Z Venture Capital (ZVC) has invested in STONE.B, the company behind ‘mahocast,’ a one-stop platform that handles everything from planning and running artist events in Japan and Korea to ticketing, merchandise sales, and fan club management.

K-POP is gaining worldwide popularity, with the market continuing to grow rapidly. Still, it has always felt challenging for a Japanese startup to find the right angle to enter this space. That’s why discovering STONE.B was so exciting.

STONE.B doesn’t just produce and manage events—it takes on the entire process, from planning and proposing events to ticketing, merchandise sales, and fan club management, offering everything artists need in a single platform.

On top of that, the management team has a native-level understanding of both Japanese and Korean cultures and a proven track record of running successful events. Their achievements include organizing live shows for leading artists such as IU and NMIXX, underscoring the strong competitive edge they bring to the market.

PR TIMES: TWICE's sister group, ITZY's sister group, NMIXX! Successful return performance in Japan "NMIXX CHANGE UP: MIXX LAB in TOKYO ENCORE" - "Let's stay together until we become grandmothers"(June 4, 2025, from STONE.B Inc.)

I’ve always been a fan of K-POP, so seeing a startup successfully host live concerts for top artists with both popularity and talent feels like an extraordinary achievement. In fact, even before I knew about STONE.B, I had personally purchased an NMIXX concert ticket through their platform, mahocast.

The leadership team is energetic and well-balanced. CEO Yoonsang Cho, originally from Korea, brings strong creativity and vision in event planning, while Woojae Kim excels in building and improving IT services. They complement each other perfectly, and their journey—launching a startup in Japan, pivoting, and growing into today’s business—shows both persistence and resilience. That’s why I believe they can continue driving sustainable growth.

Looking ahead, I see STONE.B building a unique position as a cross-border hub for Japan–Korea IP, far beyond just K-POP. With the global popularity of both K-POP and J-POP, they also have the potential to expand through international tours. At ZVC, we’re excited to stand behind STONE.B as they take on this high-potential global market.

About STONE.B

About mahocast