OPENREC
Live streaming platform for gaming and entertainment.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| investor investor investor investor investor | €0.0 | round | |
* | JPY1.2b | Debt | |
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
OPENREC.tv is a live-streaming platform focused on gaming, e-sports, and original entertainment content. Initially launched in September 2014 by CyberZ, Inc. as a video-sharing service for mobile games, it transitioned to live streaming in September 2015. The platform provides high-definition, low-latency streaming and offers a monetization program for content creators through a revenue-sharing "Yell function" (a tipping system) and monthly subscriptions.
The business was incorporated as a separate entity, OPENREC, Inc., on December 28, 2022, when it was spun off from CyberZ. In February 2023, DONUTS Co. Ltd. acquired a majority stake in OPENREC, making it a subsidiary. This integration aims to create synergies with DONUTS' existing businesses, such as the live-streaming app "Mikucha" and their e-sports division. OPENREC has also secured significant funding, including a 2.4 billion yen round in May 2024 from investors like Pegasus Tech Ventures, GENDA Capital, and others. In January 2025, NTT Docomo Ventures also made a capital investment to strengthen the creation and development of original intellectual property.
The company's business model is diversified, generating revenue from multiple streams including premium memberships, pay-per-view (PPV) tickets for special events, advertising, and sponsor tie-ups. OPENREC also has a significant focus on producing original content and large-scale live events. For instance, the "Haishinsha Hyper Game Taikai" (Streamer Hyper Game Tournament) in March 2024 attracted nearly 40,000 in-person attendees and about 300,000 concurrent online viewers. Furthermore, the company has expanded into merchandising through its original apparel brand, "with mellow," and related mobile apps for event merchandise.
Keywords: live streaming, video platform, game streaming, e-sports, content monetization, creator economy, pay-per-view, online events, influencer marketing, digital entertainment, subscription service, mobile gaming, fan community, merchandising, Japanese startup, live commerce, video content, content delivery