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Investment in Plott Inc., an IP-content studio producing short-form anime
News 2024.11.14

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Vision

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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
Jun Ikeda
Japan Member
Tomohisa Izumi
Japan Member
Kazuki Ikeda
Japan Member
Yoyo Yang
Japan Member
Satoshi Iwasaki
Japan Member
Airy Matsuda
Japan Member
Tsune Ko
Japan Member
Shun Kawamoto
Japan Member
Kazuhiro Yamanaka
Japan Member
Nazuki Moriya
Japan Member
Masashi Umeda
US Member
Karim Farghaly
Europe Member
Jérôme Dureau
Contact

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

Top
Japan Member
Jun Ikeda
Joined Bandai Namco Studio, in 2015 after working for a human resources company; Bandai Namco Entertainment since 2022.
At a human resources company, he worked in new business, corporate planning and PMI for acquired companies; at Bandai Namco Studio, he was responsible for the establishment of an overseas studio before taking on the role of head of corporate headquarters, overseeing the administration department. Involved in the group's accelerator program, and has been in Bandai Namco Entertainment's Corporate Planning Unit since 2022.
Japan Member
Tomohisa Izumi
Tomohisa joined Bandai Namco Group in 2001. After working on multiple arcade and mobile games, he became the general manager of the team in charge of GUNDAM games. Tomohisa has been part of the GUNDAM Metaverse Project since its inception, and currently oversees the Innovation Department at Bandai Namco Entertainment.
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
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
Satoshi Iwasaki
After joining Namco in 2004, Satoshi mainly worked on developing games for the global audience. At Bandai Namco Entertainment, he oversaw the launch of a new game method consulting service and has invested in multiple startups. In 2019, he conducted an M&A of Shimane Susanoo Magic and became the head of business development to expand the company’s ticketing, fan club, and merchandise business. Satoshi joined the 021 Fund after returning to BNE in 2022.
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
Tsune Ko
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
Shun Kawamoto
Shun joined Bandai Namco Entertainment in 2016 and has held multiple roles including marketing of console games and operation of live events before becoming responsible for marketing and promotion of mobile GUNDAM games. Shun eventually expanded his responsibilities to new business development and fan community management and joined the 021 Fund in 2024.
Japan Member
Kazuhiro Yamanaka
Kazuhiro joined Bandai Namco Entertainment in 2024. He started his career at a startup as a product developer and later joined a major Japese telecom company as an engineer. There, Kazuhiro launched a new delivery business and mentored more than 200 new business projects. He also worked for the company’s subsidiary as a corporate development member and oversaw its financing. His responsibilities at BNE include new business development, fan community management, and CVC operations.
Japan Member
Nazuki Moriya
Nazuki joined Bandai Namco Entertainment in 2024. Her roles in the team include deal sourcing, execution, PR, and operation of internal business contests.
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.
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.