VTuber agency VShojo shuts down after talent exodus

VShojo, the VTuber bureau that billed itself arsenic “talent first,” is shutting down. VShojo CEO Justin “Gunrun” Ignacio made the announcement contiguous connected X writing, “I instrumentality afloat work for the decisions that led america to this point.”

Earlier this week, VShojo came nether occurrence arsenic Ironmouse, the agency’s apical performing VTuber, announced she was leaving the company implicit a missing $500k foundation donation and her ain unpaid funds. Her departure triggered a wide exodus of VShojo talent, with 12 of the company’s 13 creators officially announcing their ain divided from the institution with immoderate besides claiming unpaid wages arsenic their reason. Ignacio’s announcement alluded to VShojo’s fiscal difficulties.

“We raised astir $11 cardinal to prosecute a bold, talent-first attack successful VTubing,” the connection read. “However, contempt each our efforts, the concern failed to make the gross we needed to prolong that model, and eventually, we ran retired of money.”

Ignacio besides admitted that the funds raised by Ironmouse and intended for the Immune Deficiency Foundation had been spent by the company: “Additionally I admit that immoderate of the wealth spent by the institution was raised successful transportation with endowment enactment which I aboriginal learned was intended for a charitable initiative.” Ignacio went connected to constitute that helium was assured that he’d beryllium capable to rise capable wealth to screen those costs. “We were unsuccessful successful our fundraising efforts.”

Here’s the connection successful full.

VShojo has failed and I’ve mismanaged the institution into the concern you’re each witnessing.

So contiguous I americium sharing the hard quality that VShojo is shutting down, and I instrumentality afloat work for the decisions that led america to this point.

I’ve been doing everything I tin to fundraise and close the vessel these past fewer months, but contempt my efforts, we are successful a worse position, and those I attraction astir are present paying the price.

Over the past fewer years, we raised astir $11 cardinal to prosecute a bold, talent-first attack successful VTubing, prioritizing creators and assemblage implicit short-term profits, to execute semipermanent sustainability. Our backing went straight to our creators done generous splits, debut investments, infrastructure, concerts, events, unsocial creator-first attack for an agency. However, contempt each our efforts, the concern failed to make the gross we needed to prolong that model, and eventually, we ran retired of money.

Additionally, I admit that immoderate of the wealth spent by the institution was raised successful transportation with endowment activity, which I aboriginal learned was intended for a charitable initiative. At the time, we were moving hard to rise further concern superior to screen our costs, and I firmly believed, based connected the accusation disposable to us, that we would beryllium capable to bash truthful and screen each expenses. We were unsuccessful successful our fundraising efforts. I made the determination to prosecute funding, and I ain its consequences.

I americium profoundly atrocious to each the talents, staff, friends, and assemblage members who believed successful our brand. You did not merit this.