Participated · Series A · Aug 2024

THINKR announced completion of a fundraising totaling approximately ¥5.0 billion (約50億円) on July 26, 2024. The fundraise consisted of a third‑party allotment (Series A) and a loan from Resona Bank. As part of the transaction the company executed an acquisition of shares held by its parent, Avex Group, and moved to an independent management structure. The round included participation from a mix of strategic and financial investors. THINKR says this is its first full-scale fundraising since founding. The company published a special site aggregating information about the transaction.

Led · Series A · Mar 2017

Pocket.watch is a kids media brand focused on creating digital stars, franchises and formats across online video channels. The company programs and develops content for digital platforms and has collaborated with traditional media partners on IP for TV and film. It reports over one billion monthly views across twenty YouTube channels and a combined subscriber base of more than 34 million. Pocket.watch has raised $21M since launching in March 2017 and recently closed a $15M Series B. Future plans outlined in the articles include collaborative content development, expanded ad-sales packaging with Viacom/Nickelodeon inventory, and joint talent initiatives to identify up-and-coming creators. Pocketwatch is a Culver City–based kids media startup creating digitally born brands through original animated and live-action programming and YouTube channels targeting children ages 2–11, with an initial focus on ages 6–11. The company plans to launch this summer with five YouTube channels and generate revenue through advertising and YouTube Red subscriptions. Its larger goal is to develop premium series that can be packaged and licensed to streaming platforms and to expand into toys, gaming, and other brand extensions. Pocketwatch will also roll out a preschool sub-brand later and a parent-focused sub-brand to inform parents about what kids are watching. The content strategy combines in-house premium series with partnerships with 10–15 digital creators, who will be offered significant equity stakes. The team of ten is led by CEO Chris Williams, with Chief Content Officer Albie Hecht and Chief Strategy Officer Jon Moonves; the company raised $6 million in Series A funding.

Participated · Equity · Dec 2016

Gunslinger Studios spun out of Industrial Toys to focus on short-session, mid-core mobile games. Its first title, Exiles of Embermark, is a one-handed, one-thumb mobile battle RPG built in Unreal Engine that stages quick turn-based duels. The company has eight employees, all of whom came from Industrial Toys, and is positioning a broader platform for multiplayer games, esports, and live narratives driven by player actions. Exiles of Embermark features deep gear loadouts, 13 customization slots per character, PvP duels, PvE missions across a dynamic fantasy map, and an endless loot/crafting loop. The game was approaching beta testing and expected availability in summer 2017. Gunslinger raised capital to support development and competitive/esports ambitions in the crowded mobile market.

Participated · Equity · Nov 2016

Oben builds technology that converts a 2D photo plus a simple voice recording into a realistic 3D virtual head or avatar for VR and AR environments. The company emphasizes translating a user's character, personality, and individuality into realistic avatars rather than cartoon-like representations. Oben plans to launch its virtual self product in Q1 2017 and says the funds will be used for rapid product development, hiring more scientists, and identifying new partnerships. It positions its avatars to enable more social and shared experiences in VR, including personalized music and entertainment. Oben is a portfolio company of the HTC Vive X accelerator and was selected for the program in July 2016. The company was founded in 2014, is based in Pasadena, CA, and has about 20 employees. Prior to this raise, Oben had previously raised $150,000.

Led · Series B · Jun 2016

All Def Digital (ADD) is a three-year-old, L.A.-based web video platform and media company cofounded by Russell Simmons that manages up-and-coming social video stars, writers, actors and hip hop artists. The company produces and distributes original content through its own media properties as well as TV, movies, social channels, live events and brand partnerships. ADD recently launched an in-house creative agency called ADHD to help advertisers reach its target audience. The company has cross-platform programming deals including a long-term collaboration with HBO and a distribution deal with Spotify for an original hip-hop reality series. ADD said the new funding will be used to build its business across all media, from digital series to live events and from Facebook to premium series and feature films. Financially, the company has now raised $18 million in total capital. All Def Digital is a digital consumer entertainment brand and cross-platform network led by Sanjay Sharma (President and COO) and Russell Simmons. The company programs and distributes original content across comedy, music, news and poetry, and operates a multi-channel network. It announced a collaboration with Samsung to create ADD52, an artist discovery platform tied to an All Def channel on the MILK music streaming service. All Def intends to use new funding to accelerate cross-platform growth, artist and talent development, original programming, branded entertainment and multi-dimensional sponsorships. The company maintains offices in Los Angeles and New York. The business recently closed a financing round to support expansion of its network and operations.