Smart Share Corporation Joins MBS Group to Accelerate Business Growth

Smart Share Corporation Joins MBS Group

Smart Share Corporation, headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, and led by CEO Taichi Matsuda, has become a member of the MBS Group following the acquisition of a majority stake by MBS Innovation Drive. This marks an important transition for Smart Share, enabling it to advance as a subsidiary of MBS Group.

Background of Joining MBS Group

MBS Innovation Drive is tasked with creating new business ventures within the MBS Group. This organization actively collaborates with a variety of partners beyond the broadcasting sector. By integrating investments and business development in areas such as digital marketing, IP and content creation, VTuber production, e-commerce, VR, and audio distribution, MBS Innovation Drive is pioneering next-generation media and content businesses.

With this new development, Smart Share aims to combine its expertise in SNS marketing with MBS Group's extensive experience in broadcast content production. The goal is to create new value in response to evolving market needs.

Future Initiatives

Through this partnership, Smart Share intends to enhance collaboration across the MBS Group to generate the following synergies:

1. Joint Sales Initiatives: Collaborating with sales teams across group companies, including Vogaro Inc.
2. Strengthening Group-wide Marketing Efforts: Integrating SNS marketing with development capabilities to offer comprehensive solutions; launching joint campaigns that combine VTuber content and SNS marketing.
3. Collaborative Digital Content Development: Promoting cross-group digital transformation initiatives and innovating new marketing strategies that blend broadcast content with SNS.

Representative Comments

CEO Taichi Matsuda emphasizes that Smart Share has been building its expertise and knowledge in SNS marketing under the philosophy of making every communication valuable. Joining the MBS Group is a significant decision for the next growth phase of the company. By enhancing products like OWNLY and leveraging engineering prowess to broaden development areas, Smart Share aims to address the challenges faced by numerous businesses in collaboration with MBS Group affiliates. Combining the insights gained from over 940 brands and more than 30,000 executed campaigns with MBS Group’s broadcast and content production expertise, Smart Share is confident in its ability to deliver unprecedented value.

Kenji Hikasa, CEO of MBS Innovation Drive, notes that MBS Innovation Drive operates under the spirit of “Be the Mavericks” to challenge conventional boundaries in the broadcasting industry. By incorporating Smart Share into the group, the company anticipates a fusion of extensive content production capabilities with advanced SNS marketing technology. This integration is seen as more than just business expansion—it's expected to spearhead new media experiences in the digital age. Furthermore, Smart Share's capabilities are set to accelerate the MBS Group’s overall digital shift. Combining ideas from broadcasting with SNS marketing will lead to the creation of innovative content and campaigns.

Overview of Smart Share Corporation

- Name: Smart Share Corporation
- Representative: Taichi Matsuda
- Established: 2011
- Location: 2-22-14 Higashi, Shibuya, Tokyo, 150-0011
- Business Activities:

- SNS marketing tool: OWNLY
- Support for X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LINE, TikTok and more
- Campaign management system to significantly reduce operational workload
- Functions for collecting and analyzing user-generated content (UGC)
- BPO services for campaign management, including application handling, customer inquiries, and prize dispatch, with over 700 successful operations
- Custom development for owned media and companies' unique needs
- Support for efficiency improvements through system/app development for municipalities and businesses

- Website: SMART SHARE

Overview of MBS Innovation Drive

- Name: MBS Innovation Drive
- Representative: Kenji Hikasa
- Established: September 3, 2018
- Location: 28th Floor, Akasaka Biz Tower, 5-3-1 Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, 107-0052
- Business Activities: Investment in new business and development; overseeing the VTuber business operated by Upland; managing e-commerce through Hinata Life; digital marketing via Vogaro Inc.
- Website: MBS Innovation Drive