Innovative Cross-Border Fund Invests in Japanese AI Startup Visual Bank

In a strategic move aimed at enhancing the Japan-Taiwan AI landscape, the CDIB Cross Border Innovation Fund (CCBI) has made a significant investment in Visual Bank, a pioneering AI startup based in Shibuya, Tokyo. CCBI, backed by KGI Financial Holding in Taiwan and the Cool Japan Organization in Japan, strives to drive innovation in the anime and manga sectors, leveraging the latest advancements in artificial intelligence.

Visual Bank, established in 2022, has emerged as a major player in the visual content management sector in Japan. As the owner of "amana Images," one of the largest visual content platforms, the company is at the forefront of technological innovation. Through its subsidiary, "THE PEN," Visual Bank has developed AI-assisted tools that streamline the creative process for manga artists, enabling them to significantly reduce production time from initial sketches to final artwork. This efficiency allows creators to dedicate more time to their craft, thereby fostering the production of high-quality anime and manga intellectual properties (IPs).

General Manager of CDIB Capital Innovation Advisors, Kuo Da-Jing, expressed optimism about the collaboration, stating, "AI-driven creative tools will be crucial for the future of the digital content industry. Visual Bank possesses exceptional technological prowess and innovation, making it an ideal bridge between the animation industries of Japan and Taiwan. This investment reflects our strong belief in the company's growth potential, and we hope it will catalyze new opportunities within cross-culture and cross-media collaborations."

The CCBI fund has increasingly focused on investments within Asia, particularly in Japan and Taiwan, targeting a variety of sectors. Funded not just by government-associated bodies like the Cool Japan Organization and Taiwan’s National Development Fund, it also has significant participation from leading Taiwanese firms like Himax and SYSTEX. CCBI is particularly interested in startups that fall within mobile commerce, digital transformation, AI/blockchain, and lifestyle sectors.

In addition to making investments, CCBI is actively involved in creating a "Taiwan-Japan Startup Ecosystem Co-Creation Platform." One notable event, the "Cross-border Open Innovation Day—DX for Future Tech," co-hosted with Meet Global in Tokyo last month, featured twelve startups from both countries alongside four major companies, engaging in lively discussions about the challenges and opportunities present within the Japanese market for startups.

General Manager Nan Yi-Jun of CDIB Capital commented on their commitment to fostering the startup ecosystem: "We have consistently deepened the Japan-Taiwan startup ecosystem and promoted open innovation, supporting the growth of promising startups. Moving forward, we will actively explore investments in deep-tech sectors, including biotechnology, semiconductors, and AI-based infrastructure in Japan, providing investors with even more flexible and diverse asset portfolio opportunities."

About CDIB Capital Innovation Advisors Corporation

CDIB Capital Innovation Advisors Corporation, a subsidiary of Taiwan’s KGI Financial Holding, specializes in providing venture capital and fund management services. Established in March 2023, CDIB has an operational base in Ichigaya, Tokyo, and launched the CDIB Cross Border Innovation Fund II in partnership with the Cool Japan Organization in August 2024. The company is dedicated to supporting global expansion for startups from both Japan and Taiwan through various events and initiatives.

Company Overview

- Name: CDIB Capital Innovation Advisors Corporation
- Address: 2-3, Iidabashi Motomura-cho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo, 162-0845, Japan
- Business: Venture Capital
- HP: CDIB Capital Group