Japan-based virtual talent management agency Activ8 has raised ¥600m ($5.4m) in funding from investors including game publisher Gumi and Makers Fund, The Bridge reported on Sunday.
Avtiv8 runs a platform called Upd8 that manages virtual talent for video streaming service YouTube. The company currently has 25 talents under management, including one based on artificial intelligence, and operates a total of 26 channels on YouTube.
The money will go towards human resources as the company ramps up efforts to sign up additional talent and grow its Upd8 platform to 1,000 members.
The company has raised three funding rounds to date and has raised $6.3m to date, according to The Bridge. Gumi previously supplied capital through an unnamed fund, though further details could not be ascertained.