Gaingels

Gaingels is a venture investment syndicate founded in 2014 and based in Burlington, Vermont, dedicated to supporting the LGBT+ community and its allies. The organization invests in companies led by LGBT+ founders and executives at all stages of development, as well as in established firms committed to enhancing their diversity and inclusivity. With a global portfolio comprising over 130 companies and $70 million in investment capital deployed, Gaingels plays a vital role in fostering an inclusive business environment. Additionally, the Gaingels network actively assists its portfolio companies in identifying and recruiting diverse talent for their leadership teams, while cultivating a vibrant community of industry leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs committed to driving positive social change through business initiatives.

Marc Baum

Investor

Jesse Curran

Principal

Ashley Flucas

Venture Partner

Rachael Foo

Investor

Todd Havill

Research Operations and Principal, Investment

Surya Jayaweera

Angel Investor

Jennifer Jeronimo

CEO and General Partner

Chris Leiter

Venture Partner and Investor

Jake Prigoff

General Partner

Alexandra Tanner

Investor

Past deals in Entertainment

Bump

Seed Round in 2024
Bump is an AI-driven financial platform designed to assist creators in managing their business finances more effectively. The platform enables users to receive and manage microadvances while also tracking and collecting unclaimed revenue. Bump helps creators assess their qualifications for micro-financing and provides insights into their real-time market value based on content performance across digital platforms. Additionally, it facilitates personalized live sessions with entertainment industry executives, allowing creators to navigate and overcome traditional barriers in accessing essential resources. By streamlining these processes, Bump empowers creators to optimize their earnings from sponsorship and brand deals.

Atmosfy

Seed Round in 2023
Atmosfy is a platform founded in 2021 and based in San Francisco, California, that specializes in discovering dining and nightlife options through video content. The platform allows users to explore various establishments, such as restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and cafes, both locally and from afar. Atmosfy enhances the decision-making process for users by providing video-based insights along with reviews and recommendations for each venue. This approach enables individuals to make informed choices about where to dine or socialize based on their personal preferences.

Overplay

Seed Round in 2023
Overplay is a venture-backed startup that provides a platform for users to create, share, and play casual mobile games quickly and without the need for coding. The company's patented technology transforms traditional video content into interactive experiences, allowing users to engage with videos actively. By leveraging artificial intelligence, Overplay's game engine facilitates the development of creative games, including racing, jumping, and drone piloting scenarios. Additionally, brands can utilize Overplay's platform to generate playable game ads based on their video content, significantly reducing the cost and time typically associated with game creation. This innovative approach enhances user engagement and entertainment in digital media.

Champions Round

Series A in 2023
Champions Round, Inc. is a gaming application developer specializing in football and esports, based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 2018, the company offers an online sports platform that enhances the spectator experience for fans, particularly targeting Gen Z. Its application allows users to participate in fantasy leagues and tournaments, answer live questions, earn points, and win cash prizes. By enabling users to join leagues without the need for group assembly, Champions Round lowers barriers to entry and fosters greater engagement among sports fans. The application is accessible via the App Store, providing a user-friendly interface for players to learn about the games while enjoying the competitive aspects of fantasy sports.

HUSSLUP

Seed Round in 2023
HUSSLUP operates a marketplace designed for creators in the media and entertainment industry, facilitating the formation of a diverse global community. The platform allows users to create personal profiles that feature verified credits and encrypted creative samples. Through these profiles, creators can connect with one another, share annotated contact lists organized by project, and collaborate on creative endeavors. HUSSLUP also includes a Pro Search tool that enables executives, producers, and representatives to easily find and hire talent for their projects. In addition to fostering connections, HUSSLUP supports collaboration through encrypted project sharing and private messaging, enhancing opportunities for mentorship and representation within the industry.

FuzzyBot

Seed Round in 2023
FuzzyBot is building genre-crossing games within imaginative worlds that spark excitement and creativity. Founded in 2020, FuzzyBot is a team of experienced and versatile industry veterans with AAA backgrounds from studios like Ubisoft, Bungie, and EA. Our development philosophy is around dreaming big, but building smart – maintaining a pragmatic, flexible, and down-to-earth approach focused on shipping games. We are focused on creating games that connect players across generations by creating universes of curiosity and excitement, combining the joy of creation with the thrill of AAA action.

Invisible Universe

Series A in 2022
Invisible Universe is an innovative animation studio focused on developing original character intellectual property for social media and web3 platforms. The company aims to create popular animated franchises more efficiently than traditional animation models. By collaborating with celebrities and utilizing advanced animation technology and software, Invisible Universe combines creative talent with the extensive reach of social media to engage entertainment users. Its mission is to redefine how animated characters are conceived and brought to audiences, positioning itself at the forefront of the next generation of animated franchises.

VersusGame

Series A in 2022
VersusGame is a global entertainment platform that offers a mobile gaming experience where users can leverage their knowledge of mainstream culture. It allows individuals, brands, and creators to engage with an interactive audience, driving excitement through gamified content. The platform enables users to participate in 1v1 games for cash and prizes, making it a popular choice for entertainment. VersusGame serves as a marketplace for interactive content, embedding its technology into various platforms such as apps, websites, TV shows, and podcasts. By utilizing artificial intelligence, it creates an engaging and fair environment for users to test their knowledge while placing bets on their favorite celebrities, brands, and events. The VersusGame app, along with its mobile website and integrations with social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram, positions it as a leading prediction platform worldwide.

Invisible Universe

Seed Round in 2022
Invisible Universe is an innovative animation studio focused on developing original character intellectual property for social media and web3 platforms. The company aims to create popular animated franchises more efficiently than traditional animation models. By collaborating with celebrities and utilizing advanced animation technology and software, Invisible Universe combines creative talent with the extensive reach of social media to engage entertainment users. Its mission is to redefine how animated characters are conceived and brought to audiences, positioning itself at the forefront of the next generation of animated franchises.

Dorian

Series A in 2022
Dorian Inc. is a company that develops a no-code platform aimed at enabling writers, particularly those targeting a female-first audience, to transform their narratives into interactive games. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Dorian's platform allows users to create characters and backgrounds using a variety of visual assets or to upload their own, all through an intuitive flowchart-style interface. This innovative approach not only allows writers to engage with their audience more personally but also provides them with opportunities to monetize their interactive content. By catering to the entertainment sector, Dorian empowers creators to connect with fans and participate in a game economy format.

DNABLOCK

Seed Round in 2022
DNABLOCK is leading the way to personalized entertainment, interaction, and inclusion by removing the barriers of 3D content creation. Our platform and REPLIKANT™ animation engine allows creatives, brands, and individuals the ability to generate bespoke, high-quality, digital beings without prohibitive post-production costs or specialized 3D programming knowledge. Our platform supports the exporting of content onto ANY device, making it simple to create fulfilling interactions with an enormous reach. We operate a scalable, high-end, computer graphics pipeline. This pipeline, combined with advanced machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and sentiment analysis, is our recipe for engaging, real-time, interactive, digital beings and the future of digital interface. As a forward-thinking company, we have focused on likeness protection and ownership; adding authentication mechanisms to guarantee control and transparency.

Encore Music Technologies

Seed Round in 2022
Encore Music Technologies is an interactive live music platform that enhances the connection between artists and their fans through a mobile application. Launched in 2020 by Kid Cudi, Ian Edelman, and Jonathan Gray, the platform allows artists to preview music, engage in direct communication with fans, and host live-stream concerts. By providing community-centered content and merchandise offerings, Encore aims to create new monetization opportunities for artists while enriching the fan experience. The application facilitates innovative ways for fans to support their favorite musicians, contributing to the sustainability of artists within the live music industry.

The Round

Seed Round in 2022
The Round is a software as a service (SaaS) company that specializes in real-time animation streaming for virtual applications. It has developed an end-to-end media platform aimed at creating and distributing live digital performances. By leveraging proprietary transit protocols and advanced virtual reality technology, The Round transforms environments into immersive, holographic venues. This innovation allows users to experience live entertainment in augmented reality, effectively bringing theatrical performances to life and enhancing the way audiences engage with digital content.

Fireside

Seed Round in 2021
Co-Founded by Falon Fatemi and Mark Cuban, Fireside is the first interactive Web3 streaming platform that turns creators and brands into the studio, networks, and streaming platforms of the future and invites audiences not to just view content, but participate in it. Fireside has already attracted creators like Jay Leno, Melissa Rivers, Craig Kilborn, and the Creator of HBO’s Entourage who are leveraging Fireside to invent new show formats and launch next generation entertainment networks. For more information or to request access to Fireside, please visit www.firesidechat.com or download Fireside for iOS.

Struum

Series A in 2021
Struum is an innovative streaming platform that offers viewers access to thousands of shows and movies from over 60 different services through a single monthly subscription. The platform simplifies the streaming experience by allowing users to search and discover content across various brands while redeeming credits for new programming. Struum features a diverse array of content, including documentaries, indie films, lifestyle series, classic films, true crime, LGBTQ+, and multicultural programming, as well as popular TV shows and movies. By acting as an aggregator, Struum enables consumers to effortlessly explore and enjoy a wide range of entertainment options, ensuring they stay informed and entertained. For more information, visit www.struum.com.

Jet Media Network

Seed Round in 2021
Jet Media Network delivers data-driven next-generation media networks and creates change through the empowerment of communities, thereby enabling high-profile athletes and celebrities by offering them bespoke mobile destinations that create direct-to-fan experiences.

Candy

Series A in 2021
Candy Digital is a rapidly growing company specializing in digital collectibles, particularly in the realm of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Launched in 2021 by notable figures including Fanatics and Gary Vaynerchuk, Candy Digital focuses on creating officially licensed sports NFTs while also expanding into art, entertainment, and music. The company aims to engage fans by offering authentic digital assets that connect them to their passions. In addition to enabling the purchase, sale, and trade of these collectibles, Candy collaborates with athletes, artists, and content creators to produce unique NFT offerings. Led by CEO Scott Lawin, Candy Digital is committed to providing secure and sustainable services within its NFT ecosystem.

Overplay

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Overplay is a venture-backed startup that provides a platform for users to create, share, and play casual mobile games quickly and without the need for coding. The company's patented technology transforms traditional video content into interactive experiences, allowing users to engage with videos actively. By leveraging artificial intelligence, Overplay's game engine facilitates the development of creative games, including racing, jumping, and drone piloting scenarios. Additionally, brands can utilize Overplay's platform to generate playable game ads based on their video content, significantly reducing the cost and time typically associated with game creation. This innovative approach enhances user engagement and entertainment in digital media.

Whatifi

Convertible Note in 2021
Whatifi is a mobile storytelling platform that creates active social experiences by merging user-generated filmmaking with high production-value content. The platform allows users to watch movies with friends, presenting them with interactive dilemmas at key turning points. This format enables participants to make decisions that influence the direction of the story, fostering engagement and collaboration. By offering a unique blend of interactive video streaming and shared viewing experiences, Whatifi occupies a distinctive niche in the creator economy, enhancing traditional movie-watching into a dynamic and entertaining activity.

Allstar

Seed Round in 2021
Allstar is a video gaming platform that aims to democratize gaming content by empowering gamers to create and share professional-quality short-form videos. Through its advanced creator tools and infrastructure, Allstar enables users to easily capture, personalize, and distribute their best gaming and esports moments as high-quality "snackable" videos across various platforms and devices. This innovative approach allows gamers to take center stage in their own content, fostering a creative community where gaming experiences can be showcased and celebrated.

Revry

Seed Round in 2021
Revry, Inc. operates a digital media network focused on streaming content specifically created for queer and allied audiences. Founded in 2016 and based in Glendale, California, Revry offers a diverse range of entertainment, including films, television series, podcasts, music albums, and original programming. The platform aims to inspire exploration of LGBTQ content, reaching millions of global viewers through various connected devices, including Smart TVs and streaming services. Revry's mission is to provide authentic representation of the LGBTQ community, ensuring that its content resonates with the identities and experiences of its audience. With a founding team experienced in technology, digital media, and LGBTQ advocacy, Revry positions itself as a leading source for queer entertainment.

Holler

Series B in 2021
Holler is a Conversational Media company that specializes in enhancing peer-to-peer messaging through engaging content delivery. Utilizing its Suggestion AI Technology, Holler provides users with relevant content at optimal moments, making communications more effective. The company operates a full-service animation production studio and creative agency, focusing on the creation of original animations and relatable characters that resonate with audiences. By combining the expertise of technologists, digital animators, and media industry professionals, Holler successfully services over 1 billion messages daily, while also assisting clients with television commercials and brand campaigns.

Struum

Venture Round in 2021
Struum is an innovative streaming platform that offers viewers access to thousands of shows and movies from over 60 different services through a single monthly subscription. The platform simplifies the streaming experience by allowing users to search and discover content across various brands while redeeming credits for new programming. Struum features a diverse array of content, including documentaries, indie films, lifestyle series, classic films, true crime, LGBTQ+, and multicultural programming, as well as popular TV shows and movies. By acting as an aggregator, Struum enables consumers to effortlessly explore and enjoy a wide range of entertainment options, ensuring they stay informed and entertained. For more information, visit www.struum.com.

Omaze

Series B in 2020
Omaze, Inc. operates an online fundraising platform designed to facilitate charitable initiatives by connecting donors with unique experiences and prizes. Founded in 2011 and based in Culver City, California, the platform enables users to bid on opportunities such as meeting celebrities, luxury vacations, and exclusive experiences. By partnering with influencers and non-profits, Omaze provides the necessary marketing, content, technology, and fulfillment services to enhance the online fundraising experience. This innovative approach to charitable giving aims to make it enjoyable and accessible for everyone, ultimately helping charities raise more funds and awareness while creating a significant impact through digital engagement.

MasterClass

Series E in 2020
MasterClass is an online education platform that provides video-based courses across a diverse array of subjects, including arts, business, design, sports, and writing. The platform features lessons taught by renowned celebrities, athletes, and industry leaders, making high-quality education accessible to a broad audience. In addition to video instruction, MasterClass offers interactive exercises and supplementary course materials to enhance the learning experience. This approach allows users to develop their skills and knowledge, ultimately supporting their academic and professional growth.

VideoElephant

Series A in 2019
VideoElephant Limited specializes in providing ready-to-monetize video content solutions to advertising technology providers, publishers, and advertisers globally. The company operates an online marketplace that offers a diverse library of video content, including short and long-form videos such as TV shows, movies, and documentaries. Users can select a content-only solution or an comprehensive video package that includes a video player, premium content, content delivery network (CDN) services, and monetization options. VideoElephant also simplifies the content acquisition process by aggregating and licensing videos from multiple providers under a single contract. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, the company has additional offices in London, Berlin, New York, and Los Angeles.
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