Lion Forge Entertainment is an Oscar-winning, mission-driven studio founded by David Steward II in 2019 that develops and produces animated and live-action content targeting kids & family, YA and adult audiences. The company emphasizes authentic, diverse storytelling and has won an Academy Award for Hair Love and multiple Emmy awards. Its recent series Iyanu became the number one series among kids on Cartoon Network and a Top 10 Kids & Family series on HBO Max; Season 2 and two feature films expanding the Iyanu universe have been greenlit. Lion Forge maintains a multi-year first-look deal with Nickelodeon and strategic partnerships with the Bob Marley Estate, Penguin Young Readers, and others to develop series and features. Additional projects include an adaptation with George R.R. Martin, an expansion of Lostlings with TalesVision, a first-look deal with Oware, and unscripted work with Rebel Girls. The studio plans to use new capital to scale and expand its IP portfolio and premium franchise pipeline and to fund organic growth across its business verticals.

Total raised

$30M

Funding rounds

1

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Sep 2025