Upfront Ventures

Upfront Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 1996 and based in Santa Monica, California, with additional offices in Los Angeles. The firm specializes in early-stage investments, focusing on technology-led companies across various sectors, including digital media, e-commerce, financial services, software, and healthcare technology. Upfront Ventures primarily invests in North America, particularly in Southern California, San Francisco, and New York, while also considering opportunities in Europe and Latin America. The firm typically invests between $0.5 million and $15 million in seed rounds and $2 million to $5 million in Series A rounds, with the intention of reserving follow-on capital for future financing. Upfront Ventures is known for its long-term partnerships with startup founders and has backed notable companies such as Ring and Maker Studios. The firm is led by Managing Partners Yves Sisteron, Mark Suster, and Kara Nortman, and takes an active role in its portfolio companies by securing board seats.

Nina Steinberg Freedman

Director of Research

AJ Herrera

Investor

Stuart Lander

Chief Operating Partner

Pierre Morin

General Partner

Jacques Sisteron

Investor

Seksom Suriyapa

Partner

Kesar Varma

Investor

Hamet Watt

Board Partner

Peter Zakin

Investor

Katherine Zhang

Investor

Past deals in Digital Media

Creator Now

Seed Round in 2022
Creator Now is the Online educational platform for digital creators.

Adway

Seed Round in 2021
Adway International, Inc. is a company that specializes in out-of-home advertising services, particularly through its innovative digital vehicular advertisement platform. Founded in 2018 and based in Beverly Hills, California, Adway enables advertisers to launch and track campaigns on a flexible and targeted basis. The company's unique approach involves equipping personal and company vehicles with attachable devices that project media content onto the vehicle's sides. This allows for geo-fenced advertising that can be displayed at specific locations and times, providing brands with the ability to connect directly with consumers while offering drivers a way to earn passive income without the need for traditional advertising methods like large rooftop displays or physical wraps.

Adway

Seed Round in 2021
Adway International, Inc. is a company that specializes in out-of-home advertising services, particularly through its innovative digital vehicular advertisement platform. Founded in 2018 and based in Beverly Hills, California, Adway enables advertisers to launch and track campaigns on a flexible and targeted basis. The company's unique approach involves equipping personal and company vehicles with attachable devices that project media content onto the vehicle's sides. This allows for geo-fenced advertising that can be displayed at specific locations and times, providing brands with the ability to connect directly with consumers while offering drivers a way to earn passive income without the need for traditional advertising methods like large rooftop displays or physical wraps.

GumGum

Series E in 2021
GumGum, Inc. is a technology and media company based in Santa Monica, California, specializing in in-image advertising and visual intelligence solutions. Founded in 2006, it provides a variety of services including influencer marketing, site monetization, community management, and targeted media buying. The company’s proprietary technology utilizes machine learning and deep learning to deliver contextual advertising, enabling brands to effectively engage with their target audiences. GumGum's visual intelligence platform, along with its contextual advertising engine, Verity™, allows advertisers to safely and accurately place ads alongside relevant content. Additionally, GumGum offers tools such as AdBuilder, which enables brands to customize and launch in-image and in-screen advertisements. The company has expanded its presence with offices in various cities across the United States, as well as in London and Sydney, enhancing its ability to serve clients globally.

Stem Disintermedia

Venture Round in 2020
Stem Disintermedia helps creators, artists, and musicians to collect digital revenue and enables them to track and share their earnings. It develops a platform intended to provide distribution and payments solution for artists and their teams. The platform aggregates cross-platform earnings, create contracts, and honor splits with collaborators, disburse payments and statements to all stakeholders in a project and visualizes performance data for each platform, enabling businesses to bring clarity to the complicated process of revenue management and ensure everyone involved in the creative process gets paid. Milana Rabkin, Tim Luckow, and Jovin Cronin-Wilesmith formed Stem Disintermedia in Los Angeles, California in 2015.

GumGum

Series D in 2020
GumGum, Inc. is a technology and media company based in Santa Monica, California, specializing in in-image advertising and visual intelligence solutions. Founded in 2006, it provides a variety of services including influencer marketing, site monetization, community management, and targeted media buying. The company’s proprietary technology utilizes machine learning and deep learning to deliver contextual advertising, enabling brands to effectively engage with their target audiences. GumGum's visual intelligence platform, along with its contextual advertising engine, Verity™, allows advertisers to safely and accurately place ads alongside relevant content. Additionally, GumGum offers tools such as AdBuilder, which enables brands to customize and launch in-image and in-screen advertisements. The company has expanded its presence with offices in various cities across the United States, as well as in London and Sydney, enhancing its ability to serve clients globally.

dot.LA

Seed Round in 2020
dot.LA is a digital newsroom based in Los Angeles, California, that focuses on the startup and tech community in the region. Founded in 2020, the platform aggregates news related to events, sponsorships, and proprietary data, aiming to celebrate and empower local innovators. By providing timely and relevant information, dot.LA seeks to fuel innovation within the Los Angeles area and beyond.

Adway

Seed Round in 2019
Adway International, Inc. is a company that specializes in out-of-home advertising services, particularly through its innovative digital vehicular advertisement platform. Founded in 2018 and based in Beverly Hills, California, Adway enables advertisers to launch and track campaigns on a flexible and targeted basis. The company's unique approach involves equipping personal and company vehicles with attachable devices that project media content onto the vehicle's sides. This allows for geo-fenced advertising that can be displayed at specific locations and times, providing brands with the ability to connect directly with consumers while offering drivers a way to earn passive income without the need for traditional advertising methods like large rooftop displays or physical wraps.

mitú

Series D in 2018
mitú connect brands, content buyers, and creators to Latino youth in America. It is a home away from home for Latinos in the U.S. They are young, edgy, smart, loud, funny, relevant, proud, and united.They are what it means to be Latino.

Ripkord

Seed Round in 2018
Tellie is empowering creators through immersive viewing experiences that combine video content with custom branding and interactive and social elements

Pathmatics

Corporate Round in 2018
Pathmatics, Inc. is a digital advertising intelligence platform that serves advertisers, agencies, publishers, and ad tech providers. Founded in 2009 and based in Santa Monica, California, the company offers a comprehensive suite of data across display, social, video, mobile, and native advertising. Its Pathsource technology identifies key participants in the ad serving process, providing insights into digital ad performance for brands, competitors, and industries. By aggregating extensive marketing data, Pathmatics empowers users to optimize media strategies, minimize budget waste, and anticipate competitors' actions. The platform is integral to Nielsen’s digital ad intelligence and Kantar Media’s Facebook intelligence, and is utilized by leading agencies such as Mindshare and Mediacom. Pathmatics aims to simplify the complex landscape of digital marketing by transforming data into actionable insights.

Vemba

Series A in 2017
Vemba has created the first player-agnostic technology solution for video distribution, allowing publishers to integrate third-party video content and advertising within their preferred editorial process and existing video workflow. Producers maintain better control of their content with Vemba, and publishers can feature original and complementary video without needing to adjust for unwieldy third-party players or advertising restrictions. With Vemba at the intersection of every transaction, both content owner and publisher receive real-time analytics on the performance of video and advertising, regardless of OVP, video player, ad server, or CDN.

Stem Disintermedia

Series A in 2017
Stem Disintermedia helps creators, artists, and musicians to collect digital revenue and enables them to track and share their earnings. It develops a platform intended to provide distribution and payments solution for artists and their teams. The platform aggregates cross-platform earnings, create contracts, and honor splits with collaborators, disburse payments and statements to all stakeholders in a project and visualizes performance data for each platform, enabling businesses to bring clarity to the complicated process of revenue management and ensure everyone involved in the creative process gets paid. Milana Rabkin, Tim Luckow, and Jovin Cronin-Wilesmith formed Stem Disintermedia in Los Angeles, California in 2015.

Vidme

Series A in 2016
Vidme is an online video sharing platform based in Los Angeles that provides a community for users to express and share their ideas through video content. The platform allows individuals to upload videos across various categories, including gaming, animation, movies, and entertainment. Vidme facilitates a seamless user experience by enabling video uploads without requiring users to create an account, thereby encouraging broader participation and interaction within its community.

All Day

Seed Round in 2016
All Day is a digital media company focused on creating an editorial brand and publishing technology tailored for mobile-first Millennial audiences. The company utilizes a combination of owned and partner social media properties to distribute content and engage audiences, facilitating content sharing and enhancing virality. All Day's network, which includes writers and editors, employs a content management system and social distribution dashboard to manage posts, track analytics, and boost engagement. With a growing presence on social media, All Day's brands have amassed over 28 million followers, contributing to a distribution network that reaches over 200 million across platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Notable accounts like HistoryinPics and EarthPix exemplify the company's strategy of delivering highly visual and shareable editorial content, which is also showcased on its primary website, AllDay.com.

Vemba

Series A in 2016
Vemba has created the first player-agnostic technology solution for video distribution, allowing publishers to integrate third-party video content and advertising within their preferred editorial process and existing video workflow. Producers maintain better control of their content with Vemba, and publishers can feature original and complementary video without needing to adjust for unwieldy third-party players or advertising restrictions. With Vemba at the intersection of every transaction, both content owner and publisher receive real-time analytics on the performance of video and advertising, regardless of OVP, video player, ad server, or CDN.

Stem Disintermedia

Seed Round in 2016
Stem Disintermedia helps creators, artists, and musicians to collect digital revenue and enables them to track and share their earnings. It develops a platform intended to provide distribution and payments solution for artists and their teams. The platform aggregates cross-platform earnings, create contracts, and honor splits with collaborators, disburse payments and statements to all stakeholders in a project and visualizes performance data for each platform, enabling businesses to bring clarity to the complicated process of revenue management and ensure everyone involved in the creative process gets paid. Milana Rabkin, Tim Luckow, and Jovin Cronin-Wilesmith formed Stem Disintermedia in Los Angeles, California in 2015.

mitú

Series C in 2016
mitú connect brands, content buyers, and creators to Latino youth in America. It is a home away from home for Latinos in the U.S. They are young, edgy, smart, loud, funny, relevant, proud, and united.They are what it means to be Latino.

GumGum

Series C in 2015
GumGum, Inc. is a technology and media company based in Santa Monica, California, specializing in in-image advertising and visual intelligence solutions. Founded in 2006, it provides a variety of services including influencer marketing, site monetization, community management, and targeted media buying. The company’s proprietary technology utilizes machine learning and deep learning to deliver contextual advertising, enabling brands to effectively engage with their target audiences. GumGum's visual intelligence platform, along with its contextual advertising engine, Verity™, allows advertisers to safely and accurately place ads alongside relevant content. Additionally, GumGum offers tools such as AdBuilder, which enables brands to customize and launch in-image and in-screen advertisements. The company has expanded its presence with offices in various cities across the United States, as well as in London and Sydney, enhancing its ability to serve clients globally.

Shots Studios, Inc.

Series A in 2015
Shots Studios, Inc. is a data-driven entertainment company based in San Diego, California, founded in 2011 by John and Sam Shahidi. The company specializes in producing online comedy and music videos targeted at Millennials and Gen Z, collaborating with prominent creators such as Lele Pons and Rudy Mancuso. Shots Studios operates a creator network that offers media management services to influencers and celebrities, focusing on original mobile-first content for platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. With its content garnering over 1.2 billion minutes of viewing per month, Shots Studios has established itself as a leading digital media company in the evolving landscape of online entertainment. The firm is backed by notable figures including Justin Bieber and Floyd Mayweather, highlighting its strong connections within the entertainment industry.

Vidme

Seed Round in 2015
Vidme is an online video sharing platform based in Los Angeles that provides a community for users to express and share their ideas through video content. The platform allows individuals to upload videos across various categories, including gaming, animation, movies, and entertainment. Vidme facilitates a seamless user experience by enabling video uploads without requiring users to create an account, thereby encouraging broader participation and interaction within its community.

Mitu NGL

Series B in 2015
MiTú is a Latino lifestyle network that specializes in health, beauty, food, family, home, and pop culture. It aggregates content from over 1,200 partners, attracting an audience that generates approximately 400 million views monthly. The platform is designed to connect brands, buyers, and creators with Latino youth in America, offering lifestyle programming tailored for a bilingual audience. As a division of Latido Networks, which targets Hispanic audiences under GoDigital Media Group, MiTú aims to enhance the video experience for Latino users while fostering engagement with diverse content.

mitú

Series B in 2015
mitú connect brands, content buyers, and creators to Latino youth in America. It is a home away from home for Latinos in the U.S. They are young, edgy, smart, loud, funny, relevant, proud, and united.They are what it means to be Latino.

Epoxy

Series A in 2014
Epoxy Inc. operates an online video creation and sharing platform. The company’s platform enables creators to make clips, GIFs, images, and memes from their videos; share YouTube videos natively across social networks; and reply to comments and connect with fans. Its platform is also used by media enterprises and networks. The company was founded in 2012 and is based in Venice, California. As of October 17, 2016, Epoxy Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Vemba Corp.

Mitu NGL

Series B in 2014
MiTú is a Latino lifestyle network that specializes in health, beauty, food, family, home, and pop culture. It aggregates content from over 1,200 partners, attracting an audience that generates approximately 400 million views monthly. The platform is designed to connect brands, buyers, and creators with Latino youth in America, offering lifestyle programming tailored for a bilingual audience. As a division of Latido Networks, which targets Hispanic audiences under GoDigital Media Group, MiTú aims to enhance the video experience for Latino users while fostering engagement with diverse content.

Redef

Seed Round in 2014
REDEF Group, Inc. is a multimedia content provider that focuses on delivering daily remixes of topics such as fashion, sports, technology, music, and media and entertainment. Established in 2013 and headquartered in New York, the company engages its audience through various platforms, including its website, mobile application, daily newsletters, and social media feeds. REDEF serves as an interest blog that curates and presents content related to popular culture and technology, appealing to a diverse range of interests.

mitú

Series B in 2014
mitú connect brands, content buyers, and creators to Latino youth in America. It is a home away from home for Latinos in the U.S. They are young, edgy, smart, loud, funny, relevant, proud, and united.They are what it means to be Latino.

Media Redefined

Convertible Note in 2014
Media Redefined was a Social Media Agency that started in January, 2009. It closed down its operations on 18th July, 2012 and sold the domain and digital assets to an undisclosed individual. Some of the brands with which Media Redefined worked extensively include - Samsung, Maruti, Aircel, Micromax, NIIT, NASSCOM, etc. The founders can be contacted at: catchme@praval.com gauravtechie@gmail.com honeytech@gmail.com

Adly

Venture Round in 2013
Adly Inc. is a digital marketing software and services provider that facilitates partnerships between brands and influencers to enhance audience engagement and drive sales. The company offers tools for data-driven audience targeting, in-stream social advertising, and real-time events designed to generate leads and actionable insights. Adly supports brands by identifying suitable influencers, executing strategic campaigns, and monitoring performance through its offerings, which include AudienceIQ for intelligent audience matching and Campaign Builder for customized advertising solutions. Since its inception in 2009, Adly has collaborated with over 150 major brands, successfully executing more than 25,000 celebrity-driven activations. The company is based in Beverly Hills, California.

Epoxy

Seed Round in 2013
Epoxy Inc. operates an online video creation and sharing platform. The company’s platform enables creators to make clips, GIFs, images, and memes from their videos; share YouTube videos natively across social networks; and reply to comments and connect with fans. Its platform is also used by media enterprises and networks. The company was founded in 2012 and is based in Venice, California. As of October 17, 2016, Epoxy Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Vemba Corp.

Pathmatics

Seed Round in 2013
Pathmatics, Inc. is a digital advertising intelligence platform that serves advertisers, agencies, publishers, and ad tech providers. Founded in 2009 and based in Santa Monica, California, the company offers a comprehensive suite of data across display, social, video, mobile, and native advertising. Its Pathsource technology identifies key participants in the ad serving process, providing insights into digital ad performance for brands, competitors, and industries. By aggregating extensive marketing data, Pathmatics empowers users to optimize media strategies, minimize budget waste, and anticipate competitors' actions. The platform is integral to Nielsen’s digital ad intelligence and Kantar Media’s Facebook intelligence, and is utilized by leading agencies such as Mindshare and Mediacom. Pathmatics aims to simplify the complex landscape of digital marketing by transforming data into actionable insights.

Maker Studios

Series C in 2012
Maker Studios, Inc. is a media company based in Los Angeles, California, that specializes in enabling artists to create, distribute, and monetize original content on YouTube. Founded in 2009, it serves a diverse range of online video creators, including well-known digital stars and popular content series. The company offers comprehensive services to its partners, including development, production, promotion, distribution, sales, and marketing, making it a unique player in the digital media landscape. As a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, Maker Studios has positioned itself as a next-generation creator network, contributing significantly to the evolution of online video content.

GumGum

Series B in 2011
GumGum, Inc. is a technology and media company based in Santa Monica, California, specializing in in-image advertising and visual intelligence solutions. Founded in 2006, it provides a variety of services including influencer marketing, site monetization, community management, and targeted media buying. The company’s proprietary technology utilizes machine learning and deep learning to deliver contextual advertising, enabling brands to effectively engage with their target audiences. GumGum's visual intelligence platform, along with its contextual advertising engine, Verity™, allows advertisers to safely and accurately place ads alongside relevant content. Additionally, GumGum offers tools such as AdBuilder, which enables brands to customize and launch in-image and in-screen advertisements. The company has expanded its presence with offices in various cities across the United States, as well as in London and Sydney, enhancing its ability to serve clients globally.

Maker Studios

Series B in 2011
Maker Studios, Inc. is a media company based in Los Angeles, California, that specializes in enabling artists to create, distribute, and monetize original content on YouTube. Founded in 2009, it serves a diverse range of online video creators, including well-known digital stars and popular content series. The company offers comprehensive services to its partners, including development, production, promotion, distribution, sales, and marketing, making it a unique player in the digital media landscape. As a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, Maker Studios has positioned itself as a next-generation creator network, contributing significantly to the evolution of online video content.

Maker Studios

Series A in 2010
Maker Studios, Inc. is a media company based in Los Angeles, California, that specializes in enabling artists to create, distribute, and monetize original content on YouTube. Founded in 2009, it serves a diverse range of online video creators, including well-known digital stars and popular content series. The company offers comprehensive services to its partners, including development, production, promotion, distribution, sales, and marketing, making it a unique player in the digital media landscape. As a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, Maker Studios has positioned itself as a next-generation creator network, contributing significantly to the evolution of online video content.

Adly

Series B in 2010
Adly Inc. is a digital marketing software and services provider that facilitates partnerships between brands and influencers to enhance audience engagement and drive sales. The company offers tools for data-driven audience targeting, in-stream social advertising, and real-time events designed to generate leads and actionable insights. Adly supports brands by identifying suitable influencers, executing strategic campaigns, and monitoring performance through its offerings, which include AudienceIQ for intelligent audience matching and Campaign Builder for customized advertising solutions. Since its inception in 2009, Adly has collaborated with over 150 major brands, successfully executing more than 25,000 celebrity-driven activations. The company is based in Beverly Hills, California.

Digital Air Strike

Venture Round in 2009
Digital Air Strike is the leading social media technology, social recruiting, digital engagement and lead response company that helps businesses internationally increase social engagement in digital and social environments while generating measurable ROI. A pioneer in digital response, social marketing and online reputation management, Digital Air Strike deploys industry-specific mobile apps, software and managed service platforms to monitor, improve and manage consumer engagement for thousands of businesses in the United States and Canada including seven of the largest automotive manufacturers. More information is available at www.digitalairstrike.com and www.facebook.com/digitalairstrike.

Adly

Seed Round in 2009
Adly Inc. is a digital marketing software and services provider that facilitates partnerships between brands and influencers to enhance audience engagement and drive sales. The company offers tools for data-driven audience targeting, in-stream social advertising, and real-time events designed to generate leads and actionable insights. Adly supports brands by identifying suitable influencers, executing strategic campaigns, and monitoring performance through its offerings, which include AudienceIQ for intelligent audience matching and Campaign Builder for customized advertising solutions. Since its inception in 2009, Adly has collaborated with over 150 major brands, successfully executing more than 25,000 celebrity-driven activations. The company is based in Beverly Hills, California.

GumGum

Series A in 2009
GumGum, Inc. is a technology and media company based in Santa Monica, California, specializing in in-image advertising and visual intelligence solutions. Founded in 2006, it provides a variety of services including influencer marketing, site monetization, community management, and targeted media buying. The company’s proprietary technology utilizes machine learning and deep learning to deliver contextual advertising, enabling brands to effectively engage with their target audiences. GumGum's visual intelligence platform, along with its contextual advertising engine, Verity™, allows advertisers to safely and accurately place ads alongside relevant content. Additionally, GumGum offers tools such as AdBuilder, which enables brands to customize and launch in-image and in-screen advertisements. The company has expanded its presence with offices in various cities across the United States, as well as in London and Sydney, enhancing its ability to serve clients globally.

Digital Air Strike

Series A in 2008
Digital Air Strike is the leading social media technology, social recruiting, digital engagement and lead response company that helps businesses internationally increase social engagement in digital and social environments while generating measurable ROI. A pioneer in digital response, social marketing and online reputation management, Digital Air Strike deploys industry-specific mobile apps, software and managed service platforms to monitor, improve and manage consumer engagement for thousands of businesses in the United States and Canada including seven of the largest automotive manufacturers. More information is available at www.digitalairstrike.com and www.facebook.com/digitalairstrike.

Actimagine

Series A in 2006
Actimagine SAS develops and sells video codec software for mobile platforms. It offers Mobiclip, a software video codec for mobile platforms that enables customers to watch high quality video on mobile phones; Mobiclip.com, which provides customized end-to-end turnkey solutions that enable users to select and manage various type of video content via a Web portal and access it directly in high definition on a mobile phone; and software development kits for manufacturers and developers. The company also provides movies on memory cards for mobile phones, the Mobiclip Sideloading solution, which enables users to rent or buy a movie on the Web, Mobiclip Storeload that allows retail stores to deliver various video content from the personal computers to mobile phones, and the Mobiclip video codec is suited for system-on-chips with a video controller. Actimagine SAS was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Paris, France with additional offices in Tokyo, Japan; San Diego, California; and Singapore.

UGO Networks

Series E in 2000
UGO Networks, a division of Hearst Corporation, specializes in creating engaging lifestyle content tailored for the 18-34 male demographic. Its primary platforms, UGO.com and 1UP.com, feature comprehensive daily coverage of gaming and entertainment, including game reviews, pop culture news, and lifestyle articles. Complemented by a network of affiliated properties, UGO provides additional resources such as game cheats, interactive content, and celebrity news. The company attracts a global audience of 42 million visitors, positioning itself as a trusted source for influential trendsetters who are keen on the latest developments in gaming and entertainment. UGO Networks also offers advertisers targeted opportunities to connect with this engaged audience through customized online advertising solutions. Headquartered in New York City, UGO maintains offices in San Francisco, Chicago, and Santa Monica.

UGO Networks

Venture Round in 1998
UGO Networks, a division of Hearst Corporation, specializes in creating engaging lifestyle content tailored for the 18-34 male demographic. Its primary platforms, UGO.com and 1UP.com, feature comprehensive daily coverage of gaming and entertainment, including game reviews, pop culture news, and lifestyle articles. Complemented by a network of affiliated properties, UGO provides additional resources such as game cheats, interactive content, and celebrity news. The company attracts a global audience of 42 million visitors, positioning itself as a trusted source for influential trendsetters who are keen on the latest developments in gaming and entertainment. UGO Networks also offers advertisers targeted opportunities to connect with this engaged audience through customized online advertising solutions. Headquartered in New York City, UGO maintains offices in San Francisco, Chicago, and Santa Monica.
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