US$22.8 million fund in 2006 April. In the past they invested in StarCloud Media, operating Tudou.com, Chinese largest video sharing service, or Sunfun Info, operating SNS, iPartment, which has over 25 million users in China and Taiwan.

Venture Now 11/8/2010

Recochoku partners with NTT Docomo launching a new music store

Recochoku and NTT Docomo jointly launches Docomo Market Music Store powerd by Recochoku from December 6. iMode users can buy music without registration and also it allows users to use Docomo Point for purchase.

The music store plans to provide about 1 million titles without ringtone features, which is the largest scale ever for music download service for mobile phones. All titles can be previewed and also it is possible to buy all titles in an album at one time.

Asahi.com 11/8/2010