Vermillio
Series A in 2025
Vermillio is an artificial intelligence platform that empowers content creators to style, own, and track their digital creations. Founded by Dan Neely and based in Chicago, Illinois, the company utilizes proprietary blockchain technology to authenticate content, establishing clear ownership. Vermillio's tools enable creators to generate and manage their content effectively, ensuring they receive fair credit and compensation for their work. By prioritizing creator control, Vermillio opens up new opportunities and shapes the future of creativity in the digital landscape.
Cobalt Music
Acquisition in 2024
Cobalt Music is a Greek company specializing in the provision of music content, focusing primarily on the Greek market. It offers a diverse range of renowned Greek artists and catalogs, empowering these artists to explore new creative territories and expand their reach to fresh audiences.
Songwhip
Acquisition in 2024
Songwhip, Music links everyone can play, A single link for every music platform, A way to reach all the fans with one link, Supporting artists to reach their entire audience. Completely free. Songwhip was conceived and built by a solo software engineer and designer.
FanSifter
Acquisition in 2024
FanSifter is a technology company that specializes in managing and analyzing fan data for rights holders in music, entertainment, and sports industries. Its platform employs machine learning algorithms to help these entities enhance their sales of tickets, merchandise, experiences, and sponsorships by providing better segmentation, profiling, and enrichment of fan data. The platform enables industry stakeholders to collaborate on their first-party opt-in fan datasets while ensuring compliance with privacy laws, facilitating more targeted and personalized communication strategies.
SymphoMe
Non Equity Assistance in 2024
SymphoMe is an innovative music education platform designed to revolutionise the way music is taught and learned. Utilising advanced AI-driven multimodal music teaching technology, SymphoMe provides a personalised, engaging, and effective learning experience for music students and teachers alike.
Turne Solucoes Artisticas
Series A in 2024
Turne Solucoes Artisticas is a software company that presents a business model combining the functionalities of a Software as a Service platform with a marketplace, specifically tailored to meet the needs of musicians in managing their concert schedules and generating additional revenue streams. The platform includes concert management capabilities, offering a digital solution that allows musicians and bands to handle all aspects related to the organization and planning of their live performances. This includes schedule management, logistics coordination, contracts, payments, and marketplace featuring gig opportunities and monetization options. Furthermore, it provides a saas subscription and various benefits for musicians, facilitating the centralization of information.
Fave is a social platform designed for superfans to connect and engage with one another. It facilitates the creation of immersive video content and encourages users to bond over shared interests, compete in challenges, and exchange both physical and virtual goods within a fan-driven marketplace. Users accumulate points to demonstrate their status as top fans, gaining recognition and earning exclusive rewards related to their favorite artists and creators. Additionally, Fave collaborates with creators to enable them to monetize fan engagement, enhancing the overall experience for both fans and artists. The platform aims to foster community, creativity, and commerce among fans worldwide.
Komi is a personalized website page builder designed for influencers, celebrities, and content creators. It serves as a centralized hub, allowing users to customize landing pages that showcase their latest projects, including podcast episodes, YouTube videos, music albums, merchandise, tour dates, and social media links. By consolidating various offerings into a visually appealing and fully personalized platform, Komi empowers creators at all levels to enhance their visibility and engage with fans effectively. The platform provides essential digital tools to help artists and celebrities expand their business, elevate their fan base, and maximize their commercial potential while fostering meaningful interactions with their audience.
Slipstream
Series A in 2022
Slipstream offers a royalty-free music library for creators. Its platform provides professional tracks from independent artists, ensuring copyright clearance for use across digital platforms without risk of strikes.
ventus Japan
Series A in 2021
Ventus, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company established in 2017 that operates a fan engagement platform known as Whooop. This platform allows users to become members of sports teams through collaborations with professional athletes and teams. Ventus specializes in enabling the issuance and collection of electronic trading cards, which fans can purchase online. By integrating sports and entertainment content, the company creates a unique experience that fosters connections between fans and athletes, enhancing the overall enjoyment of sports engagement.
Tiger Media
Seed Round in 2021
Tigermedia makes and distributes films. It concentrates on producing and distributing movies. It sells items including the tigerbox touch, tigerbooks, tigerbuddies, tigercards, wildcards, and tigerones.
MakersPlace
Series A in 2021
MakersPlace is a digital creation platform based in San Francisco, California, that leverages blockchain technology to facilitate the sale and protection of authentic digital artworks. Founded in 2016, the company provides a marketplace where digital creators can connect with fans and collectors globally. Through its platform, creators can sign their works and establish limited editions, ensuring proof of authenticity, ownership, and scarcity. This system empowers artists to capture the true value of their digital creations while offering collectors access to unique and rare digital art. MakersPlace plays a significant role in the evolving landscape of digital art by fostering a direct relationship between creators and their audience.
Alamo Records
Acquisition in 2021
Alamo Records is a multi-genre music label dedicated to identifying and signing next-generation talent in the music industry. The company operates a recording studio that facilitates the production of songs for various artists, aiming to support and promote emerging musicians. By focusing on a diverse range of musical styles, Alamo Records seeks to foster innovation and creativity within the industry while helping new artists establish their presence in the competitive music landscape.
Somethin’ Else
Acquisition in 2021
Somethin’ Else’re a content company, but we’re an audience business.
Laylo
Venture Round in 2021
Laylo is a fan engagement platform that connects artists with their most dedicated fans globally. The company offers tools for musicians, celebrities, and creators to effectively manage announcements and enhance communication with their audiences. By analyzing consumer listening behavior and social media activity, Laylo identifies key fans for each artist, helping them to tailor their outreach. The platform features a combination of landing pages, messaging, and link tracking, enabling clients to drive sales and streams during significant moments in their careers. Through its innovative approach, Laylo empowers artists to engage with their fanbase more effectively.
Tiger Media
Series A in 2021
Tigermedia makes and distributes films. It concentrates on producing and distributing movies. It sells items including the tigerbox touch, tigerbooks, tigerbuddies, tigercards, wildcards, and tigerones.
Fave is a social platform designed for superfans to connect and engage with one another. It facilitates the creation of immersive video content and encourages users to bond over shared interests, compete in challenges, and exchange both physical and virtual goods within a fan-driven marketplace. Users accumulate points to demonstrate their status as top fans, gaining recognition and earning exclusive rewards related to their favorite artists and creators. Additionally, Fave collaborates with creators to enable them to monetize fan engagement, enhancing the overall experience for both fans and artists. The platform aims to foster community, creativity, and commerce among fans worldwide.
Rapchat
Seed Round in 2021
Rapchat LLC is a mobile application developer based in Kenton, Ohio, founded in 2013. The company specializes in providing a platform for music artists to create, connect, and distribute their music. Users can interact with the platform by selecting beats, recording freestyle raps, and sharing their creations with a community of fellow artists and audiences. Rapchat's mobile recording studio offers various music-making tools that facilitate collaboration and connectivity, making it easier for artists to engage with their audience and produce content directly from their phones. Coach and accessible for both aspiring and established musicians, Rapchat aims to enhance the music creation experience for its users.
Som Livre
Acquisition in 2021
Som Livre is a fully integrated digital music label that focuses on serving independent artists and songwriters. The company specializes in identifying, developing, and promoting music and artists, ensuring they resonate with fans over the long term. In addition to its core activities in artist development, Som Livre operates a music distribution platform, facilitating the release and promotion of its diverse catalog. This comprehensive approach allows the company to effectively manage the lifecycle of music projects while fostering a supportive environment for emerging talent in the industry.
Maestro is a technology company based in San Francisco that offers a white-label platform designed for broadcasters and enterprise live streamers to enhance audience engagement and monetization. The platform facilitates the creation of interactive video experiences, allowing users to engage with their audiences in real time while capturing valuable data for analytics and marketing purposes. Maestro's clientele includes prominent organizations such as Microsoft, PlayStation, E3, ESL, Capcom, WB Games, and ELEAGUE, showcasing its capability to support high-profile events and brand engagements. By focusing on tools that drive audience interaction at critical moments, Maestro aims to enhance the overall viewing experience and empower its customers to effectively manage and grow their audiences.
Riverstarz Music Publishing
Seed Round in 2021
Riverstarz Music Publishing is a technical royalty collection agency for interactive streaming. It receives precise payments from YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, Rhapsody, Beats, Amazon Prime, and other interactive streaming platforms for its music publishing members.
Human Re Sources
Acquisition in 2020
Human Re Sources is an artist distribution and services company based in Beverly Hills, California. Founded in 2017, it specializes in providing digital distribution and label services to artists. As of December 2020, the company operates as a subsidiary of The Orchard Enterprises, Inc., enhancing its capacity to support artists in navigating the music industry. Through its services, Human Re Sources aims to empower artists by facilitating access to music distribution channels and other essential resources.
THECOO offers influencer planning tools for enterprise marketers under its iCON Suite brand. It connects YouTubers with companies via iCon CAST, provides influence marketing platform RIPPLY, and operates fan community app fanicon. Founded in 2014, THECOO is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
ANYCOLOR is a start-up in the entertainment industry, specializing in supporting and managing virtual talent, notably the Nijisanji Project. They facilitate the operation of virtual talents, known as "virtual rivers," within this project. The company leverages advanced technology to create innovative experiences for global audiences, aiming to enrich everyday lives through its unique offerings.
Neon Hum
Corporate Round in 2019
Neon Hum is a boutique podcast production company headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It specializes in creating narrative-driven, high-quality audio documentaries, talk shows, and partner content, focusing on story-driven, engaging stories with a national scope.
Super Duper
Venture Round in 2019
Super Duper is a start-up offering products that make the experience of international travelers Super Dupe.
Lirica uses music as a tool to make language learning engaging, memorable, and culturally immersive. Its platform offers translated music videos with curated lessons focused on key grammatical themes, enabling users to learn languages anytime, anywhere.
Laylo is a fan engagement platform that connects artists with their most dedicated fans globally. The company offers tools for musicians, celebrities, and creators to effectively manage announcements and enhance communication with their audiences. By analyzing consumer listening behavior and social media activity, Laylo identifies key fans for each artist, helping them to tailor their outreach. The platform features a combination of landing pages, messaging, and link tracking, enabling clients to drive sales and streams during significant moments in their careers. Through its innovative approach, Laylo empowers artists to engage with their fanbase more effectively.
Realista
Corporate Round in 2019
REALISTA mission is to use the Internet to create services that make the world a bit unique. It would be great if your life became more colorful with the services we created.We will continue to work hard for such a world.
emotivE
Corporate Round in 2019
EmotivE Inc. is a technological company based in Minato, Japan, founded in 2018. The firm specializes in developing OMOHIKANE, an artificial intelligence-based communication software designed to resonate with human sensibilities. This innovative software incorporates image recognition capabilities, allowing it to recognize individual emotions and desires, facilitating personalized communication. In addition to its software development, EmotivE offers business consulting and content planning services across various sectors, including ICT platforms, service systems, websites, internet services, robotics, and advertising communication. The company's mission is to create AI partners that enhance human experiences and promote equitable access to information technology for individuals of all ages and genders.
Raymond Gubbay
Acquisition in 2018
Raymond Gubbay Ltd is a prominent promoter and producer of live performances in the United Kingdom, specializing in concerts, opera, and ballet. Established in 1966 and based in London, the company has built a reputation for presenting a diverse range of classical music entertainment in major venues across the country. It offers various products related to its performances, including CDs and themed merchandise. As a key player in the promotion of popular classical music, Raymond Gubbay Ltd plays a significant role in enriching the cultural landscape of the UK. The company has been operating as a subsidiary of DEAG Classics AG since 2008.
NexTone
Corporate Round in 2018
NexTone Inc. is a company specializing in music copyright management and licensing solutions, operating in Japan and internationally. Founded in 2000 and re-established in 2016 as a joint venture between e-License Inc. and Japan Rights Clearance Inc., NexTone offers a range of services for music publishers, including drafting contracts, managing royalty payments, and providing consultation on copyright issues. Additionally, the company distributes music and video content across various platforms and offers marketing and promotion services for entertainment businesses. NexTone is committed to delivering flexible copyright management solutions, ensuring transparent operations, and facilitating equitable royalty distribution for rights holders. The company is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
Soymilk
Corporate Round in 2017
Soymilk is a creative collective that produces lifestyle-oriented entertainment content, including stage performances and music.
iFLYER is a Japanese entertainment portal website for festival, live music, and club event information. The content is syndicated to venue and artist official homepages, labels, and several radio stations. It also intelligently integrates with Facebook's event system and integrates smoothly with Twitter, Line and other popular SNS services.The customer-facing side, called "myflyer," supplies a recommended event engine based on genre and local preferences, notifications, SNS integration, coupons, guest lists, and tickets. There is also an which provides SNS, CMS and productivity tools for connecting industry professionals.
gigmit
Corporate Round in 2016
Founded in 2012, gigmit is a B2B platform that streamlines live music event management. It enables musicians to showcase their work and promoters to find suitable acts for their events via a matching algorithm. The platform facilitates contract generation, contact sharing, and provides tools for managing business-related details.
SHOWROOM
Seed Round in 2016
SHOWROOM Inc. is a Tokyo-based media company established in 2015, specializing in live video streaming services. The platform primarily caters to audiences interested in Japanese idols and voice actors, providing an interactive environment for watching live shows. In addition to facilitating live streaming, SHOWROOM also engages in program production and offers various video content services. As a subsidiary of DeNA Co., Ltd., SHOWROOM continues to enhance its offerings within the entertainment sector, focusing on connecting fans with their favorite performers through innovative digital experiences.
SHOWROOM
Corporate Round in 2015
SHOWROOM Inc. is a Tokyo-based media company established in 2015, specializing in live video streaming services. The platform primarily caters to audiences interested in Japanese idols and voice actors, providing an interactive environment for watching live shows. In addition to facilitating live streaming, SHOWROOM also engages in program production and offers various video content services. As a subsidiary of DeNA Co., Ltd., SHOWROOM continues to enhance its offerings within the entertainment sector, focusing on connecting fans with their favorite performers through innovative digital experiences.
Shazam Entertainment
Venture Round in 2014
Shazam Entertainment Limited is a technology company focused on music discovery through its flagship application, Shazam. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in London, the company enables users to discover, explore, and share music and television content via its mobile application, available on iOS, Android, and Windows platforms, as well as on MAC and Windows PCs. Shazam has established strategic alliances with several media companies, including iHeartMedia and Cumulus, to enhance its offerings and reach. The company operates additional offices in major cities, including New York City, Redwood City, Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, and North Sydney, Australia. Since September 2018, Shazam Entertainment has functioned as a subsidiary of Apple Operations Europe.
IODA
Corporate Round in 2009
IODA, or Independent Online Distribution Alliance, is a music aggregator focused on the independent music sector, which contributes significantly to the music industry's revenue. Established by a group of music enthusiasts in 2003, IODA collaborates with independent music labels worldwide to collect and distribute their music to various digital retailers, including major platforms like iTunes and Rhapsody. The company's operations involve digitally encoding music into multiple formats and uploading it to retailer servers, while taking a percentage of the sales. To enhance the visibility of indie music, IODA operates Promonet, a database that allows bloggers and podcasters to access sample tracks from its artists for promotional use. This initiative bridges the gap between independent music and online media, facilitating deeper exposure within the digital music landscape. Since its inception, IODA has grown to represent over 2,700 indie labels, boasting a catalog of more than 2 million tracks. In 2009, IODA was acquired by Sony Music and subsequently merged with The Orchard in 2012.
Keyhole, Inc., founded in 2001, is a software development company that specializes in geospatial data visualization applications. Initially established as a spin-off of Intrinsic Graphics, the company gained early funding from notable sources including a Sony venture capital fund, NVIDIA, and the CIA's venture-capital arm, In-Q-Tel. Keyhole is best known for its flagship product, Earth Viewer, which became the foundation for the widely acclaimed Google Earth application released in 2005. The company's technology also contributed to the development of Google Maps and Google Mobile. In addition to Earth Viewer, Keyhole provides interactive software that allows users to explore 3D representations of locations across the globe, along with information on nearby amenities such as hotels, parks, and public transportation.
360HIPHOP.com
Venture Round in 2000
360HIPHOP.com is an online platform dedicated to providing comprehensive coverage of hip-hop culture, trends, and news. The website serves as a central hub for enthusiasts, offering insights into various aspects of the hip-hop genre, including music, fashion, lifestyle, and politics. By delivering timely updates and information, 360HIPHOP.com caters to the interests of music fans and those engaged in hip-hop culture, ensuring they stay informed about the latest developments and trends within the community.
Redband Broadcasting is setting the Internet standard for the creation and distribution of audio programming. They create exclusive news, talk and entertainment programs and deliver them online and on air, combining the explosive range of the Internet with proven on-air reach.
Redband's audio programs are delivered over LookSmart's, AltaVista's and Sony Music Entertainment's extensive Internet distribution network, as well as third-party Web sites. Through an exclusive partnership with Public Radio International (PRI), Redband programs will be jointly distributed across the Redband Network and the 660 PRI affiliate stations that reach 11 million listeners weekly. Redband is also heard on air in 525 broadcasts on 155 Redband Lifestyle Network-affiliate stations. With its powerful distribution network, Redband reaches a potential 60 million users every month.
NetGen
Venture Round in 2000
The netgenCard is redefining the way teens shop, both online and offline. The netgenCard is the ONLY teen spending product that combines the universal acceptance of a major credit card transaction with a flexible, detailed control overlay. Using a payment mechanism built upon the world's most accepted non-cash payment systems, the netgenCard works like a credit card but is actually a pre-paid debit card that functions within parameters pre-determined by parents. This unique control layer allows parents to set comfortable limits around how much their teen spends and where he or she can shop, while allowing teens to choose where THEY want to shop from among thousands of merchants.
i3 Mobile
Venture Round in 2000
i3 Mobile is a United States-based telecommunications company that provides mobile network services and information products. The firm offers GSM network solutions and operates the Pronto platform, a mobile subscription information and communication service for telephones in the United States. Pronto is marketed directly to consumers as a mobile concierge service combining information delivery with flat-menu voice recognition technology to provide services throughout the day. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.
Artistdirect
Venture Round in 2000
ARTISTdirect, Inc. is a digital media entertainment company based in Santa Monica, California, founded in 1996. The company operates an online platform that offers a variety of services related to music and recorded labels, including multimedia content, music news, online fan communities, and digital music services. Additionally, ARTISTdirect manages iMusic record labels that focus on rock and urban music. The company also includes a subsidiary, MediaDefender, which specializes in anti-piracy solutions within the Internet-piracy-protection industry. ARTISTdirect operates through three primary segments: Internet Piracy Prevention, Media, and E-Commerce, positioning itself as a key player in the digital music landscape.
Emazing
Acquisition in 1999
Emazing is a provider of email, media, digital media services.
InfoBeat
Acquisition in 1999
InfoBeat a personalized news and entertainment email service.