VShojo
Company typePrivate
Industry
FoundedNovember 24, 2020
Founders
  • Justin Ignacio (CEO)
  • Phillip Fortunat (CTO)
  • Daniel Sanders (COO)
Headquarters
San Francisco, California
,
United States
Websitewww.vshojo.com

VShojo (officially VShojo, Inc.) is an American talent agency that focuses on promoting VTuber content creators based in San Francisco, California. VShojo bills itself as a "talent first" agency, oriented towards providing resources (such as models, merchandising, and advertisement opportunities) to its talent.

Overview

CEO Justin "TheGunrun" Ignacio, a member of the team that founded Twitch, CTO Phillip "MowtenDoo" Fortunat, a content creator on YouTube, and COO Daniel "Apek" Sanders, a former digital media attorney, co-founded VShojo to promote and empower English-speaking VTubers.[1][2][3][4] It debuted on November 24, 2020, as one of the first VTuber companies based in the United States and the Western world.[1][2][3][4]

Talents

VShojo VTubers
Name VTuber debut VShojo debut Notes
Apricot (Froot) November 27, 2020
General Geega February 16, 2021 September 2, 2023[5]
Haruka Karibu May 8, 2020 December 3, 2022[6]
Hime Hajime January 30, 2021 Part-time
Ironmouse August 5, 2017[7] November 24, 2020
Kuro Kurenai September 30, 2023[8]
Matara Kan October 15, 2023
Projekt Melody December 27, 2019[9] November 24, 2020
Zentreya November 26, 2017 November 24, 2020
Additional sources:[1][2][3][4]
VShojo Japan VTubers
Name VTuber debut VShojo debut
Henya the Genius May 13, 2023
Kson May 1, 2016 July 16, 2022
Sources:[10][11][12]
Former VShojo VTubers
Name VTuber debut VShojo debut Contract expired
Amemiya Nazuna July 16, 2022 December 31, 2023
Nyatasha Nyanners July 17, 2020[13][14][15] November 24, 2020 April 30, 2023
Silvervale July 30, 2019 November 24, 2020 April 26, 2023
Veibae April 12, 2020[16] April 9, 2021

In October 2021, Ironmouse and Veibae were listed, for the first time, among the top 10 female streamers on Twitch based on hours watched.[17][18] On February 15, 2022, Ironmouse passed one million followers and 75,000 subscribers on Twitch, making her Twitch's most-subscribed female streamer.[19][20] On February 20, 2022, Ironmouse's Twitch subscription count surpassed 93,000 making her, at the time, the streamer with the most active Twitch subscriptions.[21]

In March 2022, VShojo raised $11 million in a funding round led by Anthos Capital, with goals to expand its focus on working with anime and gaming conventions on content and appearances by its talent, Ignacio's "IRL Backpack" project for mobile video streaming, and a collaboration with the mental health group Rise Above the Disorder.[22]

In July 2022 at Anime Expo, the company announced a new Japanese division, with its inaugural members including independent streamer Kson, and Nazuna.[23]

On April 26, 2023 VShojo announced via Twitter that Silvervale and Veibae would not be renewing their contracts,[24] with Nyanners following on April 30.[25] A new VTuber for VShojo Japan, Henya the Genius, debuted on May 13, 2023.[12] VShojo's first male VTuber, Kuro Kurenai, debuted on September 30.[8] Another new VTuber for VShojo, Matara Kan, debuted just over two weeks later.[26]

Awards and nominations

Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2023 The Streamer Awards Best Content Organization Nominated [27]
The Vtuber Awards Best Vtuber Org Nominated [28][29][30]
Best Concert Event
(Candy Pop Explosion) 		Nominated
2024 The Streamer Awards Best Content Organization Nominated [31]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Beresford, Trilby (November 24, 2020). "Talent Agency Launches With Focus on Vtubing". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Lyttle, Brandon (November 24, 2020). "New Western VTuber Brand VShojo Launches Starring Projekt Melody". Niche Gamer. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Agonoy, Jay (November 28, 2020). "US-based VShojo VTuber Group Debuts". Anime Corner. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c Kok, William (November 29, 2020). "VShojo Enters the Vtuber World as the First Western Vtuber Agency". The Outerhaven. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  5. ^ @VShojo (September 3, 2023). "【✨DEBUT✨】Please welcome the legendary mid-boss @GeneralGEEGA as the newest member of the VShojo family! Debut stream starting!! https://twitch.tv/geega #VShojo #VShojoDebut" (Tweet). Retrieved September 2, 2023 – via Twitter.
  6. ^ VShojo [@VShojoOfficial] (December 4, 2022). "🎉 DEBUT 🎉 Please welcome @haruka_karibu as the newest member of the VShojo family! Debut stream starting right now!! https://twitch.tv/harukakaribu #VShojoDebut #VShojo" (Tweet). Retrieved December 3, 2022 – via Twitter.
  7. ^ @ironmouse (July 14, 2021). "In August 2017 I didnt have a debut I just started vtubing to 0-3 people hanging out. On my birthday in January 2020 I had about 63 people spending time with me. Everyone starts somewhere" (Tweet). Retrieved November 23, 2021 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ a b Cambosa, Teddy (October 1, 2023). "VShojo Debuts First Ever Male Talent Kuro Kurenai". Anime Corner. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  9. ^ Projekt Melody (December 27, 2019). [MMD] Adios - EVERGLOW [+Motion DL]. YouTube. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  10. ^ "震撼！Kson總長加入VShojo，神秘新人「飴宮なずな」一同加入" (in Chinese). 4Gamers. July 3, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  11. ^ Harding, Daryl (July 4, 2022). "VTuber kson and Newcomer Amemiya Nazuna Join VShojo in 1st Japan Wave". Crunchyroll. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  12. ^ a b "VShojo announces Henya The Genius, their second original VTuber". Dexerto. May 11, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  13. ^ @NyanNyanners (July 15, 2020). "this Friday, 7/17 on http://twitch.tv/nyannersz, the seal will be broken and she will be released onto the world!!! prepare yourselves" (Tweet). Retrieved November 23, 2021 – via Twitter.
  14. ^ @NyanNyanners (July 21, 2020). "i made a character bio thingy 👉👈" (Tweet). Retrieved November 23, 2021 – via Twitter.
  15. ^ "Vtuber Nyanner達成百萬訂閱，非日系公司第一人". 4Gamers. January 4, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  16. ^ @Veibae (April 12, 2020). "okay me live, happy easter, 1st cam stream : ) no kap" (Tweet). Retrieved November 23, 2021 – via Twitter.
  17. ^ Wilde, Thomas (November 15, 2021). "Livestreaming report: 'New World' hits top 5 on Twitch and 'virtual YouTubers' on the rise". GeekWire. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  18. ^ Amos, Andrew (November 17, 2021). "VTuber stars Veibae and Ironmouse catapult up Twitch rankings in October 2021". Dexerto. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  19. ^ Amos, Andrew (February 16, 2022). "VTuber Star Ironmouse Smashes Kkatamina's Twitch Subscriber Record". Dexerto. Archived from the original on February 16, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  20. ^ Alford, Aaron (February 15, 2022). "VTuber Ironmouse Claims Title of Most-Subbed-to-Female Twitch Streamer During Subathon". Inven Global. Archived from the original on February 16, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  21. ^ Lawrence, Scotti (February 20, 2022). "VTuber Ironmouse Loses It After Becoming Most-Subbed Twitch Streamer". Dexerto. Archived from the original on February 20, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  22. ^ "Vshojo works with Ironmouse and other popular Vtubers. It just secured $11 million in funding". Tubefilter. March 16, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  23. ^ Harding, Daryl. "VTuber kson and Newcomer Amemiya Nazuna Join VShojo in 1st Japan Wave". Crunchyroll. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  24. ^ @VShojo (April 26, 2023). "To our community, Silvervale and Vei have chosen not to renew their contracts with VShojo. We respect their decision and want to thank them for helping make VShojo what it is today. They will also retain their IP so they can continue as the creators you love! We wish them the best on the next leg of their journey. Sincerely, The VShojo Team" (Tweet). Retrieved April 26, 2023 – via Twitter.
  25. ^ @VShojo (April 30, 2023). "To our community, We'd like to inform you that Nyanners has decided not to renew her contract with VShojo. We fully support her decision and are grateful for her contributions to the growth of VShojo. Nyanners will retain her IP, ensuring she can carry on as the beloved creator you know. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors. Sincerely, The VShojo Team" (Tweet). Retrieved April 30, 2023 – via Twitter.
  26. ^ @VShojo (October 15, 2023). "DEBUT TIME!! Matara (@MataraKan) is LIVE 🪳🤍 https://twitch.tv/matarakan #VShojo #VshojoDebut #MataraKan" (Tweet). Retrieved October 15, 2023 – via Twitter.
  27. ^ Polhamus, Blaine (February 20, 2023). "All 2023 Streamer Awards nominees". Dot Esports. Gamurs.
  28. ^ Enriquez, XC (November 29, 2023). "Here are All Nominees for The Vtuber Awards!". ClutchPoints. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  29. ^ Warren, Trenton (December 18, 2023). "The VTuber Community Unites: Winners from the 2023 VTuber Awards". Anime Trending. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  30. ^ "The VTuber Awards - Winners". The VTuber Awards. December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  31. ^ Bhattacharya, Richik (January 25, 2024). "The Streamer Awards announces nominees for all categories: Full 2024 nominee list includes Kai Cenat, Iron Mouse, and more". Sportskeeda. Nazara Technologies.

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