The AI VTuber industry has reached another major turning point as Shizuku AI, a startup focused on AI-powered virtual characters, announced the successful completion of its seed funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), one of the most influential venture capital firms in the world. The investment marks a historic move, as it represents the first time a16z has made a strong commitment to a project deeply rooted in Japanese-style character culture and AI companions.
According to reports, Shizuku AI raised approximately USD 15 million, valuing the company at around USD 75 million. The round also included personal participation from Adam D’Angelo, a board member of OpenAI, further reinforcing confidence in Shizuku’s technological direction and long-term vision.
Behind Shizuku AI is founder and CEO Akio Kodaira, whose background bridges advanced academic research and real-world AI development. He earned his PhD in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley, and previously worked on cutting-edge research at Meta and Luma AI. Kodaira is also known for StreamDiffusion, a real-time AI image generation technology capable of running at up to 90 frames per second, which gained global attention for its performance.
Shizuku AI was originally developed in 2023 with the goal of creating an AI VTuber that can interact with audiences in a more natural, emotionally rich, and human-like manner. Unlike traditional VTubers that rely heavily on scripted content, Shizuku aims to function as an AI companion capable of meaningful conversation, adaptive behavior, and long-term engagement with fans.
With fresh funding from a16z, the company plans to accelerate development and expand Shizuku’s presence across multiple platforms, including YouTube, Discord, and X. The team also aims to enhance AI capabilities, making interactions more context-aware and accessible to a global audience.
This investment highlights a growing global interest in the fusion of character-driven entertainment and generative AI. As Japanese-style virtual characters gain international popularity, Shizuku AI stands out as one of the most promising players seeking to redefine how humans interact with digital personalities. With strong backing from world-class investors, Shizuku AI is positioning itself at the forefront of the next evolution in digital entertainment.
 Origin: itmedia
