Mugafi
Non Equity Assistance in 2023
Mugafi is an innovative platform designed to assist writers and creators in transforming their story ideas into intellectual properties such as movies, characters, animations, books, comics, and music. By leveraging AI-powered tools and offering personalized human mentoring, Mugafi aims to enable creators to engage and monetize their audiences effectively across various platforms. The platform supports a diverse range of content creators, including those in sports, music, acting, fashion, comedy, writing, lifestyle, and photography, facilitating an interactive experience where fans can learn from their favorite creators. Through this approach, Mugafi enhances the connection between creators and their audiences while simplifying the content creation process.
Superplastic
Series A in 2023
Superplastic, Inc. is a character-based product and entertainment company founded in 2017 and based in Burlington, Vermont. The company specializes in manufacturing and marketing limited edition art toys, apparel, games, and animation, featuring unique characters created in collaboration with renowned artists. Superplastic leverages the principles of effort and scarcity to enhance the value of its offerings, creating exclusive works of art for a select audience. The company also operates a platform that engages customers through various media, including animated videos and music, enabling interactions with its synthetic superstars in innovative ways. Products are primarily sold online, reflecting a modern approach to retail and entertainment.
First Coast Cultural Center
Grant in 2023
The First Coast Cultural Center is where members of our community can create, comprehend, and engage with the arts.
Gametime
Venture Round in 2022
Gametime is a mobile platform that specializes in selling last-minute tickets for a variety of live events, including sports, concerts, and theater, across the United States and Canada. The service simplifies the ticket purchasing process by curating a selection of the best available options from over 10,000 seats, allowing clients to choose from 50 top values. Each ticket option is accompanied by a high-resolution panoramic photo, providing users with a preview of the view from their chosen section. The platform features interactive seat maps that allow for easy comparison of prices and locations, enhancing the customer experience. Tickets are conveniently delivered directly to the user's phone, facilitating instant access to entertainment.
Hentai King
Seed Round in 2022
hentaiking is an American online video sharing website focused on hentai. The site hosts user-generated Videos, themed around animation, comics, and games, where users can submit, view and add overlaid commentary on videos. hentaiking focuses on the delivery of high-definition hentaiking video across a range of devices.
Simply’s mission is to make the pursuit of creative hobbies simple and fun for all. Our top-grossing apps Simply Piano, Simply Guitar, and Simply Sing, put us on the fast track to building the world’s largest global consumer subscription business for creative hobbies in music & beyond. With over a million monthly downloads and hundreds of thousands of daily learners around the world, we're reinventing the way we spend our time at home together.
Cameo is a marketplace that enables fans to book personalized video shoutouts from celebrities and other notable figures across various fields. The company's platform facilitates the booking and payment process for these customized videos, allowing users to create authentic fan experiences. Cameo partners with thousands of talent, offering a wide range of options for customers seeking unique and personal interactions. Additionally, Cameo provides tools for creating short films with professional-grade video effects, accessible to users of all skill levels.
Glance
Venture Round in 2020
Glance Digital Experience Private Limited is a technology company based in Bengaluru, India, that specializes in an artificial intelligence-based "screen zero" content delivery platform. Founded in 2019, Glance provides ad-free, personalized visual and interactive content directly to the lock screens of smartphones and other connected devices. The platform has rapidly gained popularity, crossing the 100 million user milestone within just 21 months, making it one of the fastest-growing consumer internet services globally. Glance's services include access to the latest news, entertainment, games, and shopping experiences in multiple languages, enhancing user engagement and simplifying online interactions. In addition to its core platform, Glance acquired Roposo, a well-known Indian short video platform, further expanding its offerings. As a subsidiary of InMobi Group, Glance is supported by notable investors, including Google and Mithril Partners.
VerSe Innovation
Venture Round in 2020
VerSe Innovation is a local language technology company that develops a discovery platform to consume and socialize with media. Its platform facilitates the curation of content and tracks user preferences through its vertical search and recommendation tools that provide users with personalized content and notifications.
Hello Sunshine
Series A in 2020
Hello Sunshine is a media company focused on promoting female authorship across diverse storytelling platforms, including film, television, books, social media, and audio. Founded by Reese Witherspoon, an Academy and Emmy Award-winning actress and producer, the company aims to connect audiences with narratives that reflect a distinctly female perspective. By creating, curating, and discovering content, Hello Sunshine empowers women and men alike to engage with inspirational stories that aim to change the narrative for women in media.
Superplastic
Series B in 2020
Superplastic, Inc. is a character-based product and entertainment company founded in 2017 and based in Burlington, Vermont. The company specializes in manufacturing and marketing limited edition art toys, apparel, games, and animation, featuring unique characters created in collaboration with renowned artists. Superplastic leverages the principles of effort and scarcity to enhance the value of its offerings, creating exclusive works of art for a select audience. The company also operates a platform that engages customers through various media, including animated videos and music, enabling interactions with its synthetic superstars in innovative ways. Products are primarily sold online, reflecting a modern approach to retail and entertainment.
Raxplay is a virtual reality music venue. It enables music artists to perform live in virtual reality.
YellowBrick
Series C in 2019
Yellowbrick Learning, Inc. is an online platform that specializes in creating tailored learning experiences for individuals seeking to explore and advance their careers in creative industries such as fashion, sports, beauty, music, and media. Established in 2013 and headquartered in New York, the company collaborates with prominent universities, brands, and industry leaders to provide educational services that align with students' talents and passions. By offering carefully designed assignments and insights, Yellowbrick enables students to acquire relevant skills and navigate their career paths more effectively, thereby empowering the next generation of talent in the creative arts and entertainment sectors.
Blavity, Inc. is a media-tech company founded in 2014 that focuses on creating an online community for multicultural creators and influencers, primarily serving Black millennials. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Blavity operates a network of brands that produce original content, videos, and unique experiences aimed at amplifying the voices of Black creators. The company's platform features curated multimedia content designed to enhance representation and awareness of issues affecting the African diaspora, particularly systemic racism. By partnering with content creators, Blavity helps them reach broader audiences and supports their endeavors, thereby fostering a vibrant community centered on cultural expression and social justice.
60dB is a mobile application that curates and streams a variety of short-form audio stories, including news, sports, entertainment, and business content. The platform offers users a personalized radio experience by aggregating audio stories from popular sources such as Vox, Recode, and Mic. Its focus on short audio content allows users to access a wide range of topics in a convenient format, effectively reinventing the radio experience for the digital age. The application is designed to cater to listeners seeking a diverse selection of engaging audio stories, all available in one place.
The Players' Tribune
Series B in 2017
The Players' Tribune is a prominent sports content platform that focuses on athlete-driven storytelling. Founded in 2014 by Derek Jeter and acquired by Minute Media in 2019, the platform enables athletes to share their personal narratives through various forms of media, including long and short-form stories, video series, and podcasts. By providing athletes with the tools and resources necessary to create authentic content, The Players' Tribune fosters a direct connection between athletes and their fans, allowing for a deeper understanding of the athletes' experiences and perspectives. The platform has successfully redefined the relationship between sports and culture on a global scale, emphasizing the voices of the athletes themselves.
Gametime is a mobile platform that specializes in selling last-minute tickets for a variety of live events, including sports, concerts, and theater, across the United States and Canada. The service simplifies the ticket purchasing process by curating a selection of the best available options from over 10,000 seats, allowing clients to choose from 50 top values. Each ticket option is accompanied by a high-resolution panoramic photo, providing users with a preview of the view from their chosen section. The platform features interactive seat maps that allow for easy comparison of prices and locations, enhancing the customer experience. Tickets are conveniently delivered directly to the user's phone, facilitating instant access to entertainment.
TuneIn, Inc. is a prominent live audio streaming service that delivers a diverse range of content, including live sports, music, news, and podcasts. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, TuneIn boasts a significant user base of 75 million monthly active users and offers access to over 100,000 radio stations, along with more than 5.7 million podcasts. The platform provides a premium subscription service that features commercial-free news from major networks and curated music channels. TuneIn's services are accessible in 197 countries across more than 200 devices, including smart speakers, TVs, and mobile platforms, allowing users to enjoy audio content seamlessly in various settings. The company is also recognized for its integration with voice assistants such as Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant, enhancing the listening experience for users worldwide.
Crossfader
Venture Round in 2014
Crossfader is an online music application platform designed to simplify the process of creating music mashups. It allows users to mix and match existing songs effortlessly, turning anyone into a DJ within seconds. The app fosters a large community where users can discover, remix, and share their creations with others globally. By providing an accessible way to engage with music, Crossfader enhances the user experience and encourages creativity in music production.
Songza Media
Acquisition in 2014
Songza is a curated music streaming platform that specializes in delivering expertly-crafted playlists tailored to enhance various activities and moods. By predicting users' needs, the service provides playlists designed for specific situations such as waking up, working out, commuting, concentrating, unwinding, entertaining, and sleeping. The platform's music offerings are curated by a diverse team of professionals, including journalists, DJs, critics, and ethnomusicologists, ensuring a rich and varied listening experience. Recognized for its innovation and quality, Songza has been acknowledged in several prestigious lists, including Apple’s App Store Best of 2012 and Time's Best Android Apps of 2013.
Green Throttle Games
Acquisition in 2014
Green Throttle Games, Inc. is a Santa Clara, California-based company that specializes in developing high-quality games and hardware for mobile devices. Founded in 2012 by industry veterans Charles Huang, Matt Crowley, and Karl Townsend, the company focuses on creating multiplayer games and innovative applications that enhance the user experience on larger screens. By connecting mobile phones and tablets to HDTVs, Green Throttle Games aims to provide an engaging and accessible gaming experience, unlocking the potential of mobile gaming in a simple and enjoyable manner.
Machinima
Series D in 2014
Machinima, Inc. is a media company that produces and distributes video content primarily targeted at young males and video gamers. Founded in January 2000 and headquartered in Burbank, California, Machinima offers a diverse range of programming, including scripted series, original content, and gameplay videos, as well as animation, movies, and TV shows. The company's content is accessible through various global distribution platforms such as YouTube, Xbox, iOS, Android, and social media networks like Facebook and Twitter. As of November 30, 2016, Machinima operates as a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Bustle Digital Group
Series A in 2013
Bustle Digital Group is a media company based in New York, founded in 2013, that focuses on shaping culture through a diverse portfolio of digital and experiential brands. The company operates Bustle, a platform dedicated to providing news, entertainment, lifestyle, and fashion content tailored for young readers. Bustle aims to redefine women's interests by offering a wide array of topics that resonate with its audience, including news, celebrity culture, politics, and beauty. Through its engaging and accessible content, Bustle Digital Group ensures that readers can find everything they want to know in one place, keeping them informed and entertained.
TuneIn
Venture Round in 2013
TuneIn, Inc. is a prominent live audio streaming service that delivers a diverse range of content, including live sports, music, news, and podcasts. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, TuneIn boasts a significant user base of 75 million monthly active users and offers access to over 100,000 radio stations, along with more than 5.7 million podcasts. The platform provides a premium subscription service that features commercial-free news from major networks and curated music channels. TuneIn's services are accessible in 197 countries across more than 200 devices, including smart speakers, TVs, and mobile platforms, allowing users to enjoy audio content seamlessly in various settings. The company is also recognized for its integration with voice assistants such as Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant, enhancing the listening experience for users worldwide.
BeMused Network
Seed Round in 2013
BeMused Network is an online service platform that connects audiences with the performing and literary arts community, primarily in Toronto. It facilitates easy access to live performances, allowing users to discover local events, purchase tickets, and engage with artists, producers, or venue owners. The platform serves as both a discovery tool and a knowledge network, enabling users to interact with the arts community. Artists can utilize BeMused Network to enhance their visibility to local audiences and promoters, while venue owners can find artists to showcase and promote their events effectively. Overall, BeMused Network offers a user-friendly experience that supports the growth and visibility of the performing arts ecosystem.
Rabbit, Inc. is a technology company based in San Mateo, California, that has developed a web and mobile application designed for users to share and watch shows and videos with friends in real-time or asynchronously. Founded in 2011, Rabbit enables users to connect through social media platforms like Facebook, facilitating group chats and content sharing. The platform allows users to create virtual rooms where they can watch YouTube videos, TV shows, movies, and listen to music together, regardless of their physical locations. This innovative approach to video communication fosters social interaction and content discovery, making it easier for friends to engage with each other while enjoying their favorite media. Rabbit has received backing from notable venture capital firms, indicating strong investor confidence in its potential for growth.
Crossfader
Seed Round in 2013
Crossfader is an online music application platform designed to simplify the process of creating music mashups. It allows users to mix and match existing songs effortlessly, turning anyone into a DJ within seconds. The app fosters a large community where users can discover, remix, and share their creations with others globally. By providing an accessible way to engage with music, Crossfader enhances the user experience and encourages creativity in music production.
Crossfader
Venture Round in 2012
Crossfader is an online music application platform designed to simplify the process of creating music mashups. It allows users to mix and match existing songs effortlessly, turning anyone into a DJ within seconds. The app fosters a large community where users can discover, remix, and share their creations with others globally. By providing an accessible way to engage with music, Crossfader enhances the user experience and encourages creativity in music production.
TuneIn, Inc. is a prominent live audio streaming service that delivers a diverse range of content, including live sports, music, news, and podcasts. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, TuneIn boasts a significant user base of 75 million monthly active users and offers access to over 100,000 radio stations, along with more than 5.7 million podcasts. The platform provides a premium subscription service that features commercial-free news from major networks and curated music channels. TuneIn's services are accessible in 197 countries across more than 200 devices, including smart speakers, TVs, and mobile platforms, allowing users to enjoy audio content seamlessly in various settings. The company is also recognized for its integration with voice assistants such as Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant, enhancing the listening experience for users worldwide.
Rockbot
Seed Round in 2012
Rockbot, Inc. is a technology company that specializes in providing music and media solutions for businesses, allowing them to control their soundtracks and enhance customer engagement through an online dashboard. Founded in 2009 and based in Oakland, California, with an additional office in Detroit, Rockbot offers a comprehensive platform that includes background music, digital signage, and video services. Its technology enables clients, which range from restaurants and retail stores to fitness centers and educational institutions, to customize their audio-visual experiences and manage music remotely. Rockbot also features a mobile jukebox application for iOS and Android, allowing customers to choose licensed music in public venues. The company has gained recognition in the media-for-business sector and serves nearly 50,000 businesses across North America, including notable clients such as Planet Fitness and Walmart.
Machinima
Series C in 2012
Machinima, Inc. is a media company that produces and distributes video content primarily targeted at young males and video gamers. Founded in January 2000 and headquartered in Burbank, California, Machinima offers a diverse range of programming, including scripted series, original content, and gameplay videos, as well as animation, movies, and TV shows. The company's content is accessible through various global distribution platforms such as YouTube, Xbox, iOS, Android, and social media networks like Facebook and Twitter. As of November 30, 2016, Machinima operates as a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Miso operates a second screen application designed to enhance the television viewing experience by making it more interactive and social. Available on various platforms including iPhone, iPad, Android, and the web, Miso allows users to check in to their favorite shows and episodes, earning points and unlocking virtual badges as they engage with content. The app fosters community interaction by enabling users to compare their viewing habits with friends and see what others in the Miso community are watching. Additionally, Miso integrates with social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, allowing users to share their viewing activities instantly. The platform also offers features for personalizing profiles and content, making the overall TV watching experience more tailored to individual preferences.
Nettle was a La Jolla, CA technology company that launched MovieGoer, a social/mobile/local app for moviegoers. The company was founded by Brian Dear (CEO) and Dan O'Neill (CTO) in late 2010. Investors included Google Ventures, Advancit Capital, and 500 Startups.
JustSpotted
Acquisition in 2011
JustSpotted is a celebrity-tracking tool that aggregates and organizes real-time information about celebrities from various social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and Foursquare. Originally known as Scoopler, the service has evolved to focus specifically on celebrity sightings, providing fans with a way to see what their favorite stars are doing at any given moment. JustSpotted collects data from users who report spontaneous encounters with celebrities, thereby enhancing the platform's offerings with real-life sightings. By mapping these occurrences, JustSpotted enables users to easily access and enjoy a curated collection of celebrity activities, transforming the way fans engage with celebrity culture in the age of social media. The service was launched in October 2010 and was developed by AJ Asver, Dilan Jarawardane, and Benjamin Tauber.
SageTV
Acquisition in 2011
SageTV, LLC specializes in digital entertainment and placeshifting solutions, enabling users to create and manage media centers using existing PCs. The company offers the SageTV Media Center, a personal video recorder and media center solution designed for integration with both PCs and televisions. Its product range includes media extenders, PCI cards, remotes, and dual-tuner bundles, along with media server software that features optional TV tuners. This software supports a comprehensive media experience, encompassing DVR capabilities, online video, music, and photo management for various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. SageTV also operates an online store to facilitate product sales. Founded in 2002, the company is headquartered in Inglewood, California, with additional development facilities in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Kabam is an entertainment company that specializes in developing free-to-play games for mobile devices and web platforms. Founded in 2006 and rebranded in 2010, the company is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with additional offices in Los Angeles, Vancouver, Austin, Beijing, London, and Berlin. Kabam offers a diverse portfolio of games, including traditional, social, strategy, action, arcade, sports, and role-playing genres. The company emphasizes the integration of traditional and social gaming elements to create engaging multiplayer experiences, allowing players to enjoy real-time interactions and enhanced gameplay with their friends.
PushLife
Acquisition in 2011
PushLife is a mobile entertainment platform designed for mobile operators, enabling users to access and manage their existing iTunes and Windows Media Player libraries on non-Apple devices. The platform allows users to play, organize, and purchase music, videos, wallpapers, games, and ringtones directly from their phones. With features that include playlist creation, sharing listening experiences with friends, and discovering new music, PushLife enhances the mobile entertainment experience while driving increased content purchases. By providing these capabilities, the platform helps mobile operators maintain competitiveness and increase average revenue per user. Originally developed for BlackBerry and Android smartphones, PushLife was acquired by Google in April 2011.
Miso operates a second screen application designed to enhance the television viewing experience by making it more interactive and social. Available on various platforms including iPhone, iPad, Android, and the web, Miso allows users to check in to their favorite shows and episodes, earning points and unlocking virtual badges as they engage with content. The app fosters community interaction by enabling users to compare their viewing habits with friends and see what others in the Miso community are watching. Additionally, Miso integrates with social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, allowing users to share their viewing activities instantly. The platform also offers features for personalizing profiles and content, making the overall TV watching experience more tailored to individual preferences.
Widevine Technologies
Acquisition in 2010
Widevine Technologies specializes in providing digital rights management (DRM) and video optimization solutions for content owners, internet video providers, retailers, and video operators. The company develops encryption and key-management software systems that secure video services across broadband networks. Its primary offerings include Cypher, a conditional access and DRM solution that safeguards various media formats such as linear broadcasts, video on demand, file downloads, and streamed content. Additionally, Widevine offers Mensor, a theft deterrent and consumer identification tool that allows content owners and service providers to monitor and identify the distribution of multimedia content across devices. By leveraging these technologies, Widevine enables its clients to effectively manage, deliver, and monetize digital entertainment across multiple platforms.
Miso operates a second screen application designed to enhance the television viewing experience by making it more interactive and social. Available on various platforms including iPhone, iPad, Android, and the web, Miso allows users to check in to their favorite shows and episodes, earning points and unlocking virtual badges as they engage with content. The app fosters community interaction by enabling users to compare their viewing habits with friends and see what others in the Miso community are watching. Additionally, Miso integrates with social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, allowing users to share their viewing activities instantly. The platform also offers features for personalizing profiles and content, making the overall TV watching experience more tailored to individual preferences.
Ruba is a visual travel guide & tour review site that helps travelers from around the world discover their next trip. Visitors can browse highly visual guides written by other travelers about interesting themes such as "The Top 7 Most Picturesque Towns in Provence France." The company embraces the highly social nature of travel planning via tight integration with Facebook and Twitter and integrates Google maps for geographic locations and addresses. Ruba was founded by serial entrepreneurs Mike Cassidy and Arnaud Weber and is backed by leading venture capital firms Benchmark and DFJ. Advisory Board members with backgrounds as senior executives from Google, Yelp, Yahoo, and other leading companies are helping guide Ruba's introduction and growth. The website makes it fun and easy to browse and discover amazing new places around the world that best match a user's travel tastes. Unlike other travel review sites where users consume reviews of individual hotels, restaurants, or sights, on Ruba users explore full guides which are collections of reviews of the best places (e.g., My Favorite Historical Places in Italy). Ruba's highly engaging visual interface with thousands of high quality pictures empowers users to enjoy travel exploration and research even if they have no immediate plans for a trip.
LabPixies
Acquisition in 2010
LabPixies is a prominent provider of personalized web content and technology, specializing in the creation of interactive components known as "Gadgets." These gadgets encompass a variety of applications, including entertainment options like games and music, as well as practical utilities such as search tools and calculators. The company's mission is to enhance the online experience by offering users the ability to customize their web environment, thereby making it more accessible and enjoyable. LabPixies has gained recognition for its innovative approach, particularly through its development of custom Google Gadgets, which has established a successful business model focused on personalization and user engagement.
SayNow
Acquisition in 2010
SayNow is a voice messaging platform designed to facilitate communication between fans and celebrities through voice and text messaging. Each celebrity is assigned a unique phone number that allows fans to leave messages or receive updates directly from the celebrities themselves. This service primarily targets musical artists, but it is also available to any public figure with a substantial following, including entertainers, politicians, and community leaders. SayNow has gained traction among notable music artists and major record labels, enhancing the way fans engage with their favorite personalities. Additionally, the platform offers an optional feature that allows broadcasters to earn revenue by incorporating relevant sponsorships into their messages, further diversifying its appeal and functionality.