Japan-based Grove influencer network gets acquired by Anymind Group

^{(Photo Caption: Junki Kitajima (left) , CEO of GROVE, Kosuke Sogo (right) , CEO of AnyMind Group)}

AnyMind Group has acquired Japanese influencer network, Grove, owned by Space Shower Network.

As part of the agreement, AnyMind Group will acquire 51% ownership of the network. This acquisition will see 150 exclusive creators and 750 registered creators join AnyMind Group's influencer marketing platform, the CastingAsia Creators Network.

After the acquisition, Grove will join AnyMind Group’s various brands for influencer marketing; including CastingAsia, Thai influencer network Moindy, AnyUp - a joint venture between AnyMind Group and Japanese PR agency Sunny Side Up focused on Japan-based influencer - and the recently launched AnyStyle.Tokyo, an influencer network of expatriates and overseas influencers producing content about Japan.

Marketers will be able to tap into this extended influencer base through the CastingAsia platform. At the same time, Space Shower Network will be able to access AnyMind Group’s various brands, such as AdAsia and CastingAsia, to use their capabilities in digital advertising and in the entertainment domain, particularly in music, through CastingAsia’s network of music influencers in Southeast Asia.

In addition to the acquisition, CastingAsia will look to help influencers and content creators in creating and launching their own brands and branded materials, with the objective of global expansion and distribution.

Speaking on the acquisition - the second by AnyMind in Japan and the fourth globally - Kosuke Sogo, CEO and co-founder of AnyMind Group said, “The Grove acquisition will enable us to provide resources and support Grove’s influencers to expand their follower base globally and bring more collaboration opportunities from overseas markets. Marketers globally will also be able to tap into more influencer marketing opportunities in Japan for 2020 and beyond through our now vast influencer network."