Lightspeed Europe

Lightspeed Europe is a venture capital firm focused on early-stage and growth investments across various sectors, including consumer, health, and fintech. With its headquarters in Menlo Park, California, and regional offices in Europe, Israel, India, and China, Lightspeed aims to identify and support innovative companies that can disrupt traditional markets. The firm invests in a wide range of industries, such as enterprise technology, e-commerce, software, and biotechnology, providing both equity and debt financing. Lightspeed has a particular interest in technology-led businesses, as well as opportunities in advertising, media, healthcare, education, and retail. Its investment strategy emphasizes the provision of capital along with ongoing consulting and advisory services to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses effectively.

Shaurya Aggarwal

Partner

Vaibhav Agrawal

Associate Partner

Moritz Baier-Lentz

Partner and Head of Gaming

Mercedes Bent

Partner

Akshay Bhushan

Venture Partner

Taggart Bonham

Partner

Ashley Brasier

Partner

Guru Chahal

Partner

Yoni Cheifetz

Partner

Yoni Cheifetz

Partner

Amish Desai

Partner

Barry Eggers

Founder and Partner

Sam Eisler

Partner

Sam Eisler

Partner

James Ephrati

Partner

Faraz Fatemi

Partner, Consumer

Jack Fowler

Partner

Aaron Frank

Venture Partner

Vivek Gambhir

Venture Partner

Gaurav Gupta

Partner

David Gussarsky

Partner

Lisa Han

Partner

Dat Han

Senior Associate

Rob Horton JD

COO

Galym Imanbayev

Partner

Galym Imanbayev

Partner

Nnamdi Iregbulem

Partner

Raviraj Jain

Partner

Arif Janmohamed

Partner

Ansaf Kareem

Partner

Issac Kim

Partner

Harsha Kumar

Associate Partner

Pinn Lawjindakul

Partner

Pachara Lawjindakul

Partner

Jeremy Liew

Partner

Connor Love

Partner

John Luongo

Venture Partner

Natalie Luu

Partner

Naveed Matinfar

Partner

Arsham Memarzadeh

Partner

Michael Mignano

Partner, Consumer

Hemant Mohapatra

Partner

Andrew Moley

Operating Partner and CFO

Tal Morgenstern

Partner

Antoine Moyroud

Partner

Eric O'Brien

Affiliated Partner

Justin Overdorff

Partner

Apoorva Pandhi

Associate

Nicole Quinn

General Partner

Adrian Radu

Partner

Alexander Schmitt

Partner

Shan Shan

Partner

Aditya Sharma

Partner, Growth Equity - India and Asia-Pacific

Justin Shen

Partner

Justin Shen

Partner

Alex Taussig

Partner

John Thompson

Venture Partner

John Thompson

Venture Partner

Anoushka Vaswani

Partner

Nathan Wu

Partner, Growth

Mark Xu

Partner

Mark Xu

Partner

Jerry Ye

Partner, Data Platform

Past deals in Entertainment

Volley

Series B in 2021
Volley Inc. develops conversational games designed for messaging applications and voice interfaces, focusing on voice-controlled entertainment experiences for platforms such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Founded in 2013 and based in San Francisco, California, the company offers a variety of games, including popular titles like Song Quiz, Yes Sire, and Trivia Showdown. Volley aims to enhance user engagement through interactive and entertaining gameplay that leverages voice technology.

FrontRow

Series A in 2021
FrontRow is an online learning platform based in Bengaluru, India, that specializes in creative arts and sports. Founded in 2020, the platform provides courses in various disciplines, including cricket, music, and comedy, all taught by industry celebrities. FrontRow aims to help individuals pursue their passions by offering engaging learning experiences that incorporate regular activities, competitions, and opportunities for peer interaction, allowing learners to practice and showcase their talents.

Cameo

Series C in 2021
Cameo is a marketplace that enables fans to book personalized video shoutouts from a wide range of celebrities and influencers. The platform focuses on providing authentic and tailored fan experiences by allowing users to connect with their favorite personalities for custom video messages. Cameo partners with thousands of talents across various fields, offering customers an opportunity to share unique, personalized content. The company's mission centers on enhancing fan engagement through these bespoke interactions, creating memorable experiences that resonate with users. Based in Chicago, Cameo is a key player in the technology and startup ecosystem, facilitating a creative outlet for both fans and celebrities.

Betty Labs

Seed Round in 2020
Betty Labs Incorporated, founded in 2018 and based in Los Angeles, California, specializes in developing sports trivia applications aimed at enhancing fan engagement. The company's flagship product, Sideline, is a live mobile game that allows viewers to win money by making predictions about sports events as they unfold on television. This interactive experience transforms mundane moments into exciting opportunities for competition and social interaction among friends. Additionally, Betty Labs offers Locker Room, a social audio platform that connects fans with sports insiders and athletes for live discussions, creating a space for fans to engage deeply with topics and teams they care about.

FrontRow

Venture Round in 2020
FrontRow is an online learning platform based in Bengaluru, India, that specializes in creative arts and sports. Founded in 2020, the platform provides courses in various disciplines, including cricket, music, and comedy, all taught by industry celebrities. FrontRow aims to help individuals pursue their passions by offering engaging learning experiences that incorporate regular activities, competitions, and opportunities for peer interaction, allowing learners to practice and showcase their talents.

Rheo TV

Seed Round in 2020
Rheo TV is a game-streaming platform that aims to make professional game streaming a mainstream career option in India by building an entertainment ecosystem that drives engagement and monetization. Today, India has nearly 200 million active gamers on smartphones. Ubiquitous internet infrastructure and affordable smartphones are leading to the increasing popularity of multiplayer online gaming in India, and Rheo TV is tapping into this phenomenon.

Solve

Venture Round in 2019
Solve HQ, Inc. is an interactive content company founded in 2018 and headquartered in Venice Beach, California, with additional offices in London. It specializes in producing "Solve," a unique murder-mystery show that engages viewers by allowing them to investigate a crime inspired by real events and identify potential suspects. The show is broadcast as weekly episodes on platforms like Snapchat and Instagram, and is also available on various podcast services, including Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, and Spotify. By merging elements of narrative storytelling with interactive gaming, Solve aims to create an engaging experience that captivates its audience. The company has attracted investments from notable investors, including Elisabeth Murdoch and prominent venture capital firms.

Solve

Venture Round in 2019
Solve HQ, Inc. is an interactive content company founded in 2018 and headquartered in Venice Beach, California, with additional offices in London. It specializes in producing "Solve," a unique murder-mystery show that engages viewers by allowing them to investigate a crime inspired by real events and identify potential suspects. The show is broadcast as weekly episodes on platforms like Snapchat and Instagram, and is also available on various podcast services, including Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, and Spotify. By merging elements of narrative storytelling with interactive gaming, Solve aims to create an engaging experience that captivates its audience. The company has attracted investments from notable investors, including Elisabeth Murdoch and prominent venture capital firms.

Rheo TV

Seed Round in 2019
Rheo TV is a game-streaming platform that aims to make professional game streaming a mainstream career option in India by building an entertainment ecosystem that drives engagement and monetization. Today, India has nearly 200 million active gamers on smartphones. Ubiquitous internet infrastructure and affordable smartphones are leading to the increasing popularity of multiplayer online gaming in India, and Rheo TV is tapping into this phenomenon.

Cameo

Series B in 2019
Cameo is a marketplace that enables fans to book personalized video shoutouts from a wide range of celebrities and influencers. The platform focuses on providing authentic and tailored fan experiences by allowing users to connect with their favorite personalities for custom video messages. Cameo partners with thousands of talents across various fields, offering customers an opportunity to share unique, personalized content. The company's mission centers on enhancing fan engagement through these bespoke interactions, creating memorable experiences that resonate with users. Based in Chicago, Cameo is a key player in the technology and startup ecosystem, facilitating a creative outlet for both fans and celebrities.

Encantos

Pre Seed Round in 2018
Encantos Media Studios is an entertainment and educational company based in Culver City, California, with additional offices in Los Angeles and New York. Founded in 2015, Encantos creates a diverse range of content, including apps, books, toys, and videos, aimed at empowering creatives to tell their stories. The company connects children with skilled storytellers through an online platform designed to teach essential 21st-century skills. Encantos has garnered recognition through numerous awards and accolades from prestigious organizations such as CNN, Forbes, and The New York Times, highlighting its commitment to quality educational content and innovation in children's media.

Cameo

Series A in 2018
Cameo is a marketplace that enables fans to book personalized video shoutouts from a wide range of celebrities and influencers. The platform focuses on providing authentic and tailored fan experiences by allowing users to connect with their favorite personalities for custom video messages. Cameo partners with thousands of talents across various fields, offering customers an opportunity to share unique, personalized content. The company's mission centers on enhancing fan engagement through these bespoke interactions, creating memorable experiences that resonate with users. Based in Chicago, Cameo is a key player in the technology and startup ecosystem, facilitating a creative outlet for both fans and celebrities.

Audius

Series A in 2018
Audius, Inc. develops a decentralized community of artists, developers, and listeners collaborating using blockchain technology to share music. It provides features that include audio file hosting and streaming, creator dashboard, exclusinve content, listen without downloading additional software, and earn royalties. The company was incorporated in 2018 and is based in San Francisco, California.

Volley

Series A in 2018
Volley Inc. develops conversational games designed for messaging applications and voice interfaces, focusing on voice-controlled entertainment experiences for platforms such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Founded in 2013 and based in San Francisco, California, the company offers a variety of games, including popular titles like Song Quiz, Yes Sire, and Trivia Showdown. Volley aims to enhance user engagement through interactive and entertaining gameplay that leverages voice technology.

Cheddar

Series D in 2018
Cheddar is a media and entertainment company that operates two live video news networks: Cheddar, focusing on business news, and Cheddar Big News, which offers general news and headlines. The company broadcasts from various prominent locations, including the New York Stock Exchange and its studios in New York and Los Angeles. Cheddar reaches over 6.5 million viewers monthly through platforms such as SlingTV, Hulu Live, YouTube TV, and social media channels like Facebook and Twitter, accumulating hundreds of millions of video views across these platforms. The company aims to provide an authentic voice and a fresh perspective on a wide range of topics, including business, culture, media, and technology, appealing to a diverse and intellectually curious audience. Founded by Jon Steinberg, Cheddar seeks to deliver updated news live and on-demand, reflecting the dynamism of modern media consumption.

Cheddar

Series C in 2017
Cheddar is a media and entertainment company that operates two live video news networks: Cheddar, focusing on business news, and Cheddar Big News, which offers general news and headlines. The company broadcasts from various prominent locations, including the New York Stock Exchange and its studios in New York and Los Angeles. Cheddar reaches over 6.5 million viewers monthly through platforms such as SlingTV, Hulu Live, YouTube TV, and social media channels like Facebook and Twitter, accumulating hundreds of millions of video views across these platforms. The company aims to provide an authentic voice and a fresh perspective on a wide range of topics, including business, culture, media, and technology, appealing to a diverse and intellectually curious audience. Founded by Jon Steinberg, Cheddar seeks to deliver updated news live and on-demand, reflecting the dynamism of modern media consumption.

Cheddar

Series B in 2016
Cheddar is a media and entertainment company that operates two live video news networks: Cheddar, focusing on business news, and Cheddar Big News, which offers general news and headlines. The company broadcasts from various prominent locations, including the New York Stock Exchange and its studios in New York and Los Angeles. Cheddar reaches over 6.5 million viewers monthly through platforms such as SlingTV, Hulu Live, YouTube TV, and social media channels like Facebook and Twitter, accumulating hundreds of millions of video views across these platforms. The company aims to provide an authentic voice and a fresh perspective on a wide range of topics, including business, culture, media, and technology, appealing to a diverse and intellectually curious audience. Founded by Jon Steinberg, Cheddar seeks to deliver updated news live and on-demand, reflecting the dynamism of modern media consumption.

Vanchu

Series B in 2014
Vanchu Technology LTD, founded in 2010 and based in China, specializes in developing games for social platforms and mobile devices. The company is known for its software "Guessing King," which enables users to identify and guess music tracks. This application includes a "crazy mode" that enhances the challenge of guessing songs, providing users with engaging entertainment. Through its innovative approach, Vanchu aims to create interactive and enjoyable experiences for music enthusiasts.

Distractify

Series A in 2014
Distractify.com, LLC is a media company based in Williamsville, New York, founded in 2013. It specializes in delivering a variety of content formats across multiple platforms, focusing on entertainment-related news and culturally relevant conversations. The company attracts a significant audience, with approximately 15.7 million unique visitors each month, and aims to engage users by creating and curating content that reflects current trends on the Internet. Distractify enables users to share and interact with its content, providing a space for storytelling and brand engagement through relevant content experiences.

Vanchu

Series A in 2011
Vanchu Technology LTD, founded in 2010 and based in China, specializes in developing games for social platforms and mobile devices. The company is known for its software "Guessing King," which enables users to identify and guess music tracks. This application includes a "crazy mode" that enhances the challenge of guessing songs, providing users with engaging entertainment. Through its innovative approach, Vanchu aims to create interactive and enjoyable experiences for music enthusiasts.

Flixster

Series B in 2008
Flixster, Inc. operates an online platform that serves as a social networking site for movie enthusiasts in the United States and Australia. Founded in 2005 and based in San Francisco, the platform allows users to create profiles, invite friends, rate movies and actors, and share reviews. It provides access to movie information, showtimes, celebrity news, and video clips, fostering a community where users can engage with one another. With over 50 million registered users and more than 1.5 billion movie ratings, Flixster has gained significant popularity and outperformed other movie sites in total page views. The company also offers advertising services and is a subsidiary of Fandango Media, LLC.

Flixster

Series A in 2007
Flixster, Inc. operates an online platform that serves as a social networking site for movie enthusiasts in the United States and Australia. Founded in 2005 and based in San Francisco, the platform allows users to create profiles, invite friends, rate movies and actors, and share reviews. It provides access to movie information, showtimes, celebrity news, and video clips, fostering a community where users can engage with one another. With over 50 million registered users and more than 1.5 billion movie ratings, Flixster has gained significant popularity and outperformed other movie sites in total page views. The company also offers advertising services and is a subsidiary of Fandango Media, LLC.

IGN Entertainment

Venture Round in 1999
IGN Entertainment is an online media company that caters to the global markets of video gaming, lifestyle, and entertainment enthusiasts. It operates a variety of fan-focused websites, including IGN.com, 1UP.com, and GameSpy, which are available in over 16 languages. The company also provides technology solutions for online gameplay, primarily targeting the demographics of young adult males aged 18 to 34. In addition to its primary gaming content, IGN owns several other platforms, such as AskMen.com, which focuses on men's lifestyle, Vault Network for role-playing games, and UGO.com, a site dedicated to men's entertainment. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, IGN Entertainment has expanded its presence with offices across North America, Europe, and Australia, and operates as a subsidiary of Ziff Davis Media Inc.

Eve.com

Venture Round in 1999
Eve.com specializes in massively multiplayer online roleplaying games (MMORPGs), boasting a diverse portfolio that includes popular titles such as Eve Online, Eve Valkyrie, Gunjack, Dust 514, and Eve Universe. The company focuses on creating immersive gaming experiences that engage players in expansive virtual worlds, fostering community interaction and collaboration. Through its innovative approach to game design and storytelling, Eve.com has established a strong presence in the gaming industry, appealing to a dedicated audience of gamers.
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