Africori
Acquisition in 2025
AFRICORI is a prominent pan-African digital music distributor headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company offers a comprehensive range of services including digital distribution, label services, synch licensing, and publishing for artists, songwriters, labels, and music rights holders across the continent. With offices in London and a presence in several African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, and Rwanda, AFRICORI specializes in helping African artists promote their music globally. Additionally, the company provides marketing, analytics, video monetization, artist development, rights management, and artist booking services, contributing to the growth and visibility of African music in the international market.
Founded in 2021 as a subsidiary of EST Media Holdings, OP3N is a global Web3 superapp that integrates communication, connection, and commerce within a unified interface, facilitating on-chain interactions. The company aims to foster a more decentralized and democratized creator economy by consolidating essential tools for minting, sharing, and engaging with digital goods and tokens. OP3N's leadership team, which includes media executive Jaeson Ma and development executive Eric Tu, brings extensive experience from the entertainment, gaming, and technology sectors. The company is committed to creating community-driven entertainment experiences and has established partnerships for various projects, including collaborations with Tokyo fashion label AMBUSH, an intergalactic children's book by Grimes, and a musical film with Simon Fuller. OP3N is headquartered in Los Angeles and focuses on empowering artists to directly engage with their fans through token-gated access, all within a Web3 framework.
DRESSX
Venture Round in 2023
DressX is a pioneering platform for digital garments, addressing the significant environmental impact of the traditional fashion industry. By offering a sustainable alternative, DressX enables the creation and consumption of fashion without generating waste, carbon emissions, or harmful chemicals. The platform integrates advanced 3D technology to allow users to wear digital clothing across various online environments, promoting a fun and innovative shopping experience. Additionally, DressX supports fashion influencers and designers, providing them with resources for distribution, retail development, and creative direction, thereby fostering growth in the digital fashion sector. The company is committed to shaping the future of fashion through its digital offerings.
Divo is a label, distribution, and publishing service provider that operates as a digital media agency. The company focuses on assisting content creators and brands in effectively showcasing their work to audiences. By partnering with talented individuals, brands, platforms, and media organizations, Divo specializes in content creation, distribution, monetization, and marketing. This approach enables content producers to enhance their online video presence and reach a wider audience.
KEIPhone
Pre Seed Round in 2022
KEIPhone aims to bridge the digital divide in sub-Saharan Africa by offering free smartphones and data to the 70% of the population that lacks internet access. The company is pioneering revenue generation through lock screen advertising, making it the first of its kind in the region. In addition to smartphones, KEIPhone provides solar chargers, which help ensure that users can keep their devices powered. The company’s products deliver content in local languages through various formats, such as video and SMS, and focus on closing the gender gap in internet access. By enhancing connectivity, KEIPhone empowers women and supports their ability to improve their lives through better access to information and resources.
Rad is an online entertainment platform that offers a unique streaming experience through its NFTV app suite. This platform allows users to access Live TV, Premium Video, and Live Events, all of which are unlocked using non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Additionally, Rad is associated with Littlstar, a global network that specializes in virtual reality, 360-degree video, and immersive experiences. Together, these services position Rad as a forward-thinking player in the evolving landscape of digital entertainment.
Radia
Pre Seed Round in 2022
Developer of NFT based music platform designed for collecting, earning, & managing music collectibles. The company's platform specializes in earning NFTs from the musical artists one wants to build their on-chain fan identity with, enabling music listeners to link their Spotify accounts to earn NFTs for listening to their favorite artists or discovering new music each week.
Lickd is a digital platform designed to assist content creators on YouTube in legally using commercial music. It provides access to music from established labels for licensing on social media platforms, allowing creators to incorporate their preferred tracks without the risk of copyright claims that could jeopardize their advertisement revenue. By facilitating the legal use of music, Lickd ensures that both content creators and the music industry are fairly compensated for their work, supporting professional and semi-professional creators in their endeavors.
STRANGELOOP STUDIOS
Seed Round in 2020
Strangeloop Studios LLC, founded in 2017 and based in Los Angeles, California, operates as a visual content production company specializing in live events, immersive experiences, and digital media. The studio, co-founded by Ian Simon and David Wexler, leverages their extensive music backgrounds to create concert visuals, music videos, and original content. Notable projects include collaborations with prominent artists such as David Gilmour, The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, Skrillex, and Earthgang. Strangeloop Studios has expanded its focus to include the development of virtual artists—3D characters designed for collaboration with musicians and visual creators—aiming to enhance storytelling and fan engagement in the digital age. The company gained recognition as part of Techstars Music's Class of 2020, reflecting its commitment to innovation in the realm of audio-visual content.
IMGN Media
Acquisition in 2020
IMGN Media is a media company based in New York that focuses on engaging Gen Z audiences, boasting over 60 million followers. Founded in 2015, it operates popular channels such as Daquan, known for its urban comedy and pop culture content, and So Satisfying, which specializes in ASMR and other niche formats. The company utilizes its proprietary data platform, Viral Lab, to optimize content curation, channel management, and audience growth. Additionally, IMGN Media collaborates with Fortune 500 brands through its Vertical Studios division, working on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitch to enhance brand engagement with younger viewers.
Founded in 2013, LANDR is a comprehensive online platform tailored for music creators, offering services for music creation, mastering, and distribution. The company leverages machine learning technologies to provide an instant audio mastering solution that enhances and refines stereo mixes. This innovative platform empowers musicians to produce high-quality tracks independently, eliminating the need for a dedicated sound engineer. By combining a wide array of tools and services in one accessible location, LANDR supports both emerging and professional artists in their creative processes, enabling them to learn, collaborate, master, and release music online. With a team of engineers, producers, and musicians, LANDR stands at the forefront of the intersection between music and technology.
Uproxx Media Group
Acquisition in 2018
Uproxx Media Group is a prominent digital media and content company renowned for its innovative storytelling that combines documentary-style video with authoritative journalism. Founded in 2008 and based in the United States, UMG focuses on subjects and individuals often overlooked by traditional media, engaging millions of young male consumers daily. Through its flagship site, Uproxx.com, which ranks among the top mobile sites, the company features original programming such as HUMAN, LUMINARIES, UNCHARTED, and UNDERBELLY, each celebrating aspects of human culture, technology, music, and sports. UMG also fosters an online community that encourages discussions and provides a platform for celebrities and content creators to engage with audiences through live Q&A sessions. By delivering a mix of editorial and video content, Uproxx Media Group shapes youth culture and captures the essence of pop culture trends across various entertainment mediums.
Pex is a company that specializes in digital rights technology, focusing on providing transparency and accuracy in the licensing and management of content. Its advanced technology operates with remarkable speed and scale, allowing for efficient transactions that simplify global licensing processes. This empowers digital platforms to make real-time decisions regarding content usage, while also enabling creators to use copyrighted material without concerns of infringement. Additionally, Pex ensures that rightsholders receive proper credit and compensation for their work. The company is committed to building inclusive and equitable solutions that address the complexities of digital rights management.
X5 Music Group
Acquisition in 2016
X5 Music Group AB is a music company headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with an additional office in New York, USA. Founded in 2004, the company specializes in digital music distribution and marketing, offering a diverse portfolio that includes approximately 400,000 recordings and over 11,000 digital albums across various genres. X5 Music Group licenses music rights from selected recording owners and media partners, facilitating the sale and promotion of music products tailored for the digital marketplace. Its offerings are available through prominent online music stores such as iTunes, Amazon, Google, and Spotify, allowing for a global reach in the digital music download market. As of June 2016, X5 Music Group operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group Corp.
Eko is a media and technology company pioneering a new medium in which stories told in live action video are shaped by viewers as they unfold. The company provides a platform for the creation and delivery of interactive video entertainment and partners with media companies, independent creators, and top brands to create experiences for highly-engaged, digitally native audiences. The company's serialized shows are distributed through eko.com, affiliate partners, and social networks; available on desktop, mobile, connected devices, and VR. Eko Studio, which includes the company's authoring tools, is also home to a large and growing community of creators who are crafting their own interactive experiences with Eko's medium. Eko provides top-quality interactive entertainment and also offers unique opportunities for brands to connect with highly-engaged audiences. Eko investors include Walmart, Innovation Endeavors, Intel Capital, Marker, MGM, NEA, Samsung, Sequoia Capital, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and WPP. The company is based in New York with an office in Tel Aviv.
Founded in 2013, LANDR is a comprehensive online platform tailored for music creators, offering services for music creation, mastering, and distribution. The company leverages machine learning technologies to provide an instant audio mastering solution that enhances and refines stereo mixes. This innovative platform empowers musicians to produce high-quality tracks independently, eliminating the need for a dedicated sound engineer. By combining a wide array of tools and services in one accessible location, LANDR supports both emerging and professional artists in their creative processes, enabling them to learn, collaborate, master, and release music online. With a team of engineers, producers, and musicians, LANDR stands at the forefront of the intersection between music and technology.
Playlists.net
Acquisition in 2014
Playlists.net is a music discovery platform that allows users to explore and enjoy music through a library of 150,000 high-quality playlists. The platform features editorially curated content, enabling users to browse music by genre or mood. Additionally, Playlists.net publishes weekly charts for playlists, artists, tracks, and members, utilizing its own algorithms and data to enhance the user experience. This comprehensive approach enables listeners to easily find and enjoy music tailored to their preferences, making it accessible anytime and anywhere.
Imeem
Venture Round in 2009
Imeem is an online music service that offers users instant access to a vast library of songs at no cost. In addition to music, the platform provides videos and photos, creating a comprehensive online community for musicians, directors, photographers, and various groups. By facilitating connections among creators and fans, Imeem enhances the music experience and fosters an interactive environment for sharing and discovery.
Lala is an online music discovery platform that enables users to stream, upload, and purchase music tracks. It offers free listening options, allowing users to create shareable playlists as they explore the music library. By downloading a plugin, members can transform Lala into an online music locker, which syncs their desktop music libraries with their Lala accounts. This feature simplifies the process of accessing personal music collections, as users can unlock files already available in Lala's library without lengthy uploads. In December 2009, Lala was acquired by Apple, Inc.
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.