CyberAgent Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of Japan-based online media and development company CyberAgent, has invested an undisclosed amount in the Korea-based mobile application (app) developer Kakao.
Kakao is best known for its social messaging app KakaoTalk, which has accumulated more than 22 million users since its launch in March 2010. With the backing of CyberAgent’s resources, Kakao is looking to expand globally, particularly in Japan.
Established in 2006, CyberAgent Ventures has recently been beefing up its profile across Asia, setting up a new office in Taiwan, in July, and shortly afterwards launching a new venture fund specialising in Japan-based internet start-ups.
CyberAgent’s biggest success has been Ameba, a successful blogging and social networking website. Ameba has subsequently diversified into Ameba Now, a microblogging website competing with Twitter, and an English version known as Ameba Pico, which is available as an app on social networking site Facebook.