In this series of articles, we are focusing on the Japanese startups that recently got in the spotlight, discussing their concepts, goals and activities. Today’s company is SHOWROOM.
SHOWROOM
Overview
SHOWROOM is a Japan-based company operating several live streaming platforms.
Mission
Create a world where efforts are rewarded fairly
Vision
Become a company that supports each dream at full power
Service
SHOWROOM is operating 4 services.
1. Live Streaming service
Real-time communication through gifting and comments creates high-energy connections.
Service URL: https://www.showroom-live.com/
2. VR/AR business
SHOWROOM is delivering cutting-edge entertainment through the operation and live production of the VR live platform "SHOWSTAGE".
Service URL: https://www.showstage.live/
3. Media
SHOWROOM is developing a wide range of genres of video content with the professional-quality vertical theater app "smash.", specializes in viewing on smartphones.
Service URL: https://smash-media.jp/
4. IP business
SHOWROOM is creating customized entertainment IP (official program production in live streaming platform / corporate official virtual talent training, etc.) for each company.
Total Funding Amount
About $28.6M
(Source: StartupDB)
Investors (featured)
Japan: Sony Music Entertainment, Dentsu Group, Global Brain, SBI Investment, TV Asahi
South Korea: HYBE (former Big Hit)
(Source: StartupDB)
Top Message (from SHOWROOM CEO Yuji Maeda)
(Source: SHOWROOM corporate website)
Entertainment × Technology, derivering enthusiasm from Asia to the world
During a trip abroad, I was on a blue sleeper train that crossed the continent from east to west. When I was out of bed without being able to sleep well on a hard sheet, a boy approached me from nowhere and woke me up. When I look at him, it looks like he's lame. I didn't know what he was talking about, but once he finished speaking, he started to imitate the drums with two sticks, using his hands dexterously, as if saying "I'm lame, but I can use my remaining hands to entertain people. If I feel good about my performance, please give me some money." Interpreting that, I handed over the money I had at that time. However, people around him got angry and drove the boy to another vehicle, perhaps because they were disturbed by his sleep, or because of the remnants of class society. The back view of the boy leaving is strangely impressive, and the image is imprinted on my mind, along with the indescribable inconvenience.
Did he have any problems at that time? I don't think so.
There are two types of adversity in the world. There are things that can be overcome with effort and things that cannot be helped by the efforts of the person himself. I think the boy I met was in the latter situation.
Someone like him who strongly desires to "live a richer life", "express more", and "open up his own potential", but cannot do so due to some environment or constraints, I thought.
Isn't it our mission to get rid of such "restrictions on engrossment"?
If the power of technology was combined with his innocent and enthusiastic performance at that time, who was crazy about playing the drums. For example, if the situation was broadcast live all over the world. I think that was the birth of tremendous entertainment that would bring someone's life-changing immersiveness, I think.
I love the word "enthusiasm". There are two possible meanings. One is to have a dream and be absorbed in yourself. The other is to get into someone's dream. I think there is also such a way of being "enthusiastic" that someone's dream becomes one's dream. Impressed by that boy and giving courage to people like him, having a dream to stand on the stage is one of the crazy forms. At the same time, it is another form of immersiveness to enter into his dream, believe that the dream will come true, and walk along the way to the dream. I think we humans were born to enjoy the supreme moment of "enthusiasm" as much as possible.
Everyone gets a chance to be absorbed in what they like, and with their dream sympathizers, they go on a never-flat path of effort, and in the end, they really realize their dreams. Creating such a fair and warm world is SHOWROOM's management philosophy and significance of existence. In order to embody this philosophy, we will do our utmost to deliver "crazy" in all colors and shapes from Asia to the world by multiplying old entertainment with new technology.
Web URL
SHOWROOM (Corporate website)
https://showroom.co.jp/
