About
Michael Sheetal is a games and esports entrepreneur serving as Founder & CEO at PlayBrain Inc., a Tokyo-based game marketing and esports production company founded in 2016. Under his leadership PlayBrain raised a US$1.9 million seed round led by BITKRAFT Esports Ventures in 2019, when the company was running the League of Legends Japan League in partnership with Riot Games. His earlier path in Japan included building VJ software for the club scene, working on a television music show, and starting two companies. Michael brings a founder-operator perspective on esports production, game marketing, building a venture-backed company in Japan, and connecting the Japanese gaming community with international publishers. The role provides direct exposure to how global game companies approach the Japanese market and how events, content and community turn into a business. Michael is particularly relevant to conversations around the Japanese games and esports market, market entry for overseas game brands, raising capital from international investors as a Japan-based founder, and building multicultural teams.