Nudge Inc. and SKIYAKI Inc. Form Capital and Business Alliance

Nudge Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Takashi Okita; hereinafter 'Nudge') and SKIYAKI Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Tomohiro Kokubo; hereinafter 'SKIYAKI'), a member of the Space Shower SKIYAKI Holdings Group, are pleased to announce the conclusion of a capital and business alliance agreement.

Through this alliance, SKIYAKI aims to enter the credit card issuing business this summer by leveraging Nudge's 'Credit Card as a Service (CCaaS)' platform, aspiring to build a new business model that fuses its existing entertainment business with Fintech.

Background and Objectives of the Alliance

SKIYAKI possesses a strong creator network and fan base, centered in the entertainment domain with its fan club platform and music media. By promoting open innovation with Nudge, which offers flexible financial solutions centered on its next-generation credit card platform, SKIYAKI aims to dramatically expand revenue opportunities for creators active in the entertainment field through its entry into the Fintech business.

First Initiative: Launch of the New App 'Bitfan Card'

As the first step in their collaboration, the two companies will offer a new fan experience by combining the 'Oshikatsu Card' (fan activity card) business model pioneered by Nudge with SKIYAKI Group's creator network.

- **Seamless Experience via a Proprietary App**: Instead of merely issuing a co-branded card, SKIYAKI will provide its own custom smartphone app, **'Bitfan Card,'** based on Nudge's platform system. - **Passionate 'Oshikatsu Experience'**: By seamlessly integrating SKIYAKI's fan club functions with credit card payments, they will provide a convenient and highly passionate 'Oshikatsu experience' for fans.

Future Outlook: Realizing the 'Creator Bank' Concept on a Timeline

The core of this alliance lies in the 'Creator Bank' concept, which goes beyond the credit card business to transform the capital circulation in the entertainment industry. Utilizing Fintech and data, they will build a new financial scheme in three phases: short, medium, and long term.

### 【Short-Term】Liquidation of Fan Club Revenue (Immediate Funding)

They will promptly build a mechanism to provide creators with immediate funds needed for their activities by liquidating future receivables such as fan club membership fees (e.g., through factoring). This will dramatically improve the cash flow for creators.

### 【Medium-Term】Utilization of Investment-Based Crowdfunding

They will introduce a system to raise funds for expenses like live tour production through investment-based crowdfunding. This will diversify funding sources and create a new participatory event model where fans can join as 'co-live-producers.'

### 【Long-Term】Providing 'Creator Credit' through Proprietary Scoring

By accumulating and analyzing SKIYAKI's 'fan enthusiasm data (engagement)' and Nudge's 'payment data,' they will develop a unique credit model to assess the future potential of creators. They aim to establish a position as a 'financial infrastructure' that enables loans and business support for creators who were difficult to evaluate by traditional financial institutions.

Nudge will use the newly raised funds to enhance its services and organizational structure, further developing its next-generation credit card 'Nudge' and strengthening the 'Nudge Platform' that supports it. Through open innovation with various stakeholders, including affiliated financial institutions and shareholders, they will create future financial experiences and jointly promote the realization of the Creator Bank concept with SKIYAKI.

Statements from Representatives

### Tomohiro Kokubo, CEO of SKIYAKI Inc.

"The fusion of entertainment and finance is a crucial pillar of our growth strategy. With an innovative partner like Nudge, I am confident that we can create an 'economic zone' that transcends the boundaries of fan clubs. In the future, we aim to become an infrastructure that supports artists' creative activities financially and strive to enhance our corporate value."

### Takashi Okita, CEO of Nudge Inc.

"We are extremely honored to have a deep collaboration, including a capital alliance, with SKIYAKI, which has one of the largest creator networks in Japan. By merging our financial system platform with SKIYAKI's fan engagement capabilities, we will update Japan's 'Oshikatsu' culture with the power of finance."

Company Overviews

### SKIYAKI Inc. Location: Dogenzaka-dori 7F, 2-25-12 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Representative: CEO Tomohiro Kokubo Business: Platform Business URL: https://skiyaki.com/

### Nudge Inc. Location: 1-6-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Representative: CEO Takashi Okita Business: Fintech planning, development, and operation; provision of 'Nudge'; 'Credit Card as a Service (CCaaS)' business URL: https://nudge.works/