Develop Digital Industry, Kisai Entertainment Receives Funding Of 1 Million US Dollars

Mou pendanaan Kisai Entertainment (dok humas)

JAKARTA - The webtoon (digital comic) production company, Kisai Entertainment, said that it had received funding of US$1 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. This funding was obtained from two strategic investors, namely Sorajima, a leading webtoon company from Japan, and PT Anjary Jaya Raya, a local creative company that has long been involved in the Indonesian entertainment industry, especially the gaming sector.

Meanwhile, this investment marks a new history in the Indonesian comic and webtoon industry, becoming the first and largest funding ever received by comic/webtoon companies in the country.

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno expressed his hope that this step is expected to become a solid platform for the development of the national comic industry as a whole.

"This partnership can encourage the potential of comics, benefit the community, and contribute to the development of the national creative economy," he said in his statement, Friday, October 11.

Kisai Entertainment Founder & CEO Tessa Yadawaputri said that her party was very enthusiastic about this strategic partnership. Where this funding will not only allow us to accelerate business growth, but also open up exciting collaboration opportunities with these two strategic partners.

In addition, Tessa sees this as an important moment for the Indonesian comic industry. This investment is proof that the creative content industry, especially comics / webtoons, is a potential industry with great economic value.

"We hope that this success can inspire and encourage the growth of the national comic ecosystem as a whole," he said.

According to Tessa, this investment marks a significant step for the company in strengthening its position in the digital content market in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

Tessa explained that with financial and strategic support from Sorajima and PT Anjary Jaya Raya, Kisai Entertainment plans to expand its content production reach and develop production into the realm of original webtoon works that can be marketed globally and develop into the largest IP powerhouse in Southeast Asia.

Menurut Tessa Kisai Entertainment berkomitmen untuk memanfaatkan pendanaan ini guna mengembangkan dan meningkatkan kapasitas produksi konten dengan kualitas lebih baik, memproduksi konten original berkual berkualitas tinggi, dan memperkuat tim kreatif mereka.

Meanwhile, one of the initial expansions that will be carried out is to carry out the transformation of a service-based company, becoming a company that issues webtoons, comics, and original IPs.

As a concrete step, Tessa said that in the near future Kisai Entertainment will announce several strategic programs directly related to the development of webtoon industry talents in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, as well as start planning the development of the original webtoon IP for release in 2025.

"The partnership with Sorajima will also combine works and works of Japan - Indonesia, both aspire to produce stories that are global and across generations," he said.

Tessa said that these three companies are optimistic that this strategic step will position them as one of the leaders in the digital content industry in Indonesia and the region, as well as pave the way for the rapid growth of the national comic industry.

"Since I first entered the webtoon industry, one of my dreams is to build a Kisai like Ghibli's studio which is able to describe the journey of an extraordinary and fantasy character, and inspire the world," he said.

Co CEO of Sorajima, Kojuro Hagihara added, Sorajima is a company dedicated to creating works capable of defining the latest century and his party is very enthusiastic about undergoing this golden challenge through a partnership with Kisai Entertainment.

"We are very excited to collaborate with Tessa, everyone at Kisai Entertainment, and of course, talented talents in Indonesia and all over Southeast Asia. We are confident in ASEAN POWER!", she said.

Meanwhile, Director of PT Anjary Jaya Raya, Andrew Yap, said that as a company based in Indonesia, his target is to support local businesses that can be known not only in Indonesia, but also on the world stage.

According to Andrew, that is the reason his party proudly supports the growth of Kisai Entertainment, whose works have a place in Indonesia and the world.

"We believe that this collaboration will attract many new audiences for the digital entertainment industry in Indonesia, and be able to trigger the progress of the national comic industry," he explained.