AI and Media Content Startups in Japan
In our final session of our spring series, we’ll explore how Japanese startups are using AI to transform media and content creation with panelists Raven Gao, CEO of Mewtant Inc., Shiho Watabe, Chairperson of Shibuya Startups KK, and Yoyo Yang, Investor at Makers Fund. They’ll discuss emerging trends in the creator economy, innovation in AI-powered storytelling and design, and the evolving role of Japan’s startup ecosystem in global tech.
Dr. Richard Dasher, Director of Stanford's US-Asia Technology Management Center, will serve as moderator.
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Panelists
Raven Gao, CEO, Mewtant Inc.
Raven Gao is the CEO of Mewtant, a company that develops anime-style AI. The company operates “Pixai,” an anime character generation site boasting over 2 million monthly visitors. He holds a degree in AI from Columbia University.
Shiho Watabe, Chairperson, Shibuya Startups KK
Growing up in Shibuya City and eventually graduating from Stanford University (’06) with a master’s degree, Shiho worked in companies such as Morgan Stanley, Google, and Mercari before venturing into startups at an earlier stage. She worked across Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Africa, as well as Silicon Valley.
She served as an advisor to her hometown of Shibuya City before becoming the CEO of Shibuya Startups KK at its founding in February 2023 and has served as its Chair since July 2025.
Yoyo (Yao) Yang, Investor, Makers Fund
Yoyo focuses on investing in and supporting founders across Asia. She has a passion for otome and party games, as well as K-pop and anime.
Before joining Makers, Yoyo led investments in gaming and consumer tech companies based in Japan and supported overseas teams with their market expansion efforts.
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This program is hosted by Stanford's US-Asia Technology Management Center. It is part of our spring seminar series on "Entrepreneurship in Asian High Tech Industries". Check-out our speaker line-up here!
Registration:
To attend in-person, please register on Luma.
To attend by Zoom, go here: https://stanford.zoom.us/meeting/register/IXK1zLrXR-ODOShC3cwcJQ#/registration
Agenda:
4:30 pm – 5:50 pm Discussion and Audience Q&A
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Networking Reception
Venue:
Stanford University, Bishop Auditorium, 518 Memorial Way, Stanford, CA 94305 [Google Map]
Parking options:
Memorial Way, Stanford, CA 94305 [Google Map]
Lasuen St. and Roth Way, Stanford, CA 94305 [Google Map]
Please check parking signs carefully to ensure that permitted parking (A or C) and metered spaces are free after 4:00 pm. Paid parking is enforced around The Oval until 6:00 pm.