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Vision

Connect with Fans

Our team envisions a future where the digital economy has expanded, and fans move between the physical and digital worlds with entertainment connected ever closer to their normal daily lives.

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Portfolio

Plott Inc.
Producing viral short-form anime IPs on social media
Look North World
Studio and publisher on UGC gaming platforms
UTAITE Inc.
Producing hybrid-virtual artists and performers
Code Charm
Browser-based collaboration tool for creators
Flickplay
Social "digital-toy" platform for IP fans
GGWP Inc.
AI-based moderation tool for online gaming communities
Anzu Virtual Reality Ltd.
Provider of programmatic in-game advertising solution
SuperGaming Pte. Ltd.
Game studio building for the Indian gamers and beyond

Team

Japan Member
Atsushi Soneoka
Japan Member
Kazuki Ikeda
Japan Member
Kentaro Homma
Japan Member
Yoyo Yang
Japan Member
Airy Matsuda
Japan Member
Zin Kao
Japan Member
Masashi Umeda
Japan Member
Natsuhiro Maruyama
US Member
Karim Farghaly
Europe Member
Jérôme Dureau
Contact

Click on the “Contact” button for more information on the Bandai Namco 021 Fund

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Japan Member
Atsushi Soneoka
Atsushi joined Bandai in 2003. Within the Corporate Planning Unit, he contributed to the development of mid-term strategies, M&A initiatives, and business improvement projects. After holding several corporate development roles, including serving as CFO of an overseas subsidiary, Atsushi now serves as Executive Officer of the Corporate Planning Unit at BNE, where he oversees all corporate operations.
Japan Member
Kazuki Ikeda
Kazuki joined Bandai Namco Entertainment in 2020 after working on M&A projects at a trading company. Past projects include cross-border M&A, small-scale minority investments, venture investments, and general business development. At BNE, he was in charge of launching the company’s M&A team and CVC fund, and now oversees various initiatives including development and promotion of the company’s alliance program (investment into development companies) and business development of CVC fund’s portfolio companies.
Japan Member
Kentaro Homma
Kentaro joined Bandai Networks in 2006, where he collaborated with major telecom carriers. At Bandai Namco Entertainment, he worked as a producer and promoter for console and mobile games featuring third-party IPs. Following this, he managed multiple game projects in China, handled licensing, and oversaw quality control departments before ultimately joining the 021 Fund.
Japan Member
Yoyo Yang
Yoyo has a Ph.D in International Relations and has experience in both startup and corporate VC industries for many years. In BNE 021 Fund, she mainly oversees global investment and business collaboration. She is a trilingual speaker in Mandarin, English and Japanese.
Japan Member
Airy Matsuda
Airy (pronounced eye-ree) joined BNE in 2023. Prior to that, she worked in a bridal company, holding positions in IR and PR teams before participating in an in-group entrepreneurship program. Through the program, Airy founded and became the CEO of a subsidiary that handled the EC business. Leveraging her experience in marketing and business development, Airy is in charge of the general investment pipeline along with PR activities for the 021 Fund.
Japan Member
Zin Kao
Zin joined Bandai Namco Entertainment in 2024 after working in an asset management team at a major Japanese telecom company. In his previous position, Zin performed internal due diligence of startups and VCs in the telecom space and managed the company’s investment portfolio. He is leveraging his expertise to perform due diligence and portfolio monitoring for the 021 Fund.
Japan Member
Masashi Umeda
Masashi joined BANDAI in 1986. After successfully handling Gunpla marketing, he was assigned to handle new businesses outside of the toy market such as planning and development of events and participation in the mobile gaming business. At Bandai Namco Entertainment, he applied his experience as a game creator to his role within the game method consulting business and spread the business into markets outside of game development. He holds a vast network within the Group and is seeking to connect the company’s current business with different startups.
Japan Member
Natsuhiro Maruyama
Natsuhiro “Hiro” Maruyama joined the fund in the end of 2022, initially to oversee international communications and now expanding his responsibilities to handle international deals in general. Upon completing his studies in the US, Hiro previously worked in the music industry, supporting musicians visiting Japan and coordinating live events.
US Member
Karim Farghaly
Karim Farghaly joined Bandai Namco Entertainment America (BNEA) in 2015 and currently serves as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development.In his current role, Karim oversees a team of 25 located at BNEA’s Southern California HQ who handle Content Partnerships and Acquisition, Brand Development for PAC-MAN and GUNDAM, esports and live entertainment, IP Licensing and M&A.Prior to joining BNEA, Karim held multiple positions in the game industry with Interplay, Aspyr, Empire Interactive and others over a 20 year career in the US and Europe.
Europe Member
Jérôme Dureau
Jerome joined Bandai Namco Europe in 2013 and is specializing in transformation programs.
During his career, Jerome successfully launched multiple high profile videogame titles across EMEA, led innovative product developments based on new technologies, worked on various M&A transactions involving outside development studios and strengthened Bandai Namco’s footprint through Corporate development projects and Sustainability.
Jerome’s main responsibility for the Bandai Namco 021 Fund is to identify and evaluate partners which will enable Bandai Namco’s future product offerings.