Bythen, an Indonesian AI startup for virtual creators, has announced a $5-million seed financing round led by Japan’s Vector Inc. and Indonesia’s VC Skystar Capital, according to an announcement on Tuesday.
The round also saw support from prominent investors such as East Ventures, BEENEXT, OSK, and AppWorks, as well as angel investors including William Tanuwijaya, co-founder of Tokopedia; and Ryan Lee, co-founder of Pinkfong Company, among others.
Established in 2024, Bythen aims to democratise the virtual influencer space by enabling users to design unique, ownable digital avatars — called “Bytes” — that can create and monetise content autonomously. These AI-powered characters open up new opportunities for creators to amplify their online presence across platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, and social media channels.
Its platform supports various creative applications, including live streaming, video calls on platforms like Zoom or Google Meet, and automated social media interactions like YouTube and Twitch, allowing users to build influence and generate income effortlessly.
Bythen operates on a revenue-sharing model, aligning the platform’s growth with that of its global creator community. By providing accessible tools for content generation and monetisation, the company aims to transform the rapidly expanding $325-billion creator economy, which includes over 200 million content creators worldwide.
The startup was founded by Kevin Mintaraga, Erick Saputra, Ferry Dianto, Nathalia Isadora, and William Nagata, almost all of who had previously worked at digital agency Magnivate, which was acquired by WPP in 2012; and Bridestory, which Tokopedia acquired in 2019. Mintaraga was the founder of both companies; he served as CMO at Tokopedia after Bridestory was acquired, before leaving the company in September 2023.
“Bythen is designed to unlock the full potential of creators. Through our innovative tools and revenue-sharing ecosystem, we are enabling individuals worldwide to thrive as virtual influencers,” said Mintaraga, co-founder of Bythen, in a statement.
The seed funding will enable Bythen to expand globally and onboard 15,000 virtual influencers this year, targeting diverse sectors like Web3, gaming, and entertainment. The platform plans to launch its first original intellectual property (IP) collection, along with collaborative projects featuring renowned international IP owners.
Ryo Umezawa, vice president of Vector Inc., said, “Vector Inc. is proud to support a visionary team dedicated to empowering creators and driving innovation. We look forward to helping Bythen establish high-value partnerships and acquire premium content in Japan and beyond.”
