Appland (Upland)

Appland Inc. is a Japanese entertainment company specializing in the Virtual YouTuber (VTuber) sector. Founded in May 2007, the company is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The current CEO is Naoya Murata.

Appland rose to prominence in the early days of the VTuber boom by launching its first major talent, Dennou Shojo Siro, whose YouTube channel was created in June 2017. This milestone marked the company's significant entry into the VTuber market. The company's primary business revolves around the development and production of VTuber character intellectual properties (IPs) and the management of its talent agency, ".LIVE" (dot live). Through ".LIVE", Appland manages a roster of VTuber talents, supporting their activities on platforms like YouTube, including live streaming, music releases, and merchandise sales. The business model includes generating revenue from these activities, as well as from corporate tie-ups, event planning, and merchandise sales.

In April 2023, Appland became a subsidiary of MBS Innovation Drive, a move intended to expand its business domain within the content field and acquire new fan bases. Following this, Appland launched a new VTuber unit called "VPIVE" (ぶいぱい). The company also explores new ventures using technologies like Web3.0, aiming to contribute to the future of the entertainment and internet industries.

Keywords: VTuber production, VTuber agency, .LIVE, virtual talent management, Japanese entertainment, character IP development, Dennou Shojo Siro, virtual streamers, live streaming content, character licensing, corporate collaboration, digital entertainment, VPIVE, MBS Innovation Drive, virtual events, content creation, talent management, merchandise sales, YouTube creators, Japanese pop culture