VShojo shuts down after failing to pay VTubers and deliver Ironmouse's $500k charity donation
The shutdown was confirmed by now-former CEO Justin Ignacio, who admitted to mismanaging the company and failing to secure additional funding.
The controversy erupted when Ironmouse revealed that the $500k raised for the Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF) was never delivered. Soon after, other VTubers under VShojo came forward, claiming they had gone unpaid for months. Within 24 hours, all affiliated talent cut ties with the agency, sparking a mass exodus.
In a public statement, Ignacio took full responsibility for the company's collapse, stating, 'VShojo has failed, and I've mismanaged the company into the situation you're all witnessing.'
VShojo had raised over $11 million over the years to support a creator-first model. However, the company burned through its funds by prioritizing generous revenue splits, infrastructure, and allowing talent to own their IP — a model that proved unsustainable without strong revenue.
Ignacio also confirmed that some funds used by the company were raised through talent-driven events, including the charity subathon by Ironmouse. Despite expectations that further investment would cover these costs, fundraising efforts failed.
There are currently no plans to repay the talent or send the promised donation to the IDF. In response, Ironmouse has independently raised over $1 million for the foundation through her community.
The sudden closure of VShojo marks one of the most dramatic collapses in VTuber industry history.
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VShojo shuts down after failing to pay VTubers and deliver Ironmouse's $500k charity donation
VTuber agency VShojo has officially shut down after widespread backlash from unpaid creators and a missing $500,000 charity donation promised during Ironmouse's subathon. The shutdown was confirmed by now-former CEO Justin Ignacio, who admitted to mismanaging the company and failing to secure additional funding. The controversy erupted when Ironmouse revealed that the $500k raised for the Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF) was never delivered. Soon after, other VTubers under VShojo came forward, claiming they had gone unpaid for months. Within 24 hours, all affiliated talent cut ties with the agency, sparking a mass exodus. In a public statement, Ignacio took full responsibility for the company's collapse, stating, 'VShojo has failed, and I've mismanaged the company into the situation you're all witnessing.' VShojo had raised over $11 million over the years to support a creator-first model. However, the company burned through its funds by prioritizing generous revenue splits, infrastructure, and allowing talent to own their IP — a model that proved unsustainable without strong revenue. Ignacio also confirmed that some funds used by the company were raised through talent-driven events, including the charity subathon by Ironmouse. Despite expectations that further investment would cover these costs, fundraising efforts failed. There are currently no plans to repay the talent or send the promised donation to the IDF. In response, Ironmouse has independently raised over $1 million for the foundation through her community. The sudden closure of VShojo marks one of the most dramatic collapses in VTuber industry history.
