Courses & Events
AI and Media Content Startups in Japan
Tuesday, Jun 2, 2026
04:30 pm - 05:50 pm
In our final session of our spring series, we’ll explore how Japanese startups are using AI to transform media and content creation with panelists Raven Gao, Founder of PixAI and CEO of Mewtant Inc., Shiho Watabe, Chairperson of Shibuya Startups KK, and Yoyo Yang, Investor at Makers Fund. They’ll discuss emerging trends in the creator economy, innovation in AI-powered storytelling and design, and the evolving role of Japan’s startup ecosystem in global tech.
Dr. Richard Dasher, Director of US-ATMC, will serve as moderator.
Registration:
- To attend in-person, please RSVP here.
- To attend by Zoom, please register here.
Details
Agenda:
- 4:30 pm – 5:50 pm Discussion and Audience Q&A
- 5:50 pm – 6:30 pm Networking reception
Venue:
- Stanford University, Bishop Auditorium, 518 Memorial Way, Stanford, CA 94305 [Google Map]
Parking options:
- Memorial Way, Stanford, CA 94305 [Google Map]
- Lasuen St. and Roth Way, Stanford, CA 94305 [Google Map]
- Please check parking signs carefully to ensure that permitted parking (A or C) and metered spaces are free after 4:00 pm. Paid parking is enforced around The Oval until 6:00 pm.
Speakers
Raven Gao
Founder, PixAI and CEO, Mewtant Inc.
Raven Gao is the Founder of PixAI and CEO of Mewtant, a company that develops anime-style AI. The company operates “Pixai,” an anime character generation site boasting over 2 million monthly visitors. He holds a degree in AI from Columbia University.
Shiho Watabe
Chairperson, Shibuya Startups KK
Growing up in Shibuya City and eventually graduating from Stanford University (’06) with a master’s degree, Shiho worked in companies such as Morgan Stanley, Google, and Mercari before venturing into startups at an earlier stage. She worked across Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Africa, as well as Silicon Valley.
She served as an advisor to her hometown of Shibuya City before becoming the CEO of Shibuya Startups KK at its founding in February 2023 and has served as its Chair since July 2025.
Over the years in her career, Shiho has advised or invested in more than 70 startups globally, with a particular focus on the creator economy, agetech, sustainability, and other sectors shaping the world’s future. In addition to her primary roles, she advises a venture capital firm and teaches at a Japanese university.
Yoyo (Yao) Yang
Investor, Makers Fund
Yoyo focuses on investing in and supporting founders across Asia. She has a passion for otome and party games, as well as K-pop and anime.
Before joining Makers, Yoyo led investments in gaming and consumer tech companies based in Japan and supported overseas teams with their market expansion efforts.
